What's a girl gonna do? A diamond's gotta shine

Ok besties what do we think? Slay or no

Hiyaaa

Just saw your latest artwork (really good btw!! :D) and I’ve been meaning to ask u this for a while now…sorry if someone has already asked before ;-; …but I just wanna ask what made u ship shadow and whisper together? Or what made you ship ‘em to begin with? I’m just genuinely curious lol

Hey there! Thank you! Yeah, I know they're quite the rairpair. To be completely honest, when I first thought of the ship it was just because I didn't ship either of them with anyone else, and then was like, "well, what if I put them together?" half jokingly. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked their dynamic, or at least, their potential dynamic.

Mainly it's just that they're very similar personality-wise. They're both very quiet and reserved, having a hard time trusting other people. They also both fall more on the anti-hero side than a lot of the other characters. I also thought that Whisper having trauma from the Shadow Androids made for a really interesting dynamic with them. In fact, them both having trauma would mean they might understand each other better than some of their friends would. I love Rouge+Shadow's and Tangle+Whisper's friendships (I see both as siblings), but neither Rouge nor Tangle can really get the pain the two have been through, and so I think it would be good for them to have someone who's been through similar things.

Some smaller things, but I also love them having kind of opposite color schemes, dark with red and pale with blue. They have almost a "day-and-night" vibe going on. And I also think Whisper would kind of remind Shadow of Maria a bit.

I do understand that it's probably never going to be a popular ship, but I just think they have a lot of potential for a really interesting dynamic, and they're really cute!

what eras do you think the toh characters are? i personally think hunter is a lover guy :D

This is such an amazing question. Tbh some of the Eras are hard to pinpoint because I associate them more with phase of life than like a person’s aesthetic if that makes sense?

To me I see Hunter as a later era for sure (Golden Guard was def his Rep era) where he has peace and clarity. Midnights to me is about late night revelations which is very Hunter but also Folklore and Evermore are about reflection during a time where you feel stuck so I think he’s a Evermore or Midnights boy. But there are songs off Lover that fit him well too.

Willow is focusing on the now and being her best self so she’s a 1989 girl for sure. This album is about blocking out the haters and making the most of what you have and I feel after wasting so much time in the shadows you know our girl is ready to shine. She’s also got an Evermore moon for the aesthetic because our girl still has deep and if I don’t give her the album where her name is a track I will be sent to jail.

Gus is also v 1989 to me because I think he appreciates a good jam and he is such a hype man which is what this album is to me. But I think he appreciates the sentiments in Midnights too. I know like me he plays Mastermind on a loop. This makes the Emerald Trio kind of a Venn diagram.

Luz is harder for me to place, I def see Lover for her and Amity because of course they’re so happy and in love, but I wanna say Red? Red is a very transitional album, with Taylor making the official leap from country to pop and finding hope after what felt like her biggest heartbreak. It’s also an album I associate with Eda so it kind of links them? She could also be a Midnights girlie, Anti-hero makes it hard to ignore. Also Lavender Haze for her gf um hello

Amity I want to be Speak Now because it’s her color scheme but that’s probably one of the harder Eras for me to pin down beyond color scheme. I’d say that’s more her era when she first dyes her hair lol. Green hair Amity is Reputation no doubt. But for our most recent Amity I wanna say Fearless because she’s still figuring things out but she’s not letting anything hold her back.

If your OC story had it's own fandom etc which of your characters do you think would be the most popular and why? And who would be the least popular?

Given what I've noticed from friends both new and old: Out of the RP cast, it's definitely my deities that are most popular, especially Gelum. I've tried for years to also shift focus to other OCs but it doesn't seem to stick and my personal hyperfocuses on story arcs do NOT help. XD

Though in the past, Ten and Crystal used to be pretty popular among friends. I can see them being focused on too.

As for least, out of the RP cast... Absolutely no clue?? I mean, I personally find Nick/Alexander unappealing but mostly because after his initial arc I found using him boring (i know i never mentioned him before, but that's because I genuinely struggle to use him). Going off of vibes I also feel like some people might not like Cymek but he's part of a rp story that's also been neglected a bit? Maybe Ryvin because ideally I wanted to write him as a Villain Who Is Just An Irredeemable Villain And A Terrible Father. WAIT SHIT, as I type this, I remember Kori! The one Deity of mine that my friends very visibly wanna deck in the face (affectionate)!

Breathing Color specifically? I feel like it might be either Alex for the Anti-Hero Angst, or Violet because she is smol sweet bean with some trauma. I've had some people gravitate towards Derrick too.

I feel like not many would like Heather early on. She DOES start out as the generic mean girl but at least gets better, but not sure if I should count her because she's early arc and not really reoccurring. Tho I think the Early Arc Characters do have a lot of room for headcanoning so idk?? I do also think Alex could theoretically fall under this category depending on how I write him. He was originally kinda creepy but that whole thing is complicated-- Do not get me wrong, I just think it could be executed better.

I do want to give special mention to @loz-the-alternate-relic, aka the comic I help w/ @hikaririnku-blog, @juan-o-clocks, Kobi (who doesn't have tumblr), @jessebizarreart, and Skai_Blu (also no tumblr). It is a fan comic, and there's only so much that's been currently revealed, but Layla def thus far is like, the one I'd think would be pretty popular. But I cannot reveal who I think would be unpopular.... okay I admit this project might be too ambitious for our own good at times lol

I'll admit, it's kinda hard to think of who'd be least popular because I do love most OCs pretty strongly. I can think of many reasons why someone would or wouldn't like an OC??

Hi Storm. I wonder if you have read Red rising? I ask because you are one of the few book loving armys I know and Tae in Love me again MV totally reminds me of Darrow with his red and gold outfit and blond hair. It is not my favorite book but so so entertaining, stay at edge of your seat nail biter. I just had to say this somewhere. Also, in one of his W magazine covers he totally looks like an anti hero leader kind of character.

I'm obsessed with that book!! Lmao this is from my other more book focused account just yesterday talking about Darrow:

You are free to follow me there if you want more of my bookish rambling posts 🤣

Idk if Tae is giving me Darrow vibes outside the shining like the sun in head to toe gold and being stunningly gorgeous. Lol but while Darrow loves SO HARD, I mean... the way he talks about the women he loves??

"Without me, she would not eat. Without her, I would not live."

"We grew together, and now are grown. In her eyes, I see my heart. In her breath, I hear my soul. She is my land. She is my kin. My love."

"My wife is not as fickle as a flame. She is an ocean. I knew from the first that I cannot own her, cannot tame her, but I am the only storm that moves her depths and stirs her tides. And that is more than enough"

But like other than that, I cannot get Darrow vibes because this man is INSANE. AND I LOVE IT but Tae is not nearly as brutally awful and calculated as he is in that MV and outfits maybe fit color scheme wise, they don't fit style wise.... even Darrows relaxing clothes feel more military (or threadbare if we go by when he was a slave). Tae is just incomparable! But his beauty for sure probably equals that of a Gold!!

Art credit: CJ Merwild

Also, I highly recommend these books, but don't let the quotes above trick you, there is very little romance within these books and a whole lotta trigger warnings!

Anon: There is a theory about apples is being discussed on twitter. Because we see red apples again and it's Daryl and Carol again. And the camera is clearly aimed at this moment. Does it mean something? Can it be symbolism or is it wishful thinking?

MT: Shots like that are always intentional and apples have been cropping up quite frequently. As for what it means, I think it’s open to interpretation.

Like MT says, the shots are intentional and a way to draw attention to the subtext. (It's not only for high-brow novels or artsy films with subtitles :P) Good speculative fiction—whether it's books, film or TV—offers social commentary, that's what the genre is for: a safe environment to criticize or theorize. As post-apocalyptic horror, TWD is set up to comment on the human condition and it has conscious thematic arcs in its first three and last three seasons.

So where does that leave us with the apples? lol

Well, what's the title of the episode? "A New Deal," like the programs (public work projects, financial reforms and various regulations) that FDR enacted during the Great Depression. It was a huge economic crisis with massive poverty and social instability. The GNP fell to nearly half and an alarming percentage of people lost their jobs.

There was one thing, though, of which there was a surplus. Apples. Look at city pictures from the 1930s and you'll see apple vendors. It was an organized effort to get rid of a bumper crop, give unemployed men a means to support their families and for households with next to no purchasing power to buy something that would put food in their bellies. Apples were a symbol of hope during those dark times.

The Apple of Eden: not only the forbidden fruit, but also a symbol of knowledge. The Medieval church (its clergy) curated power much like the CW by keeping people illiterate and ignorant, believing that good things would come (on Judgment Day) if they worked hard in this life and accepted their station at the bottom of the hierarchy. (Like the lottery in the CW) The story of Adam and Eve being cast out because they rebelled is a cautionary tale of what happens when you rise up against establishment.

Over to the Apple of Discord (Greek goddess): She wasn't invited to a wedding, but tossed an apple with the inscription "to the fairest one," into the reception. Hera, Athena and Aphrodite all wanted it. Paris of Troy was judging, but Aphrodite offered a bribe in the form of Helen of Sparta, the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris took Helen back to Troy and that was the battle cry for the Trojan War.

The red apple is usually a symbol of love, fruitfulness or renewal. The color is associated with passion and in East Asia, red is for good luck. Traditional marriage dress in many Asian countries is red.

Other examples of apples (and food for thought):

Isaac Newton formulated his gravitational theory from observing how an apple only falls downward from a tree branch.

During WWI, the Allies' anti-tank grenade (bulb-like on a stick) was colloquially known as a "toffee apple."

The legend of William Tell (Swiss folk hero and crossbow man) has him redeem himself, after showing defiance to the authorities, by shooting an apple off his son's head in a single attempt.

Literary symbols say something universal about a work. The apples are not only about Caryl—look at how Lance Hornsby bites into that shiny candy apple like he's Snow White—but alongside the larger context, it does comment on Caryl too. Their conflict this season is a smaller, more personal foil for the larger friction with the CW.

Not completely non sequitur to symbolism or foils, I'm going to drop this one for all Hornsby fans to think about:

the quirky costuming choices made for the character, how vain and petty he is, the complete lack of moral compass and the grudges he holds, how he enjoys the cruelty and violence of the world, his power hunger and need for recognition.

Which real person does that remind you of? How 'bout them apples? ;)

[SF]

tolerate it by taylor swift is one of the most (anti) kata/ng songs i think exists. let’s examine this shall we?

I sit and watch you I notice everything you do or don't do You're so much older and wiser, and I

a/ang is from another time and viewed as the definitive guide to morality within the show’s narrative. katara feels a lot of pressure to do as he does. she has to be the perfect wife for the avatar. she has to do what her husband does. it’s all about him.

I wait by the door like I'm just a kid Use my best colors for your portrait Lay the table with the fancy shit And watch you tolerate it

katara tries her best. she does chores all day, she gets everything ready for when a/ang gets back and... it doesn’t mean anything. she’s giving everything and he’s just not returning it.

If it's all in my head, tell me now Tell me I've got it wrong somehow I know my love should be celebrated But you tolerate it

she begins to question her doubts. she’s with the avatar and she should be happy. katara is told all the time that she’s so lucky, but her mind drifts back to things her father told her about how he loved her mother and she knows something isn’t adding up. she knows that her love is special, it’s unique, it is worth someone’s time, but a/ang isn’t giving his all like she is.

I greet you with a battle hero's welcome I take your indiscretions all in good fun I sit and listеn, I polish plates until they gleam and glistеn

katara’s giving him the divine treatment like his acolytes give him since she notices how excited he is around them, but he doesn’t even notice. she listens. she cleans. she goes above and beyond, yet it all means absolutely nothing.

While you were out building other worlds, where was I?

not getting a statue that’s what. katara loses her potential to create massive waves of change. she isn’t able to use her anger, her passion, her love. she is trapped, leaving a/ang to build this new world of peace without her.

I made you my temple, my mural, my sky Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life Drawing hearts in the byline Always taking up too much space or time You assume I'm fine, but what would you do if I

katara made him her everything. she gave up her culture for him. she gave up her entire life for him. it isn’t enough. she always feels like she’s just taking up space, an imperfect wife. she’s a trophy. she’s not doing anything. katara feels completely and utterly useless and a/ng doesn’t even notice it.

Break free and leave us in ruins Took this dagger in me and removed it Gain the weight of you, then lose it Believe me, I could do it

katara has finally had enough. she knows leaving a/ang will be hard and maybe even throw the world into a bit of chaos, but she has to take that chance. she’s taking the dagger out and somehow it makes everything easier. she’s ready to be free and she has the confidence to finally do it.

so... slightly more hopeful ending for katara than all too well lol.

Kiteman is the real hero for taking that bull crap, I don't think I would have bounced back so fast if I learned my girlfriend cheated on me before my wedding

I'm hoping that in S3 (I'm not going to watch it since I also disliked how... Reddit-y the humor got in S2. Like the meta humor shit in S1 was fine but they ramp it up to 11 after that), he and Ivy can both realize that they rushed into things and maybe they weren't perfect for each other, but that she was absolutely in the wrong and I have no real sympathy for her or Harley.

I hate a lot of interpretations of Harley that imo fuck up why she worked so well as a character in the first place...especially things where she's the protagonist. It's hard to thread the needle of a main character who is a terrible person that does terrible things, while also being sympathetic. And Harley imo is at her best when she's sympathetic and also horrible. It's why "Mad Love" worked so well after discovering how she ended up with Joker, because you're left with the realization that like most of the Rogues Gallery, she's someone who's very human despite the costume and cartoon antics. It's why I hate most arcs with her becoming an anti-hero or any arc that handwaves the shit she's done if it's meant to be taken seriously. Like I think "Harley's Little Black Book" was alright when it was fun dumb bullshit, like the issue with her getting a Green Lantern ring, swapping costumes with Wonder Woman and being a huge fan girl over her, etc.

Either handwave the shitty things she's done, OR be serious with her character, because it's really difficult to do both and be successful. Even when a protagonist is a bastard, there has to be something you sympathize with. With some versions of Harley, her only sympathetic trait is her past abuse and nothing else. And framing her getting Ivy intentionally drunk so they could confess their feelings for each other and fuck/be together as a relationship worth rooting for is ridiculous. Like the showrunners have specifically said that these two won't ever break up now that they're together and I can't get anyone who thinks a toxic relationship between two women is any better than one between a man and a woman.

Also I love bisexual rep that reinforces stereotypes of bisexual women as cheaters and homewreckers. Look it's current year and LGBT people have been declared Worth Pandering To by major corporations and studios, you don't have to cling to any ship that's out there even when it's not that good and is stereotypical or written poorly. "But it has wlw queer rep!" Fucking AND? Is it a good story as well, or are you just going to view it through the sapphism-colored glasses and ignore the shit stains on it? More power to you if you do, but I'm not going to take you seriously and I'll say you have shit taste lol

The Spartan IV hovered behind the rock, a Banished Captain busily berating his tropes in Sanghelii. A grin passed behind the woman's helmet as she switched her weaponry to her newly acquired Shock rifle.

"Aurora," she said chuckling, "Please tag all the targets in my hub, and do we have any music to listen to?" "Yes, we downloaded some at our last briefing," the AI chirped.

"Good, play me some Foreigner."

"Juke Box Hero it is!"

Heh, lets bring it! Halo Episode 9 "Transcendance" begins right after Allegiance left off. John awakes to an alarm as the entire base is in upheaval. I'm pretty sure its about to be attacked by Covenant. I mean that would make a lot of sense, right? The daze appears to be pretty hard as John is able to figure out if Kai is still alive. Our girl is DOWN! And we learn that Makee has bamboozled everyone into taking off with the artifact. Time for some serious moments as Riz and Vannak deny the realization of Halsey's child stealing. Out comes Jacob finally revealing his bullshit, and yes, SIlver Team is back on track Vannak seems intent on proving a point, and damn please. Let this mother, and oh my god he does. Kai takes off to get Halsey and the rest of the team preps to take her. Kai breaks into the ship and fucking yes, Kai confronts Halsey and I hope., and she kills Adun. Nah, bitch deserved and she's off. I mean seriously the man deserved it. I mean it, he was literally protecting a mass murdering anti-social. And - I'm not sure if they killed Kai. Okay girl is alive. WHAT A FUCKING GREAT OPEN! Now its on to find Makee. Parangosky and Miranda along with Cortana work with Chief to find Halo. What they discover instead is a link to where it might be. Parangosky makes a point that John needs to take a step forward, he can't just be the little boy or the angry man. Time for him to become Master Chief, the Spartan, the hope of humanity. Especially when he sits before the Gravemind. "I shall speak and you shall listen." Silver team loads onto the Pelican to prep for insertion into enemy territory. Seeing Halsey run for her life is...like watching someone chase a scared Replubican Karen. It was so damn satisfying. We find Miranda and Jacob standing as the most destructive element of their lives is brought in for capture. Makee appears before the High Prophets, and begs to join them on the Great Journey. I will say the Elites armor isn't nearly as colorful as it was shown in the games, but I'll give them some patience. The jump towards Halo is weird, and we can get some nice banter between Silver Team. Seeing something that stresses eventhem is pretty good meter for what that damn force would have done to 10,000 Marines. They find the planet, which I think is where the Covenant is? Not entirely sure. WEird that they aren't on High Charity. Back on Reach, Miranda decides she's going to confront her scuffed up mother. Turns out Halsey's list of crimes and that she is only worth an execution. Whatever the Blonde says, it's likely an attempt to manipulate her daughter. So she leaves without saying a thing, and as Jacob removes the observation device we switch back to the Covenant compound. The Prophets reaffirm that Makee is just blood expendable. I mean it makes sense, she holds the Gene-Song necessary to activate Halo that's all they need her for. Let's drop a pack of demons on their doorstep. A helo drop see's a few grunt's dead, and it's time for a serious faceoff. Lol, everyone got duped by Halsey using a flash clone. Damn, I wonder where she did go off to. Chief is immediately taken distracted by the artifact activating. Several brutes pop up to take on the Brutes leading to Riz getting knocked out. Makee touches the artifact and basically blows everyone off of the mountain. This activates a massive map to reveal the location of several halo installations. Damn, that girl is literally going to fry. Chief is ripped into the Domain, Makee standing nearby as the two of them once again witness Installation 004. He speaks to Makee as Silver Team faces off against the oncoming Elites. Kai sees the problem, its Makee, and sadly, the girl has to die. Or, the entire fireteam will die. I think this is where Chief is going to learn he can't live in a fantasy even if shit is peaceful. It's time for him to get his shit together, and he goads Cortana taking over. Its time for her to do the job. Cortana takes control of Chief and the Pelica, showcasing that only an AI can reach such a level of Coordination. An act which will allow her to save the team as well as save the artifacts. Watching Cortana burn Riz's wound shut in a quiet and clinical matter is - stark. We see John as Master Chief silent and stoic, making us wonder if this is a step to how Chief is in Halo 1. Whatever, we'll just have to wait for Season 2. Hottakes:

Vannak's hesitation and the pain in his actions was well acted, he and Riz definitely have a bond.

Kai's not so dead death was...epic.

Seriously, I LOVE KAI!

Animation in the last battle got really janky.

Halsey having some back up followers is so damn annoying, that bitch better deliver well in the next season.

I hope they don't kill Riz like this, it would be so fucking anti-climatic.

hiii againnn 🫶🫶 (sorry about how many i sent you of these i just love chatting with you and the excitement ahshshe)

okayy sooo regarding your tags haha my favourite artists are gracie abrams as well and maisie peters and liv too and sabrina carpenter and so many more lmao and my aesthetic is like cutesy but also sometimes like grunge where i were like black cargo pants and fishnets and stuff bc yes (also your style sounds AMAZINGGG) and i love art too, music (singing listening and playing lmao) and crochetinggg as well!! (except i can't really finish a project bc adhd LMAO)

anyways enough about mee, time for more questions haha these are not related to the gift just me wanting to get to know you better lmao (i mean they miiighhtt contribute to the gift who knows?)

ok soo, what's your favourite colour (i know you said you like black in the last answer BUTT idk if it's your favourite colour so might as well be sure) andddd if it's not too much trouble and if it's possible (i know it might be super hard haha) but could you rank midnights/1989 (whichever one you find easier to rank/whichever one you prefer since theyre your favourite albums haha)

alsoo sorry if im keeping you busy agsvbdeb im just so excited ahshhebr

byee <33 (sorry ive written a lottt)

p.s. we aren't mutuals haha but I've seen you on my dash a couple times and you seem really cool and i love getting to know you better it's really fun to chat with you <33

-secret swiftie santa

Dw this is pretty fun hehe

I think I’m on the opposite side of the adhd spectrum, where when I start a project, I often find myself hyper focusing so hard on it that I can’t focus on anything else until it’s done LOL (thankfully i can finish the smaller projects in a day, and Ive often been multitasking with for exemple doing rows of crochet while reading my textbooks haha)

My favourite color is Tyrian purple! (Tyrian purple specifically because there’s some other shades of purple I don’t like that much) look at how pretty!!

✨My Midnights Ranking✨

You’re on your own, Kid

Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve

You’re Losing Me

Anti-hero

Labyrinth

Question…?

Mastermind

Maroon

High infidelity

Midnight Rain

Lavender haze

Sweet Nothing

The Great War

Hits different

Paris

Karma

Dear reader

Snow on the beach

Bigger than the whole sky

Bejewelled

Glitch

Vigilante shit

Im incapable of ranking 1989 though 😂 But rn my favourites are the vault tracks (though that might be because of recency bias) and of course Wonderland 😌

Yuki yuna is a hero

SLAY!!! let’s go

Favorite female character? Nogi Wakaba. She is my Ryan Gosling. She is literally me. Second place, is Fu. In a better world she and I are besties.

Favorite male character? There are like… 0 named men in this anime that I can think of lol😭

Favorite season? It technically counts, but the first 6 episodes of season 2, aka the Washio Sumi arc. If Nogi Wakaba’s arc was actually adapted well into anime it would go here, but because it wasn’t… the Washio arc was really good. Really sweet, really sad, banger music and great jokes.

Favorite episode? Episode 8 of season 1. First and only anime I’ve watched to make me cry so hard I took a break from the show for 2 weeks.

Favorite cast member? ALL of MONACA. Just like their work in NieR, they are godly composers. A song in the soundtrack is literally called something like “12 stars 5 flowers”(?) and it will be the most badass track you’ll hear all week.

Favorite ship? Yuna and Karin!! I love pairings where the fun golucky one slowly breaks the much more hot-headed one out of their shell, and they have some really sweet moments. Plus, season 2 especially shows just how much Karin has come to care about Yuna after all they’ve gone through. Plus Karin is one of few “tsundere” types I can stand in anime, so she deserves it.

A character I’d die defending? Uh… all of them. Not even a question. Send tweet

A character I can’t sympathize with? Ehhhhhhh………? Idc if this isn’t just one person, the entire Taisha. I don’t fuck with cults. They suck. Get wheat’ed… except for you, Aki Sensei, you’re great and I love you. Speaking of,

Character I grew to love? AKI SENSEI!!!!!! She’s basically the closest this show has to a Misato without the… End of Evangelion yikes. Aki is just fun. On that note, I also really grew to like Yuna herself! I was totally bored of her in season 1 because her “I believe in us! Do good be kind YEAH!” Anime Protagonist schtick was not my thing, but season 2 fleshed her out a TON. obviously she has nothing on my girl Wakaba (because you can’t beat perfection <3), but she’s still awesome.

Anti-OTP? …Togo and Yuna. I know it’s like, the thing, but it’s just not my thing and the “pink haired bubbly girl x quiet dark haired cool colored girl” thing in magical girl animes has been done to death. It’s much sweeter platonically for me!

Thank you for the ask!

for the game, how about top 5 favorite colors? and what are your top 5 taylor albums? (if you can narrow them down lol, it’s so hard to narrow down that kind of stuff! but i want to hear your thoughts 😁)

hi!! how are you :)

Sage Green, Lavender, Rust, Cream, Muted Yellow, and Dusty Blue are all my favorite colors. Just kind of natural looking colors that I like to incorporate into decor in my room

I just did my top three, but I cannot come up with the next two. It's impossible. It's either Fearless than Lover OR Rep than Speak Now. ---- 1. Folklore/Evermore: It's a cop-out, but in my mind there is no separating Folklore & Evermore. I would say that I prefer Evermore. I love the rich lyricism and the soft instrumentals that are the backbone of her most poignant album, but there would be no Evermore without Folklore. Both albums (in my humble opinion) build and expand the TS-lore she's known for, which is something I really enjoy. I mean Evermore's storylines, from mourning her grandma to seeking revenge on an unfaithful husband are wide to say the least.

Favorite Lyric: I can't stop you putting roots in my dreamland, my house of stones, your ivy grows, now I'm covered in you Favorite Song: Seven & Evermore

2. Red: Red is the only album self-described as a break up album. It's full of some of the deepest cuts and others are confusing and seemingly missed place. Red, to me, is also nostalgic. I remember listening and adoring it at 11 and adoring it all over again at 20 last fall. My favorite tid-bit from this album, is the story behind We Are Never Getting Back Together. This song, according to TS herself, was created to be a pop single played over and over and over again on the radio that would make the muse so annoyed because it's glaringly obvious it's about him and he despises pop music. It was a petty move, and I have to say, I respect it. Another thing about this album is that it marks her transition from a country artist to a pop artisit. Untill the release of Folklore/Evemore, TS found a place in the pop world. This wasn't necessarily the case prior to the release of Red. It's evident by the "Vault tracks" released on Red (TV) that she wanted to include more pop-inspired songs on the album, but wasn't album to do so (management/label).

Favorite Lyric: Put your lips close to mine as long as they don't touch. Out of focus, eye to eye 'til the gravity's too much Favorite Song: The Last Time

Midnights: Midnights, arguably, is TS's most vulnerable album yet. Songs like Anti-Hero, Bigger Than The Whole Sky, Would've Could've Should've, and Dear Reader reveal the inner workings of TS's mind and thoughts. Midnights is reflective, not unlike the thoughts that keep us burning the midnight oil. I really love when Jack Antonoff and TS work together. Usually his sound is more expressive, but they did an amazing job using the narative of late night/sleepless nights to create a subued sound that provided audiotory interest while still allowing their strong lyricism to shine.

Favorite Lyric: If I was some paint, did it splatter on a promising grown man? And if I was a child, did it matter if you got to wash your hands? Favorite Song: Would've Could've Should've (I'm a fiend for her songs with religious themes)

Group Discussion: Eternally Yours

With Halloween just around the corner, we thought it would be a perfect time to dive into the paranormal romances of Eternally Yours edited by Patrice Caldwell. We fell into the stories and found much to love. I think we avoided any major spoilers so feel free to take a peek into our group discussion even if you haven’t had a chance to read yet. If you know the stories though, we’d enjoy hearing your thoughts.

Publisher summary: Vampires and merpeople, angels and demons—the paranormal is full of unusual beings. The stories in this anthology imagine worlds where the only thing more powerful than the supernatural, is love.

Contributors include: Kalynn Bayron (Cinderella Is Dead); Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns); Kat Cho (Wicked Fox); Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods); Sarah Gailey (When We Were Magic); Hafsah Faizal(We Hunt the Flame); Chloe Gong (These Violent Delights); Alexis Henderson (The Year of the Witching); Adib Khorram (Darius the Great Is Not Okay); Anna-Marie McLemore (When the Moon Was Ours, The Mirror Season); Casey McQuiston (Red, White, and Royal Blue; One Last Stop); Sandhya Menon (When Dimple Met Rishi); Akshaya Raman (The Ivory Key); Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Curse); Julian Winters (Running With Lions; Right Where I Left You)

What are your impressions of the cover? 

Audrey: I loved it! It’s beautifully macabre, and I especially enjoyed the detail of the blood dripping off of one of the roses. I knew exactly what kind of anthology I was going to get when I saw the cover.

Jessica: Oh, I’m such a fan. It really grabs you the moment you see it. I’m listening to Taylor Swift’s new album and Anti-Hero is playing right now – and it pairs really well with the cover! 

Crystal: I really love the vivid colors and it’s such a great pairing with the romantic and the slightly creepy. It’s warm and chilling at the same time.

K. Imani: I absolutely love the cover. It’s completely romantic and gothic with such beautiful colors. It really sets the vibe of the anthology. 

Which story or stories really grabbed you and lingered in your mind after reading? 

Audrey: Such a difficult decision! There were so many good stories in this anthology. If forced to narrow down my favorites, I’d pick “Piano Sonata No. 13” by Kalynn Bayron, “Banes and Blessings” by Hafsah Faizal, and “Bride-Heart” by Marie Rutkoski. (I do enjoy a story with a solid body count! And each of these had some lovely but horrifying details/descriptions that stuck with me.)

Jessica: Same, Audrey. It’s so hard to choose; they were all so paranormally delightful! I’ll echo Audrey on saying that “Banes and Blessings” was a favorite of mine, too. I also really loved La Bruja y la Sirena by Anna-Marie McLemore – such gorgeous writing. And of course, I have to include a shoutout to A Thousand More by Chloe Gong which was just so much fun. It’s the kind of story I want to see adapted as a C-Drama. 

Crystal: I totally agree, it is difficult to choose. I too have “Banes and Blessings” in my top picks though and the piano story was quite memorable. Being a children’s librarian, the title “If You Give an Asura a Cookie” stood out to me and the story wasn’t as creepy as others, but it was a sweet one and I enjoyed that.

K. Imani: I knew this question was going to be asked so I kept a small tally as I read, lol. I really did enjoy all the stories but like Audrey, “Piano Sonata No. 13” was perfect as it was a romantic villain origin story and I was there for it. “Kiss the Boy” by Adib Khorram had me smiling the whole time, and “My Demon Prince Charming,” by Sandhya Menon was so wonderfully romantic. And Jessica, I agree that “A Thousand More” by Chloe Gong needs to be a C-Drama. I would love to see all the different lives of Tally and Nate. 

Stories like these really make me think about questions involving monsters. What are monsters and or how can we determine if someone is truly a monster? Were any questions like this bouncing around in your mind while reading?

Audrey: As you can tell from my favorites list, one of the ideas I found myself circling was violence and how it can be used to blur the lines between “monsters” and “good people.” Sometimes the violence feels entirely justified, sometimes it feels good in the abstract, and sometimes it’s the byproduct of some other outcome you want. 

Crystal: The question of monsters is an interesting one to me. So many times we are judging whether someone or something is a monster on looks or even actions, but we don’t always know the motivations. I think the determination can be better made when you know the “why”, but that’s the trickiest part to discover or understand. We default to appearances because that’s the simple path.

Jessica: Monsters often embody the “Other,” which is why I think so many people connect with monster stories that are nuanced or sympathetic to them and depict monsters with a dimension of humanity. (And as seen in Scooby-Doo, the real ‘monster’ in stories can be the human, whose monstrous behavior outstrips a real ‘monster.’ Sorry, yes, I had to bring up Scooby Doo.) Monsters often reflect cultural fears, desires, and violations of conventional (white, straight) norms. And that’s something that many people from marginalized backgrounds can connect with. The letter to the reader from anthology editor Patrice Caldwell speaks to the appeal of monsters so well and also points to an IRL issue – that of publishing declaring paranormal romance “dead,” ignoring the BIPOC and queer paranormal romance authors who were already writing in the space or who aspire to write in that space. 

K. Imani: One of the aspects I liked about some of these stories is of demons and other monsters falling in love too. Monsters are often depicted as soulless evil drones, but in reality “monsters” are just people with bad intentions. They live and love like the rest of us, so it was nice to see our so-called “evil’ monsters “humanized” in a way. And like Crystal said we often don’t know the motivation of others so often when we think of monsters doing evil things, they are often just trying to survive. Stories of “monsters” falling in love helps us see them in a different light. It was one of the reasons why I love “If You Give an Asura a Cookie” because the story really showed how “monsters” are just trying to survive in a human populated world, and deserve happiness too. 

Did you meet any new authors that made you want to find more of their writing?

Audrey: Kalynn Bayron was a new-to-me author, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more of her work. 

Crystal: Akshaya Raman made me want to follow up and find more of her work. Fortunately, there is a book in existence already, The Ivory Key, so I have something to look forward to sometime soon. 

Jessica: I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve had Alexis Henderson’s much-lauded The Year of the Witching on my TBR pile for a long time, but haven’t gotten around to reading it. Reading “In the Eyes of Angels” was the push I needed to pick up The Year of the Witching finally – and I’m so glad I did! 

K. Imani: Like Crystal, Akshaya Raman stood out to me too. Now that I know she wrote “The Ivory Key”, a book that has been on my list, I can’t wait to dig into her novel. 

Since we’re on the topic of paranormal love, have you read any novels with that topic that you would recommend? 

Audrey: The first thing that jumped to mind for me was CEMETERY BOYS by Aiden Thomas, which features a brujo falling for the ghost he accidentally summoned. I’ve also loved every one of Anna-Marie McLemore’s books that I’ve read, so check those out if you’d like some magical realism with your romance.  

Crystal: I too loved Cemetery Boys and Anna-Marie McLemore’s books. I would also add Cynthia Leitich-Smith’s Feral Nights or her Tantalize series. 

Jessica: Echoing Audrey and Crystal – Cemetery Boys and anything by Anna-Marie McLemore is a must-read. I would also include the YA graphic novel Mooncakes by by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu, which is queer and lighthearted and fabulous. 

K. Imani: Oh, where to begin as paranormal romance is one of my favorite genres! Renee Ahdieh’s quartet “The Beautiful” is on its third book and is a wonderful gothic-ish series set in New Orleans in the 1870’s. If you want more Merfolk, Natasha Bowen’s “Skin of the Sea” duology is a treat. The sequel “Soul of the Deep” just came out a few weeks ago. 

This was a fun read and discussion and we’d recommend it for anyone with an interest in paranormal love stories and those with an interest in the monstrous. Thanks for joining us!

MidnighTS, the stories of 13 sleepless nights.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lavender Haze - I love how this song has a message of ignoring media speculation while also making it an OPENER and a BOP. I'll never forget the ecstatic sensation I had upon hearing it for the first time.

Maroon - is literally a color and a phrase that denotes loneliness and seclusion (like being marooned on an island). I love how this song captures both meanings. Lyrically SO cruel and haunting yet beautiful. Now, that's a real fucking legacy.

Anti-Hero - a song about self-loathing is literally my brand lmao. This is probably one of the most relatable Taylor songs ever. Everyone's been their own Anti-Hero at some point and "I'll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror" is the perfect way to capture that struggle.

Snow On The Beach - it's giving "first fall of snow and how it glistens as it fell" vibes. Taylor’s voice is just like the waves, coming back and forth. And Lana’s voice is the snow falling into the marine, falling on the coastline. SO therapeutic.

You're On Your Own Kid - this song is a love letter to our younger self. "Everything you lose is a step you take..." hits so hard at first, but in the end, it feels like a hug. It was very comforting and empowering in a sense, especially during these days when you can easily lose something you love or care for. Losing something is NOT the end, but a step.

Midnight Rain - I was NOT prepared for this! That pitched-down/distorted chorus is really addicting, to be honest. It's experimental yet effective. The only thing I hate about this song is WHY IS IT SO SHORT?!?

Question…? - "Does it feel like everything’s just like second best after that meteor strike?" The way it starts slow and then builds up and accelerates like it needs answers. CLEVER! One of the standouts for sure. Also, it referenced her 2014 song 'Out of The Woods' which again, is clever.

Vigilante Shit - fantasizing about revenge? Oooh, my other brand lol. The dark lyrics and production with THAT deep menacing baseline? *chef's kiss* It screams the 'reputation' era without a doubt.

Bejeweled - The Category Is Burlesque Showgirl Fantasy Bathe In Diamonds. The production literally sounds like diamonds glistening and glimmering because "What's a girl gonna do? A diamond gotta SHINEEEEE" SO fun and sparkly.

Labyrinth - this song is written beautifully to emphasize her state of mind is chaotic and in a labyrinth. You can hear the distortion in her voice, the scratched note, and the directionless melody that seems fitting for this track. When the outro came in, it ascends me to the heavens. SO GOOD

Karma - I love how she pictures Karma as a positive motivation instead of a revenge medium. I DID NOT EXPECT IT TO BE THIS POSITIVE lol. It makes me realize that the best revenge is being at peace knowing you did nothing wrong and leaving it all to the universe. Step into the daylight and LET IT GO.

Sweet Nothing - this is the softest and sweetest song I've heard in a while. It quite feels like a soft kiss on your forehead from someone you love. The fact that she wrote this song together with her lover for 6 years speaks volumes about their entire relationship.

Mastermind - Ethereal, catchy, and romantic. Great way to end the album.

@taylorswift, love you so much!!! 🫶🏻

I scribbled this just for fun, so don't take a lot of what I say too seriously. This post is basically a poor man's fanfic, so the TL;DR: here's my take on Harley Quinn if she was made into a superhero and not th...anti-hero? Anti-villain? And not the character she is today.

So, like, Harley Quinn downgraded, lol. JK, JK...half-jk.

So, Harley Quinn; DC has been really pushing her as of late, for better and for worse. I won't go too deep into my rant on her, so let's focus on the big thing: Harley Quinn runs the morality spectrum lately as anti-hero and anti-villain. I haven't seen much of the comics, but sometimes, she's working with Powergirl. And other times, she's holding up a truck at gun point because people didn't come to her party. And then, there's her standings with Batman; depending on the writer, she's either an ally of the Batfamily or she's neutral.

Some people would argue she's definitely a part of the Batfamily-after all, we consider Catwoman a part of the family and can hold her own. But, like, I'd argue she's really not. She's more like an acquaintance, sometimes. BUT, what if Harley fully became a member of the Batman Team?!

I don't think this is too farfetched of a concept, really. Batman-or maybe his alter ego, Bruce Wayne-finds a battered and bruised Harley Quinn, most likely after another abusive night with the Joker. Short on time, Bruce helps Harley out of the gutter and races her to the hospital. Harley is slipping in and out of consciousness, but she's able to catch a glimpse of Bruce's jawline, able to recognize that it's definitely Batman-"I mean, I think? I got hit pretty hard."

She wakes up in the hospital, 100% certain Batman took her to the hospital (not QUITE wrong) and, slowly, it all starts to click with her that maybe this life of crime isn't for her. That maybe the Joker really IS using her as hired help. And when Batman, someone who for years (if not, at least months) has been her enemy and has had no problem clobbering her is the one to actually save her life when Joker, her beloved puddin', keeps throwing her in the trash and under the bus, left her to rot, then...what the hell is she doing with her life?

At first, she's angry! But then, she deflates. She doesn't wanna accept this, but the fact is that the writing was on the wall. In bright, bold, red colors and in plain English. Harley's just been keeping her head in the sand, too intoxicated to see the obvious. The Joker is little more than a drug, keeping her too numb to realize that the sunshine and rainbows were dark clouds and lighting bolts.

Fast forward a few months and Harley Quinn is back on the streets! Though, now she's using all her experience as a villain for good! A bonifide vigilante! It goes WELL, but not great. For one thing, Harley Quinn is kinda scary. Sure, she's no Killer Croc, but she's got a pretty serious rep. Batman hits the scene and expects to have to drag Harley back to Arkham, but she's...NOT terrorizing people. She's fighting mobsters. After the two finish the fight, Harley tries to sell herself as Batman's latest partner. And Batman hits her with the-

"No."

He even handcuffs her to a post, expecting her to stay put until someone can take her away. But, she manages to slip away. After a few more nights of this, Batman decides that MAYBE keeping her as a partner wouldn't be TOO bad. If nothing else, it'd be much safer for the people by reining her in. So, she gets some basic training by Batman in the Batcave. She's already got a great foundation, just need to learn some non-lethal tactics and be given a rundown on NOT causing collateral damage.

And the next time Harley Quinn hits the streets, she's got a new suit and identity. Now, she's Mockingbird-a good way to homage her prior jester motif while taking up the bird motif some members of the team have. Batman did NOT design her suit, though. Or, if he did, Harley made some...modifications.