#cali asks

Relief. A great giant grin. Breakfast Club fist pump as I drop the mic and saunter off in victory. I'm giddy you like it this much! And you are ever so welcome. I haven't felt much like creating fic for a while now, but it's been a gift to be inspired by your stories so much that I feel compelled to soundtrack them the way I used to do for some of my own series. So also, thank you. For writing and for welcoming my thoughts.

Save Us/Lennon Stella

This fit a right-person-wrong-time criteria for me. Just the despair and feeling of something important slipping away. That desire when you experience something good, to hold onto it, get comfortable with it. Promises made, but circumstances get in the way. And yet an urge to still stay connected somehow, support each other. Even if it's from a distance. That's some love.

Lift You Up/Léon:

I have no idea what will happen to Johnny throughout the next chapters, but I imagined a time when they've been getting to know each other, sharing details of their pasts as future lovers are wont to do. Maybe Johnny hasn't been exactly forthcoming with all the specifics of his former career and the particulars of his retirement, but she can read between the lines and hazard some guesses. So when he falls into a despair suddenly, forgetting what he has to gain, and overcome with his new reality and all he has lost, these words seemed destined for Teacher as she fights to bring him back from some edge he can't escape on his own.

Chet Faker:

He's a gem. His cover of No Diggity is high on my lists. I considered Low, but the vibe wasn't quite Johnny for me.

I'll just chalk that one up to serendipity. 😘

— mandatory brazilian song goes to “Estúpido Cupido” by Celly Campello (“Stupid Cupid”) because i love this oldie a lot and it fits the romeo juliet trope they have going on

— “D is for Dangerous” by Arctic Monkeys because even tho that archetype was challanged in the comics, Katarina tries to be a femme fatale so bad (she’s actually a loser. dont tell garen)

— “A Lovely Night” from La La Land is soooo Katagaren first meeting

— “Cuz I Love You” by Lizzo as Katarina’s POV

— “For the Record” from 36 Questions is not so much about the lyrics itself but just the awkward vibes (specially from garen <3)

also don’t apologize!! i love receiving asks :D

Wild...I would prefer the dog food tbh. Also I hope you added ketchup

Cali. I had to sit with this ask for a moment for several reasons, not the least of which is being called a "music expert".

Music is such a personal and important thing to me. It can be full of nostalgia for the past or a lost loved one, joyful for possibilities, excited or full of energy, sensual or sexy for bedroom shenanigans, melancholy, angry, relaxing, etc, etc, etc. I love finding new-to-me songs that just speak to me.

It's a lot like fanfic. I don't really have a genre. I just love to be sucked into the vibe with good writing and composition. And that can be so so so subjective. So to have someone, especially a writer I admire, come to me with such praise and ask for assistance is incredibly thrilling!

Let's get into the next bit: songs about mutual pining.

It's hard, because most songs I know of are from a one-sided perspective. And if they do incorporate a duet, it's either "can't believe we're so in love!" or "stop fucking with me" lol! Right-person-wrong-time might be a little easier to find.

And finally, specifically Johhny and a certain American teacher.

Cali, I have lived in your Johnny masterlist for months. You write him with so many varied emotions, and even though it's always him, each one has his own vibe. Bull Thistle!Johnny is no exception. There is a sorrow and melancholy to him I haven't seen from you before (a little taste in G&G, but nothing like this.) So that's also gonna inform the musical choices I make. I think there are actually a LOT of pining love songs out there, but I wanted to find some that really fit the vibe.

And that's the last reason I had to wait on this a bit. I am only interpreting words you've put "on paper" and I second guess if I'm getting it right because I really want these to work for you (and Johnny and his lass.)

I don't know if I got it right. Most of these don't have the "mutual" aspect to them. I think most could be from either point of view. At least one or two are definitely just Johnny to me.

At any rate, BT is here and I'll probably continue to add to it. If you ever wanna talk about why I chose these songs, or any song I rec otherwise, come into my inbox anytime.

Of course! (and thank you for sending the ask <3 send as many as you’d like)

so, let’s go to the list:

— mandatory “Burning Bright” by League of Legends

— i feel like “Starchild” by Ghost Quartet sums up a lot about their relationships with their vows and being star guardians

— mandatory brazilian artist song “Yas Queen” by brvnks (this song is in english tho)

— “Childhood Dreams” by Seraphine (Jasmine Clarke) is sooooo SG!Jinx coded like oh my godddddd

girls indeed!!!! i love them so much

so, here goes the list:

— “Giving In To The Love” by AURORA because i felt like i needed to give them an AURORA song and like come on nidalee give in to the love

— “Paradise” by Satanicpornocultshop because fear of loving is a recurring motif in their relationship (even tho the melody doesn’t really fit them imo)

— “Show You a Body” by Haley Heynderickx (ANGST WARNING)

— “Observer Effect” by The Nychillaharmonic (angst warning but less hurtful this time)

— the mandatory brazilian song this time is “Só Sei Dançar Com Você” by Tulipa Ruiz and Zé Pi (“I only know how to dance with you”)

i purposely avoided the glass animals songs you mentioned in your post to challenge myself (but theyre really good!!)