#the music is coming through but jeff sounds like hes in another room

[muirneach]

going from listening to the deluxe digital remastered yhf last night to my shitty 2002 cd on my thrift store discman today is such a difference. this audio quality is HORRIBLE good god

#the music is coming through but jeff sounds like hes in another room #the background vocals r super loud tho its so funny. cant hear shit from jeff but the rest of the band is fine #each track it just gets worse and worse good god #my headphones arent bad quality they’re pretty good but that doesnt negate that my discman does admittedly suck #wilco #i have very low standards for most of my cds so idc usually but this one is a special exception

[munson-blurbs]

Hi buggy!! I had an idea and I feel like you are the perfect person to give it to (as you know I have way too many WIPS)

Okay so -Drama Club!Reader taking a nap on the couch in the room they use for Hellfire- She’s got headphones on so she doesn’t hear them come in- Halfway through the game Eddie realizes ? There’s someone in the room? And then he drives her home? Run with it honestly! Also ILY!!

You know I love any excuse to write fluff 🥰 for you, my dear.

Warnings: none really, just tooth-rotting fluff and the Hellfire boys teasing Eddie

WC: 1.5k

Sleepiness hits you like a truck. No matter how many plays you do, no matter if you have a leading role or you’re part of the chorus, post-show exhaustion is real. There’s no break between the infamous “Hell Week” and opening night, and you are feeling it.

Your knees buckle like your legs are going to give out. Despite the upbeat tempo of Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n Roll blasting through your headphones, which typically puts some pep in your step, you’re about to fall over.

As you pass by the drama room, it dawns on you: there’s a couch that’s perfect (or at least feasible) for a quick little nap.

Luckily for you, it’s completely empty, and sleep quickly overtakes you. No lines to memorize, no scrambling to stage left when Mr. Underwood calls for the Mad Hatter. Just pure, uninterrupted–

“Oh, come on!”

Well. 

You’re jolted awake by the sound of a group of guys shouting at each other. As your vision focuses, you can see that they’re all wearing matching shirts, proudly proclaiming themselves to be the Hellfire Club. You don’t know how long you’ve been asleep, but your cassette is no longer playing music, so it has to have been a little while.

The voice that had woken you from your nap belongs to Nancy Wheeler’s younger brother, Mike, who is currently raking his hands through his shaggy hair in frustration. 

“Okay, okay, just focus.” Will Byers, ever the voice of reason. He was one of the set designers for Alice in Wonderland, and his kind disposition effectively made him the adopted little brother of most of the upperclassmen. He picks up a die, takes a deep breath, and rolls, letting out a disappointed groan as it clatters to the table. “Shit!”

“That’s…a…miss!” Your attention is immediately drawn to the man sitting in a throne-esque chair at the head of the table, cackling at Will’s misfortune. You nearly fall off of the couch when you see that it’s Eddie Munson, the guy you’ve had a crush on since you’d started high school four years ago.

“Careful, Eddie,” one of the younger members–Gareth, if you’re remembering correctly–goads the Dungeon Master,  “you’d better be nice to him, or he won’t introduce you to your lady love.”

The rest of them oooh and make kissy noises, laughing amongst themselves.

Eddie slams a fist on the table, silencing them immediately. “Shut up!” he roars, scrunching up his nose in anger. His sudden outburst startles you; luckily, everyone is too engrossed in the game–and teasing Eddie–to notice the way you twitch on the couch.

The game continues for a few more minutes, punctuated by cheers and irritated grunts, before Will speaks up. “She’s really nice, Eddie,” he starts, “I could see if she’d wanna talk to you—”

“Enough!” Eddie hisses through gritted teeth. “I swear, I’ll end this campaign right now.”

“Hold on,” another freshman, this one with curly hair, chimes in. He raises his forefinger as he contemplates the situation. “You’re telling me that you went to see Alice in Wonderland–twice, I may add–stared at her the whole time, and you don’t even wanna know if she’s interested?”

That gets your attention—what drama club actress does he have his eye on? Probably Chrissy Cunningham, the blonde beauty who’d snagged the leading role. Cheerleading, acting, all-around nice person; who wouldn’t have a crush on her?

Eddie shakes his head, frizzy curls brushing the shoulders of his denim jacket. “You idiots are driving me crazy.”

Jeff, who happens to be in your English class, throws him a knowing smirk. “Don’t you mean, driving you mad?”

His pun earns him a round of high-fives from his friends, but Eddie is less than enthused. 

“That’s it; we’re done here.” Eddie smacks his palms to the table, rolling his eyes when the guys groan. “I’ll clean up, just—get out of here. Go!” He yells the last word when no one moves, and they all scramble for their backpacks and out the door. 

Once they leave, he starts tossing game pieces back in the box haphazardly, mumbling to himself. 

“Fuckin’ kids, think they know everything just because they have girlfriends—Jesus Christ!”

Your eyes flit over to see him staring at you, hand pressed to his chest as he catches his breath. 

“Wh-What the fuck are you doing here?” he stammers, trying to catch his breath. “When did you even get here?”

“I, um, needed a nap,” you admit, “and I knew there was a couch here, but I dozed off for too long…I didn’t mean to crash your game,” you finish lamely.

“Oh,” Eddie grins, relieved that you’ve been asleep and blissfully ignorant of the ribbing he’d received during Hellfire, “yeah, I mean, no worries. ‘S, uh, comfy.”

You wrinkle your nose. “Not really. I was just tired.”

“Yeah, makes sense,” Eddie sputters with a forced laugh, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Just finished the play and everything. ‘S a lot of work.”

“Yup.” There’s an awkward pause before you speak again. “Well, I should probably head home before my mom reports me missing or something.”

“I can drive you!” Eddie blurts out, cringing inwardly at the abundance of enthusiasm in his tone. “I mean, ‘s cool with me if you wanna…bum a ride.”

You tilt your head with a small smile. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to go out of your way…” You know that he lives in Forest Hills Trailer Park across town, and you don’t want him wasting time and fuel when you could easily walk.

“No, yeah, I don’t mind.” He rocks back and forth on his heels nervously. “I, uh, actually wanted to ask you about the play.”

You nod, grabbing your backpack from the side of the couch. Before you can sling it over your shoulder, his hand shoots out to catch the strap at the top. 

“I can carry it.”

“Eddie Munson…chivalrous gentleman?” you tease, unaware of the shiver coursing through him when you say his full name. “Full of surprises today.”

You follow him to his van, smiling politely when he opens your door for you with a small bow. He jogs around to his side and climbs into the driver’s seat.

“Where to?”

You give him your address and offer a general direction. “So, what did you wanna ask me?”

“Hm?”

You raise your eyebrows. “You said you wanted to drive me home so you could ask me about the play.”

“Oh, yeah! Right.” Eddie fumbles for his words. “Is it hard remembering all your lines?”

You shrug. “Not too bad. Kinda like studying for a test, y’know?”

“Uh, sure.” He puts his hand on the back of your seat and turns his head, tongue poking out from between his lips as he concentrates on backing out.

Another pregnant pause fills the air, and you rub your palms along your jean-clad thighs. “What else did you wanna know?”

He wracks his brain for more questions, but comes up short. “That was pretty much it, I guess.”

“Eddie!” you scoff playfully. “I wouldn’t have had you drive me if you only had one question!” Without thinking, your hand swats at his chest.

“Ow! Damn!” he laughs, using one hand to tend to his ‘wound’ while keeping the other on the wheel. “I’m gonna have to tell Byers that you’re actually really mean.”

“Me?”

“Mhm,” he confirms. “Violent, too. ‘S probably gonna leave a mark.”

“Poor baby.” You jut out your lower lip in an exaggerated pout. “Need someone to nurse you back to health?” You take a beat before proposing, “Maybe…Chrissy Cunningham?”

Eddie coughs out a laugh. “Chrissy Cunningham? Yeah, no.”

“Really?” You furrow your brow in confusion. “Then who were the guys talking about?” The question comes out before you can stop it, and you feel your face heat up with embarrassment. “Sorry, I–”

“‘S fine,” he mutters, drumming his fingers on the wheel. His ears tinge pink and he gnaws on his cheek, but doesn’t say another word.

Something dawns on you; a comment he’d made earlier in the drive. “I’m gonna have to tell Byers that you’re actually really mean.” And back at Hellfire, Will had said that Eddie’s drama club crush was “really nice.” And then there was Jeff’s comment about them driving him mad…

Oh.

“Do you wanna get some pizza or something?” you ask, the words spilling from your lips. You peer at him hopefully, trying not to sound overzealous. “Y’know, just so I can make sure your injury isn’t fatal.”

He nods. “Yeah, sounds awesome. I like pizza.” His gaze flits over to your hand; he reaches over and timidly gives it a small squeeze. “Like you, too.”

Your body fills with warmth, and you settle back into your seat and smile. Yeah, that nap was definitely a great idea.

--

#request #eddie munson #eddie x you #eddie stranger things #eddie x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x female reader #fanfic #eddie munson fanfic #stranger things fanfic #stranger things #eddie munson stranger things

[thefreakandthehair]

@eddiemonth prompt, oct 8th: Rockstar | Times Like These - Foo Fighters | Confident a/n: rockstar!eddie & corroded coffin. steddie. suggestive themes but not explicit. un-betaed because I’m challenging myself to write these in under an hour. read on ao3 | link to masterpost on ao3

When Eddie was a teenager, he pictured himself on stage, surrounded by pyrotechnics and aggressive bass riffs. His hair was long, his skin mottled in tattoos with maybe a love bruise or two, and his favorite ruby red guitar slung low to his hips as he belts his vocals into the microphone. 

All but the last part comes true. 

He does end up sweaty from the heat of the fire cannons on either side of their set. Freak shreds his bass every fucking show, his fingers undoubtedly calloused beyond repair. Eddie’s hair gets in his face as he plays his own guitar, his Sweetheart, but he doesn’t get to sing. 

That’s all Steve. 

Unassuming, surprisingly talented Steve Harrington who Eddie discovers can fucking sing when he’s home from a tour, driving around together through the empty streets of Hawkins, Indiana. The 90s bring a new landscape to heavy metal and rock and roll, and as cocky as Eddie might be, as confident as he is when it comes to his music, he can see when someone has one up on him. Steve’s rendition of The Foo Fighters’ Good Grief as he drums along on the steering wheel sets his heart aflame– and maybe another appendage that he’s tried to ignore for the better part of ten years. 

Steve agrees to join the band with a heavy bit of convincing, agreeing only when Eddie offers to retain his role as frontman.

I don’t wanna be a rockstar, Ed. That’s all you. 

The band truly takes off when Steve joins, his voice adding a different flavor and Eddie’s backing vocals rounding out their sound. Eddie tells Steve night after night, show after show, that he’s happy he’s there, because he is. Maybe being in love with his bandmate hadn’t part of the teenage fantasy, but it’s become his favorite part of the reality, even if it’s one-sided or unrequited. His skin remains unbruised, no groupies or flings to be found, but he’d prefer a blank canvas over meaningless artistry anyways. 

They end up touring again, exploring the country and parts of Canada together but always with different hotel rooms. Eddie never minds sharing with Gareth, or Jeff, or Freak but he also doesn’t make a habit of thinking about their dicks. 

After their show in Toronto, the end of this leg of their tour, Eddie and the rest of the band celebrate in Eddie’s room– it’s the biggest of their block and Eddie won rock-paper-scissors to claim the lone room this time around. 

Drinks flow, smoke from their joints curl out the window screen into the night, and before Eddie realizes it’s happened, he’s left alone with Steve.

Steve, who hasn’t had a thing to drink and only a few puffs of his joint, but is laying across the bed with his feet crossed at the ankles and his head resting in Eddie’s lap anyways. Steve, who Eddie listens to as he hums the melody of their encore and whose hair he can’t help but thread through his fingers. Steve, who Eddie has been watching night after night sing the words Eddie’s written himself, some of which are about Steve. 

It’s a dangerous position to be in. 

“Gettin’ tired yet, Harrington?” Eddie asks, grinning as Steve rolls his eyes. 

“Oh, we’re back to Harrington now, Munson?” 

Eddie just shrugs and continues playing with Steve’s hair. It’s soft, still damp from his shower, and Eddie’s surprised he hasn’t shoved him off yet with some comment about how he’s gonna fuck it up. But he doesn’t, and Eddie doesn’t know what to make of that. 

“You’re awfully quiet,” Steve asks, shifting his gaze from the ceiling to Eddie’s eyes. “It’s weird.” 

“I contain multitudes, don’t try to make me some one-dimensional agent of chaos.” 

Steve laughs and it’s better than any song Eddie’s ever written. And he’s written some damn good songs, if he does say so himself. 

Eddie lets out a little oof as Steve sits up, bracing himself on Eddie’s stomach to turn and face him. There’s something in Steve’s expression that Eddie can’t place– searching eyes, furrowed brows, one corner of his lips quirked up. 

“Can I ask you something?” 

“You just did.” 

“God, you’re so annoying sometimes, you know that?” 

“I do, actually. But yeah, go ahead.” Eddie bites his bottom lip and shrugs.

“How come you never wanna share a room with me?” 

Eddie just about chokes on nothing, inhaling oxygen into the wrong pipe or something. His ears turn red, a tell that no amount of shaking his hair out can hide, at least not from Steve. He feels the soft skin of Steve’s hand graze his cheek as he tucks hair back behind his right ear, exposing the bright red shade of embarrassment. 

“Is it me? I can’t imagine that I, Steve Harrington, make you, big ol’ Rockstar Eddie Munson, uncomfortable after all these years.” 

You motherfucker, Eddie thinks, his mouth a little behind the speed of his thoughts, effectively leaving him speechless. 

“Little bit, actually,” Eddie manages to admit. 

He shouldn’t admit anything, but he’s alone in this quiet room with the boy he’s loved for so many years, who’s touching him like he loves him, too. Who can blame him?

“How come?” Steve whispers, his lips suddenly closer, their noses nearly touching. Eddie may or may not be breathing, but he tries. Fainting would definitely kill whatever this energy is between them. 

“Ed, c’mon. Just, just tell me you want me, too. Please.” 

Too? He thinks.

“Too?” He asks.

Steve smiles and nods, running his thumb across Eddie’s chapped lower lip before resting his palm against his cheek. 

“Too.” 

—

The following morning, Eddie and Steve meet up with the rest of the band in the hotel restaurant for breakfast– or, well, brunch at best given the time they actually make it downstairs. 

“Notice you stayed in Eddie’s room last night,” Jeff asks, one eyebrow raised halfway up his forehead as his eyes flit back and forth from Steve to the very clear, purpling bruise on Eddie’s collarbone. 

“Astute observation,” Eddie grins and answers for him, digging into the stack of pancakes in front of him, ravenous. 

“Sure did,” Steve just grins, shrugging as he shifts in his seat. 

Gareth, Freak, and Jeff all exchange a look, the kind of look that comes with inside jokes and long-suffering waiting. 

“Wait–” Steve starts, pointing an accusing finger at Jeff. “You all left early on purpose, didn’t you?”

Gareth laughs the hardest, rivaled only by Eddie who watches them all with incredulity as Jeff parrots Steve with casual confidence. 

“Sure did.” 

#steddie #steddie fic #steddie fanfic #steddie fanfiction #steve harrington x eddie munson #eddie munson x steve harrington #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #stranger things fic #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #st fic #corroded coffin #eddie month #eddie month prompts #myblurbs

[daisyblog]

Cherry

Our Story Masterlist Summary: How Cherry was made.

Harry knew he had to get back to some sort of normality. He'd spent the last few months on tour, trying to work on his emotions and still trying to put a good show for his fans. It was hard.

It was hard for him without YN by his side. It was hard for him when they weren't talking right now. They hadn't spoken for a few weeks now, their last conversation was strained and it seemed that they silently agreed that maybe they needed to stop texting right now.

From the One Direction days, right up until his first solo album, Harry always felt inspired to write. It was his passion, the way he enjoyed expressing himself and music was his thing. But since their break up, Harry felt a lot, but trying to put into words was just something that he couldn't do right now.

He had a studio session with his team, he thought it was a waste of time because he had already explained to his manager, Jeff, that he wasn't in the right frame of mind to write, but Jeff and the team persuaded to join them, even if it was just to mess around with some of the instruments and sound board to see what they could do.

Harry sensed a tense and awkward atmosphere as he walked through the studio door, where everyone else had arrived before him. He noticed the look Mitch and Jeff gave each other and how Sammy and Tyler focused their eyes on the recording deck in front of them.

"What?" Harry continued to eye each of them, waiting to hear why they were all acting guilty, almost like they knew something he didn't.

Jeff broke the silence of the room. "Have you been online today?".

Harry shook his head no, confusion still evident on his face. "No..why?".

Jeff eyed Mitch quickly before he broke the news to his friend. "There's a photo of YN...and a man in a gallery in Paris".

Harry's heart felt like it was going to escape his body. It was thumping hard against his chest. He'd always been the jealous type, he'd get annoyed if another man checked YN out in front of him or attempted to chat her up, but this wasn't just jealousy, this was like he'd been hit by a bus. Was she really moving on?

Swallowing his emotions, Harry broke the tense silence. "Um..do we know who he is?". He asked his manager, knowing he would have made a few phone calls this morning.

"His name is Jack..his parents own the gallery they were at..it was their opening night". Harry felt his stomach twist again, all he could think about was YN and Jack and the fact that she had already met his parents.

Harry nodded his head in response, not quite knowing what to say. He just wanted to know, how they met, where they met, did she love him, did they have the same conversations they used to have, did she laugh at his jokes?

"Do you think he may just be a friend or something?" Mitch, who didn't get too involved in anything that wasn't his business, questioned Harry. He had known YN for a few years, and to him he just thought this was out of character for her. He witnessed how in love the couple are, the way YN would look at him with heart in eyes, the way they would say 'I love you' whenever they were leaving the room or how supportive YN had been when the guitarist first met them.

Harry let out a sarcastic chuckle. "I've met all her friends...and I've never heard of him". It was true, Harry had met YN's small group of friends. YN always said how small her circle was because she only trusted a small amount of people. "I'm gonna go and get a coffee, I'll be back in a bit".

Harry took a small walk around the area, needing to get some air. He felt like so many things were going through his mind. He didn't want YN to be with anyone else, he wanted to be the one to hold her hand, tell her how beautiful she is, tell her that he loves her.

Once Harry had arrived back at the studio, the four men was surprised to see that he had actually come back after the news they had shared this morning. They were even more surprised when Harry instructed Mitch to play a slow melody on the guitar. But they all did what Harry asked and once Harry began to sing some lyrics, they had realised that Harry was expressing his feelings and emotions through song.

Don't you call him baby We're not talking lately Don't you call him what you used to call me

Harry thought about how he and YN had always had little pet names for each other, mostly being 'baby' or 'bubs". He couldn't help but think about YN calling Jack these names. He was also aware that they weren't talking right now so it made things feel even more intense for him.

I, I confess I can tell that you are at your best I'm selfish so I'm hating it I noticed that there's a piece of you in how I dress Take it as a compliment

YN was smiling wildly in the photo at the gallery, Harry could tell it was her real smile and one that he had been lucky to see many time over the years. Of course he wanted to see her happy, but not without him and with another man. As he was getting ready this morning, he couldn't help but reach for the pink beanie that sat in the drawer, one that YN had left behind and the one that was currently hiding his curls.

Don't you call him baby We're not talking lately Don't you call him what you used to call me

Harry re-sung the first verse, wanting to repeat the message loud and clear.

I, I just miss I just miss your accent and your friends Did you know I still talk to them? Does he take you walking round his parents' gallery?

He missed her loudness, he missed her laugh, he missed everything about her, even her thick accent. But the more he thought about YN, the more he visualised the photo of her and Jack so the last line came out without thought as he sung.

---

It was later that evening that Harry was back home by himself. He'd thought about his day and how everything changed so quickly for him.

He knew he was being cruel to himself, sat staring at the photo of YN at the gallery. He couldn’t help but notice how her eyes crinkled as she was mid laugh or how she was wearing her favourite black dress that hugged her figure perfectly. 

To distract himself he decided to go for a night time run, something he used to do when he couldn’t sleep or had something on his mind. As he run around the area near his home in LA, knowing the time difference between LA and England he wondered if YN was awake not able to sleep or if she had started her day early. 

Arriving back at his house, Harry showered and changed into some comfy clothes, he got into bed and out of habit glanced at the space next to him. An empty space where YN and Teddy were usually cuddled up. 

What surprised him was the sound of his pinging on the bedside table. He reached over and seeing the name across the screen made his heartbeat faster.

YN: Hey! Can we talk? x

Harry wasn’t sure if he was happy, relived or scared. Of course he wanted to talk to her, he’d do anything to have her back in his arms. But was this the talk where she told him it was officially over between them both.

Not wasting another moment, he pressed the phone button next to YN’s name and waited to hear her voice. 

“Hello”. YN’s voice was quiet, almost like she was trying to not to wake anyone. 

“Uh hey”. Harry was nervous. He didn’t know what to expect. 

“Sorry…I hope I didn’t wake you”. YN apologised.

Harry’s fingers began to play with the loose cotton on the duvet as he spoke. “N-no…of course not”.

There was a slight pause in conversation, almost like they weren’t quite sure what to say. 

“I…I wanted to explain the photo you may have seen-“. Harry recognised the nerves in YN’s voice. 

Harry interrupted. “YN…it’s okay..you don’t need to explain yourself to-“.

“Harry-“.

“-me…you can date whoever you want to date”. Harry continued to ramble, almost trying to sound unbothered about the whole thing.

“Harry…it’s not what it looks like-“.

Once again Harry didn’t let YN finished explaining. “You don’t need to tell me”.

“Harry…for fook sake let me finish”. Harry remained silent. “I’m trying to explain that Jack, who’s in the photo is Mia’s boyfriend…Mia invited me along because she was nervous and the media have twisted it”.

Harry has never felt relief like it. He wanted to jump up and down in excitement, but instead the smile was back on his face. 

When Harry didn’t respond, too happy about the news YN just shared, YN grew nervous. “Harry?”.

“Oh..oh sorry…I-I…I’m not going to lie…I’m so fucking happy to hear that”. Harry left put a chuckle, YN giggled on the other end of the phone at his honestly.

“So you really thought I would be dating someone”. YN decided this was the time to question Harry.

“Uh…uh…No…well maybe”.

“Harry….you know I still care about you…I was actually going to ask if you wanted to maybe go for a coffee or something next week…I’m flying out to LA to stay with Louis for a bit”.

Harry’s excitement started to grow. YN wanted to see him, she was flying out to LA next week, she made the first step. He couldn’t help but get hopeful that this was his chance to win her back.

“Yeah..yeah…I’d really love that”. Harry tried to stay calm and not give too much away.

“Cool…I’ll leave you to get some sleep ‘cause I know it’s late there…I’ll send you some details once I arrive”.

“That’ll be good…have a safe flight”.

“Goodnight bu-“. YN almost let out the little pet name she was used to saying. “Harry”.

As they both hung up, Harry whispered “Goodnight baby”.

Tag List: (let me know if you would like to be added) @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @harrys-flower @platinumbarbie143 @frickin-bats @harrysbbyh0ney @chronicallybubbly @goldensunflowe-r  @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite @kaverichauhan @peterholland04 @panicattheuc @indierockgirrl @or-was-it-just-a-dream @hittiesontour @bunnyharold @fanfictioncafe @lilfreakjez @jerseygirlinca @iamahallucinationnn @theekyliepage @buckybarnessimpp

#harry styles x reader #harry styles #harry styles x y/n #harrystyles #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles x you #harry styles fanfic #harry styles series #harry styles writing #one direction #harry styles x fem!reader #harry styles x tomlinson!reader #harry styles x oc #harry x reader #harry x yn #harry x y/n #harry x you #harry styles fic #harry styles series masterlist #harry styles masterlist #harry styles imagines #harry styles imagine #louis tomlinson #niall horan #zayn malik #liam payne #harry 1d #one direction imagine #one direction fanfiction #tomlinson!yn

[eagerbby]

can i call you - e.m

paring| Eddie Munson x female reader

synopsis| The year is 1999 and Eddie Munson might, quite possibly, be absolutely head over heels with a girl he met on the internet. What could go wrong?

an| this is set in the late 90s, Eddie is 21 in this as is reader. basically just a little idea i had floating around in my head. could definitely be a series if anyone wants it to be one, let me know!  

warnings- 2k, not much to warn about for part one

Part 2

“That was Korn with Blind, here on 99.3 Metal Shop. If you’re just tuning in; we’re glad to have ya. Going back almost a decade, here's Metallica with Master of Puppets.”

“Fucking Metal.” Eddie grinned, tuning the volume knob on his radio up, the first chords rumbling through the white walls of his room. He pops the tab of his beer as he bangs his head along with the music. It was another lonely night, stuck in the small cage of his room. He’d tried to get Gareth and Jeff to hang, maybe go down to the quarry and get high, but alas both boys had plans that didn’t include hanging out with their older buddy. 

So here he was, spinning in his desk chair, a chat forum open on his black spray painted monitor. The CPU whirled loudly from under the desk but Eddie could barely hear it with the heavy guitar shredding coming through his radio. He was about three beers in and a half a joint down, the edges of his vision becoming hazy in his intoxication. 

Eddie’s ringed pointy finger rolled over the trackball on his stained mouse, flicking the screen up and down and up and down. Again and again until Eddie sighed and threw his head back. He shouldn’t be waiting for you. It was a Friday night, you probably had better things to do instead of sitting at your computer chatting with some strange guy on the internet. Although, Eddie hopes you don’t think about him like that. The two of you have been talking quite regularly for the past three months. It had started randomly, you personally asked him on a horror movie forum for some movie suggestions so he gave you his favorites -The Shining, Maximum Overdrive, My Bloody Valentine- and you had watched them all, giving him such detailed critiques he was kinda surprised you’d taken his suggestions. A week later you sent him your AOL name and told him to add you so you could chat more. He jumped at the opportunity, so intrigued by you in such a short time.   

It was a little awkward at first, with Eddie trying to play it cool because you were so different from the girls he had gone to school with and you were a little reserved, not too sure how much you wanted to share with a stranger online. But the relationship had blossomed, grown into a friendship without either of you really trying. You loved his corny jokes and he could listen to you for hours talking about your cat and your poetry. You’d even let him read a little bit of it, blessing him with the most beautiful prose Eddie had ever read before. He wasn’t much of a poetry guy, but you were turning him into one.

Eddie leans forward after a brief war in his head, debating if he should just bite the bullet and shoot you a message first. Maybe you didn’t see he was online yet? Quickly he pulls up your AOL log and types.

HellfireMaster- What’s your favorite scary movie?” 

He hit the enter key and tapped his foot anxiously. A minute or two passed with no response. Eddie groaned deeply, rubbing his hand over his face. This was stupid. 

Eddie pushed back from his desk, the wood banging off the wall with the force of it, and strolled over to his bed, flopping down on the disheveled sheets. He laid there with his hands folded on his chest, staring at the slow turn of his ceiling fan. He can’t remember when his crush on you started, but it was eating him up on the inside. He doesn’t even know what you look like for Christ-sake and yet you have him wrapped around your finger.

There’s ping from Eddie’s computer and he shoots up to his elbows at the sound, big doe eyes locked on the computer screen with excitement. He wastes no time jumping from his bed, tripping over dirty jeans and piles of crumpled paper from his last lyric writing session, over to his desk chair that groaned under his weight as he plopped down in it. Eddie’s grin rips at the corners of his mouth, wide and excited, little dimples forming by the edges. 

PrettyiNProsed- I don’t know.

HellfireMaster- You have to have a favorite.” 

Eddie bit his lip as he waited, knee jiggling with anticipation. 

PrettyiNProsed- Is this where you tell me you’re watching me?

Eddie chuckles at that, the tapping sound of the keyboard mingling with the bass from some song he wasn’t even listening to. Scream was your new favorite movie. It had taken some convincing on Eddie’s part seeing as you had heard how horrible it was from some friends, but after watching it -while Eddie watched it at the same time and you live reviewed it- you couldn’t believe you had waited so long. 

HellfireMaster- I could be. You just never know…

PrettyiNProsed- I bet that would sound more convincing over the phone, huh?

HellfireMaster- Maybe, but someone doesn’t want to do that yet.

It’s true, Eddie had been slowly slipping talking on the phone more and more into your conversations. He couldn’t help it, curiosity was killing him. The thought of finally hearing your voice was starting to consume him. It lingered in the back of his mind as he worked, as he held his campaigns, at band practice, even hanging out with his small group of friends. It had hurt his feelings when you’d all but blown him off the first time, quickly saying goodbye and logging off, but Eddie didn’t let that deter him. When he wanted something he’d work his ass off to get it.  

PrettyiNProsed- Hey! I never said I didn’t want to.

HellfireMaster- You never said you did though..

PrettyiNProsed- Don’t get all grumpy on me now, Eddie. 

You didn’t even have to see him to know he was pouting about it and Eddie loved that about you. That you could read him so well like you understood just who he was. It was a rare thing for him to feel so seen and he thinks maybe it’s because, with you, he isn’t Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson. He was just Eddie, he didn’t feel like he had to play a part.

Focusing back to the computer, he cracked his knuckles and began typing back.

HellfireMaster- How was your day, sweetheart?

PrettyiNProsed- It was okay, getting better now as long as you don’t go all dark and brooding on me.

PrettyiNProsed- Think you can handle that, sunshine? 

Eddie felt like a fucking idiot, smiling at his computer with his cheeks flushed red and his lip sore from his canine repeatedly sinking into it. You always did this -using these cute nicknames that he’d probably scoff at if they weren’t coming from you. He really did have it bad and for a mysterious face behind a screen at that. 

HellfireMaster- Oh, I can handle it. 

PrettyiNProsed- Good. I’ve been waiting all day to talk to you.

God if that didn’t send his stomach swirling with butterflies. 

HellfireMaster- You have?

PrettyiNProsed- Yes! Guess why!

HellfireMaster- No, just tell me.

PrettyiNProsed- Ugh, you’re no fun!

HellfireMaster- Just tell me, princess! I don’t like waiting.

PrettyiNProsed- Sucks for you then!

Suddenly that green dot next to your name was red, signaling that you’d gone offline. Eddie’s eyes bugged, his teeth clenching tight together as his nostrils flared. You’d logged off. He couldn’t believe it. You’d never done that before and this wasn’t the first time the two of you had joked around like that. You always took his jokes and dry humor in stride. Had he upset you? Eddie doesn’t think he could live with himself if he had. You were the only thing making him get up in the mornings, you know other than his job down at the tire shop, if he lost the brilliant light you had brought into his small little world he’s sure his life would metamorphose into a miserable stream of wake work sleep until he inevitably died alone.

He might be a tad bit dramatic, but still, he needed you. 

Another ping has his eyes darting to the screen.

PrettyiNProsed- Are you ready to stop being a brat, big boy?

Eddie blanches at your words, his cock twitching to life to his dismay. Big boy. Fuck. Why did that stir something inside him? His calloused fingers hovered over the keyboard until he slowly started typing. 

HellfireMaster- I’ll do anything for you to just tell me.

PrettyiNProsed- Ohhhh, anything you say?

You were flirting with him. Eddie pressed his palms against the stubbled skin of his cheek, more in awe than shock, because you’ve never openly flirted with him before. You were sweet and funny and wickedly smart, but you always seemed to just skirt right past his flirty words, usually playing them off in a sweet dismissal. But tonight was different, you were starting it. Eddie adjusts his semi hard cock, grimacing at how dirty he feels popping a semi at two simple words. 

HellfireMaster- Whatever the princess deems suitable.

PrettyiNProsed- Hmm, so many options, but I think I want you to beg for it.

Fuck, Eddie thinks with a helpless moan. You must be in a mood tonight and Eddie thinks it might just kill him. Eddie was not a beggar, but he’d fall to his knees and grovel if you as much as asked him to. Which you kinda were right now.

HellfireMaster- Please. Oh please my dear, sweet, princess, please take mercy on my pitiful soul and tell me why oh why you’ve been waiting to talk to a simple peasant like myself.

PrettyiNProsed- You really poured it on thick there, Eddie. 

PrettyiNProsed- But I’ll take pity and tell you because I liked it, also I just have to tell you what I got!

PrettyiNProsed- I went to the mall last night and bought two things.

Eddie chuckled at this, running his free hand through his bangs as he finger typed.

HellfireMaster- Two things!! Wow, I think you have a problem there sweetheart. Impulsive spending. 

PrettyiNProsed- Hardy-har. Would you like to know what I bought, asshole?

HellfireMaster- Of course I would, big spender.

PrettyiNProsed- Well first I went to this really awesome record shop and bought that Dio album you suggested.

HellfireMaster- Shit, you got Holy Diver? What’s your favorite song?

PrettyiNProsed- Well, I’ve only gotten halfway through it, but I really liked caught in the middle!

HellfireMaster- That’s my girl! 

Eddie doesn’t think as he types it, as he hits send, in fact it only hits him what he’s said when you don’t respond back for a minute. Shit. Maybe that was a little forward. You aren’t his girl, you were his friend, maybe even best friend at this point but definitely not his girl. Not yet at least.. He’s starting to type an apology when your next message comes in.

PrettyiNProsed- You wanna know what that other thing was, Eddie?

HellfireMaster- Yes

PrettyiNProsed- I bought a receiver for my room.

HellfireMaster- A receiver? 

PrettyiNProsed- Jeezz, Eddie. I bought a phone for my room!

Eddie froze midway to lighting his cigarette, the unlit stick falling from his lips to his lap as he gaped. 

PrettyiNProsed- I didn’t want to talk to you in the living room, my parents probably wouldn't be too happy if they knew I was spending my time talking to a stranger on the internet instead of focusing on my college courses.

HellfireMaster- Can I call you?

PrettyiNProsed- Not tonight, I’m exhausted, in fact my bed is calling my name. But I’m free tomorrow at 6 if you wanna…

PrettyiNProsed- You still wanna right?

PrettyiNProsed- Eddieeee??? You still there??

Eddie’s elated, fists punching into the air as he spins in his chair. Tomorrow night. He’ll finally be able to hear your voice. His begging had really paid off this time, which was such a sudden change he couldn’t quite believe it. But that didn’t matter. Nothing else did right now. Tomorrow he’d finally hear you say his name, hear your laugh, be able to really talk to you. He couldn’t wait. 

HellfireMaster- 6pm. I’ll be waiting! 

PrettyiNProsed- I’ll send the number tomorrow, gonna make you wait till then.

HellfireMaster-  Tease

PrettyiNProsed- Hm, I guess I am.

PrettyiNProsed- Goodnight Eddie, don’t go getting into trouble before I can hear your voice.

HellfireMaster- Me? Trouble? Not ever, sweetheart.

PrettyiNProsed- Yeah, I’m not convinced. 

HellfireMaster- Sleep tight, princess. 

Eddie logged out, a blinding smile on his face, his stomach fluttering with angry little tornados. He shut his computer down, turned off the radio, and crawled into his bed. A click of the string on his bedside lamp and he’s engulfed in darkness, the only light a white moon beam peeking through his blinds, and Eddie lays on his back with his hands folded over his blanket covered chest still smiling like a love sick fool because tomorrow night he’ll be in this same spot but with the phone pressed to his head, you voice filtering through his ear like a melody. 

Eddie falls into a dreamy sleep with the thought of you and your voice calling his name. Finally.     

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fan fic #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson smut #stranger things fan fic #stranger things x reader

[watermelonsugacry]

Any more of building Harry’s house you have planned currently? Love those!

Building Harry's House: Boyfriends

A/N: day 1 of Since 2010 ficmas!! sorry it came out a lil late but she's here!

SUMMARY: With the world knowing of their once secret relationship, Harry and YN navigate life together as an official couple and everything that comes with it.

GENRE: 1dbandmember!yn

SINCE 2010 masterlist // Building Harry's House masterlist // previous song here! 🚲

SIDE-NOTE: italicized is voice over commentary (I wrote this kind of like the Behind the Album documentary) bold are things Harry actually said irl

—2019—

Anger, confusion, and frustration radiate off his hunched-over figure from his position on the floor. Harry digs the heels of his hands into his eyes and the cold tile beneath his knees digs harshly at his bones but he stays there, feeling that he deserves the pain given what just happened.

“I shouldn’t have come here,” YN says so quietly that he might have missed it if he wasn’t listening carefully.

“Yeah. Maybe you shouldn’t have.”

It takes Harry about a minute to realize the gravity of his situation and only half a second to pick himself off the ground to whip open the door. He doesn't know why he gets disappointed by the fact that her car isn't in the driveway anymore. Surely she’s already halfway home by now. 

He, YN, and his small but close production team have almost hit the two month mark during their stay in Malibu. Recording Harry’s second album here has had its ups and downs and needless to say, he doesn’t think he can go much lower than he feels now.

“I shouldn’t have come here.” 

“Yeah. Maybe you shouldn’t have.”

How could he possibly say such a thing to her? She didn’t have to come all the way over here, ditch whatever important tasks and events she had going on for her own career to come help him make music. Her gift is wasted on him and for him to say such a nasty thing to her?  

His feelings only twist around each other in contradiction: grateful at the fact that the rest of his production crew is out for drinks but somber in having the Malibu recording house all to himself (it wasn’t like they hadn’t just made a song dedicated exactly to his desire to not be alone—yet another reminder of how much she’s continued to provide her help to him when it wasn’t deserved). 

With a final scowl out towards the driveway, he reluctantly shuts the door behind him as he makes headway into the kitchen. He feels like a hypocrite as he attempts to suppress his thoughts by reaching across the kitchen island to snatch the tall glass of alcohol. It seems that all the two have been arguing about is their lack of communication, for their constant push down of emotions to avoid what they really want to say. 

This realization only furthers his desire to shut down his thoughts and everything tied to them as he reaches for a glass. 

He somehow finds himself pushing the door to her room open with the tip of his foot. The image of her hurtful face after his words only pushes him to twist the cap off the tall bottle. 

It’s well into the early hours of the morning when the rest of the small production team comes waltzing through the front door drunkenly singing some song. He can hear his name being called from somewhere else inside the house, but it sounds muffled from his position on the carpeted ground.

“Harry!” Mitch calls. “Where are you, man? Why haven’t you picked up your phone...?” His words slowly come to a halt when he stops his friend lying on his back, mindlessly looking out sliding glass doors of the room YN slept in during her stay. “Harry?”

“I wrote a song,” Harry’s words are slurred as he continues to stare out to the floor to ceiling doors where the white foam of the gentle waves crash along the shore. 

“What kind of drugs you on, dude?” Jeff sighs out when he enters the room, putting his hands on his hips.

“M’a bad boyfriend,” Harry pouts, eyes pink from the alcohol swirling in his veins. “A real, proper shitty one.”

Mitch and the pop star’s manager share a look. Mitch is the first to speak up, “But you and YN aren’t even together.”

“See! If I were a good boyfriend, I would be her boyfriend right now. But m’not. I’m just fucking up our situation even more.”

Jeff rubs his bearded chin and lets out a knowing sigh, “You’re really no good alone, man. Come on, we need to get you off the floor.”

Harry makes no effort to move from his spot but instead takes in a deep breath. Flashes of YN’s hurt face reappear back in his mind and he pinches his eyes shut like it physically hurts him to see it again. 

“I shouldn’t have come here.” 

“Yeah. Maybe you shouldn’t have.”

Already being kicked while he’s down, he comes to realize that the purpose of his drinking is yet another aspect of this painful situation that he needs to hide from YN. Was he not the one to show her how drinking is not meant to drown one’s sorrow away, to suppress guilty feelings and/or make one forget. 

Might as well just add it to the list of many other shitty aspects of his contribution to being a bad boyfriend.

“'Boyfriends' was written right at the end of ‘Fine Line.’ We had just finished a session that was...a pretty difficult session to get through because I couldn’t seem to get anything right,” Harry’s brows pinch together at the memory of that day. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t seem to make his music without his YN there. 

“At the end of that session everyone left, and I started writing ‘Boyfriends’ and it almost felt like ‘Ok, there’s a version where we get this ready to put on Fine Line,’ and I think there was something about that just felt like ‘It’s just gonna have its time, so like, let’s not rush to get it done.’”

—2020—

YN holds a plated sandwich and a water bottle as she walks up Harry’s pink carpeted stairs in his London home. After the back and forth traveling from La to Italy to England, the couple made the decision to stay in London for the time being before it was fit for them to travel again due to the pandemic. Not that it mattered much to them, as long as they are together then all was well. 

It should come as no surprise that while staying indoors was quite relaxing, the two had a hard time being still. As long as they were safely distanced from others, the couple went out for walks in secluded areas, visited the lake nearby, and picked fruits from the small garden their mums helped plant in the spacious backyard.

The only downside of their stay in Harry’s London home was the fact that YN didn’t have some of her basic recording equipment and she was itching to get some music ideas down. 

As the world still tries to carry on in the midst of a pandemic, the couple is still booked for the occasional zoom video or call interview. With a gentle and slow twist of the doorknob of one of the spare bedrooms, YN peaks her head inside to see her boyfriend sprawled along the green velvet couch. His back is to the armrest while he holds the speaker of his phone towards his mouth. His other hand gestures by his side as he explains the writing process for his second record.

He looks so comfy in his sweats and a loose shirt, a tiny clip holding the top of his hair back on top of his head. His words almost taper off when he looks up at his love. He continues to explain how Adore You was made, he gives her a dimpled smile and a nod. The two of them know and understand more than anyone the gravity of their careers in needing to set some time apart for things like this. A piece of knowledge that has Harry shifting his phone away as YN sets the food on the coffee table, reaching out to gently pull on her arm to meet his puckered lips.

“Thank you,” He whispers.

He receives one of her knee-buckling smiles before leaving a final kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“M’gonna be in the bedroom when yeh done.”

Harry circles his lips in a playfully suggestive way and he’s rewarded with one of her infamous eye rolls. He can’t help but give a pinch to her bum when she turns to leave before going back to answer the interviewer’s next question. She bites back a giggle to not out herself within the interview before tip-toeing her way out of the room.

If she could, she would have explained to him that she wasn’t going to wait up for him in the bedroom, not for any sexy time, but to use the big desktop computer where she’s able to use some of her recording/editing software. 

After uploading a couple of voice files from her phone to the desktop, she doesn’t pay much attention to how many files she highlights and drags into her editing program. It isn’t until she’s in a groove of picking bits and piece from her demos that she stumbles upon a file she didn’t record herself. The guitar melody is significantly different than the one she had originally uploaded and when she begins to curiously sift through the file date of when it was made, she hears Harry’s soft voice come through. 

Boyfriends

They think you're so easy

They take you for granted

They don't know they're just misunderstanding you

YN hasn’t heard this song before, not even when it was being drafted and it makes her eyebrows pinch together.

You love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin

You, you, you still open the door

Almost immediately after hearing these words, she’s transported back to the numerous amount of times where she’s taken him back into her life to hop back onto the “on” phase of their on-and-off relationship. 

This couldn’t have been recently written, surely not created during this year fresh into their official relationship.

Are they just pretending?

They don't tell you where it's heading

YN is knocked out of her thoughts when she hears her name being called from the doorway. He doesn’t say anything more but instead goes to lean his hip on the desk in front of her. 

“Why did yeh keep this from me?” YN isn’t mad or upset but rather curious—a reaction he wasn’t really expecting out of her if he was being honest. This was a song he had written when he was deeply hurt—the both of them were—and it wasn’t necessarily a happy path down memory lane whenever that section of their past is brought up. 

“I dunno really. I guess it’s just something that I wanted to put out at the time. It wasn’t the right time and I remember how much Cherry put you off so I put away this one. It never really came up again so...out of sight out of mind I suppose.”

YN hums, keeping her gaze on the screen, “S’a beautiful song.”

“Our songs always seem to end up that way, don't they?” Harry offers a soft smile when he reaches up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. 

“Our songs?”

Harry hums in response, “Hmh, of our—what did you call it once—our ‘fuck-up situation’ I think you said?” 

The two of them huff out a small laugh at the memory. It was only a year ago when their situationship finally came to an end after two years (and only seven days for it to get exposed to the public), when they were both so close yet so closed off from each other. A good chunk of the Fine Line songs have had an up-beat/pop song melody over the melancholy lyrics. 

It all seems like a lifetime ago at this point with their relationship being the strongest it's ever been. Both are undoubtedly grateful to not be in that part of their lives anymore but content that they get to look at each other now to see how far they’ve both come. What better way to capture the timeline of their emotions than through music?

"Doesn't seem that complicated anymore, does it?" She gives her love a satisfied smile.

"Thank heavens for that," He plants a kiss on her forehead. "Now, come gimme a cuddle before I die from lack of touch."

He's already pulling her up and out of her seat over the short distance to the large bed yet her mind gets stuck on the lyrics he sang merely a year ago.

“This was one of the few tracks that I didn’t help write which is a bit strange, at least on my end,” YN smirks, lifting up her index finger knowing. “But I was able to bring in a very special person to bring the song to its completion and to persuade H to finally put it on the album.”

YN and the production team are all huddled up together in her home studio in LA as they talk quietly amongst themselves. It’s been a couple of weeks since she first heard the song as they’ve been working on other tracks for the record but it was finally time to finish the song.

“I dunno, he said he still wanted to work on it,” Tyler, one of Harry’s core producers, says with a scratch of his beard.

“Well, we’re not gonna make this a Watermelon Sugar situation where he keeps putting the song off from not being able to figure out what it needed,” YN points out with her hands on her hips. “The song almost didn’t make it on the album, babe. And this song is too good to just toss aside.”

“The song is basically finished,” Kid shrugs. “And if he doesn’t like it—which I doubt—then we can always scrap the idea and have Mitch play it instead.”

“But I think he’s really gonna—”

“I’m really gonna what?” The team turns around to see the boss man come into the home studio. He looks up from the phone in his hand before rising an eyebrow. “What’s going on.”

The production team share a smile with one another before turning their attention to the man before them.

“We enlisted a very special person,” YN begins. Harry eyes the group suspiciously, especially at his love when she’s practically bouncing in her spot from excitement. 

As if it were planned, the door leading to YN’s recording room opens to reveal none other than Ben Harper.

“Hey YN, got everything set up inside whenever you’re ready—oh, hey,” Ben offers a warm smile to Harry who seems utterly star-struck. If YN had a dollar for every time Harry has brought up this man’s Spotify to show her one of his new songs and geek out about the musician’s style, her pockets would be overflowing. So it was a no-brainer that YN would pull a few strings to bring in the favored artist to be a feature musician for the track.

”I think the good part of [Boyfriends] is that it is everything. It’s both acknowledging my own behavior. It’s looking at behavior that I’ve witnessed. I grew up with a sister, so it’s watching her date people and watching friends date people, and people don’t treat each other very nicely sometimes. It was one of those really quick, just say what you think of boyfriends.”

Even now as he sits next to his love, her eyes bounce around the large computer screen in front of her, diligently working on the added guitar bits for the song, he still can’t wrap his head around the fact that she’s here. After all this time, times when any person would have turned around and walked in a different direction without a second thought, she was still by his side.

From keeping their feelings pushed aside and locked away for five years during their time in the band together, to a secret on-and-off relationship where it was a kiss and don’t tell situation, under the blinding lights of the media. To now being officially together without a doubt in either one’s mind that they’re it for one another, it all seems unreal yet painfully so at the same time. 

You feel a fool

You're back at it again

Despite the addition of Ben Harper’s playing on the official track, there was one aspect of the song Harry wanted to act. The two always find it fun and interesting when there can be hidden messages within songs: like when YN suggested Olivia Rodrigo whisper I love you quite literally in between the chorus and the verse of her song Deja Vu or how one can faintly Harry sing the words fine line in Sunflower Vol. 6. 

With this song in particular, it’s explaining how Harry isn’t the best boyfriend and in turn, YN keeps opening up her arms to let him back into her life.

Instead of the ending of the song flowing back to the beginning of the song to make it an endless loop, he’s reversing it to end the toxic cycle.

It’s here where it finally hits him. He knew this truth since forever it seems but it’s officially time. He doesn’t want to just be her boyfriend. He wants more. She’s the love of his love for crying out loud. 

Taglist:

He wants her to be his wife.

Next song here! 🌷

@wobblymug @be-with-me-so-happily @ashtongivesmebutterflies @kiwiskiwiskiwi @darlingdesire @obsesseddd @hopefulwastelandcreation @cacapeepee @breezie-b00 @harrysfolklore @theekyliepage @sunshinemoonsposts @nervousspiderling @tbslonelyhes @tenaciousperfectionunknown @harrystylesrecs @certified-nalayak @itsjustsel @iknowyouthinkimbulletproof @gviosca @behindmygreyeyes @twobluejeans @allisonxmcu @theemeraldbutterfly @jean-love @marvellover-sam @b-reads-things @reveriehs @rach2602 @thurhomish @perrypughstyles @luvonstyles @mxltifxnd0m @teamspideyman @c00chiemonster @juiceboxrry @s8tellite @folklorehrry @illicithallways @claramllera @eunoiaax @hoya122 @nichmedder @sleutherclaw @gloriousmoneyrascalbiscuit @harianaswhore @teawithcyb0rgs @vrittivsanghavi @vc55bughead @futuristiccroissantlampsludge @onecrazydirectioner @valluvsu @itsgabbysblog @awkwardbisexuall @rosehel @sucker4angstt @isalove @diorchives @mrshiddlestyles02 @fdl305

#harry x 1dbandmember!reader #1dbandmember!yn #since 2010 series #since 2010 ficmas 2022 #building harry's house series #ficmas 2022 #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles and reader #harry styles and you #harry styles and y/n #harry styles and famous reader #harry styles x reader #harry styles x y/n #harry styles x oc #harry styles x you #harry styles x singer!reader #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfic #and harry styles #harry styles ficmas #harry styles writing #harry styles fan fic #harry styles #harry styles blurb

[livfastdieyoung69]

I gotta come back with more 2000s jeff

Maybe this being more of a jeff being protective at first then it shifting to reader being protective

More stone cold and hhh just being menaces maybe them threatening reader with a metal chair and jeff getting super upset because yk and him getting hit with it and reader like leaping in you could have either reader hitting hhh, stone cold or Stephanie with a chair i really like the idea of Stephanie being used as a threat against hhh (sorry if this is rambly😭😭)

LITTLE DEVIL

(sort of a continuation to NO THREATS SIMPLY PROMISES, can be read alone.)

“I don’t think you should go out tonight.” Jeff’s voice rang through the small locker room designated to Team Xtreme, clearly full of anxiety. After last Raw’s incident, Triple H had been the first segment of the night, walking into the ring with a metal chair and threatening Y/N after their attack on Stephanie.

“What? Why?” Y/N knew why, but they also knew that they could hold their own.

“Y’know why, N/N. I don’t want you getting hurt, ‘specially with all of the stuff they were just talkin’ about! It would just be better for all of us.” Triple H, with a little help from Stephanie- had said some pretty gnarly stuff, and they didn’t want the rematch to be messed up, so Y/N agreed, but only if they were allowed to sit in the gorilla and watch from there.

“Don’t let em’ get to you, alright? Have a good match Jeffro, I’ll be waiting for ya right here. You guys too!” They stood in the gorilla as the Hardys’ music was cued, listening to the crowd cheer them on. The match started quickly, Triple H getting a brutal upper hand over Jeff, catching him off guard with hard fists. Jeff was finally able to get a hit in on Triple H and almost made a tag to Matt, but his brothers feet were swept away by Stone Cold along with Stephanie dragging Lita down to the concrete floor.

Now, with the ref trying to get the outside of the ring under control, Triple H took it to his advantage, and dove under the ropes, making an attempt to grab a chair from underneath the ring opposite of the side the rest of his teammates were at. Then their music cut, and out walked Y/N with a chair of their own, eyes trained on Hunter. Jeff somewhat recovered and now standing, hidden by the announce table, Stone Cold and Matt had moved to another side of the concrete floor, but Lita and Stephanie were still front and center, right where the ramp ended.

Why hurt what hurt your love when you can hurt theirs?

Hunter watched as Y/N’s eyes moved from his to Stephanie, then over to Jeff. He watched the smirk form on their face, and he watched as Lita moved out of the way. His eyes went wide and tried to rush forward, but Jeff had grabbed him from behind. He watched as Y/N rose the chair above their head, eyes still watching him, mouth still placed in a malicious grin. He watched the chair slam down his wife's back, he watched it bounce back up and hit her again. He watched as Y/N’s smile grew wider at her cries of pain much like on Monday night.

“When I said I would kill if you touched him again, I meant it.” The words were roughly whispered across the ring, barely audible.

Stone Cold had left long ago, truly not caring at all for the dramatics of HHH and Stephanie so with no one else to fight, Matt and Jeff beat Triple H into a puddle next to the ringside announcers, the sound of the metal chair against Stephanie's back still ricocheting throughout the arena.

When it was made obvious Hunter was unable to get up, the original three began to walk backstage, but were stopped at the sight of Y/N, a rabid look on their face, metal chair still in hand and swinging at the back of Stephanie. Matt and Lita continued up the ramp knowing it was a problem for Jeff to deal with.

They were stopped mid-swing, Jeff gripping at their forearm in an attempt to contain them. It did little, Y/N squirming in his grip in hope to continue their on slaughter. Seeing his brothers struggle, Matt turned back and grabbed their chair from their hands before continuing on with Lita.

Jeff acting as a tether to reality brought Y/N back from their unconsciousness vexation with his sweet, calming words and without even realizing it, they had made it backstage, to the gorilla once again.

“I told her I would do it. Had to…had to keep to my word.” They spoke in between broken breathes, an attack on Stephanie once again bringing them exhaustion and placing them into Jeff’s arms.

“I know, Y/N, I know. Wasn’t your fault this time, they shouldn’t have done all that.” His words were meant to comfort but only caused them to pull away from his chest, eyebrows furrowed.

“This time?” Y/N’s voice filled with fake anger, they could never truly be angry at him. A smile filled in on their face as they watched the poor boy try to stutter an excuse out until he realized they had been joking, and he pulled them back against him, laughter vibrating from his chest and spreading into theirs.

“You’re being a little menace this week, ain’t you? Guess I can’t complain, at least I ain’t the one bein’ choked. C’mon little devil, lets get you home before you try to attack someone else. Who’s it gonna be next time, Trish?”

“Hey! I love Trish, I’d never do that to her!”

“You weren’t too fond of her when we had to do that love thing.”

“That’s- that’s different. That doesn’t count.” Now it was their turn to stutter, flustered at the reminder of just how jealous they had been when Trish and Jeff were forced to do a love story together. Their embarrassment earned a kiss to the head from Jeff and a small laugh.

“M’sure it is.”

This took way 2 long and is kinda bad but i wanted to post somethin so whatev i guess

Watching Monday night raw got me inspired got to see my man Cody right away this time didn’t have to wait three goddamn hours

#jeff hardy #LIV WRITES;*! #2000's jeff hardy #jeff hardy x reader #jeff hardy imagine #smackdown #friday night smackdown #wwe smackdown #wwe #matt hardy #wwf

[forest-falcon]

I wrote this in one go when prepping dinner tonight so it's probably rubbish but I thought I'd post before overthinking it because I have probably six other fictions that I'm still overthinking!

Cold Coffee

As parents of four, nearly five rambunctious boys, Jeff and Lucille could be considered experts in the world of parenting. And if there's one lesson that they could pass on, it would be this; that there are no real experts when it comes to parenting.

As an astronaut and pioneer of the world-famous TV-21, Jeff had sat through many interviews quizzing him on every aspect of astrophysics imaginable. Having answered these questions, it seemed almost mandatory, for each interviewer to conclude in a similar fashion:

"How do you balance family life with your work?"

"Five children? Do you have external help?"

"What type of a parent would you say that you are - Authoritarian? Helicopter?"

"Human." Jeff would answer.

The world seemingly had many opinions on the Tracy family. Some believed they had it easy because... money. Others called out in support of the philanthropist saying Jeff had worked hard for everything he had built. A true underdog story - son of a Kansas wheat farmer now voyaging into uncharted space. However, seemingly nobody made the connection that, just like the rest of the world, they did not have it all figured.

"MUM! MUUUM!" Scott's voice wailed like a klaxon as he skidded into the kitchen.

"Yes Scotty?" Lucille answered, seemingly unperturbed. She continued to stack the family's breakfast dishes in the dishwasher as she spoke.

"I...err...I was trying to be helpful and bring you the dishes but...I knocked over the milk." Scott mumbled, twiddling his fingers.

Lucy grabbed a cloth and the kitchen spray.

"That's okay, can you wipe the spillage off the table for me? I'll be in in a moment. There's only a couple more dishes to-"

"It's gone everywhere! It's over the floor too!" Scott flapped, seemingly excited by the household disaster.

"Is it indeed?" Lucy quirked a bemused eyebrow, and made a show of putting her marigold-clad hand on her hip.

Scott nodded enthusiastically.

"Ok, I'll grab the mop."

Lucy was halfway through with filling the bucket when Scott's voice announced the next Tracy-home catastrophe.

"Ooooh noooo!" The voice came from the other room.

"...What is it Scott?" Lucy responded with a small sigh.

"Gordon's been playing in the milk and has walked it everywhere. It's all over his clothes!"

"FAB"

Lucille kneaded her lower back.

"Come on old girl" she grumbled to herself. At thirty-five, she wasn't old, but today somehow felt the age of the entire household combined.

Scooping up her soggy toddler, she sat him atop her rounded stomach and made for the bathroom. Some days she wondered if Gordon purposefully baptised himself in mess just so he had the excuse for another bath, he loved the water so much.

Scott, being the eldest, made a start on mopping the milk footprints from the dining room and hall. A quick calculation and Lucille decided that the least messy option, and one resulting in the fewest brotherly arguments, would be to have Virgil and John entertain themselves not in the direct vicinity of the breakfast mayhem. Virgil had set himself up at the piano and John parked himself in front of the brand new holoprojector. Sanity somewhat restored, she began showering her toddler.

Keeping the bathroom door open, Lucille listened for any new potential calamity but instead heard the gentle melody of silent night start up from the piano. It was February, but Virgil had been so very proud to be asked to perform the piece at his school's Christmas concert that he still associated the piece with the happiness he felt that day. It brought a smile to Lucy's heart too and she let the gentle sound wash over her as she rinsed the last of the soap suds from Gordon.

Another sound overtook Virgil's music. John had tuned into his favourite programme about space and had obviously increased the volume to combat the sound of the piano. The instrument grew louder in retaliation; silent night becoming more of a relatable night as witnessed by the Tracy household - in a nutshell; loud. In defiance, the holoprojector volume raised once more.

"Boys, turn the volume down!" she called, lifting Gordon from the bath, but her voice was drowned out by the dueling decibels.

"BOYS!" She called again, wrapping a towel around the youngest. The baby within her kicked in protest at the din.

Massaging her temples, she made for the living room and turned the holoprojector off.

"Hey!" John protested.

Virgil abruptly ended his aggressive rendition of anything-but-silent night and sat with a face of utter innocence, as though he hadn't been party to the explosive noise.

"John. Virgil. I. Need. Five. Minutes."

She paused, surveying the cluttered lounge.

"God, I could use a coffee right now." She muttered to herself. One month to go she inwardly sighed.

"Let me help dress your brother, then you're both gonna help me tidy all of...this." she gestured vaguely to her jumble sale of a room.

"I think Gordie's gone and dressed himself!" John sniggered.

Lucy turned to find Gordon sporting a pair of flippers, rubber ring, snorkel mask and one of her summer straw hats...and little else.

"Well kinda." Virgil snorted.

Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose and couldn't help but chuckle herself.

"Nice outfit kiddo, but I think we need something on your lower half."

Gordon gestured to his flippers.

"Come on, I'll help you pick something out."

She rifled through the folded laundry basket that was yet to make the journey upstairs and produced a more suitable outfit for the day.

Moments after she had finished dressing Gordon, Scott reappeared.

"Erm...mum?" he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

Lucy turned to face him with a I-am-desperately- trying-to-be-a-good-parent smile.

"Yes...Scotty?"

"Well, you know you asked me to get the paddling pool out for Gordon?"

"No, when on earth did I say that? I've been bathing your brother."

"Oh… When you were talking with John n Virg, Gordie said you asked if I would get the paddling pool out for him."

Lucille turned to face the smallest mischief maker only to find him hiding behind Virgil.

"Anyway..." Scott continued.

"I accidentally dropped the house key when trying to carry everything." he mumbled.

"I needed it to open the back door and it err...it went down a gap in the decking in the back garden."

"O-kay" Lucy inhaled slowly. Summoning both her physical and mental strength. She followed her eldest to the decking.

"Can you show me where you dropped the key?"

"I'm...not too sure."

"The paddling pool is so big and I couldn't see where the key went exactly."

"Ok, well where were you standing?"

"I... can't remember."

Lucy muttered a word under her breath that she would later reason to her son's teacher that he must have learnt from his school peers.

"I need to take the decking up."

"Can't we just leave it until dad's home? He said he'd be back at lunch today, so anytime now really." Scott reasoned.

"That's the kicker. Dad gave his set of keys to Grandma when we went away. He was relying on us to let him in today."

As if on cue, there was a rap on the door."

Virgil opened the letter box and looked through.

"It's dad!" He called excitedly.

Lucy used the wall to ease herself down and peered through the letterbox.

"We have a situation... The keys fell through the decking in the back. Both the back gate and front door are locked."

"Ah. Maybe a master key wasn't the best idea. No worries. We'll get it back." His eyes smiled.

"I'm gonna try n take the decking up." Lucy announced.

"No. Wait… I have a plan. Make sure nobody is standing by the back gate, ok?" Jeff's profile disappeared from the small window of vision.

"What's the plan? Jeff? Jeff?" she made a guttural sound in the back of her throat then headed back out to the garden.

"Is everyone out of the way?"

"Yes-"

"-Good!"

There was a loud thud against the back gate.

"Oww."

"That was your plan? To try to kick the gate down?" Lucy deadpanned.

"In fairness, those are some mighty good hinges."

Lucy chuckled.

"Hold on..."

There was a scraping sound, followed by some clambering, then Jeff appeared at the top of the fence. Swinging himself over the top, he landed with as much finesse as any comic book superhero ever had.

He straightened and gave Lucy a devilishly smug smile.

"Hi" he said, kissing her on the cheek.

"Hi" she replied, stress melting away almost tangibly.

"So...decking" he said, rolling up the sleeves of his white linen shirt. It was warm and he unbuttoned the top of his shirt.

"I can do it." Lucy said. She wasn't exactly sure why. Maybe, she felt that she wanted to prove herself capable, having felt like she had failed with the boys this morning. Her life was infinitely different from when Jeff and her had studied astrophysics together. She felt the urge to feel good at something again.

"Don't be daft!" Jeff scoffed, nodding towards her eight-months-pregnant form.

"I'm capable." Lucy retorted stubbornly.

Jeff cupped her hands and kissed them.

"I know you are, but just because you can, doesn't mean you should have to. I want to show our boys that asking for help is not weakness, it's a strength." His smile was genuine and warm.

"Mum?" Lucy turned and found all four boys beaming up at her.

"We just wanted to say we love you, so we made you the coffee you wanted and got you some flowers." Scott said, brandishing a bunch of flowers that had been growing in the garden less than half an hour before.

Jeff squeezed her shoulder.

"And sorry about the keys." The eldest boy added.

Lucy pulled Scott in for a hug.

"It's ok Scotty. You were just trying to help. I love you."

Virgil stepped forward, mug in hand.

"I know we're not supposed to use the kettle when you're not there so we used the tap instead." Virgil said, presenting her with a greyish milky concoction with coffee granules floating at the top.

"You said you'd like some coffee."

"Thank you sweetheart." She beamed, accepting simultaneously the best and worst coffee she ever had.

"I'm so lucky to have you boys."

She silently handed the cup over to Jeff and pulled all the boys into a hug.

"Still wanting to pull that decking up yourself?" Jeff quizzed.

"No." Lucy smiled, wiping away happy tears.

"Good."

"So...boys! Who wants to learn how an impact driver works?" Jeff called, returning the mug to his wife.

Lucy watched happily as the boys all chorused and ran to join their father, working together to find the missing key. Absent-mindedly, she took a sip from her mug and blanched.

#thunderbirds are go #thunderfam #thunderbirds fanfiction #scott tracy #virgil tracy #john tracy #gordon tracy #lucille tracy #jeff tracy #thunderfluff

[boonesfarmsangria]

Basement alchemy: Yannis & The Yaw sees Foals' Yannis Philippakis and Afrobeat legend Tony Allen forge a treasure with 'Walk Through Fire'

The lead track from YANNIS PHILIPPAKIS’ posthumous collaboration with Afrobeat drumming legend TONY ALLEN captures the electrifying spark that ignited during their global musical meeting, weaving a tapestry of sound that reflects the cultural touchstones of Lagos, Paris, and London. Read our latest Dork Mixtape cover feature now.

Words: Martyn Young.

Photos: Kit Monteith, Rishi Salujah.

“It’s about serendipity and coming together with someone.” There’s always something amazing when you get to meet your heroes, but for Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis, the opportunity to not only meet but work with legendary Afrobeat pioneering drummer Tony Allen was a truly special experience. Tragically, Tony passed away during the pandemic, leaving the work that they started in flux, but seven years after they first met, Yannis has now put together a beautiful EP documenting their time and the music they made together as a special project under the name Yannis And The Yaw. ‘Lagos Paris London’ is a reflection of a moment in time and two generations meeting and creating a little bit of magic.

With Foals riding high on the wild success of their fourth album ‘What Went Down’, a call offering an intriguing opportunity came following two years of hard touring. “I got a call when we were deep in a Foals tour. We were touring ‘What Went Down’ so it was quite a few years ago now. I got a call from a mutual friend who said, do you want to go and write with Tony Allen in Paris?” says Yannis.

The mention of Tony Allen’s name immediately conjured excitement as he remembered the pivotal role Tony and his work as drummer for Fela Kuti, as well as his long and winding career, played in the genesis and evolution of Foals. “A lot of our formative musical years were spent listening to Fela Kuti,” he explains. “Especially this one compilation of Tony Allen’s that I think is just called ‘The Best Of’. It’s a quadruple vinyl. We used to hammer it when we were writing ‘Antidotes’ and ‘Total Life Forever’. I was a huge fan.”

He was immediately hooked on the unique skill of his drumming. “Another song that we loved that he played on was ‘La Ritournelle’ by Sebastian Tellier; that was a song we all obsessed over. His drumming is a huge part of why that song is great.”

While the opportunity sounded exciting, a “no brainer”, as Yannis explains it, the reality of actually making it work became more of an issue. “I got home, and I hadn’t been home for a couple of months, and I collapsed into a puddle the moment the keys were thrown on the table. I was like, fuck, I don’t know if I’ve got the energy to get up and get to Paris the next day,” says Yannis as he describes his exhaustion after a punishing Foals tour. “I almost put it off, but my friend at the time encouraged me and said, look, you’ve got to go there for two days. It might be the experience of a lifetime, then you can come home and rest.”

For the experience of a lifetime, Yannis recounts the details in a refreshingly simple and down-to-earth style. “So, I trotted off with my guitar to the Eurostar and I got there in the morning,” he begins. “It was a basement studio. Very French and very 70s. Full of cigarette smoke and bad carpet and mirrors in weird places. It was basically Tony’s home, in a way. His drums were permanently set up in the live room.”

For the music icon that is Tony Allen, he had seen and experienced everything there is to experience and had worked with a who’s who of musical legends, “What was funny about the first encounter was he wasn’t particularly phased or that excited that I was there. He was just in his own vibe,” laughs Yannis. “I don’t think he knew of my work. It was set up, and he was in a place where he was very open to collaborating with people. He was doing some stuff with Jeff Mills. Tony, in general, collaborated a lot. He approached it like a jazz drummer. The producers and the other musicians that were around Tony knew me; they helped me set up and were very welcoming.”

Was there a sense of trepidation, though, and having to prove yourself and prove your musical chops? “It wasn’t that Tony wasn’t welcoming, but he was waiting to see what it was going to be like. Who’s this little punk?” he laughs.

Almost instantly, though, the musical alchemy bubbled up, and from their first jam together came the project’s first track with the heavy groove of ‘Walk Through Fire’. “It’s a simple song,” he explains. “It largely revolves around this one riff. We played it round a couple of times, and some of these other French guys in the studio who knew Tony played along and were either helping out on bass or percussion. We kinda had it there. The moment that that had happened we were getting on like a house on fire after that. The room changed.”

As they played more and more, Yannis discovered at close quarters what he loved about Tony’s artistry and even discovered new things. “I was surprised at how quietly he played,” he says with deep reverence. “Coming from proper big arena rock shows on this Foals tour and playing songs like ‘What Went Down’ and ‘Snakeoil’ was a total pivot into this much more deft style of playing. Just being in a room with him and hearing him in the moment playing his drums that I had become so familiar with, the texture and the rhythm of the way he played and that being on something that I was writing live on the spot and that we were inhabiting the same moment of creativity together in a room was just electrifying.”

‘Walk Through Fire’ was the spark that ignited the whole project. “It was the first thing. It’s immediate in the same way that it was immediate in the room on that day,” enthuses Yannis. “The lyrics are pretty resonant with the time we’re living in. Tony encouraged this in me. He wanted the lyrics to be engaged with the social fabric. A lot of Tony’s music, and the lineage of Fela Kuti and Afrobeat, is often very political with protest songs. In discussing with Tony about the lyrics, he wanted it to mine the social discord. It resonates today. It’s got this fresh energy. It feels like a more garagey or bluesy song. It’s quite rough and freeing and fun. It was a good entry point to the project but also makes sense chronologically.”

The jamming session in Paris was intended to lead to work beginning on a full album, but events got in the way firstly with scheduling issues and then Covid before Tony’s sad passing, which ultimately gave Yannis the impetus to turn those special moments into something real and tangible. “Covid really scuppered us because he was based in Paris. It was impossible for so long,” he explains. “As is the way with collaborations, once you’ve captured the lighting in the bottle, sometimes you don’t complete it when you should. You know that it’s there, so you get slightly complacent about it. I had a lot of stuff with Foals and he was busy as well doing The Good, The Bad and The Queen. He was really busy, and between us we couldn’t get together. Sadly and tragically, he passed away during Covid. It strangely was a massive motivation to try to finish it. Largely out of guilt that we hadn’t done it while he was alive and realising that it had been such a special experience in my life creatively, but just as a person, it was such a unique moment for us to have not completed it and played shows together. Out of bittersweet guilt, I really wanted to finish it. We needed to put them out to do it justice.”

The EP is a beautiful tribute to the enduring legacy of Tony Allen and the creative spirit he represents. “His music will live on forever,” says Yannis passionately. “The drums will play on. He had such an incredible and unique style of playing. He was the originator. He was the source. There’s an untappable well that will continue to inspire people for generations.”

The record is also an example of his dexterity as a musician and willingness to still try new things. “This release is an interesting perspective on Tony’s writing,” says Yannis. “It’s definitely a different project than Tony’s worked on before. It’s the heaviest stuff he was involved in. For me, it’s obviously the most inspired by jazz and Afrobeat. For people coming to the EP, it’s an interesting prism that we were both put in and thrust together to write this.”

Even more remarkable is that it almost never happened. “Had I not gone to Paris that day and further along, had we not kept it up and had we not finished it, through these chance meetings and happenings, you can end up with something that’s precious and is permanent,” he continues. “When so much of life is impermanent, that’s a really important lesson that I learned. I feel protective over the record. It’s a treasure and a document of two people who came together. He was in his seventies when I met him, and I was in my twenties. There’s something amazing about two people from different cultures and backgrounds and generations being thrust together unknowingly without knowing each other and through music very quickly bonding and forming and creating something that will last.”

This collaborative project comes at a time when Foals are able to take a pause and reflect on a triumphant couple of years following their euphoric 2022 album ‘Life Is Yours’ which cemented them firmly at the top of the UK band pantheon after almost two decades of innovation. “We’ve been smashing it for so many years; it’s been such a constant focus of our lives,” says Yannis, explaining the band’s desire to take stock. “It has been incredible to devote yourself to something so absorbing, but I think every now and then you just have to come up for air and remind yourself what life looks like above the parapet. For self-preservation and the preservation of the band, it’s important to occasionally stop and assess what exactly we want to do next rather than just automatically make another record without consideration. This time, we want to think about what we’re going to do next, and I think that’s natural after having put out quite a few records; it’s important for us to decide what we want to do.”

In the meantime, Yannis And The Yaw offers the opportunity to have some fun and do something a little different. Certainly not a solo project, but just a different kind of creative expression. “I’ve left it open-ended,” he says excitedly. “The idea behind the Yaw part is that it could be a rotating collaborative project. The title, ‘Lagos Paris London’, is the cultural touchstones for the EP, and it’s a musical postcard from these locations. If there was to be another project with the Yaw again, it would be three different locations and a different cultural mix. It’s not meant to be a solo expression. This EP is an archive of time recording with Tony and French musicians Vincent Taeger and Vincent Tuarelle, who were really important and produced it. I would imagine they might be part of the Yaw. It’s important to make the distinction. If I were to do a solo record, it would sound a lot different. This is led by Tony and the group of his musicians in France. If I was to do another one, it would sound quite different. There are no plans for that right now. I want to leave it open-ended and let this EP have its time in the sun, and let’s see what happens later on.”

With the EP arriving at the end of the summer, there’s a tantalising opportunity for perhaps some gigs as Yannis looks to continue to honour the legacy of one of his all-time heroes. “I think we will,” he smiles when asked if he’s planning to bring these songs to life on stage. “Not an extensive tour, but a couple of shows to give the record a good release and a good send-off and honour Tony.”

#yannis philippakis #yannis and the yaw #y&ty #interview #actual reading

[inej-ruination-ghafa]

FACE THE MUSIC - E.M

Warnings: rock music, sexism, making out, not many warnings

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Fem!Harrington!Reader

Summary: you were new to town and Eddie munson wants to find out why this new band was taking his crowds but he finds you instead.

Wordcount: 2.1k

Eddie had gigs at the local bar on a wednesday night and he had a gig in a small downtown place every monday and friday. It paid so much and he loved the corroded coffin more than anything. 

He didn't go to the downtown bar any days other than monday or friday so he didn't know the entertainment on those nights - only knowing it was jazz tuesday and there was no way in hell he was ever going there. 

However, one Saturday night he was hanging out with Gareth and Jeff in Jeff's garage when they mentioned a new band that was coming to the scene and was beginning to steal their customers. 

It was a cold day in February and he was expecting that the amount of people to be low anyway but now that he knew it was another band that had been stealing the crowdnfrom him, he was furious as he listened to Jeff explain it. 

“Revenge? The band is called revenge?” Eddie questioned and Gareth nodded, watching as Eddie took another swig from his beer, “Thats a corny name,”

Gareth nodded his head, “Apparently, they've got this hot chick playing the guitar,” he said. 

That piqued Eddie's interest at the idea of a girl playing the electric guitar in a rock band on Saturdays and thursdays. 

“Hot chick?” he questioned, more of a rhetorical question than anything else. 

He was intrigued at the idea, finger running over the rim of his beer bottle before he chugged the last of the drink, “Well boys, I think it's time to visit our favourite bar,” he said with a smirk. 

They knew what he was thinking, who was this new girl in this new band and why was she in town?

The Weasel bar was a popular metal spot and would often play up and coming bands like local bands and small touring bands who came to visit from Indiana. 

Eddie loved the vibe and from the second he walked in and smelt sweat and beer he knew it felt like home. 

Then he heard the sound of an epic guitar riff and heard it, his current favourite song being played out across the room. Almost in a trance, he weaved his way through the crowd to see a girl standing in the middle, one of her legs up against the amps.

She was wearing a short black iron maiden shirt and it looked like she had cut it herself into the crop top. It raised up every time you strummed against the strings, exposing the lace of her bra and more of her midriff every time. She was wearing leather trousers that hugged her curves and Eddie couldn't take his eyes off of her. 

That girl was you and that was your band. You were the only girl in a band full of boys and the only reason why you got in was because your older brother was the lead singer. 

He began singing, his raspy voice echoing through the crowd. Eddie stood at the back of the main crowd, eyes trained on you as you bit your lip, a layer of sweat building on your forehead as you strummed out, fingers rapidly switching between chords. 

His heart was pounding and Eddie felt like he couldn't move. He had never felt like this before and he was horrified, pressing a hand to his chest as he wondered if he was having a stroke. 

He watched as you launched into a guitar solo, your head pounding back and forth, short hair getting in your face but you just blew it out of the way. He was mesmerised with how you were managing to hit all the chords perfectly. 

The music trailed out, the guy on the keyboard behind you beginning to play but you kept up with the low playing, everyone watching the group as you continued to play. 

Eddie had never seen a girl, or anyone for that matter, play the guitar as well as you had and in that instant, he had put you on a pedestal and was falling in love with you even though he didn't know your name. 

The ten minute song finished with a loud banging from the guy on the drumkits and the crowd applauded, Eddie standing dumbfounded as he stood in a crowd of people cheering and whooping. 

You looked up, brushing your hair from your face with a wide smile as you finished the song. You looked out of the crowd, feeling the high of the attention sink in as you realised all these people were cheering for you and your band. 

“We will be taking a quick break but be expecting us back soon,” your brother said and you put your guitar down against the amps and Eddie took a look at it. 

It looked similar to his with a sleek design but yours was plain black with just a stripe of white. He was still in a sort of shock and he didn't know why he was feeling this way. 

He kept wondering if maybe this was love at first sight and all he cared about was that he had to go and find you in the crowd, he had to introduce himself to you. 

Eddie couldn't hear Gareth and Jeff in the back as they called after him but he just wormed his way through the crowd, chasing after you as he followed you outside. 

He found you standing against the brick wall, your eyes closed as you relished in the silence. You loved the loud music but sometimes, you enjoyed a moment to yourself in the silence. 

“Hi,” you heard a voice say and you opened your eyes, groaning in frustration that your alone time had been disrupted. Then you turned and saw an attractive guy standing in front of you.

He was taller than you - though you wondered how much taller he would be than you without your platform boots on - and he had long hair and bangs that he brushed out of his face. 

“Hi,” you said, cocking your head to the side as he walked over. 

Normally Eddie was sauve and cool and confident but right now, he was a mess as he tried to figure out how to speak to you. 

“I liked the music, that was my favourite song,” he said and you smiled. 

“Mine too,” you replied. You expected the silence to be uncomfortable seeing as you'd just met this guy but it was nice, you felt like you could have stood there with him not talking for hours. 

“Are you new around here? I feel like I would recognise a face as beautiful as yours anywhere,” he asked and a heat rose up in your cheeks. You couldn't believe you were already so attracted to the man in front of you. 

“Yeah, I just moved into town. I'm staying with my cousin for a while, he goes to Hawkins high,” you said, hoping that maybe he would say that he went there too but he looked too old and you didn't want to get involved with a 25 year old when you'd just turned 18. 

“Same, it's my third senior year,” he explained and you tilted your head in confusion. 

“Third?” you questioned. 

He chuckled, “Yeah, I uh, I failed the last two but this is my year, I feel it,” he said, walking closer to you. 

He was barely six inches away and you watched as his eyes flicked down to your lips. You could feel the heat in your cheeks and swore internally at yourself for how quickly you were falling for this guy in front of you, it was almost embarrassing. 

You could feel the magnetism between the two of you, like the fates were pulling your conjoined thread together and you were shocked at how easily you were comfortable around him. 

“I don't even know your name,” you whispered, his face nearing yours and you were hoping he wouldn't notice the way that your chest was rising and falling with every jagged breath you were taking. 

He smiled, Eddie was regaining his confidence and you, on the other hand were crumbling under his gaze as he leant over you, your confidence shattering as you melted into him. 

“Eddie,” he said, learning so close that you could smell the beers and cigarettes on his breath. 

You repeated his name and Eddie would have died right there as you said it. It sounded so angelic rolling off of your tongue and he wondered what you sound like moaning it out. 

“I’m Y/N,” you said and he repeated it back to you, a fluttery feeling appearing in your stomach and you cursed yourself for feeling this was about some boy after only knowing him for a few minutes. 

“Y/N, can I kiss you?” he asked, his tone soft and gentle, different to what you thought someone that looked as rough as him would be. 

You nodded and he leant in, lips pressing up against yours sweetley and you leant in further, hands sliding up into his hard as you pressed him tighter against your mouth. 

His tongue swiped over your lips and you opened your mouth, moaning at the taste of him as it flooded your senses, turning you into putty in his hand. 

He placed one hand on your cheek, pressing your lips further into his and he placed the other one on the bare skin on the small of your back, pressing your body against his. 

You felt high with the taste of him and you never wanted to let go. You could feel the need to breath building up but you didn't want to pull away. 

He must have known because he detached his lips from yours, moving them so that they began trailing down your jaw. He pressed an open mouthed kiss on the underside of your neck, sucking gently and listening to the way you moaned out his name. It just spurred him on and he continued planting kisses along your collarbone. 

He moved up to your face again when you tugged on his hair, his lips colliding with yours againlike two planets in a supernova and it really did feel like you were going to explode if you had to let go of him.

eddie had never felt this way about a girl, so desperate to hold her tight and taste her and he loved it, he loved the taste of you against his tongue and the way your lips seemed to slot together perfectly 

He pulled away, breathing heavily against you as you pressed your forehead against his. He had never felt this way kissing a girl before and he swore that you must be a siren because you were lulling him into some spell. 

He had never had such a high before when his lips were attached to yours and maybe you were the only drug he needed anymore, “I’ve got to go back, we have more on our set,” you said against his lips, not wanting to leave. 

His hand on your lower back just pressed you closer to him and you didn't want to move. You didn't understand how in the last ten minutes, you had met this guy and already didn't want to leave his warm embrace. 

“Here's my number, you call me,” he said as he grabbed a pen, scribbling his number onto your bare arm. 

“Thanks, and I’ll see you at school, Eddie” you said, pressing another kiss to his lips before slipping away and into the crowd. 

He reached a hand up, finger tracing over his lips as he wondered how his life had just been flipped upside down in a matter of minutes by you, the most amazing girl he had ever met. 

He walked in, a little lightheaded as he watched you head up on stage. His chest swelled with pride when he noticed a small hickey appearing on the underside of your neck, a grin on his face. 

“Where were you dude?” Gareth asked him and Jeff finally found Eddie again. 

He grinned to himself, “Just catching up with the new girl, finding out about the band,”  he explained, eyes meeting yours as you stood up on stage. You winked at him and his heart fluttered, he wasn't able to take his eyes off of you

“Welcome back Miss Harrington,” your brother called out and you rolled your eyes, hoping they didn't notice the new hickey on your neck, your swollen lips or the phone number scribbled on your arm. 

Eddie's stomach sank, Steve Harrington was the cousin you’d mentioned. 

A/N, I really liked this idea and was thinking about maybe doing a part 2, I don't know, I've got too many mini series going on right now so it depends

#eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson #eddie stranger things #eddie munson stranger things #eddie munson st4 #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfiction #stranger things season four #stranger things eddie munson #stranger things eddie x reader #stranger things eddie #mj writes nonsense

[thorfemmes]

Hii I got this idea because of seeing so many tiktoks of how the stranger things characters would react if they walked in on you changing and I was wondering how you think Eddie would react walking in on the reader naked or in the shower? Him and reader have been friends for a little while and he’s got a crush on them and then accidentally seeing them naked? Im sorry if this is stupid though😅 thank youu 💖

Hi! Thank you for the request. I'm lowkey obsessed with this one so I hope you enjoy!

a/n: both Eddie and reader have graduated high school in this and are 20+ years old.

Saturday nights were movie nights for you and Eddie. They have been since you met back in freshman year of high school and you discovered that you both loved Star Wars. This particular weekend, you had worked a double shift the night before and had basically slept most of Saturday.

When you finally got up, you had about three hours before Eddie was supposed to arrive (he was supposed to be at band practice at the moment, then he was going to swing by Family Video to pick up some movies for you to watch). You quickly ate a haphazardly thrown together meal, and set out the snacks and candy you got from your weekly grocery trip with Eddie.

It was kinda cute the little routine you both had. Mondays were saved for grocery shopping together, Saturdays were movie nights. Ever since you both graduated you had less time to spend together because of work so the little scheduled hang outs were cherished by you both.

Still having at least two hours, you hopped in the shower.

Meanwhile, across town Eddie was wrapping up band practice early. They didn't have a show next weekend and he was in a bit of a hurry to see you. But he was keeping it subtle of course, only checking his watch every 30 seconds to the point that Jeff called it in early.

Eddie rushed to Family Video, thinking it might be a nice surprise to arrive a little bit early. Anything to spend more time with you. He grabbed three VHS tapes so you had choices, darting the teasing from Robin and Steve.

When he arrived at your apartment he was surprised that you didn't answer the door right away. He could've sworn you didn't have work today. He reached up to the top of the doorway where you kept a key especially for him, and let himself in.

"Hey honey, I'm home!" He jokingly shouted throughout the apartment.

He didn't get a response, but heard shuffling in your room. He knocked on your bedroom door this time and still didn't get a response.

"Babe, you in there?"

He heard a muffled sound that sounded like "come in," so he quietly pushed your door open and was greeted by you with your headphones on and your Walkman playing, and your towel clad body just before you unwrapped yourself to get dressed.

"OH MY GOD!"

"OH MY GOD," You screamed, wrapping yourself back up again. "What are you doing?! There's no way it's five o'clock yet!"

"I was going to surprise you! Why are you listening to your Walkman wet out of the shower?!"

"My neighbors complained about my music!"

He looked you up and down, greedily enjoying your almost naked body. His eyes widened, realizing what he was doing. "Oh my God!"

He quickly shut your door and went and sat on your couch, sitting up straight and twiddling his thumbs like a child in trouble.

You cleared your throat to announce your presence. "So, what movie choices do we have tonight?"

He smirked at your ability to quickly change the subject. "Uh, we've got Little Shop of Horrors, Nightmare on Elm Street 2, and House".

"Ooh a horror night. Let's start with Little Shop of Horrors. Let me grab the snacks".

As the night went on, tension grew. While you'd usually be cuddled up together cracking jokes about the movies, you sat on opposite sides of your couch -stealing glances at one another. Halfway through the second film you'd had enough. Grabbing the remote and pausing it, you turned to look at him with a huff.

"Can we talk about it? You saw me naked".

"Yes I did, y/n," You cringed, he never called you by your name. "I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have been snooping. I shoulda waited in the living room".

"Yeah, but it happens right? Sometimes friends accidentally flash each other?"

"I mean, not really but, eh".

"Eh?"

"N-no! You're not 'eh'! Far from it!" He was rambling now. "You're actually kinda hot".

You raised your eyebrows. "I'm hot?"

"Very. I've always thought so, but that just confirmed it".

You didn't know what to say. Neither did Eddie, he was surprised that he even said anything.

"So I'm hot, and you've always thought so?"

"Yep".

"Okay".

You both sat in silence, taking in what he said.

"Look y/n, I just-" He took a deep breath. "I've always been attracted to you. I've liked you for a while now. I just didn't want to ruin what we have".

"How long?"

"Since sophomore year, when we went to that triple feature of all the Star Wars movies and I made you laugh so hard you choked on popcorn".

You smiled widely. Crawling over to him, you gently grabbed his hand and rested your head on his shoulder. "You know, I've had the biggest crush on you too. Pretty much since I met you, so it's really comforting to know you feel the same way. Even if it had to come out this way," You laughed and nudged his shoulder.

He laughed with you before going silent. Looking into your eyes with his large, kind brown eyes he quietly asked "Can I kiss you?"

"Please do".

And finally, finally your lips connected.

#Eddie munson #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x reader #eddie x reader #eddie munson x y/n #ask #anon #writing #eddie munson x plus size reader

[xenon-demon]

🔀 for steddie 💕

Thank you so much for the ask Janai!!!!!! Just so we all know I'm shuffling my big "Liked Songs" playlist for this ask game, so any song I've saved on Spotify since 2017 could come up lmao. For this ask I got Love Might Be Found (Volcano) by Montaigne! Oooooh man okay this is such a good song, it's about being in the earlier stages of a relationship and then having to leave them for some reason, so you're wishing for a reason to stay and see if things would've worked out (like a natural disaster closing the airports or smth).

The obvious Steddie AU for this (at least imo) is therefore a modern AU where Corroded Coffin has the opportunity to make it big and achieve their dreams of becoming a famous metal band, but doing so requires moving away from Indiana. Moving away from Steve (who at this point is friends-with-benefits with Eddie and they're both hopelessly pining). Steve, who doesn't want to be the reason Eddie gives up on his dreams, just lets him go and pretends he's not madly in love with Eddie, since he thinks (correctly) that Eddie loves him back and would refuse to leave Steve behind if they were boyfriends. Eddie is heartbroken that Steve's not trying harder to keep him, because he really thought they had the start of something good together. Cue a prolonged period of extreme angst and long-distance pining from both of them, Eddie writes at least four heartbroken ballads about how much he misses Steve, Steve follows CC's progress in the music industry religiously but refuses to admit that to anyone. (Robin knows, though. She always does).

EVENTUALLY they get their shit together when CC throw a launch party for their sophomore album, at which point they've blown up enough that they can afford to invite their friends from back home as well. It's actually Jeff who invites Steve, because you've got him fucked up if you think he's going to listen to Eddie moan about The One Who Got Away™ for another fucking second. Steve is very skeptical of the invite, because he hasn't heard from Eddie since a few months after they moved away, but eventually caves on the condition he can bring Robin. They spend almost the entire launch party staunchly not speaking to one another, which gets very awkward when some of Eddie's new friends from the music industry start asking questions about how they know each other (because they very obviously do). It only stops when Steve and Robin are having an emotional debrief in the men's bathroom (because Robin is not going to let a gendered bathroom sign keep her away from her platonic soulmate in his time of need - and also CC hired out a function room for a private event, so the only people even using the bathroom are from their event). Mid-breakdown, just as Steve's about to admit he still has feelings for Eddie all this time, they get interrupted by someone entering the bathroom. It's Eddie, because of course it is.

Eddie tries to play it off as needing a piss, but he's obviously come in here for a mental breakdown of his own. Robin takes one look at the absolutely stricken way he looks at Steve, like he's been stabbed right through the chest at the sight of him, and takes a risk. She says she's going to guard the bathroom door until they sort their shit out and leaves them alone in there together.

To her credit, she lasts almost half an hour at the bathroom door of death-glaring every drunk man who so much as looks her way. But then she hears a crashing noise, followed by the distinct sound of someone moaning coming from the bathroom behind her, and decides those bastards are on their own now.

Send me a 🔀 and a pairing, and I'll shuffle my playlist and give you an AU about that pairing based on the first song that comes up!

#steddie #steddie au #rockstar eddie munson #steve harrington #corroded coffin #charlie writes things #ask games #the crashing noise is eddie knocking a fancy soap dispenser off the bathroom counter #yes it gets added to the bill for hiring the place #the CC boys force Eddie to pay for it out of his own pocket god bless <3

[sweetdreamsjeff]

Jeff Buckley, an overlooked inspiration

Sept. 30, 2015

PUB: UWIRE

In a society dominated by artists such as Taylor Swift and One Direction, it is difficult for songwriters of equal or greater talent to achieve the same level of fame if they don't adhere to the conventions of today's popular music.

According to Rolling Stone magazine, Jeff Buckley is considered the 39th greatest singer of all time, surpassing Mariah Carey (79), Christina Aguilera (58) and Brian Wilson (52). This may be a surprising fact, considering that Buckley is generally less notable amongst the general population compared to the likes of Carey.

However, his vocals are immediately attention-grabbing, and it's not necessarily because of his wide vocal range. Longwood sophomore and listener of Buckley, Joel Worford explains that it's his emotion that makes his vocals feel so powerful.

"The big thing about Jeff Buckley was the way that his voice conveyed emotions... through his vocal tone, as a listener, he made you feel a certain way," Worford said.

So, with acclaim from a popular magazine such as Rolling Stone, one may wonder why Buckley isn't as well-known as his peers on the list of 100 greatest singers of all time.

One reason for this may be that Buckley passed away shortly after releasing his first album, "Grace." Another reason may be the amount of profundity that Buckley tries to provoke within the listener.

"I think his music is too complicated, and his lyrics touch on subjects that are foreign to most people. If you've never felt loss or loneliness, then his lyrics aren't going to mean anything to you... His lyrics really transcend basic feelings," Worford said.

Buckley also purposefully tries to stray away from the norm with the way he writes his music. His songs tend to be longer than the three to four minutes of the average pop song. For example, his song "Lover, You Should've Come Over" is six minutes and 43 seconds. His music also features aspects of Eastern music and vocal experimentation. In his song "Grace," he almost sounds as if he is shrieking by the end of the song.

Despite Buckley's tendency to deviate from the average, his music is still relatable to a lot of people. He has been covered many times, specifically his rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

Buckley's version of this song is generally the first to show up in the search results for the song "Hallelujah" on iTunes, ahead of Cohen's original version. This song also gained popularity from being covered multiple times on talent shows like America's Got Talent.

Buckley has been a huge influence on Worford, as a musician. He said that he is influenced "mainly by (Buckley's) lyrics because his lyrics are more like poetry... And his guitar playing is just really tight."

Although Buckley only released one album, his music proves that there still may be room for growth and diversity in a world that is dominated by pop stars. With Buckley as an example, there are more underrepresented artists and genres that need to be heard and explored.

Worford encourages others to give Buckley's music a chance.

"I would suggest to anyone to listen to Jeff Buckley," he said. "You just never know who it's going to click with, and for the people who it does, it's amazing."

#jeff buckley #an overlooked inspiration #UWIRE #fan article #article

[cyarsk52-20]

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MUSIC

The 50 Best Weeknd Songs

From dark alt-R&B jams to sleek summer hits to synth-pop revelations, and beyond

BY 

TOMÁS MIER, WAISS ARAMESH, JULYSSA LOPEZ, CHARLES AARON, ANGIE MARTOCCIO, ELIAS LEIGHT, JON FREEMAN, MOSI REEVES, JON BLISTEIN, SARAH GRANT, JOE GROSS, SIMON VOZICK-LEVINSON, JON DOLAN, KORY GROW

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

IF YOU HAD “Siouxsie and the Banshees fan from Canada remakes R&B in his own image” on your Pop Music in the 2010s bingo card, congratulations! Abel Tesfaye came out of Toronto in 2011 with a stunning series of spacey, sepulchral EPs that proved the start of a landmark run. Pretty soon he was lacing summer hits, sharing tracks with Ariana and Lana, creating epic albums like After Hoursand this year’s excellent Dawn FM, and even playing the Super Bowl. To coincide with the release of his new Amazon special, The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience (available this Saturday), we’ve decided to honor the Weeknd’s decade of moody pop dominance, with our list of his 50 greatest songs. You’ve earned it!

50

‘Less Than Zero’ (2022)

KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES

‘Can we meet in the middle,” the Weeknd offers over the elegant romanticism of “Less Than Zero.” His despair has rarely sounded so vulnerable, and his need to connect has rarely seemed so genuine, as he reaches out further and further with each new ascending keyboard bloop. The result might be his greatest slow-dance entreaty. —J.D.

49

‘The Party & the After Party’ (2011)

FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES

“The Party and the After Party” not only has a chipmunk sample of dream-pop duo Beach House’s “Master of None” at its center, but also a waltz-like rhythm reminiscent of the Velvet Underground’s “All Tomorrow’s Parties.” The Weeknd’s lyrics betray an impressive attention to detail. “Louis V bag, tats on your arms, high heel shoes make you six feet tall,” he croons. “But I’ve got what you need.” Midway through, the track switches to a highly sexual volley of vocal thrusts and flickering guitar, as he tries to illustrate “the feeling that I’ll give to you.” —M.R.

48

‘Save Your Tears,’ feat. Ariana Grande (2021)

YOUTUBE

Just when you think the Weeknd has finally released a vacuous little earworm of a pop song, he twists the knife. “I saw you dancing in a crowded room/You look so happy when I’m not with you,” he sings. It would be like if you took “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and replaced Mickey Thomas with Sade. This love-forsaken-at-the-club song wouldn’t be anything without Grande. Together, their voices are indestructible, which makes this particular song all the more harrowing. —S.G.

47

‘Life of the Party’ (2011)

GUS STEWART/REDFERNS/GETTY IMAGES

Coming on like Smokey Robinson at a black mass, Tesfaye crooks a finger, howls into the death-rock void, and cues the riding-crop percussion. Is this just another dubiously consensual orgy between a rich, coked-out female fan and some fame-adjacent, coked-out music bros? Or does the woman actually represent Tesfaye’s conflicted feelings about his own career choices? Regardless, be careful out there, kids. —C.A.

46

‘Tears in the Rain’ (2013)

JEFF LOMBARDO/GETTY IMAGES

The Weeknd’s R&B plot twist is that his falsetto croon, cunning production, and vulnerable charisma offer a tender caress until you find out that love is really a serial killer hiding in the closet. Inspired by the replicant Roy Batta’s dying monologue in Blade Runner, this gorgeous ballad is a spectacular bell tower of distorted guitar and rippling synths that gives you goose bumps. Too bad you’re lying next to the toilet. —C.A.

45

‘The Fall’ (2011)

VINCE TALOTTA/TORONTO STAR/GETTY IMAGES

The foggy darkness of “The Fall” is a vintage remnant of the Weeknd’s bleakest, most sedated soundscapes. A chugging beat and ominous, choir-like vocals nearly drown him out, but his slightly moribund voice continues with the steely resolve of someone who intimately knows rock bottom. And though the production comes from his early-aughts mixtape era, it’s also ahead of its time, feeling like something that could easily soundtrack a depressing episode of Euphoria. —J.L.

44

‘Privilege’ (2018)

IRVIN OLIVARES/RCC/AGENCIA EL UNIVERSAL/GDA/AP

On this theatrical text to an ex, the Weeknd tries acceptance! Co-producer Frank Dukes suspends the mournful inamorato amid a swell of supportively filtered keys, and Tesfaye counsels himself to move on. But a fingersnap beat enters and he instinctively reaches for his old woes. Synths encase everything, his multitracked wail fades to vocoded static, and it’s clear: litigating sin is his one forever love. —C.A.

43

‘I Was Never There,’ feat. Gesaffelstein (2018)

KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES

It’s appropriate that the Weeknd at his most publicly distraught — after breakups with tabloid damsels Selena Gomez and Bella Hadid — would be soundtracked by elegant techno brutalist Mike “Gesaffelstein” Lévy. Hello, stylish dystopia. A piercing synth siren swoons and keens above clacking desolation; when the beat later brightens to a warped gurgle, Tesfaye turns spiteful, suicidal. Call it his safe space. —C.A.

42

‘La Fama,’ Rosalía feat. the Weeknd (2022)

YOUTUBE

Call him “El Fin de Semana.” The singer takes a complete turn from his typical R&B style as he joins Rosalía on the electro-bachata track about the downsides of fame. The Weeknd sings in perfect Spanish as his vocals channel the likes of bachata legend Romeo Santos. —T.M.

41

‘Heartless’ (2020)

YOUTUBE

This first single from the 2020 album After Hours finds our hero self-consciously returning to his baller ways, grabbing some of his pals (co-writers Metro Boomin, Illangelo, and Dre Moon), loading up on subdermal bass and trappin’ hi-hats and heading out for a night of licking toads, getting ladies high, and spilling whiskey on himself. Once again, he’s in full players-playing mode and he doesn’t make it sound very fun at all. —J.G.

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40

‘In Your Eyes’ (2020)

KEVIN MAZUR/MTV VMAS 2020/GETTY IMAGES

“I know it hurts to smile, but you try to,” Tesfaye croons to his dirty Diana through the smoky air. Can’t you feel the weight of his stare? “In Your Eyes” has such a suave Eighties groove, it takes real concentration to appreciate its manifold layers. Tesfaye mined late New Wave bands like Roxy Music, A-Ha, and Cocteau Twins for the song’s backbone, let Max Martin do his pop wizardry, and let the sax rip. —S.G.

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39

‘Adaptation’ (2013)

JOHNNY NUNEZ/WIREIMAGE

“Adaptation” is Kiss Land‘s most direct tour-life lament, essentially Massive Attack featuring the Weeknd, slightly pitch-shifted. Over a breakbeat loop, an eerie echo chamber, and a gnarled, ghostly sample of the Police’s “Bring on the Night,” Tesfaye explores his vocal range and imagines tipsy young models as vessels of pure, uncut love. It all sounds exquisite, but his regret is a false confession. —C.A.

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38

‘The Birds Pt. 2’ (2011)

GUS STEWART/REDFERNS/GETTY IMAGES

On the Weeknd’s most intense recorded reckoning, our unreliable narrator delivers a harrowing moral: Don’t fall for self-obsessed, predatory fiends (like me) or somebody will suffer. Forever. Producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney underscore the point — sobs and a gunshot bleed into reverbed whirlpools of decaying surf guitar, an unforgiving snare thud, and Marina Topley-Bird croaking “sandpaper kisses, paper-cut bliss” like Madame Lamort. Then the crows caw a bitter adieu. —C.A.

37

‘Pretty’ (2013)

YOUTUBE

One of the Weeknd’s cooler, earlier tricks is the goth level of melodrama with which he infused his work. “Pretty,” from his debut full-length, Kiss Land, takes an industrial level of synth dread and drum clatter and sets it to the time-honored tale of the road dog coming home to his partner, who may or may not have cheated. Conclusion: He’ll make you feel beautiful if only because it helps him keep the demons at bay. —J.G.

36

‘In the Night’ (2015)

THOMAS CONCORDIA/FILMMAGIC

The first song co-written with pop magus Max Martin, “In the Night” conjures an Eighties neon raincloud with a whoosh of drum pads, pulsing synths, clattering effects, and Visionquest pathos. Principally, it coaxes Tesfaye’s most openhearted vocal to date. His taut yet fluid phrasing (a nod to Thriller-era Michael Jackson) delivers the story of an abused sex worker with an unusually sincere ache. —C.A.

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35

‘Prisoner,’ feat. Lana Del Rey (2015)

CHELSEA LAUREN/WIREIMAGE

This criminally underrated duet is a true relic of the fleeting 50 Shades of Grey-era of 2010s gloom pop, sung and co-written by the genre’s foremost falsettos: the Weeknd and Lana Del Rey. “I’ve inspired her, she’s inspired me,” Tesfaye said at the time. “I feel like we’ve always been talking to each other through our music.” Together for the first time, they sing “I’m addicted to a life that’s empty and cold,” like two dark souls twisting in the wind. —S.G.

34

‘Crew Love,’ Drake feat. the Weeknd (2012)

IAN WEST/PA WIRE/AP

The remarkable opening of “Crew Love” is a true test for the Weeknd, pitting the singer’s siren call against a callous, punishing opponent — a mash of crashing cymbals that seems intent on crushing the life out of anything in its path. But the Weeknd’s sweet croon partially camouflages his own militance. His opening line is every bit as cruel and cutting as those cymbals: “Take your nose off my keyboard/What you bothering me for?” And once the Weeknd puts his enemies on their heels, he presses his attack. “This ain’t no fuckin’ singalong,” he snarls prettily. “So, girl, what you singing for?” —E.L.

33

‘Coming Down’ (2011)

TIMOTHY HIATT/WIREIMAGE

Emerging from the dusted carnage of “The Party & the Afterparty,” this might be Tesfaye’s most emotionally resonant performance. A cold wind blows past a twinkly, taunting mini-motif as various intoxicating agents exit his system. Racked with regret, he convincingly plays the fallen prince; his ah-ahs, la-la-las, and refrain of “I always want you when I’m coming down” are acutely relatable. —C.A.

32

‘Often’ (2015)

YOUTUBE

Over a tear-jerking sample of “Ben Sana Vurgunum,” by Turkish singer Nükhet Duru, the Weeknd boasts about the sexual freedom he gets by being a “young god” in his hometown of Toronto. “She asked me if I do this every day, I said often,” he sings on the chorus. The alt-R&B song gave fans their first taste of the leap forward he was making with Beauty Behind the Madness. —T.M.

31

‘Acquainted’ (2015)

PETER DEJONG/AP

Oh, the humanity? ? On this neoclassic Weeknd tale of compulsive wanderlust, boosted by Illangelo’s crisply cavernous, dubstep-tinged production, Tesfaye coos (and even cries out) with new vulnerability about whether a commitment to “real” love/life might be a risk worth taking. Answer: No, “but, girl, I’m so glad we’re acquainted.” —C.A.

30

‘Wanderlust’ (2013)

OWEN SWEENEY/INVISION/AP

“Wanderlust” hinted at the brightly uptempo, Eighties-inspired pop that eventually launched the Weeknd to superstardom.  Produced with help from DannyBoyStyles and DaHeala, it makes fanciful use of Dutch group Fox the Fox’s 1984 synth-pop hit “Precious Little Diamond,” as the Weeknd depicts a La Dolce Vita life that’s full of thrills and short on love and commitment. It’s a metaphor for the first rush of success, and a predictor of bigger fame to come. —M.R.

29

‘Love Me Harder,’ Ariana Grande feat. the Weeknd (2014)

When Republic Records introduced its hot new R&B act to the world, it used an old-fashioned tactic (Trojan Horse) the new-fashioned way: an Ariana Grande song. Produced by Max Martin, “Love Me Harder” is a coy, synth-driven jam about the joys of rough sex. What takes it to that next level is the indelible way Grande’s sumptuous vocals ricochet off of the Weeknd’s icy falsetto. Two great artists in their own right. But like Pat and Neil, these two just belong together. —S.G.

28

‘Loft Music’ (2011)

CHRISTIE GOODWIN/REDFERNS/GETTY IMAGES

“Loft Music” is one of Abel Tesfaye’s quintessential baby-making moments and a standout from his debut mixtape, House of Balloons. During the chorusless first half of the track, the Weeknd convinces a woman that “baby, it’s OK” for them to hook up, while the second half features a haunting, three-minute outro. —T.M.

27

‘Kiss Land’ (2013)

ARTHUR MOLA/INVISION/AP

Perhaps the Weeknd was worried his major-label debut wouldn’t be perceived as authentically malevolent. The title track settles that — a disorienting din of post-industrial drone and moan, plus oral-sex quips and a witchy brew of booze, blow, and pills. Cloudrap producer Silky Johnson sustains a K-hole of suspense so when Tesfaye cries, “Goddamn, I’m high,” it’s actually startling. —C.A.

26

‘King of the Fall’ (2014)

YOUTUBE

Released as a Soundcloud track and a YouTube video in commemoration of his 2014 “King of the Fall” Tour, this is a fan favorite that didn’t get added to streaming services until nearly six years later. It finds the Weeknd at his most insouciantly boastful: “’Bout to leave the crib with a couple of my pirates/Driving by the streets we used to walk through like a triumph,” he sings. Produced with help from Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville, “King of the Fall” has a thrilling, uncompromising edge. When he says, “If you ain’t with me, motherfucker, you against me,” you can feel the tension in his words. “Ain’t nobody can stop me.” —M.R.

25

‘What You Need’ (2011)

JOHNNY LOUIS/GETTY IMAGES

The Weeknd has said that “What You Need” is nothing more than a “sexy R&B song,” but that explanation underplays the kind of emotional power he conjures here. It opens with a loop from Aaliyah’s “Rock the Boat,” and centers on a raw and direct entreaty shorn of contemporary R&B gloss. When critics and fans refer to the Weeknd as a generational artist, particularly in his early years, it’s due to seductive performances like this. —M.R.

24

‘Try Me’ (2018)

MAHMOUD KHALED/AP

The Weeknd sounds alluring on “Try Me,” a highlight from 2018’s My Dear Melancholy. The EP swirls with romantic anguish and the singer’s high-profile breakups; “Try Me,” where he pleads for an ex-girlfriend to come back to him in haunting, gauzy tones, is no different. Some listeners speculated that this was his attempt to recapture his House of Balloons-era bona fides after the world conquering Starboy. But when he sings lyrics like “Once you put your pride aside, you know where to find me,” he sounds sincere. —M.R.

23

‘Moth to a Flame,’ Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd (2022)

YOUTUBE

“Moth to a Flame” is a petty anthem, masking the bitterness with synth, and marks the Weeknd’s first (of hopefully many) collaboration with Swedish House Mafia. Abel’s vocals shine through a biting chorus that effectively ruins the current relationship of his ex. It should come as no surprise that a list of the Weeknd’s best songs doubles as a masterclass in toxicity. —W.A.

22

‘Snowchild’ (2020)

YOUTUBE

On a trap-chic stroll through the Weeknd’s hipster rags-to-branded-riches story (Morayama, Coachella, and Mercedes are name-checked), Starboy relies on the lovely lilt of his voice to redeem pop-rap groaners like “futuristic sex, give her Philip K. Dick.” And it does, buoyed by a suave whoosh here and chilly wobble there. —C.A.

21

‘The Morning’ (2011)

ROBB D. COHEN/INVISION/AP

Though the first drowsy lines of “The Morning” masquerade as expected Weeknd club sleaze, the song is a surprisingly radiant hustler’s anthem, catching him at an upbeat moment before the blowback from his late-night debauchery sets in. The electric squeals of a guitar follow him as he builds toward a bursting chorus — and once the peak hits, he sings with the carefree indulgence of someone throwing confetti made of dollar bills into the air. —J.L.

20

‘Shameless’ (2015)

JOHN SALANGSANG/INVISION/AP

Compared to the slick dance pop found elsewhere on Beauty Behind the Madness,“Shameless” is an outlier. A stripped-down acoustic ballad that has shades of peak-period Seal, “Shameless” is a triumph of cringe for the Weeknd. “I’ll always be there for you girl, I have no shame,” he swears to a sometime lover who doesn’t want anything from him except the oblivion of a good lay. It’s icky, and the slippery, pornographic guitar solo at the end only adds to the feeling of self-loathing sleaze. —J.F.

19

‘After Hours’ (2020)

YOUTUBE

If there’s a song that captures the Weeknd’s determined progression from brooding club lurker to incandescent pop king, it’s “After Hours,” which starts with echoey synth acrobatics from his early releases. A dance beat trickles in slowly — just hints of it at first — and eventually takes over, thrusting the Weeknd closer to the melodic maximalism that swept him up and blasted him to superstardom. —J.L.

18

‘How Do I Make You Love Me?’ (2022)

RICH FURY/GETTY IMAGES

It takes a lot of skill to make desperation sound catchy, but the Weeknd barely bats an eye as he combines iridescent synth-pop with his urgent, pleading falsetto on “How Do I Make You Love Me.” Just when it seems like he’s reached a breaking point, the song becomes a freeform experiment in electro blips and bleeps that seamlessly transitions into “Take My Breath,” highlighting the tightknit sonic universe of Dawn FM. —J.L.

17

‘Hardest to Love’ (2020)

CHRIS O'MEARA/AP

There’s something singular about “Hardest to Love,” its drum and bass break beat setting it apart from nearly everything else in the Weeknd’s catalog, to say nothing of the North American pop charts (it would obviously feel less out of place in the U.K.). Yet the song doesn’t feel like some tossed off genre experiment or blatant play for a new audience. It remains a quintessential Weeknd tune, that distinct drum and bass groove paired perfectly with woozy, weeping-willow synths and Tesfaye’s heart-melting, self-flagellating vocals. —J.B.

…

16

‘Reminder’ (2016)

YOUTUBE

A response to those criticizing his pivot to a mainstream sound after Beauty Behind the Madness, The Weeknd returns to his vibey, R&B origins, promising he’ll reinvent himself as many times as he wants to. And boy, has he succeeded at it. T.M.

15

‘Call Out My Name’ (2018)

YOUTUBE

After “Earned It” became a massive commercial success, it’s no surprise that the Weeknd returned to the same well a few years later — “Call Out My Name” is another slow-drip ballad set in 6/8 time. But where “Earned It” had those peppy strings and uplifting message (“Girl you’re perfect, you’re always worth it”), “Call Out My Name” is desolate and hollowed out, a parched tale of dependency and despair shot through with the Weeknd’s piercing, anguished wails. “I said I didn’t feel nothing baby,” he sings. “But I lied.” —E.L.

14

‘Sidewalks,’ feat. Kendrick Lamar (2016)

YOUTUBE

“Sidewalks” finds the Weeknd wryly recounting his ascent from growing up without a father and experiencing homelessness to the pop mainstream. “My flow too sick, Kevin Costner couldn’t touch me,” he trills in an Auto-Tuned voice over a guitar-inflected Doc McKinney beat. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar responds with a bouncy verse that flips Starboy’s theme about prodigious appetites. “It wasn’t just a random Kendrick Lamar verse,” the Weeknd told Beats 1’s Zane Lowe in 2016. “It was something special.” —M.R.

13

‘Tell Your Friends’ (2015)

YOUTUBE

This track was originally co-produced by Mike Dean and intended for Kanye West, who co-produces and raps on the bridge here. Framed by a coolly twilit soul sample, Tesfaye croons a list of  basic starboy gripes. but quickly the lyrics grow belligerent, as stabbing piano chords propel an antihero eruption. “Don’t believe the rumors, bitch, I’m still a user,” he smirks, as if he’s pimp-strutting on the ledge. —C.A.

12

‘House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls’ (2011)

FILMMAGIC

The second half of this track is one of the most viscerally affecting entries in the Weeknd’s whole catalog, as icy and thunderous as an avalanche. He throws himself into the world beyond blotto: Faces are blurring, the drunks are getting mean, and the threat of violence fills the air. The Weeknd’s voice has always drawn comparisons to Michael Jackson’s, but “Glass Table Girls” draws its lineage back to Prince at his most paranoidly perfect. —E.L.

11

‘I Feel It Coming,’ feat. Daft Punk (2016)

YOUTUBE

The stunning closer from Starboy, the Weeknd’s Michael Jacksonesque voice flows freely over Daft Punk’s retro-futuristic, Eighties-inspired disco-pop production. Lyrically, the Weeknd sheds his lustful approach to sex as he assures the object of his desire that she shouldn’t be so afraid of falling in love. —T.M.

10

‘Starboy,’ feat. Daft Punk (2016)

YOUTUBE

After the world-conquering success of Beauty Behind the Madness, the Weeknd could have worked with anyone. He chose Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who lent an attractive electro gloss to his next chart-topping smash, French-filtering his vocals on the hook as he literally laughed his way to the bank. With its winking lyrics about old Star Trek movies and ivory lines on ebony tables, “Starboy” was also the Weeknd’s chance to show that pop stardom hadn’t changed him — it just made him even cockier. —S.V.L.

9

‘Take My Breath’ (2022)

YOUTUBE

It figures that one of the Weeknd’s most straightforwardly danceable songs would be about a kink so intense that it can literally cause death. Propelled by the titanic melody of Max Martin and collaborators Belly, Andrea Di Ceglie, Luigi Tutolo, and Oscar Holter, “Take My Breath” throbs with the insistent kick drum, funky guitar, and arpeggiated synths of classic Giorgio Moroder. Tesfaye coos soulfully, deploying his upper register while describing a woman who asks to indulge a fantasy that sounds a lot like erotic asphyxiation. “Bring me close to heaven, babe,” she tells him. The extended version on Dawn FM features an instrumental breakdown that shreds Tesfaye’s voice into a guttural wail, further blurring the line between ecstasy and horror. —J.F.

8

‘Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)’ (2015)

YOUTUBE

Wherein the most sexually explicit songwriter of the PornHub era makes the lead single for the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. “Earned It” (and a very-NSFW video) introduced perfectly Tesfaye’s silk-sheets vibe to mainstream ears. Written in D-minor, which, as  Spinal Tap taught us, is the “saddest key,” “Earned It” is  a Grammy-winning chart-topper full of strings severe and seductive, that falsetto and, of course, a love too weird to last. —J.G.

7

‘High for This’ (2011)

JOHN SALANGSANG/INVISION/AP

“You want to be high for this,” trills the Weeknd on the opening track of his first, career-launching House of Balloons mixtape. It’s a perfect introduction to the Weeknd’s groundbreaking aesthetic: an opiate atmosphere, a sound that hovers between darkwave and bedroom R&B, and endless sensorial delights. Cirkut’s beat is a synthesized whirl of throbbing, stop-start percussion and eerie, organ-like keys, all fodder for the Weeknd to red-pill his listeners: “Open your hand/Take a glass/Don’t be scared/I’m right here.” —M.R.

6

‘Can’t Feel My Face’ (2015)

YOUTUBE

One of the Weeknd’s biggest hits was a dashed-off afterthought. Tesfaye was hanging out with some of his songwriting collaborators, listening to “some modern, disco-y influenced tracks,” as he once said, when they all felt the urge the jam. The whole song — three and a half minutes of R&B-inflected pop with a bouncy, beautifully numbing chorus that may or may not be about cocaine — came together in 40 minutes at the end of Tesfaye’s Beauty Behind the Madness sessions and almost didn’t make the cut. But Tesfaye believed in the song, which became a Number One hit and has since been certified eight-times platinum. —K.G.

5

‘Blinding Lights’ (2019)

YOUTUBE

No pop sound is too dated for the Weeknd to have some fun with: As long as it’s got a little sparkle, he’ll find a way to use it. “Blinding Lights” broke chart records by leaning all the way into a synth-pop jingle that sounds like a Eurovision contender or a mid-2000s ringtone, singing the hell out of each hook in a vaguely Goth accent and daring you to call him cheugy. It’s so spectacularly catchy, you’ll never get the chance. —S.V.L.

4

‘Wicked Games’ (2011)

YOUTUBE

The Weeknd’s first single is a sensual, slow-grooving meditation on coming of age — feeling comfortable in your own skin and grappling with differences between love and lust, but “only for tonight.” In the space of five and a half minutes, Tesfaye tells a movie-length story: He’s just broken up with his girl, he took out all his cash and spent it on coke and his date, and he just wants to feel like a human being. “Bring your love, baby, I could bring my shame,” he sings. “Bring the drugs, baby, I could bring my pain, I got my heart right here.” It’s heavy stuff for a pop song, and it established him as an artist who could tackle Big Problems in a way that makes you want to sing along with him. —K.G.

3

‘Escape From LA’ (2020)

KEVIN MAZUR/MTV VMAS 2020/GETTY IMAGES

Nine years after the Weeknd declared “Cali is the mission” on “The Morning,” he backtracks on this cautionary tale, revisiting a theme that’s prevalent throughout his discography: an obsession over the Hollywood lifestyle that’s just as strong as his contempt for it. Four minutes in, the vibe switches (getting somehow darker) and the Weeknd tells the tale of a Chrome Hearts-clad woman who waits for him to cut his verse before moving on to … other activities. Considering how good this song turned out, we appreciate her patience. —W.A.

2

‘Gasoline’ (2022)

YOUTUBE

Tesfaye has always been great at packaging pop thrills in deep despair (and vice versa). The nihilistic despair of this Dawn FM gem is neatly tucked away in the song’s gasoline-soaked sheen. Even its darkest lines — from “I know you won’t let me OD” to “In this game called life/We are not free” — are barely detectable in the midst of all that New Wave euphoria, like the Weeknd had too much fun getting high to the Cars. Please cover “Drive” next. —A.M.

1

‘The Hills’ (2015)

YOUTUBE

A sound-design masterpiece and the quintessential Weeknd hit, with all the pop instincts of his crossover blockbuster era and all the sleaze and self-loathing of his avant-R&B early years. “The Hills” mesmerizes and rebukes like a MIDI-enabled version of Francisco Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son.Tesfaye limps through fame’s panopticon before launching into a falsetto war of the spirit (“When I’m fucked up, that’s the real me,” he wails). Somehow, this meticulous smear of muted screams, tolling bells, growly sub-bass, and filtered-to-hell synths reached No. 1 and was eventually certified diamond (10 million copies sold). —C.A.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

The Weeknd,

Weeknd

MUSIC

MUSIC LISTS

Sent from my iPhone

[hasbro-necromancer]

had a dream i was trying to tell someone about nu jazz. it was like yeah, this is a polish group called Skalpel, they’ve got some really huge grooves and understated jazz instrumentation. lots of interesting breaks and samples. really cool and imo a good and simple intro. and this is Tortoise, they came up as one of the groups pioneering "post-rock" music, with post-rock used here in the most literal sense, before the genre became synonymous (and saturated) with lengthy, cinematic pieces with huge crescendos and emotional climaxes and more ambient interludes—and stagnating under its own weight rather quickly. the "post-" prefix comes from the way that they used traditional rock instruments like drums, bass (tortoise actually had two drummers, two bassists, and a percussionist, which is an insane lineup), guitars to create music that is very much not rock, and in large part a response to it, alongside, in particular, bands like Slint and Don Cab[allero]—although how "political" or "academic" or formal their intentions were in that regard is beside the point, and i'd guess not that contrived either. btw, it's always really annoying to me when people get snooty and try to dunk on genres like post-punk and such, saying stuff like "how can it be post-punk when a lot of it was coming out at the same time as regular punk music," and "post-punk is such a meaningless term because so many of the bands don't even sound anything like each other. like Joy Division and The B-52's and Devo don't sound anything alike, so why are they all post-punk? back in my day we just called it 'new wave' anyways!" "post-" doesn't just signify that it comes after chronologically; that's not it's use in relation to art: it connotes a different approach using the conventions of a genre, to provide as surface level a description as possible. for ex: postmodern literature takes the ideas of modernist art and stretches them to their absolute limit; post-punk keeps the punk energy and ethos and applies that energy in a different, more creative direction; hell, even Borp's combo video Postmodern Smash (which has sadly been privated on youtube) showcases his unique playstyle that emphasizes fundamentals and rejects Melee players' obsession with tech skill—obviously not "chronologically following" modern smash, as he was playing alongside people who honed their tech skill and ultimately greatly surpassed him—it was just his novel approach. anyways yeah, Tortoise grew steadily jazzier over the years and helped shape nu jazz in a huge way. "Glass Museum" off Millions Now Living... is a personal favorite for that, the vibraphone and spacious chords and bass vi solo a clear precursor to the moods and structure that bands would draw from heavily in the future. and especially on TNT, with the addition of Jeff Parker on guitar, they let their jazz chops shine through. Jaga Jazzist is probably my favorite band that falls under this umbrella. they're a norwegian septet or octet or nonet or something wild like that, and they make super proggy and intricate jazz that's an absolute blast to sift through. The Cinematic Orchestra is another really cool one. their album Man with a Movie Camera is meant to be a soundtrack for the 1929 soviet silent film of the same name, and it works remarkably well for that. super cool piece of work. the bass clarinet solo on "Drunken Tune" (along with the bass clarinet part from Jaga Jazzist's "Airborne" off A Living Room Hush and Beefheart's noisy noodlings on Trout Mask) really made me want to pick up the instrument. Portico Quartet are another really cool example, especially with how minimal and textural they are. Mammal Hands are closer to the pure jazz group side of things, but i'd say they still count. maybe you could throw the Esbjörn Svensson Trio in for how minimal and spacey they are, too. honestly, just check out Ninja Tune and sift through some of the bands on their roster. probably the best list of artists representative of the genre.

#i mean yeah obviously i don't talk like this #and some conscious thought went into this when i was writing it #but it was the general vibe of the dream for sure

[esta-elavaris]

Flufftober 2022 - Day 7 - Movie Marathon

[Eddie Munson/OC]

Can be read as a standalone, although it technically includes my OC in my fledgling of an Eddie fic. Also slight modern AU. May or may not be inspired by the time I got high at uni and spent three consecutives episodes of The Tudors staring at the detailing in their jewellery and not listening to anything to do with the plot.

This one is sheer dumbassery, very low effort, I just liked the idea so I wrote it quick. 

When Eddie’s uncle announced that he’d be gone for the whole weekend for work, Eddie and Fiona did what any healthy young couple still firmly entrenched in the honeymoon phase would do. They declared no pants zone, dragged his mattress from his bedroom into the living room, constructed a blanket fort, and readied their provisions. Provisions in this case being an ungodly amount of weed, beer, pizzas more suited to ten people than two, and Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy - extended edition, because they weren’t savages. 

“Soon as we get our own place, it’ll be this every day,” Eddie hummed happily

“Every day? We’ll never get anything done.”

“Every other day,” he amended “Maybe just weekends. And Wednesdays.” 

“To break up the week a bit?”

“Exactly,” he nodded, gesturing between their heads with a couple of fingers in the universal sign of you get me.

Fiona smiled “A studio apartment negates the need for a fort, though.”

“Mm-mm, we need at least two bedrooms. One for, y’know, a bedroom. The other-”

“If you say sex dungeon, I’m running.”

“That’ll come when we can afford a place with a basement,” he didn’t miss a beat “The other can be for all of your art stuff.”

“Not all your equipment?”

“Nah. I like playing guitar in bed. Anything more heavy duty and we just use Jeff’s garage anyway. Once Corroded Coffin make it big, though? We’ll have the works. A studio each. Bedroom. A living room and a kitchen in separate rooms. Sex dungeon.”

“Perfect,” she snickered.

The day wore on lazily. There was the general assumption that they’d end up fooling around at some point or another. It wasn’t often that they had an empty place to themselves, so it’d be downright wasteful not to, really, and Fiona’s place didn’t count because it was an apartment, so there was always some neighbour or another there. But they weren’t in a rush - and at first there was pizza to graze on and a joint or two to smoke - but then they ran into their big obstacle. 

A hint of it first arose almost an hour into the first movie, when Eddie’s fingertips began to gently drift up her inner thigh…only to be interrupted by one of Samwise Gamgee’s all time best lines. I haven’t been droppin’ no eaves, sir, honest! They’d had to pause and snicker at that, getting drawn back into the story quickly after, Eddie’s hand laying forgotten halfway between her knee and her hip. 

After that, they were lost in the events of the movie right up until after Gandalf and Saruman’s big wizard showdown, by which point they agreed that there just wasn’t time enough for anything between then and Aragorn’s introduction - and what kind of philistine would willingly miss that? It would be downright disrespectful. And then, once again, they were completely wrapped up in Middle-earth all the way through til the end of the first movie. Only a sociopath could get in the mood during Boromir’s death scene, anyway.

The second movie, and a renewed high to go with it, brought their interest back to each other for a good while, the television all but forgotten as Fiona kissed her way down Eddie’s neck, pausing only to divest him of his shirt so she could continue her way downwards. Until the bracing, brash strings signalling the appearance of the Rohirrim blared out of Eddie’s improvised surround sound set-up. That prompted another pause, during which Eddie pondered over whether it would be a copyright issue if he incorporated a guitar lick inspired by the music into his next song, and Fiona dutifully pointed out which actor broke his toe in an emotional helmet-kicking accident not long thereafter. 

Fiona would later note that the problem was a simple one. In their excellent taste, and their enthusiasm for the trilogy, they’d forgotten just how damn good the movie were…even upon the thousandth watch. There was always some part of the soundtrack, or a line from the script, that Eddie wanted to wax poetic over, and when that wasn’t the case, Fiona was making him pause the screen so she could take a photo of a specific piece of scenery or still-frame, so that she might later paint it. Sure, it would be no small thing to leave it paused for a bit, have their fun, and then resume the movies…however that would ruin the pacing, and seriously impede the likelihood of them getting all three movies watched today.

By the time they hit Return of the King, the fact that the day had been delegated to one of cuddling was cemented when Denethor’s tomato eating killed any semblance of a mood stone dead. 

Later, when they were too full of pizza to even consider moving, Eddie would mumble into Fiona’s hair “Tomorrow, we’re doing this again but with the Star Wars prequels. We won’t watch a single damn scene.” 

#eddie munson/oc #eddie munson x oc #flufftober