One Life to Live

Hi, so now we come to the end.  The final two chapters.  Thanks to everyone who’s been following this story.  It can be read on AO3 too.  My name is Kris22 there.  As always, thanks to Ronja for allowing me to write fanfic of her Hunger Games fanfic “The Chance You Didn’t Take” available on AO3 and Fanfiction.  And thanks to Loueze for her encouragement and support.  Chapter 37 By the time the television crew was due to arrive, Peeta and I were as convincingly in love as two people could possibly be.  Of course, it was helped a great deal by the fact that we actually were.  Even so, we were hardly looking forward to our private lives becoming public again and cameras following us around as we went about our daily routine.  We worried about how intrusive it might be. Cressida had promised it would be tasteful, but the Capitol idea of tasteful can be very different from the districts.  I was afraid that it might be like that show I once saw on television about a houseful of people under constant surveillance.  They couldn’t even shower in privacy.  Would it be like that for Peeta and me?  Would they follow us into the bedroom?  Expect us to perform?  Our one consolation was that we’d be left alone once filming had ended and we vowed to ourselves that we’d do nothing newsworthy for the rest of our lives.   The day came. The house had been cleaned and tidied.  Everything was where it was supposed to be to reflect a couple who lived together as romantic partners.  Buttercup was bathed and freshly groomed.  I had the scratches to prove it.  Peeta, always considerate, had baked an assortment of breads for the crew, although I told him he shouldn’t bother.  At 7 am everything was in readiness.  10 am came and went.   And then 11 am.   At 2 pm we were still waiting.   At 4 pm we wondered if we’d got our dates wrong.   It was 6 pm when Haymitch finally got around to telling us.  They weren’t coming.  At all.   The video Remus took had violated victor media protection.  I had been filmed without my consent, wasn’t engaged in illegal activity and hadn’t voided my own protection by taking on a public role or seeking publicity.  Plutarch knew this but gambled that in our ignorance, we could be coerced into co-operating.  And once filming had started, our media protection was automatically revoked, since we had clearly consented to it.   It took only one phone call from Haymitch to President Paylor to have it sorted.   I suppose it’s of some consolation that Plutarch was severely reprimanded and threatened with dismissal.  And that he was also out of pocket for the purchase of the video and pre-production costs. As for Haymitch, I couldn’t decide whether to thank him or kill him.  He had certainly saved us from our lives being turned into a media circus for a second time but he’d let us have the worry of it for a whole week.  Peeta calmed me down and reminded me that it had brought us together.  Haymitch’s defense was that he was sick to death of our crap and wanted an end to it. He thought that a week of living together would get us sort out our differences and he was proven right.   I argued that it would have happened anyway, although I had to concede probably not as quickly.  With that in mind, I decided to let him live.   The year rolls around.  Peeta doesn’t move back into his house. It was never discussed; it was simply taken for granted.  We keep busy.  Peeta still works at the bakery as a specialist cake decorator.  He’s a partner now.  The sign above the new premises reads “Carter and Mellark Bakery and Patisserie.”  I teach at the school and on weekends I hunt. Marcus wrote to ask if I was interested in culling pest species such as wild dog and feral pig.  I jumped at it.  It seems you can be a hunter and a conservationist.   Haymitch works at the council and raises geese, which he does a pretty good job of considering he’s inebriated most of the time. We attend two weddings and one toasting.   Arthur and Lace don’t wait long before they tie the knot, or to be more accurate, thread the needle. Predictably, it was the source of much hilarity for Max, who was also invited.  At least he refrained from making jokes until after the ceremony.  I enjoyed catching up with Sateen and her husband Roy. They have a little boy.  They called him Felt.   Poor kid.   The second wedding was Octavia and Thom’s. Octavia made a beautiful bride with her rich auburn hair and fresh complexion.  Venia’s fear that their past as prep team to the Games would jeopardize their position in 12 proved needless.  Everyone knew who they were.  They’d seen them on television.  Flavius’s bright orange hair and Venia’s facial tattoos made them easily recognizable. But people had moved on.  They were tired of holding onto resentments – especially for three harmless beauty therapists whose former “victim” still willingly availed herself of their services.   The toasting was ours.  One day, we just did it.  There was no planning, no prior understanding that we’d have one.  It was the middle of winter.  We were snowed in and confined to the house.  Peeta got a roaring fire going and we picnicked in front of it using odds and ends from the pantry.  We had some stale bread to use up and toasted it by the fire.  He’d hold the toasting fork with a piece of bread to the flames and offer it to me when it was done.  The significance of it entered our heads at the very same moment. It was just a look followed by a kiss. Nothing needed to be said.  One day we might make it official, but for us we’re more married than any piece of paper or big party could make us.   Johanna won the election for District 7 mayor. She’s kept very busy but we talk on the telephone regularly.  She’s coming to visit 12 for a few days next month.   Doubtless she’ll be as disruptive as ever.  But sometimes we can use a little stirring up.  That’s what Johanna says anyway.  She takes full credit for getting Peeta and me back together and I can’t say she’s entirely wrong.   And we had a visit from my mother!  I had her possessions shipped to her home in District 4 and it seemed to have jolted something inside her, because soon after she was making plans to travel here.   It was a short visit.  She was nervous about coming here, of the memories it could evoke.  But aside from the Village, there’s nothing left of the old Twelve.  The debris from the bombs has long since been cleared away, new buildings have replaced the old, and the grass grows long and thick over the meadow.   We had a long talk about her reasons for not joining me in Twelve after I’d been released from the Capitol.  She feared being pulled down into a depression along with me.   I understood.  When you’re in the grip of it, you can see no way out.  My mother, having recovered once, was deathly afraid that she wouldn’t recover a second time.  And since misery feeds on misery, she would likely have only made mine worse.   Peeta is somewhere in the house repairing the painting of the primrose he did for me.  I don’t visit Prim in her room anymore except for that one time I when I wanted to tell her about my toasting with Peeta.   She wasn’t there.  She hasn’t been for a long time.  It was then I realized that Prim doesn’t reside in any particular place.  She’s with me every time I think of her.  I took down the primrose painting from the top of the dresser.  It belongs somewhere where I will see it every day.   I had an idea for a book, similar to my family’s plant book.   It’s to preserve the happy memories of the people we’ve lost.   Lady licking Prim’s cheek, what Cinna could do with a length of silk.  In my best handwriting, I carefully record all the details it would be a crime to forget and accompany it with a photo if we have one, or a sketch or painting by Peeta. There are photos of Finnick strewn across the dining table as I try to make my mind up on which one to use - a publicity shot that shows off Finnick’s sea-green eyes or a photo taken of himself and Annie at their wedding.   “Katniss, I was looking for some kind of adhesive tape to fix the painting and I found this letter in one of the drawers in the study.  It was addressed to me, so I opened it.” I look up, wondering what Peeta’s talking about.  He holds the painting in one hand and a sheet of paper in the other.  He leans the painting up against a wall and then pulls out one of the dining room chairs to sit across from me.  He lays the letter down in front of him.  I immediately recognize the handwriting on it as my own.  It’s the first letter I wrote to him after the mayor’s party before I thought better of it and wrote a second.  But not before putting it in an envelope and stuffing it in a drawer.  I’d forgotten all about it.   I try to snatch the letter away but he swiftly puts it out of my reach.  “Dear Peeta,” he reads. “I’m writing to you because – ““You don’t have to read it.  I know what’s in it,” I say.  “Give it back.”  I make another grab for it but he’s too fast. “. . . because I’m sure to get it wrong, or miss something important if I do this face to face.” He stops reading and hands me the letter.  I take it from him, refold it, and slip it beneath the memory book, hoping against hope, that this will prevent any more mention of it. “Did you really want to break off all contact with me?” he asks, frowning.  “I didn’t think it ever got that bad.  When?  Why?” I sigh. Why didn’t I throw the damn letter out? “It was after the mayor’s party.  I was very upset when I wrote it.  And then I had second thoughts and wrote you another. That’s the one I slipped under your door.  I’d forgotten about this one.” He gives his head a shake. “I don’t understand. Nothing happened that night.  Not between us, anyway.  Did someone say something?  Was it Max?”  His lips thin in anger.  “That – “ “No,” I say quickly.  “It was nothing Max did.” I let out a breath, and plough forward. “It was something you did.  You and Lace.  It was when you sneaked off to have sex.” There’s a moment of stunned silence.  “What?” “You know what I mean.  I saw it all.  Well, not all, but I did see the two of disappear through those swinging double doors only the staff used.   And when you came back, Lace’s hair was all mussed. And if you didn’t have sex exactly, it was something close.  That was really tacky, Peeta.  Civilized people have more decorum than to do that.  Civilized people wait until they get home.  Civilized people – “ “Katniss, we didn’t sneak off for sex. Cass invited me to see the kitchens once the dessert course was over.  That’s where we went.”   Oh.  I guess that’s a reasonable explanation.  But that dream had been so vivid.  “Then why was Lace’s hair messed up?” “Was it?  I don’t know.  I don’t remember anything different about her.  We went to see the kitchen, Cass showed us around, and then we came out. Nothing else happened.”   “But it was sticking out,” I insist.  I know what I saw.   The scene plays again in my head.  I was at the bar with Haymitch and Max, sampling shots of whisky and getting drunker and more agitated by the minute.  Agonizing over what they could be doing.  Kissing, fondling each other, maybe even fucking. “And then you didn’t even look to see if I was still there when you came back,” I add in a small pitiful voice.  It sounds so pathetic, saying it aloud.  It’s a trivial reason for cutting someone out of your life. Just because they didn’t look for you when they came into a room.   But after everything, that’s what tipped it over for me.  What finally made me give up hope and decide to end it. He reaches across the table to take one of my hands.  “Katniss, look at me.” I turn my face away, and he gives my hand a tug.  I reluctantly meet his gaze.  His eyes look earnestly into mine.  “I can’t explain the hair, okay?  But I can tell you what I do remember about that night.” He pauses, as if waiting for my approval before he proceeds.  I shrug.   “Go ahead.” He closes his eyes for a few seconds.  “You, looking so beautiful in your Cinna dress.  And me, assailed by memories of other entrances and other gowns.  Being dragged around by Lace from one boring conversation to another, unable to resist looking around to see what you were doing.  And Max, who didn’t leave your side for a minute unless it was to get you another drink. I was jealous of him without knowing why but attributed it to a fear of losing your friendship.” He pauses and adds, “At the time, you didn’t seem very happy with me.”I feel a twinge of remorse.  He’s right.  I was often moody and distant with him.  The tape viewings weren’t going as I wanted and I’d recently learned of a pattern book he was making for Lace, similar to my family’s plant book.  “You seemed to be having such a good time together, at dinner and on the dance floor. So, when we came back into the ballroom, I just didn’t want to be reminded of it.  I kept my head down and headed for the nearest group of people.  And then I did my best not to think about you.  I’m sorry.   I hurt you and used Lace to hide from my feelings.  But that’s the truth, awful as it is.”   But not nearly as awful as what I’d convinced myself of.   I don’t know what to say.  I feel so foolish.  So much anger and pain for something that existed only in my imagination.   And I’d also assumed that Peeta’s willingness to help me with the Marcus thing was due, in some part, to either empathy or guilt for having being in a similar situation himself. “No, I’m the awful one for jumping to conclusions.  I thought the worst.  You’d never be so crass as to do something like that.  I owe you an apology.  I should never – “ “You don’t owe me anything,” he says, interrupting me before I can go further.   “In fact, the opposite is true.  You wouldn’t have thought it if I hadn’t given you reason to.” He reaches across for the memory book and flips through the pages we’ve done so far.  My father. Peeta’s father.  Boggs.  It stops on Rue.  Peeta has drawn her poised on her toes, arms slightly extended, like a bird about to take flight.  There’s a reason why I asked him to portray her like this.  It’s how I want to remember her.  You can’t change the past, but you can bring the best of it into the future.   “Let’s make a deal.  Only good memories for us from now on.  Like this book you’re working on.”   He walks over to where I’m sitting to pull me out of my chair.  “Now come show me where you want this painting hung.”  I take him into the living room.  It’s the room we use most and where I’ll see it every day.   As I decide where to place it exactly, Peeta comes to stand at my back to hug me from behind.  I lean back against his broad chest and luxuriate in the strong arms that encircle me.   My dandelion in the spring.  The lullaby that Prim liked as a baby comes to mind.   Here it’s safe, here it’s warmHere the daisies guard you from every harmHere your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them trueHere is the place where I love you. “I was thinking over the mantle?  Or maybe on the far wall . . .”    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 38 Lace’s story: what happened on the night of the mayor’s party.   It wasn’t fair!  This was supposed to have been her night.   She had been looking forward to it for weeks ever since Peeta casually mentioned it on one of their date nights.  The mayor’s inauguration party was to be the biggest social event in District 12 in living memory.  All the important and influential people in the district would be there.  For ambitious Lace, it was invaluable in terms of creating contacts and securing the kind of clientele that could afford to buy her evening wear, a design niche she wanted to develop.   Besides, she dearly loved a party and she hadn’t been to one in ages.  The last one had been the district party where she had met Peeta for the first time.   He didn’t remember it though.   That was fortunate since she had come to District 12 for a new life and a new identity and didn’t want her past in District 8 compromising it in any way.   Since she was to be her best advertisement, she put a great deal of thought and effort into her gown.  She hadn’t much money saved but she splurged the lot on pale yellow satin and then spent many hours making it up.   The final touch was a trip to the salon to have her hair colored and styled.  It was an extravagance, keeping up the hair color.  But she loved it and it formed something of a disguise as it was subtly different from the typical ash brown of the natives of her home district.   As she entered the ballroom, Lace felt she was at the beginning of an exciting new phase.  After a slow start, her business had gained momentum and she was making a steady income.   A few family members had also made the move to 12 which added to her sense of security.  But best of all, was the man on whose arm she clung.  How did she get so lucky?  Peeta Mellark!  Her teenage crush.  The romantic heartthrob whose posters had adorned her bedroom wall.  The boy she had married in her dreams every night.  What a fortuitus twist of fate it had been that day when he came into her shop to have a coat made.  A flirtation had led to a date at a restaurant and then another, until she could now, without exaggeration, call him her boyfriend! True, he wasn’t quite what she had expected.  He seemed a bit aimless, and he liked activities she had outgrown, like hanging out at the ice-cream parlor and the swimming pool, but he was Peeta Mellark!   And he really was so sweet and considerate with his little romantic gestures and compliments to her beauty.  He told her she was a wonder.  And the more she kissed and flattered and stroked, the more wonderful she became.  It was a mutual admiration society that she was more than happy to live in.  The one blot on her happiness was Katniss Everdeen.  Lace had mixed feelings about meeting her. Katniss was intimidating.  Her reputation as romantic heroine, fearless symbol of the Rebellion, skillful warrior and (privately thought by most of the populace) savior from another Snow, preceded her.  But most intimidating of all was her relationship with Peeta.  He talked about her all the time. Not in a romantic sense, it was true, but it was clear she occupied a great deal of his thoughts.  The Games had been mandatory viewing and Lace, like everyone in Panem, had watched Peeta gaze at Katniss with love in his eyes.  But Peeta had an explanation for that.  It had been an illusion.  He thought he had been in love with her, but it turned out that he was in love with his idea of her, rather than who she really is.  But now he thought of her as very good friend with whom he shared an unbreakable bond.  As for Katniss, well, she had never loved him.  It had all been an act on her part. That should have been reassuring.  And it was.  Sort of.  But Peeta had lost many of his memories and what was left was distorted, so how could he be certain? But what gave her most pause wasn’t Peeta.  It was Katniss.  It was clear at the first meeting that Katniss didn’t like her.  Katniss wasn’t rude, but she was cool, even giving her the once over when they were first introduced.  And when Lace and Peeta discussed a housewarming gift from the two of them for Lace’s brother, a shadow passed over Katniss’s face.  It was subtle but unmistakable.  Katniss wasn’t as disinterested in Peeta as Peeta made out. That’s why Lace gatecrashed the tape viewings.  If there was anything going on, she wanted to know about it.  She didn’t trust Katniss one inch.  Unfortunately, the second of the tapes triggered the memory of a traumatic incident for Lace and she reacted hysterically.  Peeta asked her not to attend anymore and she had no choice but to do as he said.   However, despite Peeta watching video tape of hugs and kisses and romantic slow dancing at Capitol parties, nothing changed between herself and Peeta.  If Peeta had ever loved Katniss, it appeared that he no longer did.   Even Leevy’s revelations in the salon that day didn’t worry her for long.  So what if the star-crossed lovers had been real?  It still aligned with Peeta’s version.  What had happened in the Games and during the tours was before Peeta had realized his true feelings for Katniss.  And she’d already guessed that Katniss was in love with him.   The party was everything Lace had dreamed of. So elegant. The women in evening gowns, the men in dinner suits.  Waiters with silver trays laden with flutes of sparkling champagne. The tables resplendent with starched white tablecloths and napkins and gleaming cutlery.  She turned to Peeta to kiss his cheek. “Thank you so much for bringing me,” she said. “You really are the best boyfriend.”  He brushed her lips with his and gave her a fond smile.  “Only because I have the best girlfriend,” he replied.   She beamed and squeezed his arm.  She could hardly recall a happier moment.   And then Katniss Everdeen arrived.  Lace’s practiced eye immediately recognized her gown as haute couture.  Cinna, probably.  Deep blue, the bodice studded thickly with diamonds – were they real? – with a strapless sweetheart neckline and more diamonds scattered on the skirt.  It dazzled and Katniss dazzled with it.  Luxuriant dark hair cascading down her back in loose curls.  Smooth olive skin, fine features and those surprising eyes.  Silvery gray, the colour of storm clouds.  She had a man for each arm.  The school teacher Max Matson, who all the girls agreed was very good looking if you could get past his personality, and – it couldn’t be – Arthur!  Lace’s friend who adored her since they were children together.  She knew he was coming tonight but not with her!  She felt the arm beneath her fingers stiffen and her glance swiftly turned to his face.  Peeta appeared stunned, his mouth gaping slightly.  There was admiration, certainly, but also something darker and more sinister.  Recognition. A memory, perhaps several, had resurfaced.   Lace’s happiness dimmed as if a cloud had passed across the sun.  But she rallied, pulling Peeta quickly along to greet the new mayor and his wife who were momentarily on their own.  Lace was in her element.  She was a natural networker.  She loved to interact with people and was always searching for opportunities.  Peeta seemed a little distracted though. Looking around, not quite keeping up with the conversation.   She followed his gaze, and it led directly to Katniss Everdeen, who, no surprise, was looking directly at him.  They both looked quickly away, but that was of no comfort.  It was clear that they were on each other’s mind. Meanwhile, she was pleased to observe, Arthur had detached himself from Katniss and was busy working the room too.  Now there was a man with get-up-and-go.  He didn’t let his natural reserve get in the way of achieving his ambitions.  Lace waved him over and he changed direction to come to her side.  Soon they were talking business, a fascinating subject for them both. She didn’t notice how restless Peeta was during the exchange. Dinner was announced and everyone made their way to their allocated seats.  Unfortunately, theirs was a dull table and not even Lace’s pearly laugh could liven it up. A burst of laughter from nearby grabbed her attention.  Arthur and Haymitch seemed to be at the center of it.  It caught Peeta’s attention too.  He seemed envious, it appeared to Lace.  But whether it was over the entertaining company or because Katniss was seated there too, she couldn’t tell. After the food had been served, people resumed their mingling, moving from table to table. Peeta wanted to talk to Katniss.  Ordinarily, Lace wouldn’t feel particularly threatened by this.  Over the preceding weeks, Peeta had confided to her that Katniss seemed uninterested in spending time with him unless it was watching the tapes.  And even then, she often seemed angry with him. Lace immediately guessed the situation. Katniss had grown frustrated with Peeta. He hadn’t responded as she’d hoped and she was distancing herself as a form of self-protection.  As long as this status quo was maintained, Lace felt safe. But after tonight, she wasn’t sure of anything.   Lace demurred.  Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea.  Katniss appeared occupied and hadn’t he told her that she didn’t seem keen on his company lately?  It was best to leave her alone.  But Peeta said that they should, that it would look odd if they didn’t.  So, when Max headed off in the direction of the bar, leaving Katniss on her own, Lace reluctantly let Peeta lead her to where Katniss sat.   It was an awkward conversation.  Lace embarrassed herself with her ignorance on what it meant to be a victor at the district parties and having to face the families of the dead tributes.  Worse, she let it slip that she had been to a district party.  Her story was that she’d been a factory worker in 8. Factory workers weren’t allowed to attend district parties.  Fortunately, Peeta didn’t pick up on it, but Katniss appeared to sense that something was amiss.   There was an awkward pause.  Peeta broke the silence.  “Are you going to let me talk to Katniss?” he said to Lace, pretending to be annoyed.  She had intended to stay at Peeta’s side, but perhaps it would be better to leave before she dug herself a deeper hole. “Okay, okay,” she said, in mock surrender.  “I know when I’m not wanted.  I need to go to the ladies’ room anyway.  Just stay out of trouble and don’t bug Katniss.” There, that would show Katniss who’s really in charge and hopefully plant a seed that Peeta wasn’t exactly happy in her company either.  She stroked his hand and kissed his cheek, enjoying her Svengali-like effect, knowing that his eyes would follow her as she walked away. She went to the ladies’ room as she said she would and did the usual things women do there.  She wanted to get the timing right and was gratified to see Peeta waiting for her at their table when she returned.   The dancing started up soon after and Lace pulled Peeta to his feet.  She loved to dance.  Peeta didn’t. His prosthetic leg made it a chore rather than a pleasure and he had faint memories of dancing at Capitol parties. But he wanted to be a good boyfriend, so up he got, and shuffled dutifully around the dancefloor with her. But then Katniss and Max came into view. Max had Katniss pulled tightly against him and he swung her around in a series of fancy turns, almost lifting her off her feet.  They were making fools of themselves, thought Lace.  That’s no way to behave at a formal event. So undignified!  So tasteless!  She turned to Peeta, expecting him to be as unimpressed as she, but his face was hard, giving away nothing.  Suddenly, he put his head close to hers and whispered words in her ear.   She nodded and followed him through the double swinging doors the staff used to bring food from the kitchen.  It had been pre-arranged.  Peeta had told her about it.  Cass from the bakery was to show Peeta around the kitchens. He had never seen a commercial kitchen before.   While he marveled at the long row of ovens, the walk-in freezer, the huge storage room, Lace could barely stifle her yawns.  So boring, and it was fricking cold in there after the warmth of the ballroom. But she stuck a smile on her face and did her best to appear interested but she was hardly in the mood to hear about the merits of blast chillers when her heart was breaking.  Somehow, she had to widen the gulf between Katniss and Peeta. She had to ensure that any fledgling signs of a possible reunion between them was snuffed out before it could begin. And then she had an idea. Just as they were about to re-enter the ballroom, Lace ruffled her carefully styled hair and swiped the back of her hand across her mouth to wipe away some of the lipstick, smearing it a little. Let Katniss believe that she and Peeta had snuck away for some canoodling in a dark corner.  Isn’t that what Peeta and Katniss did as star-crossed lovers?  Sneaking off to be alone when they were at fancy events? It was in a fan magazine she’d read, anyway.  With a bit of luck, Katniss’s mind would go straight there.   She scanned the room and saw Katniss by the bar with Max and Haymitch.  The hour was growing late and the crowd had thinned but there was a group of merry young people standing around nearby.  She started to lead Peeta in their direction, but he seemed to have the same idea and led her.  And when his arm went around her waist and he pressed a fond kiss to the crown of her head, relief flooded through her.  Everything was as it should be.  She turned in his arms slightly to look over his shoulder and managed to catch a glimpse of Katniss’s stricken but resolute face, just before her hasty exit with a startled Max close behind her.   Satisfied, she leaned her head against Peeta’s shoulder and he squeezed her waist.  She had worried over nothing.  It was inevitable that as Peeta regained his memories they’d be focused on Katniss. They were, after all, the memories that Snow had meddled with.  It didn’t mean that Peeta was wrong when he said his feelings for her had been an illusion. The real proof of who he loved was in who he chose to be with.  And that was her, Lace Bomul from District 8.  

National Anthem

5. June 25, 2020 Part 2 🌶

“I kind of regret not getting that ice cream,” Cami groaned as they re-entered the building, effectively escaping the sweltering heat.

“It would have melted before we could get back,” Josh shoved up his sleeves, exposing his arms directly to the air conditioning.

“Nothing wrong with ice cream soup,” she grinned.

“Personally I prefer the ice cream cold,” Marcel laughed, “and to finish it cold today we would have had to eat it so fast that we all developed brain freeze.”

“I wouldn’t mind any kind of freeze right now,” Cami let out a wistful sigh.

“I’ll tell you what,” Marcel rubbed the back of his head, “I’ll pick up my files and computer, you get the latest videos to review and Josh can pick up what he needs. Then we head back to the hotel and get a big tub of ice cream.”

“Or we could just jump in the pool,” Cami hummed, already feeling the cold water surrounding her. She had what she needed for the evening so she followed Marcel back to his office.

The open door made her pause, granting a glimpse of Kol inside, pacing back and forth with a thick folder.

Marcel barely got out a greeting before a fist collided with his jaw, impact knocking him into a wall where he fell.

“What the hell?” Cami slammed the door shut, bracing her back against it.

Marcel climbed back to his feet, rubbing his face.

She saw it a spilt second before it happened and could only watch as he punched Marcel again. She jumped between them before he could go for a third and held him back with hands on his chest.

“Kol?” Her heart beat loudly in her ears.

“You had no right.” His words were cold and quiet in stark contrast to the wild rage that left bruises on Marcel’s face. “You had no right to dig through her life.”

“I had every right,” Marcel grunted. “She’s spending time with you. We needed to know everything.”

“Elena’s an open book you bloody idiot,” he spat over Cami’s head. “I have known her since I was seven years old. There are no skeletons in her closet and no embarrassing relations.”

“Really?” Marcel scoffed. “So I suppose you knew about the illegal activity surrounding her birth?”

“What the hell are you on about?” His eyes narrowed.

“Read the file. At the back,” Marcel rolled his neck. “There are no records of Miranda Gilbert being pregnant with her, and dozens of doctor’s reports for her brother. Somebody falsified her birth certificate. For all we know she’s not even American. She could be a foreign spy for all anyone knows.”

“Are you crazy?” Kol pulled out the papers. “I’ve known Elena since I was seven years old.”

“I’m not saying she is one,” Marcel sighed, “I’m saying it’s a conclusion people will jump to. False documentation and a reputation as a respected journalist working her way up Capitol Hill. It doesn’t look good.”

“I don’t care how it looks to you or anyone else,” he stuffed the pages back into the folder. “Stay the hell out of her past.”

He shoved away from Cami and wrenched open the door.

“Where are you going?” She turned to Marcel, inspecting the damage.

“I’m gonna go and make sure she’s alright because she ran out of here in tears before I could stop her,” he seethed, cutting his eyes back to Marcel. “I suggest you make this right soon, before I get the urge to blacken your other eye.”

++++

She hugged the hotel pillow to her chest and stared at the desk in the corner through tired eyes. She felt dried out, drained of everything but the tight ball in her chest.

A single page fluttered in the air conditioner’s blast, flapping noisily against her open laptop.

That stupid note bared her deepest fears. She could see them now, laid out at her feet. As a potential embarrassment with who knew how many relatives waiting in the woodwork she wasn’t good enough.

Not that she had thought she was good enough before.

She was a reporter and that made her as far from First Lady material as possible. Not that she had been thinking about being First Lady; it was just a side effect of her other fantasy that involved Kol and a white dress and mischievous eyes in an impossibly small face.

But she wasn’t good enough for that.

She was a giant question mark, and who was left to answer it?

Water leaked from her eyes into her hair.

So much for being cried out.

She closed her eyes and saw it again. She heard the scream and rush of water, felt the ice spread through her veins, sensed the darkness closing in. And then she remembered waking up in the back of an ambulance.

They were gone.

They couldn’t answer.

They couldn’t tell her anything.

They were gone.

They couldn’t answer.

But maybe someone could.

She fished through her pocket for her phone and forced her eyes open as she scrolled, selecting the direct line they called a ‘lifeline’. Her throat constricted painfully; she swallowed until a little moisture returned to her mouth.

“Hello?” Jenna Sommers voice filtered through her ear.

“Aunt Jenna?” Her voice cracked.

“Elena? What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Jenna rattled off question after question. Keys jingled in the background, and she pictured her driving like a demon to get to Texas and her upset niece.

“Was I…” she swallowed thickly, squeezing her eyes shut. “Was I adopted?”

Air rushed in her ear as Jenna inhaled quickly. Somehow that was more telling than anything she could say. And then Jenna was talking a mile a minute, trying to explain between dropped apologizes and halting breaths.

Grayson Gilbert doctored the birth certificate when her teenage birth mother left her in his care.

She had been abandoned at three days old. That might have stung more if she were still a teenager, but she couldn’t begrudge the girl for wanting out. What sort of life would she have had raised by someone who probably didn’t want her, and who clearly unable to provide for her?

It still made her angry.

What if Grayson and Miranda hadn’t wanted her either? Where would she be?

Somehow she managed to choke out a second question and avoid the three asking how she had found out in the first place.

“Who… who was she? Where did she come from?”

“I don’t know, sweetie,” Jenna swallowed. “I only ever knew her name.” She breathed it then and the five syllables rattled inside her brain. “Elena?”

“I gotta go.” She hung up, dropping the phone onto the bed. It immediately started buzzing.

She ignored it and rolled onto her side.

The hotel door clicked open.

She hugged the pillow tighter, staring at the flapping page as he entered. There was a moment of shuffling feet while shoes were toed off and then the bed dipped under his weight.

“Jenna’s calling,” he breathed, setting something down on the nightstand.

“Don’t wanna talk to her,” she mumbled with all the petulance of a child.

“Very well,” he said, doing something that stopped the buzzing.

A soft clunk told her he’d put it on the night stand as well. Then the bed shifted again as he stretched out behind her. A strong arm slipped over her side and wiggled under the pillow until his palm pressed flat to her stomach.

“I’m so sorry, darling,” he kissed her shoulder.

“You read it?” She released a shaky breath.

“He told me,” he tightened his hold as she pressed against his chest, “after I punched him in the face.”

She wanted to giggle at the image of Kol losing it, succumbing to the base desires he liked to hide, for her, but she couldn’t bring herself to do more than smile.

“Who am I?” The air conditioner made a decent attempt to drown out her strained whisper.

“You’re the same person you were this morning,” he propped up on an elbow when she shook her head. “Look at me Elena.”

She blinked quickly, slowly turning her head. His dark eyes were soft for her.

“You are the same woman you were this morning,” he moved his thumb over her naval. “You’re the same bright, brilliant, bloody curious woman you were this morning. This doesn’t change that. You’re still my best friend. You are still Elena Gilbert.”

“But I’m not,” her lip wobbled.

“You are,” he insisted. “You are compassionate and fiery, and the best woman in my life - don’t tell my sisters.”

That drew a giggle. She sobered quickly.

“I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you. You didn’t deserve that.”

“You made a reasonable assumption, darling,” he dipped down and kissed her cheek. “It’s not like I haven’t asked him to do stuff like that before.”

“You deserve better than me,” she bit her cheek.

“You let me decide what I deserve, Elena,” he tugged the pillow from her hands, letting it thump onto the floor. “If anybody deserves more it’s you.”

He pressed his fingers to her lips when she moved to protest.

“Don’t deny it, Elena,” his thumb swiped at her cheek, “it’s because of me you’re crying. It’s because of me he did it. And I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” he kissed her brow, her closed eyes and finally her lips, pouring his apology into the slow movement of his mouth.

She rolled onto her back as he shifted, hovering above her body. Her hands grasped at his shirt, tugging up until she could feel the powerful muscles in his lower back.

Kol broke away, resting his brow on hers. “Tell me what you need love. Do you want me to fly Rebekah and Caroline here? I’ll have them in this room by nightfall.”

She shook her head and sniffed, certain she looked absolutely disgusting but unable to care or feel self conscious.

“I need to feel normal,” she chewed on her bottom lip. She wasn’t sure when exactly he became her normal, but there was the truth. “Make me feel normal,” she fumbled at his belt buckle. “Please, Kol. I don’t need Caroline and Bekah right now; I need you.”

She needed to feel him pressed against her body, inside her body. She needed the comfort that came from being with him.

“Are you sure?”

She pushed at his chest and stood from the bed, wiping one hand across her cheek as she turned to face him. Her fingers worked at her buttons, clumsy and slow; there was nothing remotely sexy in the way she pulled off her clothes.

“I might not know where I came from,” a tear dripped from her chin unto her breast. “I might have doubts about who I am,” she let her blouse fall away and reached for her skirt’s zipper, “but I know what I need right now.”

He stared at her for a moment before he rose in a fluid motion and circled around the bed. She watched him shed his clothes and drape each piece in a careless pile on the armchair.

By the time she unhooked her garters and rolled the silk tights off he was naked.

And maybe she wasn’t totally disgusting because he was already half hard.

Without her heels she was too short to kiss him without making him stoop, so she guided him down until he sat on the edge of the bed. Lifting one leg and then the other she straddled his waist and held his face.

His hands came up to rest on her hips.

She kissed him once on the lips and then moved to nibble on his earlobe before searing a path down his neck to his shoulders. She snaked one hand down, gently stroking him until he reached his full length.

His fingers sought out the points he knew would make her moan.

Leaning back a few inches she lined him up and sank down. There was a little discomfort but she was still wet enough that she could ignore it.

His lips explored her smooth skin. Moving up from her throat to her face, he kissed away her tears.

That simple act made her want to cry some more, but she didn’t.

Her heart sped up as she moved with the aid of his hands gliding gently up and down the length of her back. He directed her hips to twirl and she moaned at the sensation when his hard length stirred her insides.

The coil in her belly tightened. Her leg muscles trembled with each downward thrust, and when he added that little swivel her vision threatened to black out.

Somehow she held it together and drank in the intimacy of the moment, the way her curves fit to the contours of his body, the brushes of his lips against every inch of flesh he could reach.

“I’m close,” she shook with need, walls starting the familiar flutter. “I’m so close.”

“Cum for me then, love,” he drew her lips back for a long kiss, pausing only to murmur soft words against her mouth. His thumb found her clit and pressed down.

Her abdomen quivered, pulling taut, before the pressure released. Her entire body tingled as her vision finally went black. When she came to her senses again she felt Kol’s drugging kisses across her jaw and his hard length still inside her, stretching her wide.

“You didn’t make any plans for the evening, love?” He nipped at her ear.

“I… I have some work to do,” her chest heaved, hard nipples brushing against him on each inhale.

“You can do it later,” he lifted her bodily and laid her out on the bed. “I have no intention of making this quick.”

“You never do,” she sighed, gasping as he lowered his body over hers.

“I need to show you how important you are,” he murmured against her breast, trailing his lips over her flat belly. He positioned his body low, hooking her thighs over his shoulders. “And I did promise to wrap these enchanting legs around my head.”

She breathed his name while pushing her fingers through his hair. “I need you inside me. I need to feel you.”

“You will.” He took her hands away and threaded their fingers together, holding her hands below her risen thighs and smiled, dipping to run his tongue through her folds. “I promise.”

She held tightly to him, grounded to the hotel comforter by his hands and mouth. She lost herself in the euphoric sensations, submitting to three earth shattering orgasms before she tugged him back up.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of flesh on flesh as they fell into the timeless dance. Eventually she found herself on her side playing with the fingers across her belly.

“Do you feel better?” He breathed, deep and even against her back.

“No,” her soft smile dropped to a frown as she remembered the events leading up to the marathon of love-making. “I don’t feel better, but I feel…” she chewed her bottom lip and rolled over, wrapping her arm around his waist. “I feel... safer?”

“Nothing wrong with that,” he smiled. Their skin stuck together, sweat from their actions acting as a glue. “Should we adjourn to the shower, and maybe I’ll continue to make you feel safer again.”

“That sounds wonderful,” she dropped her head to the pillow, “but if we do that I’m afraid we’ll be in the shower all afternoon and I really do have to get some work done.”

“Okay,” he nodded, inhaling slowly, “why don’t I take a quick shower and you can get that work done? Then after you can take a shower while I order us some dinner and shred that file. I hear there is a Thai place a couple of streets over thats to die for. How does that sound?”

“Like you just might be perfect,” she blinked.

He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m not perfect, love,” he got to his feet, smirking down at her, “a perfect man would shred it all. I have every intention of keeping a couple of those pictures.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather take some?” She rolled her eyes, pretending to lift away the sheet.

“I’m not much of a photographer,” he backed towards the ensuite. “Besides thievery is more my style.”

“I concede. You’re not perfect,” she let her eyes flicker over his body, “but the view certainly is.”

He laughed and slipped into the restroom.

She stretched when he was gone and got up, retrieving an oversized t-shirt from the closet. The first time she wore it he objected to the ACDC tee, but dropped the topic when she admitted it was one she had stolen from Jeremy and not something from an ex-boyfriend.

She almost wished she hadn’t told him right away and let him robe her in one of his t-shirts instead.

With Jeremy’s shirt on she sat down and booted up her computer. There wasn’t a whole lot she had to do, but the deadline loomed for her articles submission.

Before she could hit send a window popped up on her screen. She glanced over her shoulder where the shower ran and estimated enough time to answer what was sure to be a freak out call.

“Hey, Caroline.”

Caroline’s blonde curls filled the screen. She saw the outline of a house behind her shoulders and decided she must have propped her phone on the low brick wall outside what had to be the Mikaelson mansion.

“Are you alright? Your article is due in like four minutes and you always have it in before noon.”

“I was just about to send it.” Elena split her screen so she could see the email and clicked the appropriate button.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Caroline persisted. “You’re never late, or near late Elena. What gives?”

“I was just busy,” she shrugged.

Caroline went quiet and leaned closer to her camera. She could feel the way her friend scrutinized her through the connection and resisted the urge to fidget. Any movement might draw her sharp eagle eyes to other parts of the room.

“You look upset, but also something else.”

“Something else?”

“Yeah, you look drained like you’ve been crying and relaxed like you just had an awesome massage.”

Elena shifted slightly to the left and prayed Caroline didn’t see her flush.

Blue eyes narrowed.

“That bed is all mussed up.” Her mouth pressed into a thin line. “Elena Gilbert; were you ‘feeding the kitty’?”

“You did not just say that?” She forgot her mortification when she laughed.

“You were,” Caroline jumped. “Come on, spill, who’s the boy?”

“Care, I’m thirty-one. There is no ‘boy’.” She rolled her eyes.

“Fine,” she sighed, “who’s the man?” She cringed, likely unable to believe she had uttered those words and become a walking meme.

“That’s my business,” she shook her head.

“Well, you don’t want to talk about what’s bugging you, so tell me about the guy, or the girl, or whoever fed your kitty.”

“You need to come up with a better euphemism,” Elena groaned.

“I like mine. So, which is it gonna be?”

“I don’t want to talk about what’s bugging me Care,” she should have known her friend would see it in her face, “I’m not ready. And I’m not really obligated to tell you about my sex life.”

“I’m here whenever you want to talk, and of course you’re obligated,” her voice rose to a shriek.

Elena fully expected Caroline to go on about their friendship and how she always told Elena about her sex life, but the blonde fell silent. At first she thought it was a delay, but then she noted the way her blue eyes grew to the size of saucers.

A squeal broke up the silence and Caroline jumped, hands dragging towards her mouth.

“Oh bloody hell.”

Elena’s mouth popped open, reflexively she slapped at the keyboard until the call ended but a single look at Kol - head in one hand - told her it was too late.

She attempted a smile that felt more like a grimace.

“So,” she chewed her bottom lip, “how long before everyone we know hears that you’re walking around in a towel on my webcam?”

“It’s Caroline,” he blew out a rush of air. “I give it an hour before we’re bombarded with phone calls.” His eyes flickered to her buzzing cell phone. “Speaking of: why is it you don’t want to speak to Jenna?”

“Because she knew,” she closed her computer. “Are you upset that everybody is going to know?” She knew Caroline wouldn’t tell anyone that would spread it to tabloids. They didn’t have to worry about paparazzi hounding them.

“No,” he shook his head. Bending down he gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Take your shower love. Would you like me to answer Jenna while you’re in there? I can tell her you’re not ready yet.”

“Would you?” She swallowed.

“Of course, darling.”

++++

Caroline burst through the mansion doors in a flurry of blonde curls and grey cashmere, shouting as she went. The click of heels raced to meet her in the grand ballroom.

“Red alert, Bex! SOS! Red Alert!”

“Caroline, calm down.” Rebekah rushed over, grabbing her friend’s flailing arms.

“How can I calm down?” She shrieked. “This is huge news. Life altering, mind-blowing news. They’re doing it, Bex! Don’t you understand? THEY ARE DOING IT!”

“Who’s doing what?” She sighed. Knowing Caroline it could be any number of high profile celebs, or someone in town having a torrid affair.

“Elena and Kol,” she threw up her hands. “They are doing it. I caught them. He fed her kitty!”

“What?” Rebekah shrieked. She thrust her hands into her hair, groaning loudly.

“Did I hear that right?”

Caroline whipped around to see Finn leaning in a doorway.

“Kol and Elena are together?” He repeated, the beginning of a smile on his lips.

“Were you not listening to her outdated sex references?” Rebekah shook her head, grimacing as Caroline repeated herself. “You need to start saying something else, like ‘fucking’, or just stick with ‘doing it’.”

“So they're together,” Finn grinned, crossing the floor to his sister, “and Elena��s birthday was just a few days ago.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Caroline frowned.

“It’s the bet, Caroline.”

++++

Marcel rubbed the back of his neck after knocking on the door and waited. As the seconds ticked by he worked his sore jaw and considered the best thing to say, but when the door swung open on a shirtless Kol every thought flew out of his head.

He gaped for a moment, glancing beyond to where Elena sat curled in a chair wearing a man’s shirt and little else.

Some of Kol’s clothes poked out of the open closet beside a handful of summer dresses.

How long had they been sharing a room?

How had nobody noticed?

“Did you need something, Marcellus?” Kol’s voice lacked any warmth.

“I came to talk to Elena,” he cleared his throat, dragging one foot along the floor. “Didn’t know you’d be here.”

“Elena, love,” he stared Marcel in the eye, “Marcellus would like to speak with you. Should I let him in, or break his nose?”

Somehow Elena managed to curl tighter into her chair. The sight of the confident young woman broken stabbed at his gut. With a jolt he realized what exactly had caused it. The bright woman he had come to know wouldn’t cower over credit scores or stolen photographs; that woman would scream and kick, and maybe break his nose for herself.

It was the birth certificate.

It was the connotations that came with it.

“I think that silence can be interpreted for a broken nose,” his eyes narrowed.

“Don’t,” Elena whispered. “With the way my days going somebody will take a picture.”

“I’ll just have to do it later then,” he gripped the doorknob. “Good evening Marcellus.”

“Wait,” he slammed a hand against the wood, holding the door from closing completely. He could just see her as she hugged her legs to her chest and blinked at the carpet. “I came to say I’m sorry, and that I’d like to fix this. I don’t know how yet.”

“You’re good at sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, aren’t you?”

Marcel thought she was going for bitter, but her voice wobbled around the words. Somehow that made him feel worse.

“I’m excellent at it,” he swallowed.

“Isobel Flemming.”

“What?” His question was echoed by Kol, and the door opened as he turned around.

“Isobel Flemming,” she repeated, slightly stronger. “You wanna fix this? Put that talent to use.”

++++

@kol-and-elena-fanfiction @elejahforever @elejah-wonderland @cry-btch @geekofmanyfandoms​ @morsmornte @xanderling @bellemorte180 ​ @iw1shiknew ​ @blndbandt ​

You could write something about haymitch loving Effie's ass and be pretty vocal about it and Effie love to tease him. Could be some stories in different years!! I love ur fanfics ❤️

Here you go! [x}

5 Times Haymitch Appreciated Effie’s BacksideAnd One Time She Did

1.

There was something almost sadistic to watchinghis new escort realize they had lost.

Haymitch sat there on the penthouse’s couch,nursing a glass of whiskey, making the ice click when he brought it to hismouth, listening to the long agonizing beep of the tributes monitors on thecoffee table.

She had been a pain in the ass from day one. Effie Trinket.  A ridiculous name for a ridiculous woman who actually believed Twelve had a realshot. She had tried to force his hand, to get him involved in the mentoring,every time he had snapped she had simply smiled harder and ignored him… This,though, he had seen coming. He had even tried to warn her, out of the goodnessof his dead heart, just because he had noticed she had gotten attached and that… Well, that was never good.

She had been hard on the kids too. Beratingthem about manners and what not – and they had fought about that because whocared if they knew which fork to use for salad and for fish. But at least…Well, at least she had tried to coach them when it had become clear he wouldn’t. She had tried to get him towork with her. That was more than any escort had bothered to do in some years.So, yeah. He had seen her getting attached and in a rare moment of compassionfor a stupid woman with a ridiculous pink wig, he had warned her.

She had refused to listen.

She had brushed him off, scoffed at him, toldhim to watch and learn because now that Twelve had proper management they couldnot lose…

And there they were now, the bloodbath not evenover, six minutes in and already tribute-less.

It would have been funny if it hadn’t been sosad.

She was still standing behind the armchair, herlips slightly parted in shock, her eyes comically wide…

Slowly, he leaned in and turned the monitor offso that strident beep that signaled their tributes’ death would stop. He triednot to notice everything else on the coffee table. She had prepared herself fordays of work at the very least. There were countless notes on sponsors thatseemed to be color-coded, the phone, bottles of water, little sandwiches, alist of everything available to send through sponsor shipment and itscorresponding prices, a list of people she thought might be swayed intosupporting Twelve… Stupid. Genuinelystupid.

He wasn’t sure if he didn’t like the carelessescorts better. The girls who came in at the Reaping and who he hardly ever sawagain because they were too busy going from party to party, being seen. Heended up fucking them more often than not – it was easier to get them to quitthat way.  Those ones never looked crushed when their kids died or, if theydid, it was simply because of how humiliatingit was to represent Twelve.

“Well.” Trinket said at last, battling hereyelashes hard. Haymitch dearly hopedshe wasn’t going to start bawling because he wasn’t going to offer comfort to astuck-up Capitol. He just wasn’t. “Wewill have better luck next year.”

He snorted. Typical. It wasn’t the kids she wassad about then. Just the fact they had lost.

“You believe that, you’re even more of an idiotthan you look.” he spat, taking another sip of whiskey.

“I will thank you not to call me name.” she hissed, glaring at him.

Her anger was out of proportions, he thought.He had been pulling her leg for more than two weeks now and she was usuallyvery good at either ignoring him or retorting something witty that usuallythrew him for a couple of seconds. The only times she had lost her temper hadbeen in regard of his complete lack of interest when it came to mentoring.Every time he had made it about her she had just… let it slide.

Maybe it wasn’t just about losing then.

“I call it as I see it.” he shrugged anyway.“You’re an ugly stupid clown.”

“Youare a disgusting pathetic little man.” she scowled and then stormed out of the room.

How she could move so fast or so swiftly onthose heels, he wasn’t sure, but she certainly made it look easy. He watchedher go because, he had already noticed, watching her storm out wasn’t a bad view. Fuck, but those dresses of hers weretight. He couldn’t vouch for the face caked with make-up as it was and hehated those wigs but it was impossible to ignore her long legs or the shape ofher ass.

“Ain’t nothing little about me, Trinket!” he called after her, unwilling to lether have the last word. “Just ask around!”

A slamming door further down in the penthousewas the only answer he got.

2.

“That woman’s a nuisance but she’s got an assto damn a saint.” Chaff snorted in his glass, his eyes riveted on the dancefloor over Haymitch’s shoulder where Trinket was dancing – if that sensualswaying she was doing could be called that– to the slow beat of the music. “I don’t get why you haven’t fucked her yet, buddy.”

Haymitch scoffed, not even glancing in herdirection. He didn’t have to. The mirror behind the bar was enough for him tokeep an eye on her. “Not interested.”

Chaff’s gaze darted to him, eyebrows lifted, anamused expression on his face. “Like hell. She’s just your type.”

“She’s a clown.” he grumbled.

“They’re allclowns.” his friend shrugged. “Never stopped you before. You know what I say…Turn off the light, you don’t have to look at their painted face while you fuck them.”

“Turning off the light won’t make her stoptalking though.” he pointed out, taking a long swing of whiskey. “Nothing makes her stop talking.”

Two years of listening to her prattle aboutfashion or manners had taught him that. The painful way.

“Keep her mouth busy, then.” Chaff joked andHaymitch rolled his eyes, his lips stretching into a smirk despite himself.

He switched topics though, bringing theconversation back on that year’s Games and what they should expect. They keptthe whiskey flowing too.

So much so that by the end of the night hewouldn’t have been able to give his whole name without stuttering. He wasvaguely aware that Chaff handed him over to someone far more smaller and farless strong than he was but it took him a good ten minutes to realized theperson supporting his weight in the elevator was Trinket.

“You know…” he slurred. “I hate you…”

“A sentiment I share, I assure you.” shegrumbled, adjusting her grip on him because he couldn’t really stand straight.Her arms were so strained they were trembling so he decided to help her bywrapping his around her. She huffed and wrinkled her nose, trying to keep herhead away from him. “You stink! Whenwas the last time you showered? You reek of alcohol and sweat, Haymitch! It is disgusting.”

He didn’t bother trying to make sense of thattirade through his alcohol soaked brain.

“I hate you…” he insisted, the words takingweird shapes in his fuzzy mouth. “But you’ve got the greatest ass I’ve everseen…” And to prove it, he seized half of it in one hand and gave it a generoussqueeze that made her gasp and whack his arm. He sighed contently beforeletting go, nodding to himself. “Great ass…”

She stuttered a rebuke but she was crimson underher make-up and he couldn’t really tell if she was really angry or not.

3.

Fingers clicked right in front of Haymitch’sface, making him startle. He blinked in time to see Chaff rolled his eyes andgesture at him with his stump to decide what he wanted to do. Haymitch glancedat the cards in his hand – cards he hadn’t really been paying attention to, tobegin with – and wisely decided to fold.

Seven’s floor’s dining-room was a littleclouded from the cigars Chaff, Blight and Beetee were sharing. Haymitch hadtaken one but it had mostly consumed itself, forgotten in his hand. He had beendistracted during the entire poker game.

“What are you thinking about that’s so damn riveting?” Chaff complained. “Youhaven’t said a word all night.”

“Nothing.” he denied while Beetee gathered thechips he had won in that round.

“Like hell.” Blight laughed. “I know that face.You’ve got a new lady, ‘Mitch?”

Haymitch hated being called Mitch and only suffered it becauseSeven’s heavy accent made it sound more like an actual word than a nickname.

“No.” he lied, grabbing the deck of cards todeal out more. He strongly suspected Beetee had been cheating every time it hadbeen his turn to deal the cards.

Well. It wasn’t really a lie.

So what if he had fucked Effie Trinket against a wall a couple of times? Tempers hadflown high. It had gotten to the point it was either fuck or murder and itwasn’t like they had planned it…Accidents happened. Sometimes you slipped. Against the wall. Against the baywindow. In the elevator.

That had been last year though. Quick and roughand probably not that good for her because he had just thrust into her a fewtimes to chase after his selfish release. He had fully expected it to neverhappened again when he had boarded the train back to Twelve. Truth be told, hehad fully expected to never see her again either because most people tried toavoid awkward situations like the plague.

Not Effie Trinket though.

Never Effie Trinket.

She had showed up for the Reaping prim andproper, had invaded his house and orderedhim to get presentable, all the while pretending nothing had ever happened…He had followed her lead on that front, thinking it had been for the best.

And then, merely five hours later – perhaps arecord for them – they had started arguing again. And he had pushed her on oneof the train’s couches. And she had parted her legs for him as if that had beenall she had been after from the start. And maybethat time he had tried to make it alittle better for her…

And then…

They weren’ta thing. They never talked about it again.

They fought and they fucked and then they righted their clothes and went on withbusiness.

They had never even made it to the completelynaked stage. Hell, they had never even made it to a bed.

But now he knew what her breasts tasted like,what she sounded like when she came, and the previous day he had caught aglimpse of tantalizing creamy round flesh when she had pushed her dress backdown and…

He had been obsessed with her ass ever since.

He wanted her bent over.

He wanted her bent over the couch and he wantedto stand behind her and…

“You’re gone again.” Chaff sighed. “Look,buddy, if you’re not gonna play…”

“I’m playing. Fuck off.” he snapped, tossing two more chips on the pile in themiddle of the table.

The thing was… How to get her to agree to fucking her from behind. They never discussed sex. It happened. And itusually happened fast and brutally. She was demanding and she had no problemshowing him what she wanted while they were doing it or going after it herselfbut there was a difference between having someone against a wall and forcingher to bend over a couch.

He got lost in the fantasy for a second and hispants were definitely too tight the next time Blight reminded him, with alaugh, that it was his turn.

He grumbled about his friends being assholesthat night when he added more chips but he was too distracted to really pushthe point home.

He wanted to do things to her he had never donewith anyone else. Would she let him spank her while he fucked her? It was so hard to say with her… She acted like aperfect lady but he had quickly discovered that when it came to sex… She was atiger. She was… The idea of leaving a reddish mark on her pale skin…

He gulped down the glass of whiskey he still hadn’ttouched, trying to drown those thoughts away.

At the end of the night, he was veryfrustrated, very horny and much poorer.

Which was why he let Chaff convince him theyshould head to the bar and why he let a Capitol woman buy him a drink. That one,he already knew, was so desperate to hook up with a victor she would probablyagree to anything.

4.

He should really get out of her bed now,Haymitch thought.

This had been happening more and more lately.The post-sex lingering, the cuddling, sometimes on rare occasions even somenapping… But he couldn’t really get himself to move, not when Trinket was lyingon his chest, all spent and sweaty, and he was warm and comfortable. One of hishands was playing with her hair, the other one was distractedly following thecurve of her ass…

She suddenly chuckled, for no obvious reasonthat he could see.

“What?” he muttered, tugging on a lock of blondhair just to irritate her. It always took far too negotiating to get her to getrid of those ugly wigs. That, too, was a recent development, her reluctantwillingness to let him see her bare from make-up and synthetic hairstyles.

“You are obsessed with my hair and my ass.” sheaccused, propping her chin on his chest so she could look at him. Her blue eyeswere twinkling with mischief, an impudent grin stretched her lips, and he felthimself smirk in response.

“Wouldn’t say obsessed.” he denied. Although… He did have something for her hair. And he did love staring at her bare butt.

And he knew she knew.

She certainly took advantage of it when itsuited her.

“They’re your favorite things about me.” shecountered.

He contemplated that for a second, his fingersleaving the curve of her bottom to brush against every bump of her spine. Heprobably should be alarmed at the casualness with which she proclaimed he had favorite things at all but… Well…Sex was such a common occurrence between them nowadays… They had been at it forwell over five years now. If he hadn’t been attracted, he wouldn’t keep comingback for more.

“I like your legs too.” he shrugged. “And yourtits. Can’t forget about the tits…”

He also liked her slender neck. And her eyes.And her mouth. And her bellybutton. And what lied between her legs.

It was something of a shock to realize therewas nothing he didn’t like about herbody. Sure, he usually went for brunettes and she was very blond but there werereddish hues under certain lights he couldn’t help but be fascinated with. Andit was so impossibly curly that…

“Well, I amextremely attractive.” she hummed.

“You’re full of yourself.” he scoffed, lettinghimself get distracted by her usual arrogance instead of panicking. “That’swhat you are.”

“I would rather be full of you.” she purred inthat distinctive tone.

She was a minx. A fiery minx.

“Ain’t you already?” he taunted, reachingaround her to brush his fingers between her legs, causing her to press hardagainst his hips. Her thighs fell open and his smirk only deepened when he feltthe sticky mess they had made. They hadn’t stopped using condoms so long agothat the novelty had worn off yet. He had never done it without protectionbefore her and he had to admit he liked the change. It was… arousing in aprimitive way.

She licked her lips, her hips rocking slowpurposeful circles against his groin. “Don’t pretend you do not want me again.”

Oh, he did.It wasn’t even funny how quickly she could get him up with the right word orthe right move… And when she behaved like this… So sexy and bossy…

He rolled them over but moved away before shecould trap him by wrapping her legs around his waist. He turned her on herstomach and straddled her, gripping her wrists high over her head. She gave atoken resistance because she never relinquished control easily but soon stilledunder him, straining her neck to toss him an impatient look over her shoulder.

“Sometimes today, Haymitch.” she demanded.

She was too haughty for his taste and hedecided he was going to take his time.

He started by nibbling at her nape and thenbiting a steady path down her spine, leaving red marks in the wake of his mouththat she would probably rage over later on. For now, though, her breathing wasshort and heavy and by the time he reached the small of her back, she waswriggling, trying to rub herself against the mattress.

“You keep those hands up there, sweetheart.” heordered, finally letting go of her wrists to move further down. He spread herthighs, like always a bit surprised by how flexible she was, and placed himselfbetween them. By game or frustration, she immediately tried to sneak her handbetween her  legs. He slapped her rightcheek, not hard enough to bruise but with enough strength that it would sting.“What did I say?”

“I am not in the mood for games.” she growled.“Just fuck me already.”

Vulgarity, in her mouth, was always an instantturn on and he couldn’t help himself. He thrust into her hard, making her cryout in pleasure. She wanted him to fuckher, he could oblige. He drove home hard, again and again, spurred on by thenoises she was making. Eventually, he shifted positions and just lied down ontop of her. The angle wasn’t deep enough and she growled in protest but hesimply smirked against her shoulder, licking and biting in turns.

“Haymitch.” she warned.

“I do like your ass.” he confessed, brushingher hair to the side so he could bump his nose against her cheek.

“If you want to be allowed to see it again, Iwould advise you to stop teasing.”she hissed.

He chuckled.

He loved it when she was like that. All riledup and desperate to climax. He loved making her lose that composure of hers. Heloved it when she begged.

“Say please.” he teased.

“Go to hell.” she retorted.

“Sure.” he snorted. “But after I come all overyour ass, yeah?”

He was close now so he simply slipped out ofher to sit up and he would probably have done just that if she hadn’t managedto somehow make him lose his balance. He blamed those self-defense classes shekept bragging about. He ended up flat on his back and she lost no time instraddling him and guiding him inside her again.

He very rarely allowed her to be on top likethat, with him sprawled on his back. She didn’t care though, she rode him withabandon, her eyes closed, her own hands kneading her breasts…

She was a vision.

And it was his undoing.

She kept rocking her hips after he was spent,seeking her own pleasure. He felt a bit shaky but he reached between her legs,stroking her and watching her move up and down…

She came with a sharp mewl, her head thrownback, and then she slumped on his chest again and they were right back wherethey had started.

Except he was very sleepy now.

He fell asleep clutching her ass.

There were worse way to do that.

5.

“This is simply atrocious.” Effie sighed.

Haymitch tuned her out, too used by now to herrants about Thirteen uniforms. He focused on the reports in front him, glancingat Command’s door for the tenth time in as many minutes. He wasn’t sure if hewas anxious for the briefing to start or happy the others weren’t there yet.Coin was already grating on his every last nerves and Plutarch’s attempts atconvincing him to roll with her plans for now weren’t helping.

His priority was to keep Katniss out of troubleand to convince Thirteen to launch a rescue mission for the captured victors,though, and that required Coin not to hate him too much.

“I simply look fat.” his escort insisted, twisting left and right to betterglimpse her vague reflection on one of the turned off screens in the room.

Haymitch dropped the report in his hand tostudy her, unable to claim she was wrong there. Those second-hand frayedjumpsuits didn’t fit anyone and she wasn’t the exception to the rule. Itactually looked even worse on her because she was so thin the fabric was baggyall over. It was shapeless.

And he stillfound her beautiful, which was probably telling about his own feelings.

“On the bright side, I don’t have to watchpeople ogle your ass all day long anymore.” he shrugged.

She whirled around with a bright smile and fartoo much amusement dancing in her eyes. “Why, Haymitch… Does it bother you whenother people eye me?”

She always delighted on potential displays onjealousy.

He rolled his eyes at her. “Bigger fishes tofry right now, yeah?”

She sauntered to the chair next to his and satdown, far too smug for his liking. He faked reading the reports again.

“Plutarch is still ogling me even with thejumpsuits, you know.” she hummed casually.

“Noticed.” he mumbled. Because he had. And itirritated him. A lot. “Also noticed you encourage him.”

“Well. A girl likes to be admired now, doesn’tshe?” she retorted.

“A girlshould know better than playing recklessly.”he commented, not glancing away from the papers in front of him. “Look, I ain’tsaying it ain’t smart for you to be friendly with Plutarch…” Because that waswhat it was all about, he figured. Cozying up with people in power who couldkeep her safe from the rebels who weren’t too happy with her presence in theirDistrict. He didn’t think she particularly likedHeavensbee, the Head Gamemaker kept treating her like an assistant. “But turnit down a notch, yeah? The next thing you know, he’s gonna think he’s got areal shot.”

“Perhaps he does.” she teased.

He let his hand fall from the table on herthigh, grateful that the room was empty.

“Your ass is mine, Princess.” he claimed.

“I am not limited to my ass, you know.” she sighedwith amusement. “And must you alwaysbe so crass?”

“I know you’re not.” he replied. She wascleverer than most but she was very good at pretending to be nothing else thana pretty face. “Ain’t sure he does.”

“You are jealous.” she chuckled.

He squeezed her thigh and took his hand away.“Of Plutarch Heavensbee? Hardly.”

“Good.” she grinned, tilting her head to theside. She looked him up and down in that provocative way that usually led themto shed their clothes. “There really is noreason to be.”

6.

Effie finished loosely knotting the belt of hersilk dressing gown as she walked into the kitchen, her lips immediatelystretching into a smile when she spotted Haymitch getting busy at the stove.Quiet mornings in Twelve might be her favorite things nowadays. The fainthonking of the geese outside, the familiar humming of the old fridge, theplumbing that sometimes clang when they opened a tap…

And Haymitch cooking, of course.

“I suppose I should be happy you remembered toput on an apron.” she teased, trying her best to contain her laughter.

To her discharge, it was hard to remainimpassible faced with Haymitch Abernathy wearing a kiss the cook apron and nothing else.

With him taking care of their eggs and her backto her, she had a very nice view of his backside and she sat down at the tableto better admire it.

“You made it clear you didn’t want my junkdamaged so…” he shrugged, winking at her over his shoulder.

She had insisted on them buying an apron if hewas to go on cooking without clothes on because, yes, she was concerned hewould burn himself in areas she liked intact. He had been the one to choose theridiculously corny kiss the cook design– so she had no choice but to kiss him every time he wore it, or so he claimed.

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, is it my fault if you insist on always walkingaround naked?”

“It’s myown fucking house. Can walk aroundnaked in my own fucking house.” hegrumbled.

It was a touchy subject. Mostly because thechildren kept barging in without warning and Haymitch wasn’t always the onlyone naked.

After a few minutes, he placed the eggs on twoplates and she stood up to pour them both some coffee. They danced around eachother in the kitchen as they grabbed everything they needed for breakfast in awell-rehearsed ballet. She couldn’t help but stare at what the apron wasn’t hidingthough.

“Like what you see?” he mocked with a smirkbefore dropping on a chair.

And there wassomething to be said about him sitting naked on furniture but it was a fightshe had long accepted to lose.

“There are worse sights.” she grinned, leaningdown to steal a kiss because they had yet to properly greet each other thatmorning.

They were so domestic those days…

But she wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

There reallywere worse things than having to stare at Haymitch’s naked ass everymorning.

“...that's how it was with Phish. We just put them in our system and the music touched a nerve”

Phishbase is a project that runs on a thirst for minutiae. When was the first time Trey struck “the Note” in YEM? How many shows did they play at The Cotton Club before they moved on to a bigger venue in Atlanta? If you’re following along it’s probably because just like me, you care to know answers to these kinds of questions.

So when I came to the end of 1990, on the heels of the release of Lawn Boy, I realized that I’d be coming up on the time frame where the band got signed to a major and that I didn’t really know anything about how that came to pass. Who brought Phish to Elektra? What in the world were they thinking when they signed this quirky band?

Well, the answer is: Sue Drew. Sue has had a long and varied career in the music world, starting as an A&R rep at Elektra, moving on to other labels and later, working on the music publishing side of the business with ASCAP and now at Kobalt Music Group in Los Angeles. The range of artists she has worked with over her career run the gamut from They Might Be Giants and The Barenaked Ladies, to Bette Midler and Taylor Dayne.

Rewind back to 1990 though, when Sue was a young A&R rep in New York City who came across a new release by a relatively unknown band from Vermont:

Phishbase: So what I was curious about, I mean I've been a fan for a long time, and you know, Phish fans kind of pick apart these details incessantly, and I realized I really didn't know too much about how they got signed to a major label. So let’s start at the beginning, you first saw the band towards the end of 1990?

Sue Drew: Yeah I saw them in 1990 probably in the fall of 1990.

Phishbase: And had you heard about them before then?

Sue Drew: Oh yeah, I had heard about them because CMJ, which was actually a publication at the time, had put Lawn Boy on the cover and when I saw that I went to the record store and I bought the record and I checked it out and I listened to it and thought this is probably the strangest album I have ever heard. But there's something about it. And so I just I put it aside, but every so often I would listen again and then I would go, this is really the oddest thing but there's something about it. Then I saw they were playing in New York here and there, especially at The Wetlands which was a club down on Hudson, but I never made it to the Wetlands for Phish, but then they played a gig at..it was a club that didn't last very long and it was in the.. I’m going to say in the 20s on the West Side. I wish I could think of the name.

Phishbase: The Marquee Club?

Sue Drew: The Marquee, yes! So, it was about a thousand people I think at the Marquee. Anyway I went to The Marquee one evening and I opened the door and I was just amazed at what I saw, I was completely blown away. The crowd was one thing because they were all so into their own little world and into the whole music but the band was just incredible. The musicianship was amazing. And from that minute on I just became obsessed with them as musicians and so I started paying attention to where they were playing. They played the Chance in Poughkeepsie and literally there were very few people at that show and that was not too many weeks later. And then they played the Capitol Theater in Rye, New York. 

    And so, I reached out to them and I'm not sure how I did that. I might have had a contact from the back of the CDs or something. I don't really know how I did it. John Paluska was the manager at the time and he had just started managing them and you know, they were not at all interested in signing to a major label. I mean not at all. And frankly, there were no major labels interested in signing them either. I would go to these gigs back then and there wouldn't be another A&R person for miles, like nobody was there. But I had a boss at the time who said to me “you know a band’s worth is inversely proportional to the amount of A&R people in the room.” So, I thought, you know he's right in this case because no one's there and I think they're amazing. 

    So, I started pursuing them and I flew to Burlington and Paluska picked me up. Two or three of them lived in the same house at that point. And I spent some time there in the afternoon and then we all went to dinner in the evening. And I think they were just being polite. Frankly I don't think they had any interest in signing to a major but at some point they came back to New York. At Elektra Records we had a wonderful secret in our record cabinet. In those days we used to keep copies of all the CDs that we had released previously. We'd have five to ten copies of everything and it was an incredibly impressive roster through the years from Elektra's inception until that time. So I brought them into the record cabinet, opened it up and their eyes just popped out because you know everything from the Eagles to Tim Buckley to Motley Crew and Metallica and The Pixies, I mean, it was just an amazing array of talent historically speaking and current day. And I think at that point, when they opened that up and saw that, they might have reconsidered and thought yeah I want to be part of this.

    You know in all honesty the deal was not difficult to conclude because they weren't greedy. They knew that their fan base was such that when they released something next, if they asked for a modest advance they would be in the black from the day the record shipped. So we gave them some sort of advance which I don't remember what it is now and that indeed was true: From the minute the record shipped they started making money for us.

Phishbase: So, was it a harder sell then to convince your bosses that they were worthy of signing?

Sue Drew: I mean not really and I'll tell you why because again, at Elektra musical uniqueness was of a premium and anyone who really listened to the music and really saw the band got it. Even though the head of the department absolutely would never have gone for a band like Phish, not at all. He was like Mr. Super Cool and they weren't going to fit into his aesthetic, but otherwise they were very good about letting people pursue what they wanted to pursue. 

    The Chairman of Elektra at the time was Bob Krasnow and Bob, you know he produced Captain Beefheart. They were very open and it didn't take a lot to convince then. I mean, it took a little bit only in the sense that here's this thing that no one else was interested in. And yet, you could point to it and say these guys are doing well on the road, they had two independent records out that are doing well and I have a feeling that when they release the third one, whenever that is, it will do great. And so, they were OK about it and really it wasn't that hard. 

    They might have teased me because, you know, super geeky me wasn't into what was happening at the time which was more in the Teenage Fanclub, Sonic Youth, Hole, that type of stuff. So I'm sure I got teased a bit. But I'll tell you, they did let me do it without any complaints or questions really. 

    We had a few funny little things happen because the band, you know, they never dealt in that world, right? The major label, sort of erudite music business, Rockefeller Center world. They would show up just like, stinking to high heaven, and we would take them aside and go "Look guys you have got to put on deodorant and take a shower. You can't just show up at 75 Rock and then ‘just be’.” So they were kind of funny, but then they also had their serious side, like look "we don't want any publicity. We don't want to do any radio promo. We don't want to be on any late night television. We don't want anybody hawking our music to the trade and we don't want to do any opening slots. We won't do any of that. We're going to play by our rules and that's what's working for us." And that was not easy at first for us to get down with because you know the major labels have a machine and you get slotted into that machine and they do everything the way they do. 

    Somebody once asked the head of marketing at Geffen Records “what did you do differently for Nirvana to make them so successful?” and he just said “we did absolutely nothing differently.” And that's how it was with Phish. We just put them in our system and the music touched a nerve. And there you go. And that's really how it was.

Phishbase: When you talk about them outlining their rules, what they would and wouldn't do, were they in any way difficult?

Sue Drew: They said no plenty of times to David Letterman or any late night things. I think there was a time that Rolling Stone was considering putting them on the cover. And that didn't happen. There were a lot of things like that that they didn't want to do. When we released Chalkdust Torture to radio because they did an edit of it and it was probably the most accessible radio type song they had ever done. So, they let the promo team work it, but not, I mean they weren't going to pander. That's for sure.

Phishbase: So, once they get signed how long did that carry through? Was there ever pressure to try to shift them towards commercial success or was it always hands off?

Sue Drew: It was mostly hands off but there were always little attempts to try to push them. There were always attempts from the publicity department to get them to do more, to do some interviews. There were always attempts from the promo team to get them to go to radio stations and to invite programmers to the show, which they did do a little bit of. There were always attempts at things like that but everyone really understood they were just going to do it their own way. 

    Same with the tapers. You know at the time that was revolutionary to actually have a section set up for people to tape your music when you were signed to a major label. Everyone thought that would impede and interfere with record sales but it only spurred interest among fans and people started acknowledging that they really were at the beginning of this whole sort of you know social sharing movement. I mean, I know the Dead did that although in all honesty I don't know that much about the Dead. I saw them once at Madison Square Garden, but I was not a serious fan so I don't really know what they did. But this whole idea of making it easy for people to tape shows and get the best quality was all new and really started with Phish.

Phishbase: I think, in a way, they're really the first internet band.

Sue Drew: They totally were! And that's the other thing, they came to us and said “hey, we have our own website, it's Phish.net” and, at this stage, we weren't even on computers or e-mail at Elektra you know, and vaguely I thought I knew what they were talking about but not really because it was so new. So they were very forward thinking and they were very forward thinking in their merchandise too. They did a newsletter every month where the band all contributed little pieces and then they sold their merch.

Phishbase: At that point, that early on, did you see them becoming kind of this big generational arena rock band or more of a quirky band that would play theaters and always have their die hard fans and make a career out of that route?

Sue Drew: I thought they would be bigger than they were for sure because when you walk into the venue and you saw all these kids who were young and into music and it really wasn't about a scene it was just great music. 

    I actually introduced them to their booking agent this wonderful man named Chip Hooper who I had known many years back and I remember really teeing Chip up and saying “look, this isn't anything you've ever worked with before, this isn't any music I think you've really paid attention to before. It's very unusual, it's very different, but they're very smart, their manager is really smart, he's a young kid but he's got all the right stuff.” At that time in my opinion Monterey Peninsula was the best booking agency because they booked artists, true artists. I really wanted him to take it on and he did. And I think at that point I thought “OK they're in good hands now and I think they will get bigger.” But never could I imagine, I mean, even the first time they sold out Madison Square Garden you know, that was huge.

Phishbase: That is still, I think, the loudest crowd I've ever heard at a Phish show

Sue Drew: It must have been mind blowing. The funny story about that: After I did leave Elektra, I left at the end of '92 and, after we signed them and they were making A Picture of Nectar or maybe when they were releasing it, they did a big show at the Roseland Ballroom. It was their biggest show to date in New York and all of Elektra Records came including my boss who was the very snooty one who only liked super hip cool music and including the chairman of the company Bob Krasnow and it was during that show that they just, they flipped out. Howard Thompson, who was the head of A&R, came to me and he said "Jon Fishman is my favorite drummer in the whole world." Like, he couldn't believe what a drummer Jon was and then within a month or two of that show Bob Krasnow promoted me to Vice President and I'm fairly certain it was that show that really got him to look at me in a different light and it was because they played Take the A Train. I mean, this was an older guy at the time and you know it was just like “oh my god, Take The A Train,” he completely got it. 

    So then, about Madison Square Garden. After I left and after Bob Krasnow left, somebody else became the chairman of Elektra Records and this person knew nothing about this band or this kind of music and Paluska went in to have a meeting with this person and he was trying to get them to pay attention to the band, to acknowledge the band, not in too overt of a way, but just to acknowledge that this band that was selling records and was making a name for itself and was on the label. So, he wanted to introduce himself and he said “look, we're playing the Garden next week if you'd like to come to the show.” And she goes “well who are you opening up for?” And at that moment he realized “hey I get it, this is not the place we originally signed. These people have no idea what they're dealing with.“

Phishbase: So how did you break it to them that you were moving on?

Sue Drew: Honestly the worst thing you can go through as an A&R person is telling a band you absolutely love, that you signed, is that you're leaving. It is a horrible thing.

Phishbase: And at that point, it's 1992 and still relatively early in their career.

Sue Drew: I mean, it was very early still early on. A Picture of Nectar had come out, they were working on Rift. I kind of stayed involved a little bit just because I couldn't help myself because I loved them so much. You know, I just called Paluska, he lived in Boston so I didn't see him as often but we spoke on the phone, and I just let him know that I had another opportunity. And you know, I felt terrible and I do to this day feel terrible. But there you go. And honestly I stayed very friendly as you do for a while with people that you've worked with. I have seen Trey in recent years. I go to see the guys when they play the Hollywood Bowl. Now I live in L.A. and you know I hung out with Trey and Page a little bit a couple of years ago and it was so nice. I went to see Trey opening up his musical at the La Jolla Playhouse and you know they're just outstanding people.

Nashville nation, R&B, stone and also hip-hop performers to watch in 2020

Nashville artists towards watch in 2020: Ingrid Andress, Devon Gilfillian, Kalie Shorr and extra

Matthew Leimkuehler, Dave Paulson as well as Cindy Watts Nashville Tennessean

Released 6:00 AM SHOCK THERAPY Dec 22, 2019

Whether they are actually making country, R&B, stone, hip-hop or even soul, there's a brand-new game of artists that Nashville ought to look out for in 2020. Breakout country excellence Ingrid Andress tops our checklist -- keep reading to see who else you should maintain your eye on.

Ingrid Andress

One year ago, Ingrid Andress failed to possess music out. The Colorado citizen was actually composing songs, commemorating her report cope with Detector Music Nashville as well as bothering with all she still needed to do to get her job off the ground.

Today her critically acclaimed escapement single "Extra Hearts Than Mine" is actually the only launching coming from a solo women musician to burglarize the Leading twenty on Advertising board's Country Airplay chart in 2019. She's preparing to launch her very first cd in March of 2020, as well as she's happening an arena trip with labelmates Dan + Shay.

" Ever before because February, when the initial track emerged, it's practically merely felt like a whirlwind, in all honesty," Andress mentioned. "I was actually certainly not counting on every thing to go as wonderful as it is actually. I am actually merely very brought down by it."

A self-described singer-songwriter who mentioned she "blogs about actual s ***," Andress has actually refined her craft because she was a child. When she was actually very youthful, Andress keeps in mind creating up jingles regarding doing jobs-- like regreting the long trip to the mailbox-- to make it through the activities. She wrote her very first song on the piano through the opportunity she was 8 years outdated. Andress really did not understand music occupations existed till she found a leaflet in higher university for Berklee College of Songs.

" I only presumed that everyone got genuine jobs, and also the only means you can be a vocalist is actually if you succeeded 'American Idolizer,'" she pointed out. "Yet, I really did not intend to be on 'United States Idolizer.' When I discovered out people visit college simply to research songs, I felt like, 'What possess I been actually performing with my lifestyle? Like, this is preposterous.'"

Songwriting was Andress' passage right into the performance planet. She went to Berklee University of Music and also has actually written tunes for musicians consisting of Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX, FLETCHER, as well as Dove Cameron as well as co-written with Sam Search, Alicia Keys and also Tori Kelly. She co-wrote her "Much more Hearts Than Mine" along with Sam Ellis as well as Derrick Southerland.

After college, Andress claimed she considered to transfer to Los Angeles "like everyone else," however took a random travel to check out Nashville. Everyone informed her it was actually the songwriting capital of the globe, and she desired to inspect it out for herself. When she got there in Music Urban area, Andress said she instantly knew she really wanted to keep.

" To this particular day, I don't know exactly how I was actually crazy adequate to steer from Boston to Nashville by myself as well as move certainly there, certainly not knowing any person," she pointed out. "Yet, I believe that you simply need to go along with your gut in some cases. Nashville merely possesses that sort of neighborhood that actually nourishes songwriters."

Kalie Shorr (left), Ingrid Andress as well as Devon Gilfillian (best) lead the Tennessean's 2020 musicians to enjoy

Andress listened to Nashville is actually a "10-year town," which signifies it takes a decade to breakthrough into country songs. Her line was actually a lot briefer. Regarding one year after she relocated to city, she complied with popular manufacturer Frank Rogers that revealed enthusiasm in her talent. Rogers aided her receive a posting deal, which suggested Andress could quit her job as a hosting server.

" It was actually extremely fast, which I was actually certainly not anticipating," she mentioned. "I think that was actually probably among the absolute best things that could've happened to me because it definitely required me in to the society of Nashville and also writing country songs as well as discovering exactly how to inform a tale."

As c and w relocated by means of the bro-country style, Andress exercised writing meaningful songs. She received disappointed as she viewed her friends receive slices on lighthearted jingles while her mental narration was actually bypassed. Andress mosted likely to Los Angeles, created popular song and had tracks tape-recorded by pop performers. She possesses no regrets.

" I'm actually thankful that I only adhered to what carried me joy rather of marketing my soul," she pointed out.

While the launch of her launching cd is actually still concerning three months away, Andress claimed she is actually presently focusing on the next one. She seems like she is actually learnt more about herself with the method and revels in the know-how she possesses an electrical outlet to share it.

" I think that there is actually a bunch of things taking place in culture straight now that individuals aren't always chatting about," she said. "I definitely love the reality that I possess this brand-new system to be capable to carry recognition to traits that I assume are necessary for our nation. It's ironic that it is actually phoned country and western, (so) practically, our company should be discussing things that are actually taking place in our country, you recognize?"

Gabby Barrett executes at the 7th yearly Following Ladies of Country party at the CMA Theater at the C And W Venue of Fame in Nashville on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

Shelley Mays/ The Tennessean

Gabby Barrett didn't win "American Beloved" in 2018, yet she might requisition 2020. In approximately 19 months considering that she placed 3rd on the well-liked aired ability hunt, the Pennsylvania indigenous authorized a document manage Detector Songs Nashville and her debut solitary "I Chance" broke the Leading 50 at nation broadcast. She has accumulated much more than 130 thousand on-demand streams, and recently scored even more than 100,000 users on YouTube that caused 24.4 million video perspectives. YouTube called Barrett a 2019 Performer increasing.

" This has actually been a frustrating year in the best method for me professionally and directly," Barrett, 19, mentioned in a statement. "Viewing the reaction to my debut single, 'I Chance,' is so satisfying. Coming from the response along with flows, to listening to the crowds sing all the phrases at my shows-- as an artist/songwriter, it doesn't receive any better than that. The Lord is merciful, as well as I am actually truly blessed."

Her brand new track "The Good Ones" is actually out right now.

Caylee Hammack does at the 13th Yearly ACM Respects at the Ryman Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.

. Larry McCormack/ Tennessean.com

Caylee Hammack

Caylee Hammack hemorrhages creativity, fire and resolve thus fully that she's a beacon in a sector of manies thousand.

Born in Ellaville, Ga., Hammack hoped evening as kid for God to "simply satisfy produce me different." A self-described hippie from a hillbilly town, Hammack made use of phony I.d.s to acquire gigs around her native South Georgia before she was old. She denied a college scholarship that will possess carried her to Nashville for a kid that ceremoniously damaged her center quickly after. She transferred to Nashville anyhow, rested in her vehicle in an Intended car park up until she could pay for an area to keep and after that her house got rid of down in a power fire.

" My dad possesses consistently mentioned that one of the most lovely and also best points are shaped in the fire," Hammack mentioned in a declaration. "Iron is nothing at all until you function it in a fire. Glass may not be blown without rigorous warm. You can't create anything wonderful or even solid without a little bit of warmth."

Hammack launched her debut singular "Family members Plant"-- which she co-wrote and co-produced in 2019-- and also it was actually the most-added debut song at nation broadcast through a female artist in much more than three years. Her initial cd will certainly be actually discharged in 2020, as well as she'll devote the springtime opening shows for Reba McEntire.

Kalie Shorr

Tastemakers all over the country noticed Kalie Shorr's launching cd, "Open Book" -- which's no tiny accomplishment for a self-released effort.

Kalie Shorr plays on phase during the 4th yearly Bentonville Film Festival on May 4, 2018, in Bentonville, Ark.

. Phillip Faraone/ Getty Images/ Bentonville Movie Festivity

But managing her very own show works marvels for Shorr, and also her spunky, self-penned tunes that do not possess to soften phrases or soften their sonic sides. "Schedule" is a convincing mix of pointy, Swift-esque country-pop as well as classic substitute apprehension.

Shorr's readied to reach the ground running in 2020 along with a brand-new printing bargain and also a headlining program at Nashville's Exit/In on Jan. 31.

Devon Gilfillian

Devon Gilfillian

Andile Buka/Contributed

Facility and religious, Devon Gilfillian's take on timeless spirit breathes along with originality. Socially, he mixtures the roots of American heritage-- stone 'n' roll, nation, spirit-- with a modern-day effect from Kanye West as well as Jay-Z, the nation's foremost music writers. Listeners simply require to listen regarding his most current single, "Unchained," for a taste of the depth Gilillian promises along with his music.

And listeners must hear a lot more soon from the Philadelphia-raised, Nashville-based Gilfillian. He discharges his Capitol building Records launching full-length, "Dark Gap Rainbow," on Jan. 10, 2020. A grad of opening up for Mavis Staples, Keith Urban, Brothers Osborne and extra, he'll take the cd when traveling following year as primary support for Elegance Potter's upcoming excursion.

Jenny Tolman (Independent)

A 23-year-old private nation songwriter spent three years writing and also capturing a principle cd. Ambitious? Yes. Excellent? Completely.

In her 2019 cd "There Goes The Neighborhood," Tolman welcomes listeners to her not-so-fictitious "Jennyville"-- a town where personalities revel in a "High Course Poor white" way of life, the projection asks for an one hundred per-cent chance of hearsay and working possesses little bit of to perform along with a nine-to-five.

Nation artist Jenny Tolman.

Politeness of Jenny Tolman/Special to the Tennessean

She harmonizes tongue-in-cheek peculiarity (" along with Louis Vuitton that were actually made in Hong Kong" she jests on singular "Higher Course White Waste") along with a painful integrity that is actually required coming from all ageless nation cds (I've got friends that really love the Pope, and also buddies that like their dope/ Suspect our team're all simply tryin' to discover a greater spot" she provides on "My Welcome Floor Covering"). As well as she does it with musical deepness that admires the artists who influenced her -- Amy Winehouse, Dolly Parton and Shel Silverstein.

" It takes folks with all of the emotional states that our company actually carry out experience as people," Tolman mentioned of her debut. " It's OK to feel factors. It's ALRIGHT to have a great time. It's OK to be actually challenged."

Bren Delight (Human-Re-Sources)

In 2018, pop/R&& B newcomer Bren Happiness began creating his 1st tunes.

Much less than 2 years later on, the smooth-voiced Nashville citizen has actually scored more than 3 thousand flows on Spotify. In Might, he released his debut, "Twenties," which increased adverse the dominating commitment of his very early singles. That's particularly correct in "Sugary food," along with jazz-meets-G-Funk bounce that's difficult not to salute your crown to.

In October, Pleasure opened for rap sensation Megan Thee Stallion at Vanderbilt, and also he's regarding to supplant the brand new year with Keith Urban, Jason Isbell as well as co. as a performer at Nashville's "Popular music Metropolitan area Midnight" gig.

Published 6:00 AM SHOCK THERAPY Dec 22, 2019

This content was originally published here.

Pop Eye: Bobbie Gentry Meets the Press

Richard Goldstein, The Village Voice, 17 August, 1967

You could tell you were In the right suite In the right hotel with the right view of the right skyline. The walls rang with an endless succession of refrains from "Ode to Billy Joe," which leapt into the top five this week less than a month alter its release. It ia what my favorite chart-watcher would modestly call “a Tasmanian monster.'*

Capitol Records, which bought the master and re-recorded both sides in less than an hour (studio freaks please note) had written off their purchase as spare wax. They planned to release the B-side, a boogalooey ballad about M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-l, thus dooming “Billy Joe" to the all but certain obscurity that follows the words "backed with" on a promo sheet. But by a fluke; they changed their minds. When Bobbie Gentry’s nitty gritty melodrama sells its second millionth record sometime next month, an executive somewhere will have been reconciled with God.

With the fine genuine trend-breaker of the year on their hands (i.e., “Billy Joe" neither turns you on, sets you whistling, or socks it to you), Capitol rented suite 2150 at the Americana —a good hotel but too far from Lincoln Row—for the occasion.

The press reception-ballet is an extremely stylized bit of choreography, beautiful to watch from the upper balcony but hell from the pit. First, the marlins in phosphorescent, suit arrive, finger the tight knots of their steel gray neckties, glance at the food (the less starch, the more class), and make it over to the bar. The drinks are stinging strong, the theory being that a good loop early in the day adds significance to any event. Then the conversation begins, the shoulder patting pas de deux, a smile for the ladies from the pulps, and a stray thought that, furrows the brow—has anyone ever picked someone up at these affairs?

Extras assembled, and tight, the ensemble enters, pirouetting: pencil-wielding girls In mischievous miniskirts, conversation and cigarettes dangling from their lips: the promo brigade from the company, standing tightlipped against the drapery and smiling every now and then at anyone who looks like he owns a byline; and the management personnel, scanning the room for unfriendliness. Pop music, like politics, is all of matter of middle-men; a good, cryptic press can carry the election.

Finally, the prima-dreama-donna arrives, all coitted and polite, gift-wrapped in chic stripes, and bristling with gratitude. She moves like anything but the Mississippi delta, but she has that you-all twinkle in her toes. The real South, I suppose, is more bouffant than barefoot.

Miss Gentry gets photographed eating Lobster Newburg (which the reporters have long ago abandoned as stale macaroni). She turns, smiles. Waves, alights, and declines to eat Her arms around the company brass, she nods to their snapshot conversation, and somewhere behind the flashbulbs she recognizes the voice blaring on the phonograph as her own.

Oh yeah, that’s me!

She shakes your hand, skims across your hair and boots and concentrates on your chin, which ia more conventional. You allow as how it’s a fine song and she curtseys with her eyelashes. You ask about the song’s geography and she says it is all real, nothing more than a glance from her father's place. "Some station in Dallas is running a contest about what they threw Into the water,” she reveals, missing a wisecrack in the background about Tupalo, Mississippi, being where they bum Nigras. “The winner gets to see the Talahachie Bridge.” 

With the hottest topics of conversation in America this week being what to do about them Nigras and what in hell went on at that bridge, the good people of Dallas will probably offer some intriguing possibilities. Even airline stewardesses on the upper East Side have an interpretation; they wink knowingly and mention one or another slang for fetus.

But Bobbie Gentry has no comment (much applause for her graceful refusal) on the meaning of “Billy Joe” “If they dredge that old river some day,” she jokes, “and then they’ll arrest me.” Capitol's man laughs, then whisks his leading lady away.

Soon it is over; ruins of coffee and copy litter the floor. You leave these events in sections—first the head, then the ears, and finally the feet. Luckily for people like Bobbie Gentry, stars leave early. With pictures taken and hands shaken, they don’t matter anymore.

What does? Two gentlemen of the pop press, jowls agape and neckties bisecting their bellies like limp fabric streams, perform a spectacularly grand jete for the gallery. One reaches into a bulging back pocket and pulls out a plastic flask. The other smiles and produces a small vial of pills from his vest They both ruminate: it is act one of another ballet, sequel called “Suburbia."

In the background, Bobbie Gentry’s voice sings grassroots gothic as the curtain descends, to a multiple channel ovation.

The beat doth go on!

SINGLES: The new Mamas and Papas, "12:30," is the grooviest news since Cass quit her diet. It's a stiff, tight, tuff wailer, with very soft dissonance in the back and wide open sound up front. The lyrics are hard to catch (those days are far from over in rock) but after a few close listenings, it sounds like a song about cracking up in New York City. Whatever its subject, “12.30” is tonal dynamite, in the best Ms and Ps tradition. It*s such a groove to read over last month’s copy lamenting this group's musical disintegration, and then hear this fine resurrection. The happy word la that John Philips has lost his belly; all the flimsy flab is gone in this lean, sparse ballad. With the Mamas and the Papas, it is a joy to be wrong.

More please: The Youngbloods do a fine rendition of “Get Together,” a folk-rock standard by now. It’s nice to see this group get into something fine, after two many wrong starts. 

A re-release worthy of fanfares Is the “new” single by the Who, “Substitute,” one of the group's most brilliant early works, was ruthlessly neglected in this country a year ago. Listen to the words—even though the line. “My skin is white but my fathers was black,” won't be in the American version—and catch Keith Moon's machinegunning on drums. A historic record, “Substitute” may seem conservative next to "A Quick One.” but keep its real age in mind.

The Pink Floyd make an impressive American debut with “See Emily Play.” All that distortion belongs, and the underlying melody is sturdy. The Pink Floyd may be aware that psychedelic music can be as deceptive as a bad lay on an old bed; with rusty springs, anything can make a squeak. 

ME!

Hi guys! (I literally have zero followers..) Still going to come on here and post the easter eggs, theories, and thoughts/feelings I have about Taylor Swift’s new song ME! featuring Brendon Urie. I’m sure everything has been said before but just for my own need to get this out into the world, here we go!

1. The white and pink snake. Obviously a reference to her previous persona from reputation. I love love love that it’s white and a pale pink. Just goes to show this album/era she is stepping into the light.

2. Explodes into butterflies. I love this new symbol she’s embracing this era mostly because of the symbolism behind what it is to be a butterfly. Transformation. Metamorphosis. Change. New beginnings. Blooming. Light. Beauty. Blah blah blah. You get it. So the butterfly goes through 4 stages before it becomes who it's meant to be. Egg stage, larva stage (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon), and full adult hood (butterfly). So during the pupa stage, it appears from the outside that the caterpillar is just resting but in fact this is the stage that it changes the most. So in reference to Taylor...she was off the grid for what seemed like a lifetime. To us and the world, looked like she was resting, nesting, hiding. But in fact, she was in the most beautiful part of her life, METAMORPHOSIS!! She was growing into her true self during that time, falling in love with herself, her music, and the people that surrounded her. Wow. ALSO the butterflies are all in the design of the mural in Nashville, right?? Love that. Detail, Taylor, I seeee you.

3. French fight. UMMMM this totally took me by surprise. Love how she sounds speaking french. Not really sure why she decided to fight in another language. There has to be some significance to that. What could that be?? GAH.

4. The Christmas tree. This could be significant for two reasons. One being she grew up on a Christmas tree farm--could very well be going back to her roots, nostalgic album to come? Orr second, there’s a line in ME! that says “livin in winter, I am your summer” now the way I see this, Christmas is in winter, but her album might be coming in summer of this year?? My bet.....July 13th 2019. I’ll get to that later. 

5. The chicks wall. Paintings of chicks with sunglasses. Also sign of a summer album... And a painting of the actual Dixie Chicks. Definitely thinking we are getting a collab track with the Dixie Chicks. I will fucking DIE. Man oh man if that theory is true....whew. That would be awesome.

6. Palm trees in the windows of the hall. Okay, as I’m writing this, I’m playing pausing playing pausing the music video so I can catch whatever clues she's leaving. Don't blame me ;) anyway, so I just noticed there are freaking palm trees in the window!!!! Couldn’t count them..but they’re significant for sure. 

7. 13 clouds. Counted the clouds when she walked down the staircase (same staircase from the iconic LWYMMD music video).

8. Pink phone reference. Sooo remember when the old Taylor couldn’t come to the phone? Why? Oh, cause she’s dead. Well this has to be a stab at that. And it’s pink. Maybe this is Taylor’s way of telling us, new phone, who dis?

9. Snake clouds. This makes me think of Out of the Woods, where the monsters turned out to be just trees. The snakes turned out to be just clouds, harmless clouds. Something she could come out of, brush off.

10. Shadows in the window. SOOO this might be a stretch and it might be nothing but as she walking out the front door of this building there are three shadows that appear on the floor--her own and two on either side of her that almost look like they’re dancing outside..again this might be nothing but it caught my attention.

11. Rainbow brick road. I said this in my previous post. I feel a lot of Wizard of Oz vibes in this entire video. Instead she has a rainbow brick road, genius. Just goes to show her love for the LGBTQ community once again. There are rainbows all over this video, and colors galore. Just reminds me of Dorothy and her travels. Also, she referenced herself as a witch in the last album “they’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one.....so light me up” 

12. Colored briefcases. If you count the briefcases around her head right before she gets into the chorus, there are 7....7 briefcases. This is her 7th album. Makes sense. But she is holding up 10 fingers...so July 10th? I’m still sticking with July 13th. 7th album, 7th month, and the obvious 13! Only time will tell!!

13. Pale yellow suit. Taylor mentioned in an interview that this song is about embracing yourself as you are, as an individual and being confident in a relationship to not be insecure. "I’m the only one of me......You’re the only one of you” and notice she is the only person wearing this pale yellow colored suit. Just stands out to me. Also, just this whole scene screams BUSINESSSSS. POWER BABY!!!! 

14. Clock set on 8:30. A lot of people are saying this might be her release date for the new album so August 30th. But I’m stuck on July 13th. Idk.

15. Brendon’s Mary Poppins scene. Not sure what the umbrellas signify. But it makes me think of the 1989 world tour with the light up umbrellas and dress (ugh what a look!!) and that was during How You Get The Girl. So maybe this is in reference to Taylor finally finding someone who took those steps (see How You Get The Girl) to make her a part of their life. Just an idea.

16. “A lot of lame guys out there.” I just need to pay homage to this line and how in her part says “There’s a lot of cool chicks out there”...can we say FEMINISM?! Girl power, girls supporting other girls. I am allllll about this.

17. Lover. There is a neon sign behind Taylor in the pink flowy magical dress while sitting on a stone unicorn that says “Lover” people are predicting this is a song title from the new album. Might just be a new word she uses throughout because she sings “babydoll when it comes to a lover...”

18. Gifts presented by Brendon. I love this part so much. On her live instagram situation today, she mentioned this scene and how it kind of breaks down those walls of how dating and loving someone should go, or what we all have come to know dating as. It’s not all flowers and rings, it’s important to get to know someone first. First and foremost. Get to know someone through talking, learning about likes and dislikes, make that the lead into starting a relationship. Fancy dinners, gifts, and what have you, only go so far. Which leads me to Benjamin....

19. Kitten, duh. So when I saw the mural, obviously picked that thing apart because as Taylor said, there are so many clues as far as what this song will feel like, look like. I saw three cats. And what better way to announce to the rest of the world that WE HAVE A NEW CAT PEOPLE. Benjamin Button. I can’t. So freaking awesome. Also, can I just say, how awesome it is that Taylor has broken that stigma of being a cat lady going hand in hand with being alone. YOU CAN HAVE BOTH IF YOU ALLOW IT. Just saying.

20. Heart door. This was not obvious at first to me, but thank god for the incredible detective work this fanbase does because my dumb ass didn’t put it together. This part refers to a line in Welcome to New York, “kaleidoscope of loud, heartbeats under coats” UMMM fucking genius!!! I love this a lot. This also has me wondering why she decided to reference to that lyric, that song. Okay...she spoke french at the beginning, refers to New York here...hm....is she moving to France?! Kidding. Idk. I’m rambling. Moving on!

21. Inside the heart concert. Very 60′s 70′s vibes here. Honestly kind of reminds me of hairspray. The big hair, the bright colors, the audience even. Also, her entire band are angels??? Someone mentioned that this might have something to do with the guest appearance she had on the rep tour, Robbie Williams and they sang Angels together. Maybe another collab?? We will seeee!

22. The bridge. So this isn’t so much a theory or personal thought, but I wanted to share what Taylor and Brendon were talking about on Instagram live today. About when he came to record his part of the song, he was extremely sick 105 fever (okay what a fuckin trooper!! I’d be dead) and he came through helping out with writing this bridge, very catchy. Also I love how they say “Strike the band...1, 2, 3″ I have a feeling that might have to do with the iconic swiftie add on we created during the rep tour, during Delicate “1, 2, 3...LET’S GO BITCH!!!” That’s probably one of my favorite parts of tour and how she caught on and even knew! So freakin cool. 

23. Ariel view of this city. So when you pause at like 3:09 in the music video you can get a pretty good view of what’s in this Taylor magical land of hers. This is what I see....I see the capitol building in Washington, Big Ben (famous London clock tower) (which might be just a reference to her new kitty, Benjamin Button) and maybe Notre Dame?? What do you guys think??

24. White cowgirl boots. When her and Brendon are dancing in what seems to be the inside of a light up rainbow thing, she is definitely wearing white cowgirl boots!! Boots being a reference to the old Taylor, but they’re white, so maybe a reference to the NEW Taylor. Or maybe we’ll get some country vibes within the next album.

25. Possible witch on broomstick?? So this might be a stretch, but immediately after the camera comes down from them dancing in the rainbow light thing, I see a black object that kind of takes the shape of a witch on a broomstick. Again with he Wizard of Oz vibes, and her witch reference to herself in IDSB song, this could be something! 

26. Last but not least, I want to mention her outfit choices during this ENTIRE video. I saw this on tumblr and just need to get it out because it kind of blew my mind. First outfit, black leo with white tutu skirt, she wore something very similar on the Red Tour while she sand Treacherous, a very beautiful song about love and ugh if that isn’t giving us feels, idk what is. Umbrellas I mentioned earlier. Her light blue marching band looking outfit has some definite You Belong With Me video vibes. Yes and please. And last but not least, her blue paint dress she wears in the last part of the music video has us thinking about her blue dress she wore at the end of OOTW music video and at the beginning of the LWYMMD music video. RIP Zombie Taylor. You were good to us. Anyway, lot of “old” Taylor vibes. Or maybe......a new and improved version of the person that we have all come to know and ADORE.

Alright, I think I got that out of my system. Not sure that a single human being will ever see this post, but it’s here. I’m here. I am so ready for this new Taylor Era of light and beauty and acceptance and self worth and glitter. All the glitter.

I love you T!!

@taylorswift @taylornation

Afternoon MAGAthread: YOUR WEEKLY PRESIDENTIAL RECAP!

HAPPY SATURDAY DEPLORABLES!

This is u/Ivaginaryfriend and im back with all things spicy & dank from the past week! For those that missed any past recaps you can check those out here!

Sunday, March 24th:

TODAY'S ACTION:

President Trump Delivers a Statement Upon Departure

🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!

Good Morning, Have A Great Day!

SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:

MAGAthread - AG Barr's Letter Summarizing Mueller Report Findings

r/The_MuellerMeltdown is open for salt mining business!

“Collusion Hoax” just uploaded on President Trump’s YouTube channel

Sebastian Gorka: "The only reason we had the Mueller probe was because Hillary Clinton lost & they had to have the coverup for everything they did to spy on another presidential campaign. This is the biggest political scandal in America history."

Grandmother gets free from home invader, grabs handgun, warns him to leave, then shoots when he advances. Protecting her grandchildren ages 3, 5, & 12. Why do dems want her defenseless?

🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:

Just wanted to give a welcome to all the newbies who have recently seen the light due to the nothing burger that was Russian collusion. TD welcomes you with open arms as long as you are here to MAGA!

SALT MINE THREAD MUELLER REEEEEEEEEEEEEEPORT SHOWS NO COLLUSION AND NO OBSTRUCTION - REDDIT SUICIDE WATCH IS CRANKED UP TO MAXIMUM

Chug, chug, chug...

The absolute state of reddit right now

Alert! Salt overflow. We need more miners! Join the salt mining party at r/The_MuellerMeltdown

Monday, March 25th:

TODAY'S ACTION:

Proclamation on Recognizing the Golan Heights as Part of the State of Israel

President Trump and The Prime Minister of Israel Make Remarks

President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of the State of Israel

President Trump Participates in a Photo Opportunity with the 2018 Stanley Cup Champions

President Trump Meets with Caribbean Leaders at Mar-a-Lago

🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:

“No matter your ideologies or your loyalties, this is a good day for America. No American conspired to cooperate with Russia in its efforts to interfere with the 2016 election, according to Robert Mueller, and that is good.” @BretBaier @FoxNews

“The Special Counsel did not find that the Trump Campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian Government in these efforts, despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump Campaign.”

“Breaking News: Mueller Report Finds No Trump-Russia Conspiracy.” @MSNBC

Video

President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu Deliver Remarks

Today, it was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister @Netanyahu of Israel back to the @WhiteHouse where I signed a Presidential Proclamation recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Read more: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-recognizing-golan-heights-part-state-israel/ …

WSJ: Obama Admin Must Account for ‘Abuse of Surveillance Powers’

(Retweeting Brian McNally) The #Caps won a Stanley Cup so they get to spend the next hour here touring and meeting the President in a private event.

(Retweeting Philip Pritchard) Hanging out in the Roosevelt Room, waiting to head into the oval office. #stanleycup @NHL @WhiteHouse @HockeyHallFame @Capitals 0

A team of great champions!

(Retweeting Scott Abraham) The Stanley Cup and the Caps with President Trump in the Oval Office. What a picture!

(Retweeting Don Jr.) Christmas came early this week.

(Retweeting Tom Fitton) Tom Fitton on @RealDonaldTrump Russia Mueller Probe: 'They've KNOWN There Was NO Collusion" And, by the way, @DevinNunes is one of the most consequential congressmen in a generation...

SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:

You guys were right

BREAKING: Pence calls for the removal of Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee

Donald Trump: Time to Investigate the Left for ‘Treasonous Things’

We're drowning in salt! Time to send some back to CNN! #SendEmSalt

I'm done with the Left for good.

Pentagon Notifies Congress it has Authorized $1 Billion Transfer to Begin New Border Wall Construction

CREEPY PORN LAWYER FACING 50 YEARS FROM 2 COUNTS OF CA INDICTMENTS. HE STOLE HIS CLIENT’S SETTLEMENT MONEY AND PUT IN PHONY TAX RETURNS TO SCAM A $4M LOAN FROM A BANK. WHAT A FUCKING SCUMBAG!

🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:

Media, Libs, Cucks and Shills BTFO by Netanyahu during press conference with GEOTUS: " I brought you a case of the finest wine. I understand you're not a great wine drinker. But could I give it to your staff? I hope they don't open an investigation on it."

FUCKER TWEETED THIS AN HOUR BEFORE HE WAS ARRESTED. MY SIDES 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Avenatti doesn’t feel so good

Hey @MichaelAvenatti - It looks like you'll be the one spending time behind bars after all. #basta

I'm not a trump supporter, but this is how I imagine all you guys right now lmao

Tuesday, March 26th:

TODAY'S ACTION:

Executive Order on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses

Seven Nominations Sent to the Senate

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts

First Lady Melania Trump Visits Nicklaus Children's Hospital

President Trump Meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu

President Trump Participates in a Senate Republican Policy Lunch

🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:

The Mainstream Media is under fire and being scorned all over the World as being corrupt and FAKE. For two years they pushed the Russian Collusion Delusion when they always knew there was No Collusion. They truly are the Enemy of the People and the Real Opposition Party!

(Retweeting Tom Fitton) Let’s be clear, neither Mueller, Obama FBI, DOJ, CIA, Deep State, etc ever had good faith basis to pursue @realDonaldTrump on Russia. Russia collusion was a hoax & a criminal abuse, which is why @JudicialWatch will continue to fight for truth in fed court. https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-statement-on-mueller-report/ …

“What we’re seeing on Capitol Hill right now is that the Democrats are walking back any charges of Collusion against the President.” @ByronYork @BillHemmer Should never have been started, a disgrace!

The Republican Party will become “The Party of Healthcare!”

“A Catastrophic Media Failure”

Thank you to the House Republicans for sticking together and the BIG WIN today on the Border. Today’s vote simply reaffirms Congressional Democrats are the party of Open Borders, Drugs and Crime!

“Proclamation on Recognizing the Golan Heights as Part of the State of Israel”

“I think this is probably the most consequential media screwup of the last 25 to 50 years. It is difficult to comprehend or overstate the damage that the media did to the Country, to their own reputation or to the Constitution. An absolute catastrophe” Sean Davis @TuckerCarlson

Video

Video

The Fake News Media has lost tremendous credibility with its corrupt coverage of the illegal Democrat Witch Hunt of your all time favorite duly elected President, me! T.V. ratings of CNN & MSNBC tanked last night after seeing the Mueller Report statement. @FoxNews up BIG!

SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:

REDICULOUS - Jussie Smollett won't be prosecuted on charges he faked attack

Former Michelle Obama aide tried to intervene in Jussie Smollett probe

Cocaine Mitch is silently laughing hysterically

Fair Warning: Trump Campaign Distributes Memo Telling Media To Steer Clear Of Collusion Conspiracy Theorists "At a minimum, if these guests do reappear, you should replay the prior statements and challenge them to provide the evidence which prompted them to make the wild claims in the first place"

Troll level 1,000,000,002.1! Mike Lee's Velocipede Machine Gun Speech

DOUG COLLINS HAS RELEASED GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS'S TESTIMONY. DIG PEDES, DIG!!

🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:

Why is CNN here so early?

⚖️ Jussie Said The Magic Words ⚖️

No words needed.

Good morning to everyone who wasn’t indicted for extortion yesterday.

Mitch McConnell just trolled the Democrats with this video on Twitter

Wednesday, March 27th:

TODAY'S ACTION:

Vice President Pence Participates in a Bilateral Meeting

Memorandum on Federal Housing Finance Reform

President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting

President Trump Presents the Medal of Honor

🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:

.@GreggJarrett: “Trump-Russia 'collusion' was always a hoax -- and dirtiest political trick in modern US history”

Video

Just met with @SundarPichai, President of @Google, who is obviously doing quite well. He stated strongly that he is totally committed to the U.S. Military, not the Chinese Military.... ... ....Also discussed political fairness and various things that @Google can do for our Country. Meeting ended very well!

We are here today to award America’s highest military honor to a fallen hero who made the supreme sacrifice for our nation – Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins...

(Retweeting Hannity) #HANNITY EXCLUSIVE TONIGHT: One-on-one with @realdonaldtrump — the President’s first interview since Mueller found no collusion! Tune in at 9PM ET!

(Retweeting The White House) Video

(Retweeting Verney & Co.) Video

SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:

Ben Garrison, Spicy AMA

YOU PATRIOTS ARE TOO MUCH! WELL OVER THREE TONS OF SALT ON ITS WAY BACK TO CNN!!! #SendEmSalt

Chicago PD releases full Jessie Smellit case files. Links in article

Undaunted By the Facts, CNN Continues to Push Collusion Conspiracy Theory

Wikipedia Editors Paid to Protect Political, Tech, and Media Figures

PRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:

WATCH PARTY: Hannity interviews GEOTUS on Fox News at 9PM ET

🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:

REPORT: An unnamed source familiar with Kim Foxx' thinking told me the reason she dropped charges against Smullett was because his phone records showed over 200 calls and texts from Kamala Harris and DNC operatives. Prove me wrong.

No evidence to support our claims, let’s just form a mob.

Something feels different about Trump. He is scorned. He's fucking pissed. It's one thing to take him head on, it's another to trash his reputation. They tried to destroy him and the son who bears his name. WRONG. FUCKING. MAN. Hell is coming, cucks.

16 felonies .. just disappeared into thin air..

Amen

Thursday, March 28th:

TODAY'S ACTION:

Memorandum on Extension of Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians

Executive Order on Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

President Trump Delivers a Statement Upon Departure

🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:

Will be heading to Grand Rapids, Michigan, tonight for a Big Rally. Will be talking about the many exciting things that are happening to our Country, but also the car companies, & others, that are pouring back into Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North & South Carolina & all over!

The Fake News Media is going Crazy! They are suffering a major “breakdown,” have ZERO credibility or respect, & must be thinking about going legit. I have learned to live with Fake News, which has never been more corrupt than it is right now. Someday, I will tell you the secret!

Mexico is doing NOTHING to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our Country. They are all talk and no action. Likewise, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have taken our money for years, and do Nothing. The Dems don’t care, such BAD laws. May close the Southern Border!

FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!

Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress!

Wow, ratings for “Morning Joe,” which were really bad in the first place, just “tanked” with the release of the Mueller Report. Likewise, other shows on MSNBC and CNN have gone down by as much as 50%. Just shows, Fake News never wins!

Very important that OPEC increase the flow of Oil. World Markets are fragile, price of Oil getting too high. Thank you!

Video

Video

The Republican Party will become the Party of Great HealthCare! ObamaCare is a disaster, far too expensive and deductibility ridiculously high - virtually unusable! Moving forward in Courts and Legislatively!

We have a National Emergency at our Southern Border. The Dems refuse to do what they know is necessary - amend our immigration laws. Would immediately solve the problem! Mexico, with the strongest immigration laws in the World, refuses to help with illegal immigration & drugs!

On my way to Grand Rapids, Michigan right now. See you all very soon! #MAGA

Beautiful #MAGARally tonight in Grand Rapids, Michigan - thank you, I love you! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!

Massive overflow crowds in Grand Rapids, Michigan tonight. Thank you for joining us tonight! #MAGA

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Working hard, thank you! #MAGA

SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:

Letter from House Intelligence Committee Republicans calling for Adam Schiff's resignation

Holder gets absolutely rekt by VP Pence!

#RidiculousBullshit

92 percent of illegal immigrant families ignore deportations

Rand Paul announces Amendment to Mueller Report Resolution That Demands Release of Obama’s Communications Concerning Decision to Investigate Trump Campaign.

PRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:

Watch Party: President Donald J. Trump Rally Grand Rapids, MI. 3/28/19

🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:

!!!SALTY!!! And so it has begun. The first of my 50 lb. bags of salt has already arrived at CNN. Oh, to be a fly on that wall...

Almost to capacity just before 7pm!

JFK IN A TRUMP HAT WILL BE THE BEST THING YOU SEE ALL DAY!

Get em Tom!!!

Friday, March 29th:

TODAY'S ACTION:

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

Presidential Permit

President Trump Delivers a Statement Upon Departure

President Trump Delivers Remarks

President Trump Meets with Linda McMahon

🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:

On this Vietnam War Veterans Day, we celebrate the brave Vietnam Veterans and all of America’s Veterans. Thank you for your service to our great Nation!

This has been an incredible couple of weeks for AMERICA!

The DEMOCRATS have given us the weakest immigration laws anywhere in the World. Mexico has the strongest, & they make more than $100 Billion a year on the U.S. Therefore, CONGRESS MUST CHANGE OUR WEAK IMMIGRATION LAWS NOW, & Mexico must stop illegals from entering the U.S.... ... ....through their country and our Southern Border. Mexico has for many years made a fortune off of the U.S., far greater than Border Costs. If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States throug our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING..... ... ...the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and “talk.” Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing!

Had the Fed not mistakenly raised interest rates, especially since there is very little inflation, and had they not done the ridiculously timed quantitative tightening, the 3.0% GDP, & Stock Market, would have both been much higher & World Markets would be in a better place!

Robert Mueller was a Hero to the Radical Left Democrats, until he ruled that there was No Collusion with Russia (so ridiculous to even say!). After more than two years since the “insurance policy” statement was made by a dirty cop, I got the answers I wanted, the Truth..... ... ...The problem is, no matter what the Radical Left Democrats get, no matter what we give them, it will never be enough. Just watch, they will Harass & Complain & Resist (the theme of their movement). So maybe we should just take our victory and say NO, we’ve got a Country to run!

So funny that The New York Times & The Washington Post got a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage (100% NEGATIVE and FAKE!) of Collusion with Russia - And there was No Collusion! So, they were either duped or corrupt? In any event, their prizes should be taken away by the Committee!

A huge thanks to @HeatherNauert for serving America at the @StateDept. Great work! I’m proud to have you join the Fulbright board!

SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:

'Get Serious and Stop Rewarding Illegal Immigration,' Border Patrol Agent Says to Congress

UNBELIEVABLE: Dems replace POW/MIA flags with transgender pride flags

Federal judge rules DOJ must hand over Comey memos

WINNING: Florida bar reverses no-hat policy after objections from MAGA hat wearer

U.S. Attorney General Barr to release redacted copy of Mueller report in mid-April

#MeToo: Woman claims Biden kissed her without consent backstage in 2014...."Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair?"

🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:

Doubt many people will see this but just wanted to give my respect for our Vietnam veterans! Thank you for what you did! We greatly appreciate you!

Let's compare Bill Clintons '98 IG Report to Pres. Trump's '19 IG Report.....

My reaction reading r/The Mueller trying to move the goal posts

Fresh Garrison! A Gallery of LOSERS!

He's right behind me isn't he?

Saturday, March 30th:

🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:

In honor of his past service to our Country, Navy Seal #EddieGallagher will soon be moved to less restrictive confinement while he awaits his day in court. Process should move quickly! @foxandfriends @RepRalphNorman

SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:

Trump cuts all direct assistance to Northern Triangle countries Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala

I wanted to post this picture in honor of my based 91 year old Mom who is moving to assisted living today. She had a health issue a few months ago and the medicine is effecting her memory now..:( But she still knows who her favorite President is...:)

Former Deputy Asst. Attorney General: Kim Foxx Faces Up to 20 Years in Jail if Convicted of Corruption

Feeding the crocodile hoping it won't eat him first! Link in comments

🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:

Laughs in American

Look at this poor child. She’s one of MANY. Maybe one of them or their parents will speak out. Or maybe they’ll be silent because pedophilia is ok if it defeats DRUMPF.

Neocons in one picture

What did he mean by this?

SO MUCH WINNING, STILL NOT TIRED OF IT!!

With out further ado, some tunes to get you jamming through all this winning:

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Dreams

Come Together

People Are Strange

Dream On

On Melancholy HIll

MAGA ON PATRIOTS!

submitted by /u/Ivaginaryfriend [link] [comments]

HAPPY SATURDAY DEPLORABLES!This is u/Ivaginaryfriend and im back with all things spicy & dank from the past week! For those that missed any past recaps you can check those out here!Sunday, March 24th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Trump Delivers a Statement Upon Departure🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION. KEEP AMERICA GREAT!Good Morning, Have A Great Day!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:MAGAthread - AG Barr's Letter Summarizing Mueller Report Findingsr/The_MuellerMeltdown is open for salt mining business!“Collusion Hoax” just uploaded on President Trump’s YouTube channelSebastian Gorka: "The only reason we had the Mueller probe was because Hillary Clinton lost & they had to have the coverup for everything they did to spy on another presidential campaign. This is the biggest political scandal in America history."Grandmother gets free from home invader, grabs handgun, warns him to leave, then shoots when he advances. Protecting her grandchildren ages 3, 5, & 12. Why do dems want her defenseless?🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Just wanted to give a welcome to all the newbies who have recently seen the light due to the nothing burger that was Russian collusion. TD welcomes you with open arms as long as you are here to MAGA!SALT MINE THREAD MUELLER REEEEEEEEEEEEEEPORT SHOWS NO COLLUSION AND NO OBSTRUCTION - REDDIT SUICIDE WATCH IS CRANKED UP TO MAXIMUMChug, chug, chug...The absolute state of reddit right nowAlert! Salt overflow. We need more miners! Join the salt mining party at r/The_MuellerMeltdownMonday, March 25th:TODAY'S ACTION:Proclamation on Recognizing the Golan Heights as Part of the State of IsraelPresident Trump and The Prime Minister of Israel Make RemarksPresident Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of the State of IsraelPresident Trump Participates in a Photo Opportunity with the 2018 Stanley Cup ChampionsPresident Trump Meets with Caribbean Leaders at Mar-a-Lago🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:“No matter your ideologies or your loyalties, this is a good day for America. No American conspired to cooperate with Russia in its efforts to interfere with the 2016 election, according to Robert Mueller, and that is good.” @BretBaier @FoxNews“The Special Counsel did not find that the Trump Campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian Government in these efforts, despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump Campaign.”“Breaking News: Mueller Report Finds No Trump-Russia Conspiracy.” @MSNBCVideoPresident Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu Deliver RemarksToday, it was my great honor to welcome Prime Minister @Netanyahu of Israel back to the @WhiteHouse where I signed a Presidential Proclamation recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Read more: http://bit.ly/2I18If9 …WSJ: Obama Admin Must Account for ‘Abuse of Surveillance Powers’(Retweeting Brian McNally) The #Caps won a Stanley Cup so they get to spend the next hour here touring and meeting the President in a private event.(Retweeting Philip Pritchard) Hanging out in the Roosevelt Room, waiting to head into the oval office. #stanleycup @NHL @WhiteHouse @HockeyHallFame @Capitals 0A team of great champions!(Retweeting Scott Abraham) The Stanley Cup and the Caps with President Trump in the Oval Office. What a picture!(Retweeting Don Jr.) Christmas came early this week.(Retweeting Tom Fitton) Tom Fitton on @RealDonaldTrump Russia Mueller Probe: 'They've KNOWN There Was NO Collusion" And, by the way, @DevinNunes is one of the most consequential congressmen in a generation...SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:You guys were rightBREAKING: Pence calls for the removal of Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs CommitteeDonald Trump: Time to Investigate the Left for ‘Treasonous Things’We're drowning in salt! Time to send some back to CNN! #SendEmSaltI'm done with the Left for good.Pentagon Notifies Congress it has Authorized $1 Billion Transfer to Begin New Border Wall ConstructionCREEPY PORN LAWYER FACING 50 YEARS FROM 2 COUNTS OF CA INDICTMENTS. HE STOLE HIS CLIENT’S SETTLEMENT MONEY AND PUT IN PHONY TAX RETURNS TO SCAM A $4M LOAN FROM A BANK. WHAT A FUCKING SCUMBAG!🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Media, Libs, Cucks and Shills BTFO by Netanyahu during press conference with GEOTUS: " I brought you a case of the finest wine. I understand you're not a great wine drinker. But could I give it to your staff? I hope they don't open an investigation on it."FUCKER TWEETED THIS AN HOUR BEFORE HE WAS ARRESTED. MY SIDES 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Avenatti doesn’t feel so goodHey @MichaelAvenatti - It looks like you'll be the one spending time behind bars after all. #bastaI'm not a trump supporter, but this is how I imagine all you guys right now lmaoTuesday, March 26th:TODAY'S ACTION:Executive Order on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic PulsesSeven Nominations Sent to the SenatePresident Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration PostsFirst Lady Melania Trump Visits Nicklaus Children's HospitalPresident Trump Meets with Prime Minister NetanyahuPresident Trump Participates in a Senate Republican Policy Lunch🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:The Mainstream Media is under fire and being scorned all over the World as being corrupt and FAKE. For two years they pushed the Russian Collusion Delusion when they always knew there was No Collusion. They truly are the Enemy of the People and the Real Opposition Party!(Retweeting Tom Fitton) Let’s be clear, neither Mueller, Obama FBI, DOJ, CIA, Deep State, etc ever had good faith basis to pursue @realDonaldTrump on Russia. Russia collusion was a hoax & a criminal abuse, which is why @JudicialWatch will continue to fight for truth in fed court. http://bit.ly/2uBxYAP …“What we’re seeing on Capitol Hill right now is that the Democrats are walking back any charges of Collusion against the President.” @ByronYork @BillHemmer Should never have been started, a disgrace!The Republican Party will become “The Party of Healthcare!”“A Catastrophic Media Failure”Thank you to the House Republicans for sticking together and the BIG WIN today on the Border. Today’s vote simply reaffirms Congressional Democrats are the party of Open Borders, Drugs and Crime!“Proclamation on Recognizing the Golan Heights as Part of the State of Israel”“I think this is probably the most consequential media screwup of the last 25 to 50 years. It is difficult to comprehend or overstate the damage that the media did to the Country, to their own reputation or to the Constitution. An absolute catastrophe” Sean Davis @TuckerCarlsonVideoVideoThe Fake News Media has lost tremendous credibility with its corrupt coverage of the illegal Democrat Witch Hunt of your all time favorite duly elected President, me! T.V. ratings of CNN & MSNBC tanked last night after seeing the Mueller Report statement. @FoxNews up BIG!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:REDICULOUS - Jussie Smollett won't be prosecuted on charges he faked attackFormer Michelle Obama aide tried to intervene in Jussie Smollett probeCocaine Mitch is silently laughing hystericallyFair Warning: Trump Campaign Distributes Memo Telling Media To Steer Clear Of Collusion Conspiracy Theorists "At a minimum, if these guests do reappear, you should replay the prior statements and challenge them to provide the evidence which prompted them to make the wild claims in the first place"Troll level 1,000,000,002.1! Mike Lee's Velocipede Machine Gun SpeechDOUG COLLINS HAS RELEASED GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS'S TESTIMONY. DIG PEDES, DIG!!🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Why is CNN here so early?⚖️ Jussie Said The Magic Words ⚖️No words needed.Good morning to everyone who wasn’t indicted for extortion yesterday.Mitch McConnell just trolled the Democrats with this video on TwitterWednesday, March 27th:TODAY'S ACTION:Vice President Pence Participates in a Bilateral MeetingMemorandum on Federal Housing Finance ReformPresident Trump Participates in a Bilateral MeetingPresident Trump Presents the Medal of Honor🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:.@GreggJarrett: “Trump-Russia 'collusion' was always a hoax -- and dirtiest political trick in modern US history”VideoJust met with @SundarPichai, President of @Google, who is obviously doing quite well. He stated strongly that he is totally committed to the U.S. Military, not the Chinese Military.... ... ....Also discussed political fairness and various things that @Google can do for our Country. Meeting ended very well!We are here today to award America’s highest military honor to a fallen hero who made the supreme sacrifice for our nation – Staff Sergeant Travis Atkins...(Retweeting Hannity) #HANNITY EXCLUSIVE TONIGHT: One-on-one with @realdonaldtrump — the President’s first interview since Mueller found no collusion! Tune in at 9PM ET!(Retweeting The White House) Video(Retweeting Verney & Co.) VideoSIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Ben Garrison, Spicy AMAYOU PATRIOTS ARE TOO MUCH! WELL OVER THREE TONS OF SALT ON ITS WAY BACK TO CNN!!! #SendEmSaltChicago PD releases full Jessie Smellit case files. Links in articleUndaunted By the Facts, CNN Continues to Push Collusion Conspiracy TheoryWikipedia Editors Paid to Protect Political, Tech, and Media FiguresPRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:WATCH PARTY: Hannity interviews GEOTUS on Fox News at 9PM ET🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:REPORT: An unnamed source familiar with Kim Foxx' thinking told me the reason she dropped charges against Smullett was because his phone records showed over 200 calls and texts from Kamala Harris and DNC operatives. Prove me wrong.No evidence to support our claims, let’s just form a mob.Something feels different about Trump. He is scorned. He's fucking pissed. It's one thing to take him head on, it's another to trash his reputation. They tried to destroy him and the son who bears his name. WRONG. FUCKING. MAN. Hell is coming, cucks.16 felonies .. just disappeared into thin air..AmenThursday, March 28th:TODAY'S ACTION:Memorandum on Extension of Deferred Enforced Departure for LiberiansExecutive Order on Adjustments of Certain Rates of PayPresident Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration PostsPresident Trump Delivers a Statement Upon Departure🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:Will be heading to Grand Rapids, Michigan, tonight for a Big Rally. Will be talking about the many exciting things that are happening to our Country, but also the car companies, & others, that are pouring back into Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North & South Carolina & all over!The Fake News Media is going Crazy! They are suffering a major “breakdown,” have ZERO credibility or respect, & must be thinking about going legit. I have learned to live with Fake News, which has never been more corrupt than it is right now. Someday, I will tell you the secret!Mexico is doing NOTHING to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our Country. They are all talk and no action. Likewise, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador have taken our money for years, and do Nothing. The Dems don’t care, such BAD laws. May close the Southern Border!FBI & DOJ to review the outrageous Jussie Smollett case in Chicago. It is an embarrassment to our Nation!Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress!Wow, ratings for “Morning Joe,” which were really bad in the first place, just “tanked” with the release of the Mueller Report. Likewise, other shows on MSNBC and CNN have gone down by as much as 50%. Just shows, Fake News never wins!Very important that OPEC increase the flow of Oil. World Markets are fragile, price of Oil getting too high. Thank you!VideoVideoThe Republican Party will become the Party of Great HealthCare! ObamaCare is a disaster, far too expensive and deductibility ridiculously high - virtually unusable! Moving forward in Courts and Legislatively!We have a National Emergency at our Southern Border. The Dems refuse to do what they know is necessary - amend our immigration laws. Would immediately solve the problem! Mexico, with the strongest immigration laws in the World, refuses to help with illegal immigration & drugs!On my way to Grand Rapids, Michigan right now. See you all very soon! #MAGABeautiful #MAGARally tonight in Grand Rapids, Michigan - thank you, I love you! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!Massive overflow crowds in Grand Rapids, Michigan tonight. Thank you for joining us tonight! #MAGAMAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!Working hard, thank you! #MAGASIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Letter from House Intelligence Committee Republicans calling for Adam Schiff's resignationHolder gets absolutely rekt by VP Pence!#RidiculousBullshit92 percent of illegal immigrant families ignore deportationsRand Paul announces Amendment to Mueller Report Resolution That Demands Release of Obama’s Communications Concerning Decision to Investigate Trump Campaign.PRESS BRIEFINGS, INTERVIEWS, RALLIES:Watch Party: President Donald J. Trump Rally Grand Rapids, MI. 3/28/19🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:!!!SALTY!!! And so it has begun. The first of my 50 lb. bags of salt has already arrived at CNN. Oh, to be a fly on that wall...Almost to capacity just before 7pm!JFK IN A TRUMP HAT WILL BE THE BEST THING YOU SEE ALL DAY!Get em Tom!!!Friday, March 29th:TODAY'S ACTION:President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration PostsPresidential PermitPresident Trump Delivers a Statement Upon DeparturePresident Trump Delivers RemarksPresident Trump Meets with Linda McMahon🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:On this Vietnam War Veterans Day, we celebrate the brave Vietnam Veterans and all of America’s Veterans. Thank you for your service to our great Nation!This has been an incredible couple of weeks for AMERICA!The DEMOCRATS have given us the weakest immigration laws anywhere in the World. Mexico has the strongest, & they make more than $100 Billion a year on the U.S. Therefore, CONGRESS MUST CHANGE OUR WEAK IMMIGRATION LAWS NOW, & Mexico must stop illegals from entering the U.S.... ... ....through their country and our Southern Border. Mexico has for many years made a fortune off of the U.S., far greater than Border Costs. If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States throug our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING..... ... ...the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and “talk.” Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing!Had the Fed not mistakenly raised interest rates, especially since there is very little inflation, and had they not done the ridiculously timed quantitative tightening, the 3.0% GDP, & Stock Market, would have both been much higher & World Markets would be in a better place!Robert Mueller was a Hero to the Radical Left Democrats, until he ruled that there was No Collusion with Russia (so ridiculous to even say!). After more than two years since the “insurance policy” statement was made by a dirty cop, I got the answers I wanted, the Truth..... ... ...The problem is, no matter what the Radical Left Democrats get, no matter what we give them, it will never be enough. Just watch, they will Harass & Complain & Resist (the theme of their movement). So maybe we should just take our victory and say NO, we’ve got a Country to run!So funny that The New York Times & The Washington Post got a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage (100% NEGATIVE and FAKE!) of Collusion with Russia - And there was No Collusion! So, they were either duped or corrupt? In any event, their prizes should be taken away by the Committee!A huge thanks to @HeatherNauert for serving America at the @StateDept. Great work! I’m proud to have you join the Fulbright board!SIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:'Get Serious and Stop Rewarding Illegal Immigration,' Border Patrol Agent Says to CongressUNBELIEVABLE: Dems replace POW/MIA flags with transgender pride flagsFederal judge rules DOJ must hand over Comey memosWINNING: Florida bar reverses no-hat policy after objections from MAGA hat wearerU.S. Attorney General Barr to release redacted copy of Mueller report in mid-April#MeToo: Woman claims Biden kissed her without consent backstage in 2014...."Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair?"🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Doubt many people will see this but just wanted to give my respect for our Vietnam veterans! Thank you for what you did! We greatly appreciate you!Let's compare Bill Clintons '98 IG Report to Pres. Trump's '19 IG Report.....My reaction reading r/The Mueller trying to move the goal postsFresh Garrison! A Gallery of LOSERS!He's right behind me isn't he?Saturday, March 30th:🔥🔥TRUMP TWEETS🔥🔥:In honor of his past service to our Country, Navy Seal #EddieGallagher will soon be moved to less restrictive confinement while he awaits his day in court. Process should move quickly! @foxandfriends @RepRalphNormanSIGNIFICANT TWEETS AND NEWS:Trump cuts all direct assistance to Northern Triangle countries Honduras, El Salvador, GuatemalaI wanted to post this picture in honor of my based 91 year old Mom who is moving to assisted living today. She had a health issue a few months ago and the medicine is effecting her memory now..:( But she still knows who her favorite President is...:)Former Deputy Asst. Attorney General: Kim Foxx Faces Up to 20 Years in Jail if Convicted of CorruptionFeeding the crocodile hoping it won't eat him first! Link in comments🐸 TOP SPICE OF THE DAY 🐸:Laughs in AmericanLook at this poor child. She’s one of MANY. Maybe one of them or their parents will speak out. Or maybe they’ll be silent because pedophilia is ok if it defeats DRUMPF.Neocons in one pictureWhat did he mean by this?SO MUCH WINNING, STILL NOT TIRED OF IT!!With out further ado, some tunes to get you jamming through all this winning:Ain't No Mountain High EnoughDreamsCome TogetherPeople Are StrangeDream OnOn Melancholy HIllMAGA ON PATRIOTS! #robgray