#Imagine I said all that In a cool narrator voice

[lis-likes-fics]

spencer reid drabble

cw: mute!reader, american sign language usage, // means things said in sign

You look up as Emily comes in for the day. She’s a little late—only by a couple minutes—but it’s no big deal. She waves as she walks in. “Hey, everyone.” You all give her your greetings as she sets her purse on the desk (across from yours) with a hefty sigh. “How’s everyone doing?”

“Let’s see,” JJ says, twirling around in her chair and raising her cup. “Coffee, check. No case, double check. Doing great so far.”

You smile, leaning back in your own chair. You start to sign, your hands moving quickly as you go through a short recap. /Spencer got me this pastry from the bakery this morning, and it was so good./ Spencer’s voice easily narrates your movements.

“Sounds delicious,” Emily sighs, the sound so longing that you think she may be imagining a pastry of her own to munch on.

You’re selectively mute. As soon as you joined the team a few years ago, everyone loved you from the beginning. While they did their best in learning sign for you, Spencer was already a pro and did most of your translating.

He sits next to you—right now, at least. Hotch has gotten into the habit of separating the both of you when work gets slow. You indulge him and his distractions, even though you’re so quiet. You can’t be blamed! You like to listen to him speak. Who cares how much work is piling up?

It’s nice. You could go as fast as you wanted, and Spencer could always keep up with you. Sometimes when you were in the comfort of your own home, curled up on the couch with Spencer, neither of you would even say words. It would be a silent exchange where you would sit and “talk” for hours.

“Oh, damn it,” Emily mutters, sitting back in her chair and staring down at her lap. Her voice is laced with exasperation. “Not again.”

JJ hums. “Someone sounds cranky.” She peers over to get a better look at what’s going on.

A sharp breath passes through her. She starts toying with her belt, shaking her head briefly. “No, I just got this new belt a while ago, but it’s super crappy. This is my first time wearing it, and it keeps coming undone.” She fixes said belt, holding onto it like she’ll do it for the rest of the day if she has to. “If these pants weren’t so loose, I’d just take it off,”

You nod. Spencer speaks as you sign. “You should try Spencer.”

Everyone’s confused, including Spencer.

“‘Spencer’?” JJ wonders, eyeing you curiously, though amusement is shining in her gaze.

You have to hide your smile as you turn to Spencer, shaking your head gently. You go slow. /The clothes./

Spencer’s eyes immediately light up. “Oh!” he exclaims, turning back to everyone. He starts to sign as he speaks, and you’re not sure if he realizes he’s even doing it. “Sorry, suspenders. She’s saying you should try suspenders.”

Your laugh is silent, and you shake your head in your amusement. /Yeah. I used to wear them as a kid. I went through a phase./

They nod in understanding, but then Emily’s brow furrows and she chuckles. “Wait, do you call Spencer ‘Suspenders’?”

You shrug, glancing away. /They sound really similar…/ Spencer’s voice doesn’t match the quiet of your movements, but that’s okay.

He nods anyway. “Yeah. Emily, she calls you ‘Mystery’.”

Her face shines in surprise, a smile creeping on her lips. “Oh, cool,” she mutters.

JJ smiles big, leaning toward you and crossing her arms over her chest. Her interest is piqued now. “What about me?”

You purse your lips in the same way Spencer does, that awkward tight smile that you adore so much as you glance over at him. He mirrors your expression, clearing his throat and shrugging lightly. “She just signs J-2.”

Her shoulders drop a bit, her smile shrinking. “Oh,” she mumbles. A tiny sigh slips past her lips.

You rub your fist clockwise over your heart in apology. /It’s simple./

She shakes her head dismissively. “I get it.” She’s not really upset, but she had hoped for something more exciting. She turns back around to her desk to finish the work shining over her screen.

Emily looks at you past her computer, one brow raised with a curious grin. You forget how pretty she is sometimes. “Suspenders, huh?” she says quietly.

You shrug, your signs just between you and her. /He holds me up./ She laughs, muttering something about you being corny before she’s placing her attention back on her screen.

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[toxicanonymity]

Whoever said that they want raider Joel to make them his trailer park princess was soooo right. I deadass j fantasize abt him and speculate over what’s gonna happen next. I love u raider Joel ur my violent murderous teddy bear and I’ll do whatever u say🖤🖤

I'm suffering from advanced raider brain rot rn. He has super strength btw.

Me: maybe writing a little imagine will get it out of my system 🚬🤡 (narrator: it doesn't)

Raider imagine - House Meeting

raider!Joel (softdark) x f!reader, dark fluff

Imagine Joel waking up to the sound of trouble downhill at the stash house. He gives you a piggy back ride down the hill since you're still half asleep and he doesn't have anyone to watch you at his trailer at this hour. As you go down the hill, you rest your head on his shoulder and look at his beautiful profile as he walks. Especially his nose and neck veins. You give his neck a little peck and he barely snarls since he's distracted by the trouble. When you get to the house, he quickly leaves you on your cot in the private room. He doesn't have time to chain you up before he goes to the main room, but your door is in view.

Voice booming, he yells at everyone to sit down. Then he sits on his own cot facing them, thighs spread, elbows on his knees. He yells at them and they stop yelling at each other. Things cool down while they talk about what happened but then it heats up again.

You creep into the main room where they are and go straight to the cot where he's seated. He doesn't look at you, doesn't even blink. He keeps yelling, maintaining his dominance. But he sits up straight like he knows what you're about to do, and he lets you climb into his lap straddling him. The guys know better than to let their eyes move a millimeter down from his face. You hold onto him with a hug. You rest your head in the crook of his neck and close your eyes. He doesn't acknowledge you or stop yelling. All he does is hold you with one arm and hand on your back, pointing at them with his other bicep bulging along with his neck veins. Then he gently cradles your head as he continues to yell and you can feel the vibrations of his thunderous voice in your skull.

When he's done, he wordlessly stands up with you still wrapped around him. Bends his knees to adjust your weight, then as he'd walking away with you, he mutters, "what're you doin' in here, hmm?" You say you were sleepy and scared. He says, "I know, sweet pea," and gives you a kiss on the head.

Raider master list

[quickiesgirl]

Vampiric Mistress - Eddie Munson

Paring: Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Warning: 18+, Smut, Dom/Sub, Switch!Eddie Munson, Handjob, Guided Masturbation, Semi-Public Sex, Breast Fixation, Praise Kink, Mistress Kink, Reader Wears Corset, Halloween Costumes, House Party, My Shitty Writing.

A/n: October has gone by so fast, and I can't believe Kinktober is already over. I've really enjoyed posting these shitty little fics out into the world so thanks for reading.

Kinktober 31 - Breasts Fixation

Eddie’s eyes were on you throughout the night, unable to keep his attention off you when you were dressed in such a risky outfit. You took the role of the vampiric mistress in your tight, red lingerie corset with silk, maroon-colored lace in the back, and a long, tattered skirt with a gothic make-up look. 

He was dressed as her victim, clothed in a vintage renaissance-looking pullover, ruffled and laced in the front, and wearing a pair of black trousers. Fake blood smeared on the collar directly below the prominent bite mark on the side of his neck. 

You’d been collecting pieces for your couple's costume for weeks, up until Halloween day, when it finally came together, it was tastefully revealing on your gorgeous frame, exactly as you imagined. The second your boyfriend got a proper look at you, a lustful yearning began growing deep within. 

The teasing aspect of it all was your favorite, making your partner a submissive, needy mess throughout the night. You made little remarks that drew attention to your body, and “accidentally” brushed your ass against his crotch, listening to a small grunt fall from his lips which he quickly tried to cover up with a cough. Knowing his trousers were becoming increasingly tight and restricting further into the night. 

Between the loud, popular hits of the decade playing through the household, the boozy drinks, and dancing people, he still found moments to show you just how hard you’d made him, and what looked like giving a loving hug from behind was him purposefully pressing his strained cock into your ass.

With an excuse, you and your boyfriend began heading upstairs. He was dying to have a moment alone with you. You lead him into the unoccupied bathroom, hips swaying confidently ahead of him, feeling his dark brown eyes burn holes into your body. 

The music on the costly stereo below muffles when the door shuts behind you, only feeling the sound of the base vibrating within the floor. 

He put his beer aside and leaned back into the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, watching you in the mirror. Fixated on those gorgeous breasts while you stand there, looking at your reflection with the counter-pressing into your midsection, back arched forward, and ass pushing out teasingly. 

“You’re okay, enjoying the party?” You asked, checking in on Eddie, knowing he wasn't the biggest fan of parties. 

“Y-yeah, I’m glad we’re here. Your friends are cool,” Eddie excused his needs for a moment and reassured you so sweetly, “and I am especially happy to be dressed up with you, my beautiful, vampiric mistress.”

You glance back at him, noticing that the last part said in his slow, sexy Dungeon Master voice, the same one he uses when narrating the quest of his campaign, making a mischievous smirk creep across your face, “Mistress, huh? I think I could get used to that,” 

Silence consumes him as a flustered look spreads across his face, the bulge in his pants twitching noticeably. 

“You seem a bit distracted, my love. Something on your mind?” You asked, stretching your neck to the side, massaging your exposed shoulder, before delicately strolling the tips of your fingers down with a feather-like touch, sliding between the crease of your cleavage over the material of your corset, watching as the pretty, metal-head becomes flustered by your actions. 

You spin around on the tips of your toes and take a few steps towards him, laying a hand on his stomach as the other brushes the hair from his shoulder, leaning in to slowly kiss the uncovered part of his chest and neck. “Don’t be shy, baby, you can tell mistress.” 

You held a steady, dominant tone in your voice, seducing him with every last word, not to mention that name rolling off your tongue, Mistress. It felt sinfully right to hear it coming from your mouth. 

A quiver rolled through his body, practically melting in the palm of your hand while he felt you mark him with a bruising hickey above his collar for everyone to see. 

“You know what’s on my mind. I’ve been horny all night just from looking at you. All I’ve been able to think about is removing that corset and using my mouth on those gorgeous breasts down to that beautiful stomach of yours.” 

A smile curls on your lips, moving back to position your hands on the counter and rise to seat yourself on the cool felt surface, thighs widening with a very tempting invitation. Your fingers glide across your round, lifted bosom, “So, why don’t you start making that mouth useful then.” 

Eddie obeys at a moment's notice, attaching his full lips to your breasts, which were practically jutting out of your corset. With admiring eyes, you look down as he lays soft, lingering kisses along every inch of your skin. 

Submissiveness was a natural part of him. Sure, he enjoyed being dominant from time to time. But sometimes, nothing felt better than being dominated himself, soft or rough, getting ordered by his partner, being your personal fuck toy on occasion, getting topped, and fucked senselessly. 

You reach behind and pull at the laces that bind the material to your chest, removing your top. The head of his dick begins to throb, watching your breast spill out. 

“Holy shit…” He said, gawking at the sight of your body on full display, licking his lips instinctually before leaning forward, hovering his mouth over your erect nipple, and slowly tracing the areola until he finally wrapped his warm, silk-felt lips around your bud. 

Eddie Munson had been blessed to have a well-skilled tongue used in all sorts of pleasurable ways. He could have your chest heaving within seconds and hips squirming at times just by stroking himself along the sweet spots of your body. He’d studied where every single one of them lay. 

The tip of his tongue applies a few kitten licks, nose brushing into your skin before releasing with a suctioned pop, cursing to himself silently as he stares at your glistening nipple. His fingers graze along the sides of your body, feeling your skin prickle from his touch. 

“You’ve been such a good boy, waiting so patiently. I’m very proud of you,” You praised, driving your hand through his dark brown curls while the other cupped the nape of his neck, “This was everything you wanted, wasn’t it? You were so quiet and reserved, knowing you’d get rewarded.” 

“Mmm, yes.” Eddie lets out, completely infatuated with your seductive-sounding voice in his ear. He trails lips across your chest, finally giving some attention to your other nipple. 

He gently nipped at your bud while his dominant hand slid up your stomach to cup your breast, squeezing at the soft flesh weighing in his palm. His spare hand remained on your lower back, keeping your body arched into him. You rolled your shoulders back and let out a teasing moan that forced out an audible reactive grunt from him. 

 “F-fuck, I won’t last like this…C-can I - stroke myself, mistress?” He begged, watching your eyes examine before permitting him to do so. 

He swiftly pushed his pants and boxers down to his thighs, sighing with relief when he freed his restricted cock, which had been tucked into the waistband of his trousers since earlier in the night, blood pumping to his swollen, enlarged penis with a slight tingling sensation, desperately waiting for your attention, which he got the second he pulled it out. 

Your lecherous gaze ogles his erection, held firmly in his grasp, watching the way his thumb swipes over the pinkened tip, spreading his pre-cum around, making you nibble on your bottom lip. 

“Rub your palm against the head of your cock. I want you to touch yourself, just like I would.” 

Sweet little moans and whimpers began to fall from his lips as he massaged the head of his dick, his spare hand, once holding you nearly moments ago, snaked into his boxers to fondle his heavy balls, pretending that his large fingers were your small, nimble ones. 

“Mmm, best keep quiet, or someone may hear those slutty little noises.” You warn, raising his chin and pulling his bottom lip down before feeding your fingers into his mouth, feeling puddling warmth wrap around you. His soft moans vibrate around your digits before you draw out and line his swollen lips, making them wet and glistening with saliva. 

You raise the front of your dress to reveal your clothed slit and swipe your panties aside, rubbing your clitoris in languid circles, forcing him to watch. Still holding that devilish gaze, giving him a look as if you were the apex predator and he was just another helpless piece of meat for your enjoyment. 

He looked down, completely fixated on your sweet-looking cunt, glistening lips with your manicured nails rotating around the hood of your clit, applying a bit of pressure.

All of these thoughts went to the head of his cock with a pulsating sensation while everything around him, the muffled sound of music and people conversing below, completely faded out, almost in a lustful, hazy blur. 

“M-may your good boy cum, mistress?” 

“I think you’ve waited long enough. Where do you want it, or- should I surprise my sweet boy?” You questioned, tilting your head and hopping off the counter. Your heavy plat-formed shoes beneath you made a loud thumping noise when you dropped. Hopefully, it wasn’t as noticeable for the people below. 

You wouldn’t want to get caught taking care of Munson's needs in your dear friend’s bathroom, or maybe it was the risk of it all that turned the two of you on so much, the fact that you were getting off your submissive boy at a Halloween party, all because of a little costume that turned him on. 

“I-I uhm, s-surprise me, please?” His voice rose with a slight tremble, not so subtly eyeing your body, warmth spreading over his face, paying attention to your chest. He had a fixation, after all. 

A grin merely spreads across your lips before he slides his hands back, lacing one around the base of his drooling cock while he watches you kneel to the ground. The wood flooring, hard on your knees and likely to leave bruises as a reminder of this moment for later.

 You look up into his eyes seductively and grab his thighs, placing a single kiss on the head of his penis before rubbing your tongue back and forth across the glans, coating your taste buds in precum.  

He moaned breathily, watching you aim his cock at your breasts and finally give permission to jerk off. He only gets a few strokes in before strings of his hot, sticky cum are painting your chest beautifully. 

“Oh fuuhck, ’m cumming-” Eddie alerted before being cut off with husky grunts and moans, knees weakening and head pressing back into the wall, milking himself as much as he could physically handle.

When he finished, he loosened on his softening cock, and eyes glanced down, watching you wipe the beads of cum with your finger and lick the mess away as he came down from his high. 

“Jesus, I think I’m seeing stars.” He let out a slow exhale, still trying to regain his breath. 

“Good,” You chuckle softly, standing up to press your lips to his, tongue driving past his warm wet lips, making him moan into your mouth, getting the taste of his own bitter yet sweet cum. 

It looked so disgraceful stepping out of that bathroom together. Eddie's neck was covered in lip prints and hickeys while your lipstick smeared slightly with a few additional love bites across your bosom, only adding to the erotic effect of your costume.

Eddie Munson Smut Taglist: @sunflowerharrington @madmax-thewise @thatsthewaythechrissycrumbles @rottenstyx @cantthinkofauserlololol @natashamacimoff69 @zestychilli @luna-munson83 @chaoticcancer @ruinedbythehobbit @emxxblog @emsgoodthinkin @jjmaybankswifes-blog

Taglist Form | Message if you want to be removed <3

[ariellewm]

Czar Agskaga - A Random Snippet Story

Warning: Slightly on a steamy side (nothing too crazy, it's on the light side), naga (half human, half snake beings)

The story I wrote was inspired by a question from @wyyvernn . She asked: If my original character played an instrument, what would it be?

I imagine him playing the dudek flute or any sort of flute. Remember the Narnia Lullaby that Mr. Tumnus plays? That's the exact song that came to mind that Czar would play. The dudek flute is also what was used for the recording of the song.

Enjoy the story down below!

**Play the Narnia Lullaby in the link above for added ambience to the story if you wish!**

It was a quiet evening within the Amber Palace. Waves crashing along the shore, the smell of incenses of rose and lavender filling the naga prince's chamber. 

"Your Highness," the maiden called out behind the silken drapes, "I have the fruits you've asked for."

"You may enter." The prince said, inviting her into the chamber.

Walking in, she carried a woven tray. It was filled with all sorts of freshly picked fruit. Apples of jade, violet ripe berries. She made her way to Czar, careful not to step on his glossy onyx, red and gold pattern coils. The tray was placed upon a table beside the prince.

She stepped back, lowering her head, "Is there anything else you need, your highness?" 

His upper tanned body slightly turned. Crimson eyes fell upon the maiden. He notice her shouched shoulders, unbalanced posture. Czar emitted a soft hiss as the end of his black tail reached toward her. Delicately, his tail tilted her head upward to face the handsome prince.

"S-sire?" Shyly she gasped from the cold touch. Her freckled cheeks blushed a delicate shade of plum. 

Oh yes, indeed, her eyes lacked of sparkle. Dark circles beneath those beautiful, soft eyes.

The cool touch of his tail moved away.

Czar's hand reached toward one of the apples on the tray. "I noticcced your a bit exhausssted. Here," he tossed the apple to her, "you dessserve a break."

"But...but your--" 

"Pleassse dear, call me Czar." 

"Czar, what of my duties?" Confusion appeared on her face.

He slithered toward the cozy floor cushions, "Relaxxx my lovely girl. You've been hard at work all day, ssserving me and my uncle." His coils twisted and wrapped around the pillows and low table. He gestured a spot across from the table, "Pleassse, won't you join me?"

I guess it wouldn't hurt to sit for a while, she thought to herself. With a small smile she eased herself onto the large floor pillow. The maiden savored the crisp apple offered by the prince. She relished the taste with every bite. 

"Ssshall I play sssomething for you darling?" His faded inked arm reaches over behind him. A beautifully carved wooden flute appeared. 

"I found thisss the other day. Perhapsss you'd like to hear a sssong or two?"

The maiden swallowed before answering, "I would very much like to hear."

The naga smiled, placing his lips around the mouthpiece. Eyes closed, he began to play.

It was ethereal. Soothing to the ears. His fingers delicately danced upon the holes as he played. Otherworldly, almost as if she was transported back to the ancient city of Draca Isla, the once home of naga's and dragon's. She could smell the earthy damp rock, the sweet fragrance of amber lilies growing in the wild. 

The pillow underneath the maiden began to sink. Or was it just her imagination?

Czar's ruby eyes opened to only darken as he took notice of the maiden's dreamy eyes. The half eaten apple dropped to her side. He smiled as he played, continuing his enchanting melody.

Want to learn more about His Illustrious Eminence?

Here are some links:

Information + Concept Artwork on Czar Agskaga

"Coils of the Naga" & "Coiled by the Naga" Written by Arielle W.M. ( @ariellewm ) & Produced/Voiced by Ycey Narrates

SFW Hypnosis Headcanon Story

[inchidentally]

this is so stupid and overthought and pointless but lol it's me sooooo

like I literally got into f1blr through videos of Lando following Carlos and Daniel around and finding them absolutely hilarious and just being their personal squealing little chew toy/satellite. so believe me I LOVE that. and god knows I've written enough about how Lando needed/sometimes still needs to hide behind these big bold alpha personalities.

but I think the ??? that transpired for some of us over the gradual blossoming of Lando's dynamic with Oscar had a lot to do with how much Lando opened up in front of our eyes bc of his new position w Oscar and how that developed. he literally said how much it felt weird for him to imagine himself in the older/more experienced position and you can see in the super early content how much Lando couldn't get a read on Oscar bc there wasn't the usual bromance stuff he's so used to. but Oscar also was so mature and calm that he didn't need Lando to do for him what Carlos and Daniel were for him.

and it seems so stupid but it's almost like Oscar hitting that growth spurt and his voice getting a little deeper sort of clicked things into place for Lando?? bc Oscar had been living alone and cooking for himself and in a serious relationship for years and he didn't need anyone to raise him or protect him like Lando needed as a rookie. and he had lived away from his family or a support system from around 14/15 so he was fully used to finding his way around and navigating new places largely alone.

but him getting taller and broader suddenly fit with his personality so much better. he didn't have his cherub Prema face clashing with how cool and confident he was anymore.

and obv Oscar has always said how much he learned just from observing Lando as one of the fastest guys on the grid, but also Lando has emphasized how much he has learned from Oscar about mentality and staying true to yourself. so again there wasn't any need for Lando to try and be big brother/mother hen.

but!! you know what Lando got to teach Oscar? and what Oscar had trained for years to be the most apt pupil about?

Lando!

bc we never really got to 'learn' Lando as a person before now unless it was on his streams, his content with Max F or his own social media content. his friendships with the other F1 guys are all a variation of bromance since they all love him - but all of them are based on Lando being the introvert among extroverts and bonding over shared activities and interests. not a lot of Lando personality stuff gets revealed around those guys bc he's Just Baby.

but w Oscar Lando came to realize he could roll whatever Mood he was in at him and Oscar would smile and laugh or make feeble resistance and give in anyway - and Oscar took all of it in. he literally already had a fairly encyclopedic Lando knowledge as we well know now but he just ?? never got bored of watching and learning Lando! whether it's Lando's music blaring through the shared wall or Lando not being able to open things or pronounce words or Lando specifically not liking something or not wanting to do something or Lando wanting Oscar to give a different answer or wanting Oscar to agree with him instead - Oscar smiles and patiently files it away.

which is exactly what Max does with Lando. at some point he clearly realized that the best way to get Lando to open up and trust - not unlike an outdoor cat - was to be part anthologist and part nature documentary narrator. Lando only opens up when he knows he has the space to. he gets so genuinely upset at how often the media or fans won't follow his original meaning or look past awkward wording or misuse his original tone. it's why he said he often loves being around people who will lead the conversation and not put pressure on him to talk.

bc for example, Carlos was only joking when he said that Lando needs to mature or how he'd "scold" Lando for being too silly and not paying attention, but to some people it's used as confirmation that Lando's immature. Daniel loved when he'd get Lando to laugh so hard that Lando couldn't do his to-camera work or require millions of takes, but to some people it's seen as Lando not taking anything seriously. it's so easy to take someone as vulnerable and unedited as Lando and slice out one video or one moment and create a false narrative around him. you can see the times when Lando has slunk away from social media and gone a bit mum or dull in his media work when that happens.

but Max and Oscar are there to act as interpreters for the audience at home! Lando drops off to sleep during a Quadrant shoot? Max explains that this is standard procedure wherever he is. Lando is far too hyper for a challenge and won't let Oscar breathe without giving him a hard time? Oscar laughs and gently ribs him back to let people know that it's all in good fun and Lando isn't actually on a tear. Lando winds Max up mercilessly or accidentally reveals that Max has a gf? Max makes sure everyone knows he's joking when he gets "mad" and later on says how much Lando looks out for him. Lando won't let Oscar make his own choices in a silly F1 quiz? Oscar feigns being hard done by but he also says how good Lando's answers are. they do this all the time with him and we see Lando more vocal and more loudly himself with them bc they translate what he can't.

it clearly isn't easy being someone bursting with about fifty different personality traits at once and just as many passionate interests all vying with dyslexia and hyperactivity mixed with introversion and sometimes crippling shyness. it's very easy to love that person - which is why the entire grid does - but it's not easy to understand them or what they need in any given moment.

so I feel like that's what we've gotten out of the Lando/Oscar dynamic that we haven't seen before with Carlos or Daniel. Oscar isn't ever going to be a big personality and he's self-described as "low frequency" - he won't be winding Lando up for fun or bringing energy that makes Lando bounce off the walls. he's also found Lando fascinating almost from his first year moving to the UK. so as fans we love seeing Lando get to have a teammate who loves the business of observing Lando - but we also love getting to see so much more of Lando as a result if that makes sense??

[iheart-nana]

xvi. my fragile heart

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

CHAPTER SIXTEEN ─ my fragile heart.

❛ and i'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

Yumi and Eunyoung stood on the sidewalk, awaiting the arrival of the bus. It seemed like a regular weekday morning to the naked eye, but there was something about them that seemed odd. Eunyoung's face appeared swollen─ especially her eyes; They had a faint red tint and traces of dried tears lingered on her cheeks.

"I heard you last night," said Yumi quietly, "Crying in your room?"

"You must have misheard," Eunyoung's gaze fixed on the ground, "Because I wasn't crying."

Yumi reached for Eunyoung's hand, gripping it tightly. Her sudden action surprised Eunyoung as she looked up at Yumi. "It's going to be okay," Yumi whispered, letting go of her hand gently.

💿

"Here," Taesung mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. He thrust his hand towards Yumi, the ice cream carton almost falling from his sweaty grip.

Yumi's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's this?"

"Ice cream," he blurted out, forcing a casual tone that sounded more like a croak. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs, a stark contrast to the coolness of the ice cream carton. Every fibre of his being screamed "awkward," yet he persevered.

Yumi's gaze flicked between the proffered carton and his face, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. Hesitantly, she reached out and took the ice cream, her fingers brushing against his briefly. "Thanks," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

A wave of relief washed over Taesung, so suddenly that it almost left him breathless. "You're welcome," he managed, his voice a little steadier now. He fumbled in his pocket, the crinkling sound echoing in the sudden silence, before pulling out another carton.

Yumi stared at his face unblinkingly as he took a bite of the ice cream. 

"You know, you look like a cat."

Taesung's heart lurched in his chest, a sudden skip that made him catch his breath. Her words echoed in his ears, instantly transporting him back to a conversation just a few days ago. The memory flickered to life─ He asked her if she liked cats, and Yumi's smile, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners, the casualness of her words: "I love them."

At that moment, it had seemed like a harmless comment, a shared interest. But now, with the way she spoke it again, a different meaning seemed to shimmer just beneath the surface. Was it just his imagination, or was there a hint of vulnerability, a subtle invitation in her voice? His pulse quickened, a knot of anticipation tightening in his stomach. Could she be hinting at something more? Or was he reading too much into it all?

Ryu Sunjae's Perspective

"Eunyoung, I like you."

My initial smile on seeing Eunyoung at the bus stop faded away as those words in someone's voice─ not his own, fell upon my ears. My eyebrows shot up in a moment of surprise, feeling an ache in my heart while I anticipated her reply.

Eunyoung stood staring at Jihoon's face in shock, too stunned to speak. "Why aren't you saying anything?" he inquired impatiently. My fists clenched, my fingernails digging into my palms as I resisted his urge to step in and intervene.

"Jihoon─" he interrupted her, "I really like you, Eunyoung. Ever since we first met. Will you be my girlfriend?"

A crowd of students had gathered around them, gasping and hooting at his bold confession while i stood watching them from afar, becoming increasingly irritable by the second. Eunyoung's eyebrows furrowed, "I can't go out with you."

There was a murmur of disappointment from the crowd. "Why not?" Jihoon demanded.

I took a step forward, unable to control myself any longer. However, I found myself stopping in my tracks upon hearing Eunyoung's reply, "Because I don't want to." her tone sounded calm, yet cold and firm.

"I don't get it!"

"Listen!" Eunyoung snapped, taking a menacing step towards Jihoon, "I've told you countless times to keep your distance and stay in your lane. I'm going to say this once and for all─ I would rather gauge my eyes out with a spatula than date you. If you come near me one more time, I'm going to file a restraining order against you, I swear to god!"

A smile surfaced on my face. Jihoon took a step back, his ego hurt by her harsh comments. He scoffed arrogantly, shooing the crowd away as he glared at her angrily.

The bus arrived, hissing to a stop. "I didn't expect this from you," Jihoon grumbled.

"I have to go," she said sharply, stepping onto the bus.

I approached the bus, stealing a quick glance at the boy nearby. With a deliberate nudge of my shoulder against his, I trailed behind Eunyoung as we boarded the bus.

I took a seat next to Eunyoung, who was staring out the window, the annoyance still evident on her face. She whipped around to look at me. Her irritation seemed to melt away on seeing me, the corners of her eyes crinkling and her lips stretching into a smile, "Sunjae!" she exclaimed, "How are you doing? I spoke to Inhyuk yesterday, he said you weren't feeling too well."

"I'm much better now," I assured her, my heart skipping a beat on hearing the worry in her voice, "My dad and I have patched things up, and we discussed a date for the surgery with the doctor."

"That's great to hear," she said, relieved, "When's your surgery? I'll make sure to visit you."

"This Saturday," I answered, feeling my face getting warmer, "It's kind of soon, but the doctor thought it was a good idea."

Her lips stretched into a sympathetic smile and I could feel her sincerity as her gaze softened. 

"Good luck, Sunjae. I'm praying the surgery goes well."

There it was again; The melody of her voice, as soft as the summer breeze, echoing in my mind as soon as the sound hit my ears. I had forgotten how to breathe, mesmerized by the girl in front of me. All she had to do was exist, and I would fall for her a little harder every passing second. I could feel myself beaming from ear to ear, mumbling a thank you that could never express my feelings for her. I suddenly became conscious of my behaviours. Was I being too forward? A fake cough, a terrible attempt at concealing my elation escaped my lips. 

"By the way," I sloppily attempted to change the subject, "Who's that guy who asked you out? Do you know him well?"

"You saw that, huh?" she said, smiling in embarrassment, "Not exactly; He used to follow me around. I told him to back off, but he just wouldn't listen. I kind of exploded at him earlier."

"That was a pretty strong insult," I said, chuckling. My happiness knew no bounds on knowing that she didn't like him. 

"You think I was too harsh?" she asked doubtfully.

"I think you put him in his place," I smiled wider, "What type of guys do you like? Do you not like it when they're clingy?"

"Him being clingy wasn't the issue. He was a total douchebag and flirts with everyone. He wasn't exactly the best person you want to be with," said Eunyoung, then looking up at me, "I think I would like someone who's warm-hearted─ someone who doesn't see me as a status symbol. Someone who makes me feel loved."

Sunjae was lost for words. A tiny glimmer of hope bloomed in his heart─ that maybe, just maybe, he stood a chance.

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nayoung's notes: it's been sixteen chapters and the only one who can accept the fact that they're in love is sunjae lmfao. hope you liked the chapter!

delphi's notes: gauge your eyes out with a spatula is crazyy. pop off ig.

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

[boba-at-323]

The stars had never shined this bright.

Moonless clear nights had always been your favorite. The way the stars gleamed in the darkness never failed to fascinate you. They seemed like tiny grains of salt sprinkled on a sheet of deep blue velvet cloth. The cool early-winter breeze, in addition, which gently hit your face whenever you stood on the balcony to admire the wonderful night sky, settled the mood further.

Today, the stars shone ever so brightly and, as usual, you were on the balcony with your arms folded on the cold metal railings, appreciating nature’s creation.

A clicking sound came from the entrance door of your apartment, which went unheard by you which is why you were startled by a pair of cold hands delicately covering your eyes.

“Renjun?” You questioned, gently bringing your hands over his.

“How-” the boy asked awestruck.

“Well… one, you’re the only person who has spare keys to my apartment and two, you are the only visitor I have at 2 am.” you giggled as you turned around to face him.

Each and every time you were face to face with his beautiful features, you were reminded of how there was something else which you admired more than clear night skies. From the way his fringe gently rested against his forehead, to his angelic pure smile, everything about him was absolutely breathtaking never failing to send a whole swarm of butterflies down your stomach, making you fall for him all over again.

“What brings you here?” you continued, swinging your interlocked finger back and forth lightly.

“What kind of boyfriend needs a reason to visit his girlfriend?” he raised an eyebrow at your question, as if offended “besides, it’s a clear night and I know they’re your favorite. So, I thought why not take you out for the night, even if it is 2am?”

Oh, how thankful you were to have him. Somehow, he always managed to be right beside you in moments where your insides were practically screaming for someone to be there for you. He was so God-sent in your life, exactly the person you needed. During the sleepless dark nights, he was like a warm pillow to you when he lulled you to sleep with his sweet voice even if it was over the phone speaker. Sure, he was busy but he made sure you never felt the sick feeling of being left alone. There were times where you were unable to see him for months because of his hectic schedules and overseas trips, yet he made sure to call and text you each and every day because he knew how lonely it could be living alone in a completely new environment with not many people to talk to.

Within minutes, you changed into a pair of jeans and a light blue sweatshirt (which was technically Renjun’s) and left the apartment quietly. As you went down in the elevator, Renjun narrated his day to you. The passion with which he always talked was just mesmerizing, his words flowed out beautifully like a river and his soft tone was like taking a walk on the clouds. And whenever he talks times seems to pass by so quickly because now you were making your way towards his car.

Being the gentleman he was, he rushed to open the door of the passenger’s seat for you. You gave him a smile of gratitude with a small “thank you” before getting in.

Drives with Renjun consisted of either comfortable silence interrupted by the sound of the radio or some song you liked, or talks about the most random topics with both of your imaginations running wild. Your conversation continued until Renjun pulled over in front of a 24/7 café.

“What are we doing here?” you asked.

“I thought it would be nice to pick up something to eat, I know you might be hungry”, he said as he unbuckled his seatbelt, “Wait a while love, I’ll be right back.”

You watched his figure disappear into the café. Since there wasn’t nothing much to do, you reached out for your phone and scrolled through your Instagram feed to kill time. As you awaited his return, you saw that your feed was filled with clips and reel edits of his recent performance. With every scroll, your heart swelled with joy and pride more. It was crystal clear how hard he had been working, and every time you saw him on any of your social media apps, you couldn’t feel any more proud, even if your existence was unknown to the fandom.  

A mindless smile spread across your face as you continued staring at your phone, only did you leave your fantasy land once you heard the door beside you open. Renjun came back accompanied with two drinks and a khaki paper bag in his hands.

“What’s got you smiling so suddenly?” he couldn’t help the warm feeling inside his chest every time he saw you smile.

“Oh, nothing much! Just some fan edits of my favorite idol” you shoved your phone back inside your pocket and took the drinks from him.

“Who?” He inquired as he handed you the plastic cups.

“Well… Someone who also happens to be my boyfriend”

“Oh jeez, Y/N. I really don’t understand you at times” He rolled his eyes at your giggle, but there was a visible pink tint dusted on his cheeks.

As your mysterious journey continued, you decided to take a sip from your drink wondering what on earth Renjun had ordered for you, because obviously he had forgotten to ask you beforehand.

That taste, however… was familiar. That taste reminded you of your early days, days where you used to be a hectic, unorganized school student studying for endless hours at a café. The taste which had accompanied you before every final exam. The taste which had accompanied you during your rainy days. The taste which had been a long-lost friend.

“Is this-” you asked pulling yourself back to the present.

“White Choco Latte? Yes it is” Renjun finished your sentence, eyes not once leaving the road.

“But how-” it was your turn to be stunned.

“Well, I remember you mentioning this was your favorite drink once” He shrugged as if it was nothing.

“Wow Renjun… I- I’m lost for words… No one’s ever remembered things like these about me”

“Well, their loss. I find it my duty to remember each and every single detail about you and this…this is just nothing.”

“Still… it means a lot jun. Thank you so much”

His free hand made its way toward yours, softly interlacing them. His touch itself was enough to make you feel like you were flying, make you blush like crazy.

“No need to thank me, love.”

When you stared out the window, you noticed that the big buildings and the bright city lights had started to disappear, being replaced by small cottage-like houses. You rolled down the window, noticing the difference in the air. Clearer and cooler than that of the city, which made you question where Renjun was taking you. Not like you didn’t trust him or anything, you just wanted to know what was up in the boy’s mind.

“Hey Jun?” you’re answered by a hum.

“Care to explain where we’re heading off to?”

“Hmm... Not really. Just wait a while babe, you’ll find out soon.”

The lights from the outside had disappeared, devoured by the darkness of now 3am. That’s when it clicked you, you were in the suburbs. But why were you in the outskirts of the city at such an ungodly hour?

Renjun I really don’t get you at times, you thought to yourself.

The car came to a halt. You had stopped in the middle of nowhere, not even a sign of a living being was to be seen. Pitch black darkness surrounded you, the only source of illumination being the cars head lights. The scene in front of you gave you chills, which made you hesitant about stepping out of the safe feeling the car provided. However, it seemed like Renjun had other plans.

He got out of the car only to come around and open the door for you.

“Close your eyes Y/N” he whispered as he took both of your hands in his to guide you out of the car without getting yourself hurt or tripping over the door frame.

When you got out of the car, the scene repeated itself. Once again, his cold hands were covering your already closed eyes. A few steps were taken along with you, coming to a final stop.

“Okay… Now!”

As you opened your eyes when you felt his hands back away, you were face to face with the most beautiful starry sky you had ever seen in your life. Millions and millions of stars twinkled along the ever stretching Purple-blue sky. Many different galaxies greeted you, swirls of blue and white spreading across the sky. All your fear died out as you saw the work of art hanging over you. Seeing the sky tonight was like listening to a wordless song, a ray of warmth in the cold winter, a blanket embroidered with numerous sized shining diamonds.

“Surprise!” His voice was heard from somewhere behind you.

“Renjun?” You questioned, turning around to face him

“Is it a bit too much?” He asked hesitantly, heart dropping to his stomach only for a mere second.

All he was answered by was a pair of arms wrapping around his waist, a head resting against his chest. It only took him a while to understand what was happening, so in return he held your figure against his ever so softly, hugging you back.

“It’s beautiful” he heard you say, “Thank you so much, and do you know what’s making this more special for me?”

“What, love?”

“Having you here. Everything is just so perfect. I’ve been missing you so much these days. It’s nice to have you back, even if it’s for a while. Having less is better than having nothing at all.”

Your words were filled with longing, and listening to them broke his heart to a thousand pieces.

“I’m sorry, y/n”

“For what, Jun?” confusion laced your voice

“For not giving you enough time. For not being the boyfriend I want to be. I know you miss me, and I do too! Believe me. But I'm never really left with a choice. I can’t meet you during morning or evening hours. Heck, I can’t even meet you at night with us having schedules till 2 in the morning. Over that, If someone sees me with you, you’d have to go through so much you don’t need to”, he pulled back, bringing his hand to your jaw, “You, you just deserve so much… which I can’t give you-”

“Hush Jun,” your finger was brought to his lips, “You don’t need to say such nonsense. I love you and having you here is all that matters. You’re exactly the person I need my life and I don’t really care if we spend every hour of the day with each other. Just knowing that I have you, there’s nothing more I could ever ask for.”

Your eyes met his, both pairs glassy from either each other’s confessions, or the yearning which had been stuck inside the both of you for months. He was so close to you tonight, in fact in your whole dating history, you only recall being this close to him once or twice. He really did miss you and you could tell because Renjun had never been a big fan of physical affection.

His gaze had been flickering back and forth continuously settling themselves on your lips for only half a second, and you could guess what his intentions were. He wanted to lean in, to give in, he wanted to feel your lips on his but there was a voice inside his head holding him back from invading your personal bubble. He knew you'd always give him permission, but he wouldn’t dare touch you without having your full approval. However, his guts were practically crying to feel your touch. One question was all that was required to fulfill his heart’s desire.

“Y/n?”

“Hmm?”

“May I?”

A slight nod was all he got in return.

Your eyes fluttered close as you felt him lean in. The awaited moment had finally arrived. As his lips met yours, a whole set of fireworks exploded inside of you. Tightening his hold around you, he pulled you closer as though you would disappear into thin air if he let go of you. Your hands found themselves wrapping around his neck, only to deepen the kiss. It wasn’t even anything heated, just a soft innocent kiss, the result of not being together for months and months. Just the euphoric feeling itself was enough to make you melt in his embrace.

 After reluctantly pulling away to catch air, love struck smiles were exchanged.

“Love you, Renjun” You said, brushing your nose against his.

“Love you more, Y/N” he said as he pulled you in again.

The stars truly had never shined so brightly.

Title : Clear nights || Word count: 2.195K || Genre: Fluff, Angst || Pairing: Idol!Renjun x fem!Reader

[kirchefuchs]

(this is a long one lmao)

OKAY SO.

It was like 1am last night so I decided to sleep before sending this ahahahagsggs

ANYWAY

Regarding this wonderful reblog chain we had

(I don't know how and where to start ahahahahaaa)

hmmm. well, yk how I mentioned that The Eye of Michael (gasp. a rare instance where I don't forget a name??) took Stanley's voice? well, on the mask design I very much failed on, there was a clock (lmao TK reference) on the forehead part. originally, I wanted the mask to just be covering Stanley's mouth, because... duh. blud ain't got a voice no mo 😞✊ but anyway !!

(additional info: I took inspiration from a bunch of mask designs I found on Pinterest so it was very far from original)

the idea for the clock was for the ticking to be some sort of, uh, warning that he's nearby? like, just imagine finding yourself in an empty corridor, and all of a sudden, you hear a clock ticking in the distance. yeah, that's what I mean

(also I decided to change a bit of the backstory here. basically, The Narrator and Stanley are separate people. The Narrator was Some Dude™ who was in the middle of writing a story about—you guessed it—a man named Stanley. I already have his whole lore figured out but yk I'll cut it short for you so uhhhh blah blah blah The Eye of Michael finds him and encases him in a capsule where live wires that make him forget who he was before he became The Narrator are injected into his system. his voice is used as a way to trap and control Stanley—whose original identity/name was Jim (in this AU, at least)—and. yeah. The Narrator is trapped in a narrative facade whereas "Stanley" was the star of a lonely masquerade)

anyway, you can basically picture Stanley as wearing a full face mask or half of one, but either way, there's meant to be a clock somewhere and one of his eyes are meant to be covered in some sort of. uh. criss-cross threading technique. there's also the addition of some, uh, earphones? I think? they're not really that visible but uhh.. just think of them as the wireless ones, I dunno, I forgot what they're called, but anyway– Those are for The Narrator's voice. Just imagine a pair of. um. those things that help deaf people hear. wait.

HEARING AIDS. hearing aids, yes, uh, just imagine hearing aids, except that they're purposefully rigged to also provide a connection between The Narrator's voice and Stanley. It still functions like a normal pair of hearing aids, it just has the unfortunate annoyance of some angry British voice controlling Stanley's every move

As for the theme of his general outfit? I really wanted to make it fit the theme of the good ol "office worker" thing, so I had a little thought where Stanley pretends to be a tired worker at the start—wearing an ordinary face mask with the excuse of "trying not to breathe in the sand," as was written on a piece of paper (his lips/mouth is bruised as heck and the EoM did not want to take any more chances for instant suspicion), but during the times where Vash was alone, he'd (or, in this case, The Narrator would make him) wear his masquerade mask and put on some sort of blue (masquerade) outfit, with the cane that's totally not a sword/gun in disguise and all. With that being said, maybe the gang won't know his name until Wolfwood realizes who he is? I mean, Stanley can't talk, and. uh. sorry I'm going off-topic hahaa ahem anyway

maybe his title could be "The Masquerade"? not too sure but I like to think that he was trustworthy at first. anyway uhhhh that's about it! do whatever you wish with my two favorite brainrots :D and, sorry if I got a bit too-into the lore I made for him and The Narrator :')

— 🅰️non || Aug. 7 2023

This is gonna be a long one my guy....

🅰️non..... my dear beloved 🅰️non..... I don't know how to break this to you but the masquerade outfit, while a cool idea, is a flippin nightmare to try to translate into the Trigun universe. I tried so hard but it just want working.

Suffice it to say, venetian masquerade and space western do not mix

And it not for lack of trying! I have proof I tried!! The mask works, it's great! That's fine. But the clothes do not :(

I've got a lot of doodles here I gave up on cuz it just wasn't working. I kept having the problem where it either looked too pirate-y or too vampire-y, which is to be expected since masquerades were quite popular in the 18th century (the Golden Age of Piracy if I recall). And unfortunately, neither pirate nor vampire really scream "space cowboy times on desert planet"

Now.... this is an option....... and that is to forgo the masquerade outfit, the mask can stay, but I honest to goodness cannot make an outfit that works. So basically, my proposal for a solution would be to go with the aesthetic that pretty much every member of the Eye Of Michael has in 98 and Maximum. And that's the priest aesthetic.

You see, the Eye Of Michael has always been a religious group in universe, at the very least they pose as one. In reality they train orphans into mindess assassins, but they keep that church front. Hence why Wolfwood and Livio (and Chapel and the other EOM members in Maximum) have cross shaped guns. Also, fun fact Wolfwood was dubbed "The Punisher" because that was the name of his gun. I assume this would apply to Livio, and his guns are "Fangs" giving him the name "The Double Fang", and we know this applies to Razlo too, as he is "The Tri Punisher of Death" (you'd never guess, but he's got 3 Punishers :O).

Anyways, I did try drawing Stanley in the priest aesthetic, just to see if it worked. Make of it as you will.

I kinda imagine if we were to go this route, Stanley's cross would be a sniper rifle. He's already got a sort of stealth going for him, being mute and all, so I think it would fit. I could by no means draw said gun as I am only really good at drawing characters. But I can imagine the gun :')

Now, feel free to take my opinions and throw them in the trash if you don't like them, it's your character after all, it's up to you. But I do want to make it clear that I do love this idea so much and I wanna hear more of the story and how you think it would go. I'm curious if Stanley has a way to communicate back to the Narrator, because that could lead to some cool tandem character development. Like what if after Stanley starts wanting to break free of the Eye Of Michael, Vash agrees to help him free the Narrator as well. Since Stanley is mute, it could be cool if he communicated to the Narrator through his thoughts, so they would have to be on the same page for the escape plan to work. I mean, these are just my silly little ramblings, but this is all just to say that you've got a really good thing going here and I really wanna know more. I really hope my personal struggle with aesthetics doesn't bring you down, cuz I really truly love your idea here and I want it to work so badly.

But, yeah. I might end up drawing more at some point, cuz the idea is so cool and I just love all the story potential with Stanley being used by the Eye Of Michael like this. Anyways, I hope you have a good day, and sorry again for my inability to make the aesthetic work :')

[yeetlegay]

I’M SO EXCITED FOR RWRB! I love you for pointing out how many awesome scenes they kept from the book because I absolutely agree. I was worried for a bit because I’ve read the book about 6-7 times and so everything that’s in there is kind of holy to me. I didn’t know how much they would change, but most of the scenes that were in the trailer are from the book! Oh God, their first kiss, it looks so much better than I thought it would. Even better than what I had in my mind while reading it. And I was so relieved that they kept LA (a.k.a. the karaoke bar and their first time) in there, even though for some reason they traded the Prince Buttercup kimono for cowboy attire? And the polo scene is still in there, pfff. 😂 Oh, how I hope they’ll also keep in Paris. And I agree with what you said in the tags, I’m dying to see the Great Turkey Calamity. 👀

To be honest, I’m a little scared I’m so obsessed with the book that I’ll never give the movie a real chance. Especially because one of my favorite things about it is its voice and narration that’s both super on-point and incredibly thoughtful, and that’s something you can’t translate to a screen. I also worry that once I’ve seen the movie, I can never go back to the images I had in my mind when I read the book. Does that make sense?

I know they’ll have to cut down on a lot of the smaller things that add depth to the characters (people like Alex’ dad, Raphael Luna, June, Nora and Bea are most definitely going to suffer from this) simply because of time constraints, and the depth of all the characters, no matter how minor their role, has always been something I loved about the book (about your fics too, by the way). But so far I’m really happy with what they’ve done. And the chemistry seems to be really good too! I’m glad this is going to be my brief return to the world of Western media for the summer.

Anyway, sorry for the rant (I don’t really know anyone I could rant to about it, and I have so many thoughts I need to get rid of some of them) and now I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing before this!

That makes total sense anon! Adaptations are always hard bc they can never match up to everyone’s expectations, but personally I think it helps to think of them as separately as you can. Adaptations will differ from their source material for countless reasons, good and bad, but at the end of the day they’re almost always made with love. Someone (a lot of someone’s actually: the director, screenwriter, cast, crew, etc) is sharing their vision of the story, and I think that’s just a really cool thing to share even if it’s not what you envisioned. I like adaptations (generally speaking) for the same reason I like fanfiction: it’s connecting with strangers over a story you both care about, exploring someone else’s interpretation of characters and themes, allowing a story to expand in your mind.

So anyway, point being: don’t worry! Whether or not the adaptation lives up to what you imagined while reading, the book is unchanged and your vision is still there. 💖

[kiragecko]

So if that's your yj swearing heacanons. What do you head for the titans? Who swears there?

Okay.

Wally has sworn 3 times. 2 were while hanging out with Dick, trying to be brave. 1 was while hanging out with Frances, feeling both uncomfortable and daring. All felt wrong, and he gave up.

Garth does not swear. Not even Atlantian vulgarities. He is a PRINCE. (And also a socially awkward nerd.)

Dick has periods where he uses foul language, periods where he doesn't, and periods where it's an occasional thing - both as Dick and as Nightwing. He reinvents himself a lot.

Donna usually uses Amazonian exclamations, but will let out the occasional, surprisingly vulgar, oath.

Roy went through a period where his language was SO FILTHY. He felt he had to prove what an awful person he was. It wasn't a good head-space, and it's much rarer now. Lian has picked up some language that ... she doesn't really have context for, though.

Vic ... look, I'm really uncomfortable with the race and class connotations around Vic's dialogue in the 80s (the period I know him best from). I don't want to exclude him from the fun, but when I try to imagine his voice, my brain replaces it with narration, instead. (Unless it's the Teen Titans (Go) version.) There's something here about code switching to fit in with his football team vs. the very academic language he was hearing at home, but as a deeply uncool white Canadian who never really tried to fit in, I don't know what it is.

Obviously, Teen Titans (Go) Cyborg never swears.

Kory swears a lot. Using every language she knows. It can be very cathartic to listen to her. Or disturbing, depending on what she's saying.

Raven doesn't know how. Sometimes she wishes she did. But she struggles to build up enough pressure to vent into a curse, and she doesn't speak casually enough to just drop them into a sentence.

(Comics) Gar swears, but self-consciously and often at awkward times. He tends towards sexually ... OKAY. No. We are not doing this. I do not like comics Gar, and this was going nowhere good. Lets start again.

No cartoon version of Gar swears. They are little boys, even as teenagers. Teen Titans (Go) Beast Boy has practiced in his bedroom a few times and thinks swearing is SO COOL. It has never occurred to Young Justice (TV) Gar to use foul language.

Joey swears for dramatic effect. He's got a sweet persona, and it amuses him a LOT to shock people with an unexpected explicit sign. He swore a lot in junior high, trying to emulate his cool older brother, and still swears more casually than a lot of the other Titans.

-

I also believe that the team has several explicit in-jokes that they say to each other casually. These don't count as foul language anymore. Even Wally can say them without a second thought. Most of the Titans have said one of these jokes in front of one of Dick's siblings while they were visiting the Tower, realized what they had just done, and prepared for death. On the occasions that DICK also realized what they had done, the death was swift.

(Dick has done it too. Tim was old enough by then to look at him with a confused and innocent expression and ask him what he meant, just to watch Dick cringe. And then turn to Roy, and ask him so very very nicely if HE could explain, since he'd done such a good job last time. Last time the confusion had been real, and so was Dick's retribution. This time? Chaos.)

[cakeinthevoid]

Blinks

Whumptober No. 3: “Like crying out in empty rooms; with no-one there except the moon.”

Journal | Solitary Confinement | “Make it stop.” (2, 3)

Content: Unreliable narrator, isolation, manipulation, young MC, pretending to look unwell and then actually maybe being unwell lmao, mental shenanigans, lab whump

This is a scene that could exist in the very beginning of Lora's confinement—after Dr Abberron takes her off the street and into his super secret super cool research lab. Lora is human (at this point in time...) More of a prompt fill than heavy lore, but I think it does actually set the stage decently.

Lora missed the moon. The sun too, of course, but there was something about a clear night sky of stars and a glowing moon that calmed her soul. 

She needed calm right now. She refused to go crazy. 

“I’m not crazy.”

Talking out loud didn’t make her crazy.

“I’m not crazy.”

Otherwise it was just too quiet. 

She looked up at the camera in the corner of her cell. She only had to tilt her head back an inch; she was sitting against the far wall, and the camera was in the corner above the solid glass cell door. Its red light blinked lazily and she wondered if it caught audio.

“Can you hear me?”

She hadn’t been here long enough to know. She had only seen Abberron a handful of times since the night she was a complete idiot. 

Rule one of being a street kid: don’t trust kind strangers. Too bad she was desperate.

“I hate you.”

The red light kept blinking. 

—

When Lora woke up to a pile of assorted food bars and water bottles, she began to entertain the notion that Abberron was testing her. Or trying to break her. 

She could fake the latter—she had experience, after all—but the former? That was harder without knowing what he was testing. She had a few guesses though. 

See, contrary to all recent evidence, Lora wasn’t stupid. Wasn’t completely stupid, anyway.

So she made a plan. She would ration approximately, in case she was completely wrong and Abberron was just leaving for a few days and didn’t want her to die in the meantime. Then she would wait a day or two before snapping. It had to be realistic. 

She was going to get out of here. She glared at the camera. The red light blinked on. Then she settled back and entertained herself by seeing how high she could toss her pillow and catch it. It was actually a little fun. 

—

She was reciting knowledge from her science class when she suddenly noticed there was no red light. Her words trailed off. 

“Hello?” She tried. Silence.

Just part of the test, she tried to reassure herself. She still had some food and water left. 

Pulling her eyes away from the camera took more effort than usual. 

—

Lora realized she didn’t actually have a sense of time anymore. The lights in the ceiling never turned off. They only flickered every now and then. 

Distantly, she thought about counting the amount of flickers. It was something to do. 

—

The red light came back on when she woke up. It blinked as slowly as ever. 

She tried talking to it for a bit. Nothing happened.

—

Two sleeps after she was down to her last food bar, she considered the possibility that Abberron was dead. 

At least a week must’ve passed already? She had heard of the effects of long term isolation before. She researched it after her first few stints in the closet. Rarely were people able to say exactly how long they were alone. 

At least this room had light. Her descent into madness would be sure and quick if the lights went out. 

They won’t, they won’t—

“They won’t, they won’t, they won’t,” she muttered aloud, rocking herself. 

Snap out of it, said a voice inside. Why did it sound funny? 

She laughed. Maybe she wouldn’t need to fake insanity anymore—

No, she straightened, face sobering. The plan, remember the plan. She looked up. The light was still blinking. If she looked at it long enough, she could imagine a one-eyed ghost blinking at her. 

Sometimes she thought the room would get colder out of nowhere when she did that, but ghosts aren’t real, so it had to be Abberron testing her. 

Sometimes the walls looked different too, if she looked at them hard enough. She swore she saw constellations on them. 

The stars, oh she missed the stars. She looked up at the sun and wished it would set already. 

“Poof.” It didn’t work. 

It was hot, and now she was thirsty. Not a single cloud for rain, but she was sure she had water—

Water bottle. She had a water bottle because there was no other source of drinkable water. She didn’t trust the water pipe or toilet in the corner. Because she wasn’t home, she wasn’t even outside. 

Her head hurt. It’s been too long. Moments of lucidity were becoming far too few and far between. She needed to do this while she was in control. 

She trembled—she wished she was faking that, but she could use it to her advantage. 

She grabbed the unopened food bar within arms reach and brandished it, staring at nothing. 

“Stop it,” she said firmly. There was nothing there, but in the corner of her eye the red light was blinking.

“Stop it,” she said louder. 

Her hand shook with the force she was gripping the bar.

“Go away!” She threw the bar—it hit the glass paneling and fell to the floor. 

“Stop it!” She shrieked, backing away and pressing herself to the far wall. 

“Stop it—make it stop!” She looked up at the camera sharply, hoping that Abberron was watching. 

“Please—make it stop!” She pleaded with the camera. Then she looked back down and jumped in a calculated flinch, as if whatever she saw was closer.

“Get back! Make it stop, please make it stop—“ her eyes darted between the space in front of her and the camera. Her heart was genuinely racing to her surprise. 

She begged and pleaded with the camera, to no avail. So she pushed herself to the corner and curled up there, pulling at her greasy curls. 

“It’s not real, it’s not real,” she chanted to herself. She faked some winces in time with her pulls. The easiest part was the staring. She had gotten very good at staring at nothing for long periods of time. 

She didn’t know how long she kept up the charade. She knew at one point, it stopped being a charade, because she was shaken back into her body—Abberron had his hands on her shoulders. She could feel the rumble of his baritone but no words. 

She flinched back violently, swatting him away and knocking her skull against the grey concrete walls. 

“There you are,” she heard once the ringing in her ears faded. “Can’t leave you alone even for a few days, it seems.”

Her eyes widened. There was no way that was a few days. It felt like weeks, if not months.

“No matter,” he sighed, “At least we can get started today now that preparations are done. Come now, don’t make that face. Can you honestly tell me you would rather be on the streets?”

Yes, Lora thought, but couldn’t form the word. 

At least she was never truly alone out there. Here, she realized a part of her desperately needed Abberrons presence, lest she go mad in isolation. 

Abberron stood up, holding out a hand. “Let’s go. We have a busy day ahead of us.”

Lora didn’t take the hand, but stood up on her own accord. She would persevere. And she would get out whole. 

[readingsrantsrambles]

Taylor Swift and the Sad Dads

by Spencer Kornhaber

theatlantic.com

The indie-rock band The National has long served as a mascot for a certain type of guy: literary, self-effacing, mordantly cool. With cryptic lyrics and brooding instrumentation, the quintet of scruffy brothers and schoolmates from Ohio conveys the yearnings of the sensitive male psyche. The band’s lead singer, Matt Berninger, has a voice so doleful and deep that it seems to emanate from a cavern. His typical narrator is a wallflower pining for validation from the life of the party—the romantic swooning of a man in need of rescue.

In the mid-to-late aughts, as The National was gathering acclaim with darkly experimental albums, another artist was rising to prominence: Taylor Swift. On the surface, these two acts are starkly different. Where The National’s songwriting is impressionistic, Swift’s is diaristic—built on personal stories that typically forgo abstraction or even difficult metaphor. Where The National’s charisma lies in its mysteriousness, Swift earnestly says just what she means. The National is known for somber dude-rock; Swift found fame with anthems of heartbroken but upbeat young-womanhood. (In her 2012 hit “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” she even jabbed at pretentious guys who are obsessed with dude-rock, like the ex who ran off to listen to “some indie record that’s much cooler than mine.”) The National became the house band for a certain segment of Millennial yuppies; Swift became one of the biggest stars in the world.

Read: The National further complicates its sadness

So some listeners have been surprised to see the two emerge, in recent years, as close collaborators. After the pandemic interrupted Swift’s promotional plans for her 2019 album, Lover, she reached out to the multi-instrumentalist Aaron Dessner to help produce two new albums, Folklore and Evermore, the latter of which featured all five members of The National—whom she called her “favorite band”—in some capacity. The albums easily could have amounted to a credibility-chasing costume change: pop star goes coffee shop. Instead, they refreshed Swift’s style by pairing sophisticated, moody arrangements with a new lyrical approach. Rather than once again mine her own life for lyrics, she imagined fictional scenarios: a teenage love triangle, a murder conspiracy among friends, a romance between two con artists. Swift was availing herself of the freedoms, even imperatives, that men in rock and roll had long enjoyed—projecting moral ambiguity rather than wholesomeness and virtue.

Now it appears that Swift may have pushed the men of The National in new directions too. On the band’s latest album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, out in April, Swift’s influence feels pervasive. It’s not just her voice, which she lends to the lilting track “The Alcott”; she seems to have taught them something about the mode of candid self-expression that she has mastered. In so doing, The National and Taylor Swift have become one of the unlikeliest and most productive synergies in contemporary music—the cross-pollination of a gloomy indie-rock fraternity and proudly sentimental, stadium-charming pop.

Murky, male-driven art rock tends to encourage the confession of flaws without hope for absolution. Think of Leonard Cohen in “Famous Blue Raincoat,” a self-lacerating mash note to the man who cuckolded him. Or take the mealymouthed misery of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe on “Losing My Religion”: “Oh no, I’ve said too much / I haven’t said enough.” Like his predecessors, Berninger tends to use oblique, figurative language to evoke his own shame and humiliation. “I know you put in the hours to keep me in sunglasses,” he sang on “Secret Meeting” (2005), possibly alluding to the tears he’d shed over a lover and the ways he’d tried to hide them.

But in First Two Pages of Frankenstein, the songwriting is tighter and often brighter, and Berninger’s meanings are remarkably direct. On the hopeful-sounding “New Order T-Shirt,” Berninger collages images with his trademark flair, and then, atypically, explains himself in a chorus that Swift herself might have written: “I keep what I can of you / Split-second glimpses and snapshots and sounds.” Over the danceable beat of “Tropic Morning News,” Berninger even tells a tale about learning to share his inner life: “There’s nothing stopping me now / From saying all the painful parts out loud.”

The changes in style reflect a change in substance. Many old National songs are character studies of a morose, hapless man getting nurtured—or dumped—by a competent woman. The trope of wife or girlfriend as mothering savior looms perpetually, even as Berninger’s humor, grounded in the mundane realities of adult relationships, usually undercuts it. “Carin at the Liquor Store”—a 2017 track whose title refers to Berninger’s wife and lyrical co-writer, Carin Besser—sees him mocking his own abjection: “I was a worm, I was a creature … I was walking around like I was the one who found dead John Cheever.”Taylor Swift seems to have taught The National something about the mode of candid self-expression that she has mastered.

But if The National’s signature narrator used to be a lonely mope, here he’s no longer wallowing quite so helplessly. On the new album, Berninger sings about being useful to his romantic partners. In the gentle, kind closing track, “Send for Me,” he offers: “Send for me whenever wherever / Send for me I’ll come and get you.” Even the breakup songs are a bit rebalanced. The thundering “Eucalyptus,” for example, depicts a couple dividing their belongings. Listening to it is like watching a bout of arm wrestling that’s closely matched and oddly poignant. And on the plaintive ballad “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend,” he’s the one consoling someone whose interior world is—as has been the case for so many of The National’s past narrators—an “awful place.” The new lucidity of the lyrics thus has a constructive purpose. As Swift’s songs have always shown, reaching out to connect with others requires openhearted, straightforward communication—from her outright plea “Baby, just say yes” on the 2008 classic “Love Story” to her simple admission “I’m the problem, it’s me” on 2022’s “Anti-Hero.”

Berninger does seem a little bashful about now acting as a healer. On “Alien,” he wryly suggests, “I can be your nurse or something.” Nursing, as that “or something” acknowledges, is a role that our culture hasn’t exactly shown men how to play. Those who try, in music, tend to overshoot into messianic territory (see Coldplay’s “Fix You” or U2’s past few albums). In dialing back the misery and adding Swiftian uplift, the new album sometimes flirts with this kind of sappiness. One can almost imagine “Send for Me” as the first dance at a wedding or “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” in a touching insurance ad.

Read: The real Taylor Swift would never

But the band guards against cheap inspirationalism by relying on the idiosyncrasies that have defined it all along. Its old motifs—romantic death and rebirth, sad saps saved by realists, drums that burst like flak cannons—now serve a new aim by acting as a reminder that empathy doesn’t come easily. Rescuing people can mean coaxing them to share how they really feel—and that process requires psychological struggle. On “Alien,” Berninger urges someone to “drop down out of the clouds you’re in.” A hint of conflict lurks in the line, acknowledging just how bracing such conversations can be. Real breakthroughs, these artists have shown in their work together, come from blunt and open exchange. As Swift and Berninger sing on “The Alcott”: “I tell you my problems / You tell me the truth … You tell me your problems / And I tell you the truth.”

This article appears in the May 2023 print edition with the headline “How Taylor Swift Infiltrated Dude Rock.”

[layne-thepencilthing]

yes but in all seriousness. i fucking love this album. it's just so damn good. the storytelling is top-notch. i feel like it leaves a lot to the imagination, making you fill in the gaps for yourself. which i think is great because every listener has a different interpretation of what this world looks like. hell, they do this with pretty much all their albums - and songs.

i saw something about how early videogames like the first super mario game(s) used the limitations of the technology to make the game better. and i feel like this applies to the mechanisms. you don't get visuals, you don't get the same amount of detail as a novel (i know jonny d'ville narrates, but i think he only tells you enough so you get what's going on. or not idk. i'm not too good at articulating my thoughts about stuff), all you get is the voices of the characters and the narration. and it fucking slaps. as in, the songs slap, but the story does too. does that make sense? idk.

anyway the bifrost incident is my favourite, probably because of the lovecraftian horror aspect of it, but also there's just this feeling of grandeur to the story i can't really explain.

also, it incorporates the norse mythology aspect really well i think. loads of cool details like the ratatosk express - a reference to this little squirrel thingy that runs up and down yggdrasil - and probably other stuff. idk i'm not too knowledgeable on norse mythology.

ummmmm i'm going to end my little rant here. like i said i'm not too good at articulating my thoughts so i hope this makes sense.

woah this bifrost sure is. incidental.

[over-rated-cheese]

HEY YOU! YES YOU!

do you like to read byler fanfic? yes, okay then what about angst? also yes! then I have the perfect fanfic for you!

My fanfic, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now

This Fic has,

. ANGST! and a lot of it. There's a lot of Mike angst and I know that u love seeing him suffer (affectionately ofc)

. It has miwi! to heal u from said angst

. This fic even has SECERT RELETIOSHIP! 😲 i know its truly insane.

. U might be asking urself, how could this get any better? Well this fic even has a RAIN FIGHT!

. and I'm not even done, this fic even has Mike writing letters to Will! and unreliable narrator! AND lesbian El!

Okay that's all that I'm willing to say, I don't want to spoil anything. So you should totally go read my fic! I worked for months so I know its good ❤

[ct-multifandom]

AI3 predictions + headcanons

Aitsf and AINI spoilers ofc

Date will come back looking like Falco wearing a Vochlocho with the Greg Chun voice in it

It is revealed that Horadori Institute’s sole sperm donor was So Sejima

I scared myself with this one, this sounds like something that would actually 100% happen

Meaning Iris and Mizuki would be bio half-sisters

So gets murdered finally

And the detectives are like uh oh, we have no leads, the killer could’ve literally been anyone ever

Date and Hitomi actually spend time together and reconnect fr and it’s good

Iris’s next somnium is Among Us themed

She witnesses something important, but her somnium hides it under a puzzle where we have to do tasks and correctly identify the impostor that symbolizes what actually happened. The AI ball is crewmate-shaped like Shovelforge Aiba

We’ll be able to play as Marco/Maruko

If the effects of somnium make Aiba more silly instead of logical and Tama more nervous instead of confident, maybe they make Marco loud and expressive while they’re usually shy and quiet in eye form

Aiba returns to Date and Mizuki gets a new partner

We learn significantly more Adorabbit lore (is it a cartoon or something, or is it like a fucked up parody of Sanrio characters?)

There is a character named Adorat that Bibi likes

They put Shoma on some sort of hormone therapy

He starts working for Pewter

Maybe gets a scholarship/grant from ABIS so he can go to uni for robotics. This way he can get the education without debt and then support Mame when she gets out so she can get back on track and have the ability to find something better than Sunfish Pocket.

Go go Boss blackmailing Riichi to help the Enda-Dois as a parallel to her blackmailing So to save Iris

Unlike Pewter, Amame actually stays in prison for a while, but not a super long time

We meet Mrs. Doi as an NPC and she’s comically normal

We will psync with Moma (hopefully they’ll dial down on his A-Set obsession)

Omg imagine psyncing with Ritsuko the secretary

Naix starts revering Tokiko like a deity

The game starts with Tokiko speaking directly to you, the player, as a sort of narrator figure

The characters call on Lien to pick locks again but his role is very minor like that of Moma in AINI

Bigger Hitomi role please

We get to go to Boss and Bibi’s home as was apparently planned for this game at some point

Screw it, throw in Ryuki’s place too. He probably lives in a fuckin mansion

Mizuki inherited two companies from Ren yet she lives in Date’s studio apartment. Sure, she secretly loves him and wouldn’t actually want to move out, but what does she do with the money she must be making? Donate a ton of it? Saving and investing?

Minor subplot where Date and Tama end up working together for some horrible, terrifying reason

Aiba’s interest in bugs and fish becomes relevant to the case

Another iteration of that hilarious highway scene where all the psyncers are driving to the same destination in their own ridiculous vehicles instead of everyone just going in the limo. Or would it be funnier if they were all in one car? How about both in one game.

In AI1 they said there were six psyncers at ABIS. We’ve met Date, Ryuki, and Bibi, plus Mizuki, so there must be at least three other psyncers and AI balls we haven’t met yet.

The game title will obviously be full of puns so what if AI3 (AI san) is about the first psyncer and AI ball? I’m not thinking a prequel, but it could explain the origins of ABIS and be related to the first case solved using psyncing.

It’d be neat if the main character is a more senior detective, like maybe a Jane Marple type figure. It would be cool to see an old protagonist since the end of VLR

Idk what Marco/Maruko’s gender settings are supposed to be since Marco is a masculine name and Maruko is feminine, but I hope we get a male AI-ball in general

What tacky vehicles would the new character(s) ride? A convertible? Badass futuristic motorcycle?

The English title will have the number 3 represent the letter E and “AI” somewhere in it. Perhaps they will use <3 to reference ai as in love

Polyamorous relationship between three people to represent “ai 3”

Man imagine AI4… knowing that one of the ways to say 4 sounds like “death” and is considered super unlucky in Japanese, they’d go crazy stuffing the title with double meanings

Canon wlw representation please,,, there aren’t enough gay women in the Uchiverse

Mentally undoing the Michael Bubleification of Ryuki’s solo in The Song, pure homophobia

(Feel free to add on)

[give-soup-please]

Personal Message From The Narrator FAQs

Heya! really happy to see the positive response I got to posting the commission I got from Kevan Brighting. Many people have been asking similar questions, so I thought I could group them in one spot.

1. How much did this cost?

865 pounds, which is almost 1100 dollars. It was around 495 pounds for the script as is, and the rest was paying for licenced use on Tumblr. If you feel like pursuing your own project, price will vary depending on how long it is and whether its for personal use or public use. Price also varies based on which country you’re in, for strange and unknowable tax reasons. (VAT? I don’t understand these things at all) 

2. Can I use this recording/repurpose it for my own project?

Sorry, no. The licence I have forbids me from using it for commercial projects because they want you to have a different licence if you’re going to make a profit from his work. So please don’t upload it with copyrighted music to Youtube, or anywhere that would violate that rule. I can’t edit clips from the audio either, as far as I can tell, so please don’t ask. It took a lot of money to get the commission, I can’t afford a legal battle if this gets out of hand. I have trouble reading legalese, so if something changes, you guys will be the first to know. Otherwise, please don’t touch it. 

3. What’s with the mention of an ‘original script’?

The original script I sent in was different from the final project. There was a lot of mentions of elements from the stanley parable game. Unfortunately, the contract that Kevan has between himself and crowscrowscrows means that he can’t mention the game directly. Some sort of copyright issue that makes things complicated. I ended up rewriting it so it wouldn’t violate the contract he’s under. If people request it, I will post the OG script for everyone to look at. Though it may make you upsetti spaghetti, because the OG script I wrote was really cool. 

4. If it was that expensive, why did you do it?

There were a lot of reasons. This was a message I needed to hear myself. Without going into too much detail, I don’t come from the friendliest of homes. While I was debating pursuing the project, a family member told me that I was dumb, and that I was lazy, and that if I had enough spare money to afford a commission like this that my job was paying me too much. She said a couple of other things, but i’ll leave it at that. I decided to go for it after that because I needed a strong and wonderful voice to drown out what had been said. and... our beloved narrator has one of the strongest and most wonderful voices around.

The other reason I did it is because I am not immune to the parasocial relationships that form on tumblr. It takes a lot for me to follow someone, so I do a lot of lurking. I recognized many people who I had come to appreciate within the fandom were struggling with various problems. You are beautiful, wonderful people, and I’m not someone who can contribute easily to a fandom space. My art skills are lacking, and writing for the narrator is very difficult because I have such a need to get his character right. My interpretation is that he’s someone with a lovely heart who’s got a whole bunch of ego and anxiety on top of that. He’s someone who desires affection and praise but is unable to directly ask for it. (#RELATABLE) I also imagine it’s difficult for him to comfort others, because vulnerability is hard, whether giving or receiving. He’s really complex, and hard to write for, so I can’t do that easily either. The amount of time it took to write the script and keep it in character was way longer than I’m willing to admit to. But posting the commission I got was within my ability. This is my contribution to the community here. I hope it helps everyone get through another day, because we all deserve that much. (maybe i’ll rant about this in another separate post, but this is already getting long, so...)

5. How were you able to afford it?

It wasn’t easy. I am a full time college student with a part time job that’s slightly above minimum wage. It’s been my dream to commission something like this since 2013. I’ve been squirreling away bits and pieces for a very long time. I am not rich by any means. Which leads to an unfortunate question...

6. Will you do this again?

Unless I get a job with an excellent salary or win the lottery, it’s a firm no. If I had the funds, I would immediately write more and more, and drown us all in comfort. I want to make it absolutely clear, Kevan Brighting deserves to be fairly compensated for the work he does. But his work is not something I can afford on a regular basis. I got lucky having the resources I have, and having the wiggle room to do this was a miracle. If he doesn’t retire by the time I’ve saved up enough to do it again, maybe I’ll consider it. But realistically, this was a “once in a lifetime” project.

7. Can you accept donations based on this project?

Nope. I am doing my absolute best to err on the side of caution for this, because again, I will not survive first contact with a lawyer. I believe donations may fall under some sort of commercial use indirectly, so we can’t do that either. You are welcome to donate to me on my Kofi, but it can’t be because of the recording. 

8. Was it worth it?

Yup. 

9. Are you sure?

There’s no doubt in my mind that this was the right thing to do. Based on the responses i’ve seen, this was something we needed. I’ve been listening to it on loop since it appeared in my inbox last night. Honestly, I consider myself lucky that Kevan did such an incredible job on it. I fretted and debated over the script when I sent it in, wondering if I had pushed his characterisation too far, because the narrator in my mind plays the “lovable asshole” trope very well, and it is a really hard balance to maintain. Kevan smashed it out of the park. He carried the script, making the lines I wondered most about sound believable. I believe deep down that the narrator cares for his audience, and getting that side of him to show was beautiful.  

(And feel free to pop in the inbox/chat to say hi. I love ranting about this game, so don’t be shy.)