#R & B ain’t dead yet

[thixcy]

Source: lady_livii via instagram

[novosg]

Early Mornings

A look into what life is like in the early mornings with your bf ☀️

Ft: Hobie, written with blackfem!reader in mind (though no specific pronouns are used)

Fluff, SFW, 1k words (y’all said y’all wanted more Hobie? Bettt)

You couldn’t help but wince somewhat when you blearily blinked open your eyes and felt the early morning sun hit them.

You let out a small groan as you tucked your head back into your pillow, hoping to regain some semblance of exhaustion that would help you return to the land of the asleep. When you were met with none, you reached out and grabbed your phone, the mattress below you creaking somewhat at the movement.

8:15 AM. For a Tuesday it could’ve been worse. You set your device back on the nightstand and sat up, rubbing gently at your eyes. You swung your legs over the side of the bed, deciding you might as well try to get the day started with.

You spared a glance at the sleeping figure next to you and, sure enough, he was still dead asleep. You couldn’t help but smile as you watched the slow rise and fall of his chest. Hobie was practically dead to the world in the mornings, having made his dislike of any time ending with AM clear multiple times.

You weren’t better off in that case either, but you both needed to eat and, seeing as your lovely boyfriend wasn’t about to be of any help, you made the executive decision to rise and make your way to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

One shower and brushing of your teeth later saw you dragging your feet into the kitchen. Sunlight bled through the blinds you had yet to open and cast the room in a heavenly golden hue. You hooked your phone up to the speakers in the living room, putting on some easy R&B before you started rummaging through the pantries.

The music floated throughout the apartment as the smell of pancakes and bacon wafted throughout the kitchen. Even in your still tired state you barely made out the sound of water running down the hall. You glanced at the clock on the stove and let out an impressed hum—Hobie had managed to drag himself out of bed before 9 AM. Now the real question was would he be able to stay out of bed?

Your answer came soon enough, in the form of a pair of long arms wrapping lazily around your waist. Your lips tugged upwards as Hobie held you close, resting his head on your shoulder.

“Hey,” he mumbled, nuzzling into your neck before moving his head to sit atop yours.

“Hey,” you replied softly, relishing in the warmth of his embrace, the familiar scent of the body wash he adored encasing you in a way that made you let out a loving sigh.

“Fuckin’ watch was buzzing. Ain’t even ten yet,” Hobie noted, one of his hands rubbing a soft pattern on your waist. You nodded, turning off one of the eyes and removing the bacon away from the heat.

“Let it buzz. Miguel will find someone else to bother,” you said simply, flipping the last batch of pancakes. Above you, Hobie let out a content hum, tugging you even closer to him.

“You’re right. ‘Sides, it’d be rude to skip out on a breakfast this good,” he added, one of his hands coming up to cup your jaw gently. He turned your head so you were facing him, and tipped his head downwards to press a kiss to your lips. You relaxed even further into his hold while his other hand gave your hip a loving squeeze. He pulled away far too soon, eyes lidded with sleep and love as he gazed at you. “Thanks for cooking, by the way.”

“Of course,” was your soft reply as Hobie pulled away, moving to grab you both some plates. You turned the stove off and stacked the pancakes and some of the bacon on a plate he handed you. Next you made his, and Hobie murmured a quiet ‘thanks.’

You both decided to enjoy breakfast on the couch, basking in each other’s presence as you talked about every nonsensical thing that came to mind. You loved mornings like this—the mornings where life was confined to the walls of your apartment. Confined to the brush of Hobie’s hand against your thigh as he tapped out a random rhythm, to the weight of his shoulder against yours as you leaned into each other, or the melodious laughter that spilled from the both of you when he (unsuccessfully) tried to nick a piece of bacon from your plate.

Once the two of you were done, Hobie took your plates to the sink as you stood from the couch, stretching your arms upwards. Considering neither of you had planned to be up so early, you let yourself be guided back to bed by Hobie’s gentle grip.

He let out a small huff as he planted himself on top of the mattress, a hand coming up to rub at his eyes while you laid down beside him. His dark sweats hung low around his waist while his already cropped tank (which was probably yours considering how small it looked on him) rose up further around his abdomen. He rested an arm behind his head and you took a brief moment to admire him before scooting closer and bringing your head down onto his chest. Hobie instinctively wrapped his free arm around you, his fingers dragging up and down your shoulder in a soothing motion.

All was quiet between you two other than your playlist and the soft exhales of each breath. That was until the watch on Hobie’s side of the bed buzzed unceremoniously.

You couldn’t help but giggle softly as Hobie muttered a curse under his breath. He made no move to get up, though. Rather, he simply pulled you closer to him. You toyed with a fray at the end of his shirt, rolling your eyes when your own watch buzzed soon after.

“Oughta throw those damn things out the window,” he grumbled. As much as you liked that idea, you liked being able to see your friends and him whenever you pleased even more so you shook your head.

“Leave it. Miguel and them will be just fine.”

Hobie mumbled his agreement and grew quiet. Barely a minute later he had drifted off back to sleep, his hand coming to a stop on your arm. You smiled to yourself, letting your arm wrap around his waist as you snuggled closer to him.

You let your eyes fall shut, the warmth of the morning sun and the man beside you lulling you to sleep.

[whumpthefifth]

A Little Birdy

Lil late night thang with Maggie and Penny. I haven't shared much regarding these characters here (Though I will in the future) but I figured better post something now than never.

CONTENT WARNING: Lady whump, pet names, creepy whumper, laceration/cutting, threats, foul/degrading language.

Penny buttoned up her nightgown, letting out an exhausted sigh. She could sleep, finally. She felt as if she hadn’t for years. It would end, at last. She could cry, laugh, pinch herself to see if she was dreaming again. That sick fuck’d be dead by dawn, she knew it. 

A creak. She looked up, and her stomach twisted into knots.

A lazy trail of smoke, reeking of sickly sweet lavender, led back to a figure leaning against the doorframe. Margaret Wright, a coworker. A ‘friend’. Her, the bastard sonuvabitch. Oh god, Penny didn’t want to see her, not now.

“Ello Pens.” Maggie crooned. “Felt the need to pop in. How do you do?”

“Maggie, it’s a wee bit late, don’t you think?” Penny squeaked. Her heart hammered against her chest. “M-Maybe we could talk in the morning. Yes, that would be quite nice, let’s leave it till then.”

“Hm, no. I’d like to have a yarn, Pens. It’s urgent, I’m afraid.”

The smoking woman crept closer to Penny, eyeing her up like a wolf to a rabbit. She reeked of tobacco and alcohol. “A little bird told me that the other butlers ain’t too fond of me. S’at right, Pens?”

“Not too fond? Oh, dear, I’m r–really not sure, Maggie! I couldn’t say!” Penny giggled nervously. “Perhaps we should ask them tomorrow. W-we could clear things up in the morning, yes, w–with sharper minds not sullied with the day’s concerns.”

“Oh, Pens.” Maggie shook her head, her eyes narrowed into a prying leer. “I don’t like it when you lie to me. You’re not very good at it, either. You titter and shiver like a little gerbil.” She slunk closer, and Penny let out a short yelp, stumbling back.

“Oh, Maggie, y–you know just as I do that those other butlers aren’t terribly keen on me either. Anything you suspect, I assure you it’s simply a misunderstandin’. B–But perhaps, perhaps lets– Let’s–”

“I have heard murmurs of conspiracy. I have a whole operation going, and someone’s got a problem with it. Do you not appreciate what I’ve done for you, Pens?”

“No! No, no, I-I am very appreciative of you M-Maggie. You– You’re so good to me. I would never—”

Penny felt something sharp press against her cheek. She paled, her body tensing up. “I feel under-appreciated. I don’t think you realize the sacrifices I’ve made for you. I could have fared fine without dragging your ass along…” 

“Maggie– Maggie, please, let’s not do anything rash–”

“...You ain’t changed since school-days, girl.” Maggie drawled, dragging the blade across Penny’s cheek. Pain shot through her and the cut welled up with deep red sanguine. “Still the same sniveling little cunt you always were.”

Penny’s voice quavered. “Please, please, Maggie stop–”

“But worse yet. You listened to me before.” The blade pressed down, digging under her skin, “Now you don’t. You got bold,” Penny whimpered in pain, “I should put you in your place, shouldn’t I?”

“No, no no, please–”

“Why not? You ain’t making any cases for yourself, love. I have every reason to. I’ll beat the little traitor out of you.”

That was the last straw on the camel's back. Penny broke, erupting into sobs as tears ran down her cheeks. “I– I’m sorry! T-they wanted– They wanted to get rid of you, they think you’re a crook, Maggie, they were gonna kill you tomorrow. I–I told them, I told them they were making a mistake, but– but– Please, please forgive me, I’m so sorry!”

Maggie gave a sly smile, her stomach tingling with satisfaction. Penny only told her what she’d already known, but the girl’s pathetic simpering had Maggie salivating. 

“Good girl.” She lowered the knife, “I knew you’d come ‘round.”

Penny gasped for breath, sniffling and whimpering into her hand. 

“Now, then.” Maggie wiped the knife clean, “Let’s settle this little mutiny.”

[strywoven]

A consequence of own upbringing , v i o l e n c e is a verse Kaen is all-too familiar in.  Yet , this – the nigh palpable energy burning as if a blaze between them , exchanged in blows , bleeding from wounds and caught in a tense , almost frenzied intimacy – feels like an entirely NEW DIALECT .  Not fighting , but a real conversation , a necessary COMMUNION ( between once-dead souls , between flames rekindling ) .  And finally , after over a decade trapped within themself , Kaen feels , sees , understands ⸺ This is what they’ve sought , this is what they’ve needed !  Someone who b u r n e d as wildly they did ; someone who would not turn away from the f i r e within.

At this moment , and this moment alone , everything MAKES SENSE , everything is IN FOCUS ( finally , finally , finally ! ) .  Their world spins on newfound axis , own Sun alighted onto the other as radiant as his grin mirrored upon their freckled features , maw split wide in show of teeth , blood ( both theirs and not ) spilling in oozing drip down their lip , dark eyes seeming to s h i n e with ardent JOY .  Kaen’s look is w i l d , but e n t h r a l l e d .  And when his blow comes , they meet it , allowing it to strike against their jaw , knocking their head back with a painful snap , body going rigid , scarred fingers twitching idly as their body processes the pain ( perversely addled by pleasure ) .  Ragged breath is drawn as senses return , eyes fluttering slightly.  A hand lifts , curling fingers ‘round his wrist where his fist remains , sharp nails prying into flesh , splitting skin.  ❝ Weren’t ye lissenin’ ?  Ah said if ye cannae put me down … Dun’ go wastin’ our feckin’ time ! ❞

Sudden movement recoils , changes their position in order to yank his wrist over their shoulder and draw him forward , knocking heads together.  The proximity is c h a r g e d , heavy.  Kaen’s voice lowers , a s i n c e r e tone taken through the lilting coil of their accent , ❝ S’ppose Ah should thank ye , though.  Ah ain’t felt like this in years … ❞  Coyly they add , ❝ ‘Ope ‘s jus’ as good fer ye. ❞

@strywoven liked x for a starter.

THEY STAND TOGETHER IN A WASTELAND of bodies. most downed, some dead. chika's knuckles bleed, body bleeds, but his face is alight with a grin. these twitching forms around him did not come about because he intended to fight them. they came about because he was fighting kaen, and the others got in the way. takiishi darts in for another swing, and the dead-soul-reanimated in his chest stirs, because he has no idea if the fist will land.

the drumbeat of two hearts ablaze. a world in which only the two of them exist. ALIVE. ALIVE. ALIVE.

[emersonfreepress]

What would the ro's be like in a zombie au?

whyyyyy anon whyyy. I'm actually gonna write this in like.. slightly different terms, you'll see. any time I even briefly think of a zombie au I'm just like

I WANNA WRITE IT SO BADDD

i don't even allow myself to entertain it for very long because getting into that would be the worst thing ever for my productivity with the alpha omg 😂😂 so I'll put like the ideas that pop into my head for writing a zombie au, to work some of that creative frustration out 😆

so in this very general, absolutely noncommittal idea of mine, the main cast are older and the setting is in and around a civilian settlement led by the Emersons.

and as a refresher, i like my zombie aus to have fast zombies and fast infections ^ ^ 28 Days Later/Train to Busan style babyyyy, we the Sprinting Dead up in this bitch 😆

= = =

Gabe is, predictably, looking for what's left of his family. Following rumors of safe havens and bunkers and such. Starts the story as someone who tries to be diplomatic, if not outright pacifist, but as times get tougher and resources dwindle, he'd become one of the most cutthroat motherfuckers in the wasteland. Low-key though, low-key. People won't trust you if they know you’re capable of throwing them to a horde for strategic reasons. Like if Rick turned into Shane (for those of us familiar with early Walking Dead--idk did that happen eventually? i gave up before we even met Negan lol). The end justifies the means :) Damn, I can legit see Gabe going full evil in a zombie au omg 😂😂 i want to write it so fucking bad

Preferred weapon for zed encounters: rifle

Preferred weapon for human encounters: handgun

Faith in humanity: fucking zero

Zombie kill count: plenty; the type to kill every zombie he has spare ammo and time for

Human kill policy: When it benefits him or the people he’s looking after

Survival rating: B+; he can make it out of some pretty dire situations through sheer will to live and ruthlessness

- - -

Kile has arrived--clearly, this is the timeline they belong in. They start their journey with Gabe (and their doggo) and stick to him like glue, even reluctantly so when Gabe eventually has them join the settlement. This can only go one way, though: Kile's just too much of a wildcard for the group and hates being told what to do. (Especially now that society has fallen, wtf) They'd make their exit alone and unannounced aside from a brief head’s up to Gabe. It's slightly bittersweet, but also? They get to loot and hunt and sneak around and kill fucking zombies, all by themself. Kile is a loner, a hiker, and a hunter to begin with so they do beyond fine on their own. However, once the inevitable violent human threat comes for the settlement, Gabe is sent out to convince Kile to come out of isolation, just this once please, to be the camp’s super soldier help defend the camp.

Zed weapon: p much anything they can get their hands on, ranged or melee, blunt or sharp, w/e; improvised weapons

Human weapon: hunting knife

Faith in humanity: never had any to begin with

Zombie kill count: lol infinite?? any zed they come across is double-dead if they have the time for it

Human kill policy: at Gabe’s direction or when provoked enough/threatened

Survival rating: A-; they trust no one, live in isolation, and prioritize survival above all else. only reason it’s not higher is they would risk their life for Gabe or their furbaby and also... their own Rambo-esque antics def attracts the occasional horde lmao

- - -

Jack... this poor boy, he doesn't deserve a zombie au 😂 He's one of those people that first believes zombies are just sick people, too squeamish to keep up with TV news coverage at the onset and too upset to consider anything else. He'd hunker down at home, staying holed up even while his neighbors evacuated, and probably be discovered while the main group is looting the same place as him. When people try to tell him the real state of the world, he'd be in denial until he absolutely couldn't be anymore. idk, probably after Kile shooting a bunch of non-lethal holes thru a zombie to make a point (attracting more in the process lol).

He’d almost immediately join the medical team at the settlement and as word spreads about how easy he is to talk to, he quickly becomes the literal on-site therapist. It's a role he embraces but... idk if it's an emotional burden he can bear. He's very emotionally resilient! But he ain't a professional lol imagine a whole settlement of traumatized zombie survivors seeking you out for counseling, yikes. He also can't say no to a person in need, so instead he quietly spirals into a very private depression while continuing to help others!!

Zed weapon: Oh gosh, do I really have to?

Human weapon: ...Kindness?

Faith in humanity: Unrealistically high

Zombie kill count: Single digit

Human kill policy: Not ever, unless completely unavoidable and to defend the defenseless

Survival rating: C...? idk, that feels generous. D+. To be protected at all costs!!

- - -

Jessie also had the initial reaction of hoping zombies could be saved, but she woke up from that dream swiftly. The science-minded person that she is, esp with her interest in biology, leaves her determined to find anybody who's got the intellect, expertise, and resources to start doing actual work toward a treatment, cure, vaccine—anything. Nothing would get her to finally unabashedly embrace her love of science (and innate leadership skills!!) faster than a zombie apocalypse! In fact, it’s thanks to her that the Emerson settlement’s got a small but growing team of scientists doing as much research as humanly possible to best educate the others on the outbreak and zombie behavior. Def no zombie experimentation going on though lol. ...Not yet, at least.

Zed weapon: rifle

Human weapon: rifle

Faith in humanity: High! We’ll find a solution! Don’t give up hope!

Zombie kill count: Double digits, but less than 30

Human kill policy: Only in unavoidable self-defense or defense of others

Survival rating: B! She has experience with ranged weapons, farming and gardening skills, first aid, camping experience, and a can-do attitude with a healthy dose of realism!

- - -

Rain remains cargo as I said in the last post about this 😆 They'd be very good for keeping clothes repaired and making useful modifications in the settlement, but their life up to this point has been very sheltered and privileged. We're talking somebody with a chauffeur and a personal chef before the outbreak! They would contribute to quality of life and homemaking efforts more than anything—an overlooked aspect of these scenarios tbh! After as many months of dragging their feet as possible and being nigh impossible to track down when you need them, they eventually become involved in meal planning and even help out with medical stuff if they're asked.

Zed weapon: how do you reload this thing again?

Human weapon: switchblade or other concealable sharp-pointy

Faith in humanity: Very low

Zombie kill count: 0! Can you believe it!

Human kill policy: Well if it’s you or me, of course I’m choosing me.

Survival rating: C. Being so tiny helps them find good hiding spots and their self-preservation is high enough to keep them from unnecessary risk-taking. Plus they're very stealthy! Self-defense is a major issue though, so hiding is always their best option.

- - -

Rupan/Rohan scouts for and leads scavenging missions and is Curt's right hand on the recruitment team. The two of them together are the perfect combo of diplomacy, debate, and deception--although R is more honorable about the last one and will only deceive for strategic reasons. When they aren’t looting and recruiting, they’re doing peacekeeping inside the settlement. Most social disputes end up getting brought to them for mediation and they’re pretty dang good at making and enforcing calls. One day they’ll wake up to realize they’ve basically become a sheriff and feel the need to puke their guts up and do something, anything, to reassure themself they’re still punk 😂

Zed weapon: SMG

Human weapon: shotgun

Faith in humanity: Believes in fundamental goodness but knows better than to trust first impressions

Zombie kill count: decent, more than 40; you won’t catch them having a field day tho, they’re trying to gtfo of most zed situations

Human kill policy: Violent threats have to be taken out. And they aren’t, at all, immune to a revenge rampage either...

Survival rating: B-. Can handle themself both with humans and zeds but is vulnerable to hostage situations and truly difficult sentimental/interpersonal decisions!

- - -

Vivian/Vincent manages inventory and stock and they run it so efficiently it’s scary! They're the perfect pick: a hawk-eyed tyrant and tattletale 😂 Despite constantly butting heads with just about everyone on every imaginable thing, they quickly become an important part of the inner circle of decision-makers for the settlement at large. Terrible at stealth, jumpy, and squeamish at the sight of blood and gore, they literally never go on missions unless they're 100% needed for their expertise on a supply run. (They would deny all of these shortcomings are that big a problem, meanwhile R is definitely acting as their bodyguard lol.) When they do tag along, they're prone to becoming the damsel in distress. Seriously, it happens near every fucking time. It's like they just attract only the most improbable and perilous zombie attacks and hostage situations 😆

Zed weapon: shotgun

Human weapon: handgun

Faith in humanity: Medium; seeing people work together at the settlement helps restore it a bit

Zombie kill count: Double digits, under 25

Human kill policy: Violent threats have to be taken out. Well, no, not by me! Get one of the ruffians to do it!

Survival rating: C-. They’d be higher if they weren’t such natural zombie bait.

- - -

Heidi is running the settlement, well-organized to the degree of actually managing to bring bureaucracy to a post-zombie apocalypse settlement 😂 People are free to come and go, but getting in if you don't live there requires trading something of value (fuel, med supplies, food, etc), temporary surrender and registry of firearms and explosives, and you gotta GTFO at the time and date specified upon entry! You can stay long-term if you contribute to the community in a tangible way—and each person admitted is approved by Heidi personally. Yes, every individual. No, she has no free time. And she is not known to be lenient with rule breakers—you want rule bending, you’ll have to go to Curt for that. People kind of hate her, but it can't be denied that she runs a tight ship. She kind of throws herself into the work to avoid the harsher reality at large and hasn't left the settlement in a long time. She's out of touch with how bad things have gotten in the wastes, but she knows better than to take reports at anything less than face value--even when she's skeptical.

Zed weapon: rifle

Human weapon: handgun; dagger

Faith in humanity: Medium. It fluctuates, honestly

Zombie kill count: Double digits, less than 20

Human kill policy: Violent threats must be taken out if they can’t be reasoned with. Spare those who surrender, eradicate those who don't, keep an eye on the newbies. Not tryin’ to nurse any vendettas around here lol

Survival rating: B. She's good with a firearm, masterful at persuasion, and savvy enough to calculate risks appropriately. Also far tougher than her prim exterior and demeanor suggests!

- - -

Curt leads the recruitment and reconnaissance teams! When a new person or group shows up in the area, Curt's the one who stalks watches them, decides if they're worth approaching, and if they should be approached with an invitation, a simple acknowledgment/announcement of their presence, or an outright armed warning to leave the area. He also keeps tabs on morale and general confidence inside the settlement, alongside R. When he isn’t leading those efforts, though, he’s flirting with settlers and squirreling his way out of manual labor and other chores. He’s also secretly growing weed at his place--don’t tell Heidi or Vi ‘cause they’ll wanna yell at him and ration it UGH.

Zed weapon: SMG, explosives

Human weapon: handgun, dagger

Faith in humanity: Pft, sorry, what now?

Zombie kill count: ...way more than you’d expect

Human kill policy: I don’t start confrontations, but I sure as fuck end them.

Survival rating: A! He’s good at playing hapless idiot when it suits him to be underestimated, good with firearms, and capable of being ruthless and decisive in life or death situations! Plus he has no qualms about ditching the settlement if he decides it’s not working out for him. Just don’t tell Heidi lol

[aftgficrec]

Idk if y’all do this but I don’t know who to ask but your favorite aftg SPOTIFY playlists? I like the “Andrew in clubs” by rb and the “andriel/AFTG” by sunellix but so far my favorite has been “untitled 1” by palmettofoxden because they made a tumblr post that went with it and I loved how they included the reason to each song. So if you can find playlist AND post related like that one I’ll love y’all more !!! Thanks

Oh, friend, you have no idea what you just got yourself into here.  You want playlists?  We’ve got playlists (and a little personal commentary from us).  A number of fics have amazing playlists to go along with them, so we’ve included little bits of info and links to those fics; then there are playlists for characters, and some general ones for the books.  We didn’t really find Tumblr posts to explain song choices, but we hope you enjoy this collection anyway! -M

NB: Fic links go directly to AO3. You can click on ‘recced here’ to see the trigger warnings that we’ve previously listed.

Playlists Based on Fics 

Red Rabbits Universe series by bloodydamnit, Jeni182, SeaBear13, windeavesdrops [Rated M-E; 647408 words in 3 works; 2 Complete 2019/2020, 1 WIP] (recced here)

If you’re unfamiliar with Red Rabbits then you’ve probably been living under a rock. From the very beginning the team behind this true crime themed fic have been excellent at providing a playlist for the characters, for the story, and for the highly interactive blog that can also be found here. If you’re looking for explanations as to why some songs are on the lists, check out the Tumblr asks and read the fic - there are many layers to this one but you can discover a lot in both Seasons. 

TFN by The Foxhole (2019) - Short and sweet (just like our favourite characters) this is a great list and sits perfectly alongside Season 1. 

TFN Minyard by The Foxhole (2019) - Africa is really the only song you need to listen to on this playlist but this is the list designed to represent Andrew in Red Rabbits. Sit back, listen, appreciate how very very well done this list is: emo bangers sit against indie bops, Lykke Li and MISSIO clash against Explosions in the Sky and Pink Floyd.  

TFN Seth by The Foxhole (2019) - Oh Seth, our sweet baby DJ, whose journey is honestly one of the best in fanfic. Here you’ll find Childish Gambino, Jay Z and Kanye, City Girls and The Weeknd. 

TFN Dan by The Foxhole (2019) - What a queen, it’s Dan Wilds with a mix of Beyonce, Frank Ocean and many more r&b, hiphop and pop tunes. Upbeat and powerful.

Neil Josten’s Music + Mathematics / The Calculus of Nocturnes by fuzzballsheltiepants [Rated M; 7863 words; Complete 2020] (recced here)

Like everything by fuzzballsheltiepants, this playlist is as well thought out and perfectly rendered as the story itself. The fic centers around Neil Josten, a high school math teacher with a secret obsession: the classical piano he hears music teacher Andrew Minyard playing every afternoon. Eventually his secret is found out, and his world begins to open up. This playlist can be listened to along with the fic, giving you an immersive layer to the story. 

Slinging Mozart Sideways / Slinging Mozart Sideways  by justadreamfox [Rated T; 9962 words, Complete 2020]  (recced here)

Some fun facts about this one - firstly, the working title was “gay pianists need to eat” (which I love) and secondly it was part of the 2020 Gift Exchange for Willow_Bird. Excellent fic. Excellent prompt. In which Andrew is in the music business, Neil is a classical cellist (with a British accent) and they bond over Nils Fram. It’s super pretty and the classical music choices are sweet, subtle and sometimes heartwrenching. 

One writer in particular, scribbleb_red, has been prolific in creating playlists for all their longer fics, and some of their Twitter hc fics.  There’s overlap in themes and genres across most of them but here are some of my faves:

Playlist: L'amour parle en fleurs / l’amour parle en fleur by scribbleb_red [Rated M, 61919 words, Complete 2019] (recced here)

Also known as The Lavender AU, this fic is set in the lavender fields of Provence in Southern France and deals with loss and recovery, grief and hope - and that’s exactly what the playlist lays out as well. Intended to accompany the reader through the fic, this playlist is a journey just like the story itself. 

Playlist: (don’t fear) the reaper / (don’t fear) the reaper by scribbleb_red [Rated M, 73111 words, Complete 2019] (recced here) 

for the fic of the same name, in which Andrew and Neil don’t meet in life but in limbo. Andrew is a grim reaper and Neil is the soul he’s meant to be helping cross to the other side. There’s just one issue: Neil isn’t really dead.  

Playlist: monster (under my bed) / monster (under my bed) by scribbleb_red [Rated: M; 1262 Words; Complete; 2020] (recced here)

In which Neil is the monster hiding Andrew’s bed and this changes everything.

not your homeland anymore (2020) for the fic of the same name, inspired by Taylor Swift’s folklore, this angsty fic is still being written and asks the question: what if Andrew hadn’t been there after Baltimore? 

NB: We have not recced this one yet. Please refer to the fic for TWs.

Playlists Based on Characters 

Oh yes, there are some highly creative folks out there exploring their headcanons via the spotify playlist. Here are five of our favourites: 

THE FOXES DEADLIEST INVESTMENT by realpeachy (2019) - Their ain’t no rest for the wicked and this playlist is as relentless, beat-heavy and secretly instigative as Andrew Minyard himself. Some familiar themes with Billie Eilish, Ruelle, Halsey and the like, but some quirky additions like badflower and tedy as well. 

NEIL JOSTEN by Arizona Kestler (2019) - A curious collection of songs on this one, ranging from Kendrick Lamar to Radiohead, AJR to Jack’s Mannequin. It definitely leans into the new-wave emo that many associate with AFTG but it always comes back to the high octane energy we associate with our favourite starting striker. 

yes or no? by jmoriartty (2018) - Could there be a more iconic playlist for andreil? well ok, maybe that’s just this contributor’s taste but having been steadily built through 2018 to 2019, it’s one of the most followed playlists on spotify for AFTG. Two Feet, MISSIO, Twenty One Pilots and grandson are all big hits on this bluesy, gritty, alternative playlist. 

you can call me king by scribbleb_red (2019) - As if any list was complete without a villainous inclusion, like with most of scribble’s lists this one deliberately lays out a journey for Riko Moriyama, his rise and fall. Maybe you’ll also feel Sympathy for the Devil. 

Double Trouble by an.fouda (2019) - Yes, it’s a twinyards playlist and it’s full of absolutely exquisite artist choices and emo hits. Try listening to Night Knuckles by Cavetown or Plastic Joy by Raw Fabrics. It’s a whole new level to this most complex of sibling relationships. 

Playlists Based on the Books 

Some of these are classics - they’ve set the tone for AFTG playlists all over the internets - and it’s fascinating to see how even now people come back to similar tones: alternative rock, grunge, hiphop, the high energy songs that mix a sense of hope and fear and danger. Plug in your headphones and prepare for a ride. Others are more recent and you can very much see how the themes of the music line up over time. If you want a playlist to remind you of the original series, here are some great places to start:

The Foxhole Court (Nora Sakavic) by pjofangirl2  (2017) 

You Are A Pipedream by lokisarmyismydivision (2017)

This is the moment you stop being the rabbit by Warren Vipod (2020) 

[dog-day-morning]

YOU OWE THEM NOTHING

People can be self-righteous when it comes to what they think God is supposed to do if, and when they call on Him. God is not a genie in a bottle that you rub, and a jinn pops out granting you 3 or 300 wishes. The saying faith without works is dead can be applied here. Have you ever heard of or read the book Daniel Webster and the devil? This tall tale or folklore legend was about a man who made a deal with old Slew Foot, and when it was time to pay up he had 2nd thoughts. Satan never plays fair. He's forever putting us in positions where we find ourselves desperate for a quick solution to a temporary problem that only leads to a difficult end. The Latin term for buyer beware is caveat emptor, and Satan knows how to spell. The power of a wicken comes from their basic weapon of spelling or casting spells by word of mouth. Even the Bible tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Tell that to a Nicolaitan. Those who make deals with the most unclean should expect to suffer in the end. Never trust the father of lies who deals in treachery, and deceit. I look back at my mother's life and wonder if God had ever intervened for her, and fought her battles that surely He and only He would be able to deliver her from, and He has. Life is hard, for many it’s a nightmare that’s ongoing. Satan comes to you when you're at your weakest or most vulnerable in the hopes of snaring your soul into eternal suffering. Jesus comes to deliver us from death, sin, and temptations that confuse us in our trek towards His truth. If you have any aspirations of entertaining people with your gifted voice or your talent for playing lead guitar, don’t sign a contract that promises you the world only to find out you owe them your sweet ass which a man of honor wouldn't consider let alone make you cosign your body for their horn dog appeasement.

Revelation 2:9

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

You're abundantly rich in spirit Yacob. Now’s the time to claim your position. These bastards have taken everything from you leaving your ancestors nothing but dust. If they could remove us off the face of the Earth they would. They're plotting to do so as you and I breathe, that's why the Father never sleeps. They are demon spawns who say they worship, and believe in God, but whose god, and what righteous god tells you to destroy a people with his blessing knowing what the children of Japheth have done to them historically? The spawns of Satan want your penuche, mouth, titties, and a-hole for their pleasure along with your talent that Justin Timberlake does not have. The new faces of R&B do not look like the people I grew up listening to or the race of people whose songs left an everlasting impression on my bleeding heart that helped me through my ill-fated, miserable existence. Robin Thicke, Christina Aguilera, K-Pop, the BackStreet Boys, and New Kids on the Block. Some of these groups are defunct, but they’re cranking out as many as they possibly can like Justin Bieber, and Demi Lovato. I just saw on YouTube where people were considering if Elvis Presley was Black, WTF?!! He was the biggest culture thief that Dr. Frankenstein, AKA Colonel Parker ever created. Man is cruel; Satan is a whole other type of bastard you shouldn’t entertain. I'm retarded. Some call me an idiot savant. YO MOMMA!!! People are blessed by the Father who has blessed many of us with gifts. There are many of you whom God has endowed with multiple talents that people would sell their soul in order to possess just one. If you're anointed by God to sing like Aretha Franklin may He lead you to sign with a label like Brother Carl Crawford's who won't make the same mistake he did with a very popular artist at this moment. More than likely you'll sign a contract entrusting your talent, blessing, and soul to the most unclean ones. Ain’t a reason in hell you should bow down or bend over for a leach like Mr. Friedman so he can butt bone your a-hole while enriching himself off your God given talents. God blesses those who seek him out, and those that don’t. I don’t know if Eddie Murphy went to Church, and sowed an offering every Sunday to God praying that the Father would make him the highest paid comedic actor in his prime. Richard Pryor was anointed in the womb to be the most blessed comedic talent, and influential comedian to ever walk this Earth bar none yet he and Mr. Murphy pursued their dreams in different ways with both of them becoming world renown. I'm inclined to ask, was it worth it?

Mark 8:36

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

The synagogue of Satan isn’t a trending pop culture manifestation that’s to be esteemed, cherished, or envied. These cults are trying to maintain a stranglehold on a world that’s not meant for them or their sort. People who play with Ouija boards or childhood games like Bloody Mary, and light as a feather are ushering dark spirits into their homes leaving their loved ones exposed to something sinister. Get the hell away from me and mine unless you're my sister, AKA Ms. Skunk Funk, who needs to get the crust burnt off her musty, dusty drawers. The whore of Don Juan has a death wish. Explain to me how running with the devil beats walking with God?

Isaiah 59:7

7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

This Nation was built on our ancestor’s blood, sweat, and relentless faith. Believe me when I say there's strength in every tear. I pray to God that I don’t shed anymore of them. Their wealth is not. It's a stolen Promise that the Father shall reward His children with. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. The most glaring, and frustrating example that is also bitter and disheartening I can give you is our Promised Inheritance called Yisrael that the gentiles are squatting on. When a person or in this case a tribe or race of people believe in their own lies they've become reprobate; they're lost.

Revelation 3:9

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

This is what all of Esau's children fear. It's why the bland, colored people of the world are flipping over the Earth's axis, and killing us without any probable cause. They are a lawless people who've displayed their lack of empathy, and humanity for anyone save their own breed, they behave like blood hounds. I've become content with this planet being void of water (Holy Spirit.) Black people suffer from a social disorder called the crab bucket mentality. We hate to see anyone rise up, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep them down or discourage them. That person may possess something that can benefit the collective, who cares. He who possesses that blessing needs to haul tail ASAP before the winter comes knowing the Father will bless him, and a downtrodden people beyond their wildest dreams. This is why Yeshua, and His Father call us children. It's why I pray, and bemoan to the Father daily that He slays me, putting the fear of the Lord in the heathen and His Son Christ Jesus uses us for His purpose. God doesn't need us, we need Him. He's given us so much power, and authority. When you acquire it, use it for something other than satisfying your sinful, carnal, flesh minded desires. Men, don't behave like horn dogs, and women do not behave as Aholah, and Aholibah, 2 whores.

Numbers 32:24

24 Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

Out of thine own mouth you have power to tread over snakes and scorpions. You can exorcise demons and devils out of your present life braking generational curses which is what I' want for a family that's disowned me. To God be the glory. God is telling us to declare a thing, and claim it. What a mighty, just God we serve. Your tongue will become a weapon to use against the lawless ones who use theirs recklessly in their attempts to get us arrested or murdered by local, and federal authorities. You can call it giving them a taste of their own medicine, it isn't. You're reclaiming what they've taken, stolen, including those of us they've murdered.

Isaiah 54:17

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Speak positive prayers out loud if you can. If you live with your family or have a roommate pray in the closet. You'll have favor with God that many people won't. They rebuked the Lord, and their anger did tear perpetually, and they kept their wrath forever. When they use their privilege, which is what we call it more often than they, comprehending they’re fully aware knowing they use it with a Demonic, driven hatred. They persecute Black men, women, and children for reasons that are not godly, and the Father does not condone. They, and all the Earth will have to answer for our individual sins against the Father in the end.

Luke 10:19

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We don’t worship the same god as they do. They're praying to a god to erase us off the face of the Earth. Why hasn't he?.

Exodus 1:12

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Their birth rate is dropping steadily. For the first time in the history of the census they decreased in population globally while indigenous, and other races of people stayed steady or in our case increased. This is the reasoning behind these draconian abortion laws. They're trying to preserve themselves while God is eliminating the Earth of their bloody dominion. God is sending the wicked a message before the storm comes, but no one's listening. Their violence towards us is documented, and more often it's unprovoked. They continue with the guilty until proven worthy of their mercy dogmatic mantra which is racist BS. The Earth will be lulled back to sleep. When they're confident that their world isn't in danger of being challenged by anyone, especially us. That's when God will do things that will scare them right back to the caucasus mountains bringing destruction to those who've touched, bruised, and abused the Apple of His eye. Speak life into your angel spirit, don’t entertain the demon seed that's trying to kill you, and the rest of Earth's indigenous people. You have much authority, use it. Elohim. 9/23/2021

[alley-catz-vs-daybreakers]

Know Your Enemy: Side AC vs DB Pt. 2

A night out in Chuuko soon turns to one of disaster for two rivaling teams destined to collide. As they meet face to face, pride seems to intervene.

Seiichi: *whispers* Uuugh! Is this joker for real!

Seiichi: We were supposed to find someplace to eat! Not do whatever this is!

Woman A: It’s such an honor to meet you Hiroshi-sama!

Woman B: I can’t believe it’s him! We’re big really fans! 

Hiroshi: Fufufu, the pleasure is all mine fair ladies. ~ It is quite the honor to meet all of you this fine evening. ~

Woman C: Woooow~ He really is like a prince! 

Woman D: I think I’m in love! 

Seiichi: Are you kidding me?! Oi Hiroshi! C’mon let’s just get outta he—

Younger Woman E: Hey! You’re Seiichi Asagao aren’t you? 

Seiichi: ! ! ! 

Younger Woman A: I’ve seen him around before. He’s a real cool street artist.

Woman B: Wow really! Hey can we get your picture?

Seiichi: I-I-Uh! T-That’s not really a big deal! There’s way too many girls here! [quickly puts his hood up]

Woman D: Huh? Are you ok? You’re all red?

Younger Woman C: Wait, if the rest of the Alley Catz are here then Emiko must be too! 

Woman C: Really! Where is she! 

Seiichi: That’s it! I can’t take much more of this!

Hiroshi: Now now, everyone settle dow—HGH! Oi! Seiichi! What do you think you’re doing?!

Seiichi: Run! [pulls him along and they start running]

Woman A: Hey where are you guys going!

Woman C: They’re leaving? Wait for us!

Crowd: [squeals and chases after them]

Seiichi: DAMN YOU HIROSHI!

Hiroshi: Just shut up and run!

——————————

Natsuki: Nope. We’re not going in that direction.

Haruto: Eh? Why?

Natsuki: Going over there increases the risk of us bumping into more of those crazed women.

Haruto: (raises brow) How do you know? We’ve never even been here before.

Natsuki: (Sarcastically) Look at the buildings, taller buildings are subject to hold more people, as impressive as they may look, I am not willing to get trampled for that sake of your instant gratification dearest brother of mine.

Haruto: Then what do you propose oh smart one?

Natsuki: (thinking) It wouldn’t hurt to simply have a look around.

Haruto: (grins) Sorry to burst you bubble man, but I don’t think you’ll find any critters to dote over in here.

Natsuki: I will wack you.

Haruto: [hands in surrendering gesture] Gotcha. Just sayin’.

continue walking

Haruto: . . .

Haruto: Hey Natsu?

Natsuki: Hm?

Haruto: Don’tcha think Ko-chan looked kinda lonely? 

Natsuki: Not sure. As long as he has what it takes to bring us through the matches, then he’s fine.

Haruto: (grins) Don’t worry, I got plenty of energy to carry all of us through!

Natsuki: I’m not worried, and keep in mind you have your dance rehearsal in a few days.

Haruto: Thanks for the love bro.

Natsuki: (Turns away with a slight blush) The curses of being older. . . at least this is uncommon.

——————————

Crowd: [squeals 😆]

Hiroshi: Well this is certainly exciting isn’t it!

Seiichi: This is all your fault you crazy Womanizer! If they want you they can have you!

Hiroshi: It’s not just about me now!

Seiichi: Who cares, keep running! Here! [skids across the sidewalk] Around this corner!

Hiroshi: Right!

[they quickly turn and keep running as the crowd passes them]

Hiroshi: Did we lose them?

Seiichi: I don’t know! But I’m not gonna stooo-aaah! Hey!! [trips]

Haruto: ACk!

Natsuki: Oh. It’s you two

Seiichi: Aaaagh~ whaaat? O-Oi watch where you’re going freak, we got places to be!!

Hiroshi: Enough Seiichi, they’re gone. Now since you clearly lack manners, I shall be the one to ap—oh. Why it’s only the little mocking birds from before.

Natsuki: And what exactly do you mean by that? You showy rooster.

Seiichi: Rooster? Pffffffft—!

Hiroshi: [smirks] Hmph. Nothing at all. And do shut up Seiichi.

Haruto: Okaaayyyyyy. Maybe we should save our breaths? Even I don’t wanna see Ko-chan upset.

Seiichi: Ko-Chan? Oi, ain’t that the beanpole that was creeping around Emiko earlier?

Haruto: Hey! Ko-chan doesn’t creep!

Seiichi: Tch, you sure? Looked more like a prideless pervert to me.

Hiroshi: Hmmm, you have a point. The boy appeared to have no sense of dignity at all. 😏

Haruto: What the hell?! How can you say that about him?! Kosuke’s not anything like that, you edgy teen and fancy pants!

Natsuki: Let it go, Kosuke can defend himself. On the other hand, I’m  not so sure about Harajuku’s own childishly ditzy leader being able to lift a finger.

Seiichi: Oi! Emiko’s way stronger than that piece of scrap you guys drag around! I’m sure you’ve heard about her on the streets yea?

Hiroshi: Seiichi. That’s enough.

Seiichi: What?! What do you mean that’s enough! I’m not done yet!!

Natsuki: Listen to your guardian. Let’s go Haruto (turns to leave)

Hiroshi: As expected. C’mon Seiichi, let’s leave the dog and his master alone. I don’t think he can keep him at bay for very long. He might run off into the street and get lost.

Seiichi: Tch, whatever.

Haruto: Owowowow! Natsu! My wrist! My wrist!

Natsuki: (mumbling). . . What. . .?

Natsuki: What the FUCK did you just call my brother?!  Mic activates

Natsuki: 

Shut your little mouth you fucking sick tick! As if it wasn’t torturous to listen to your shtick You’d better run off, because I’m at my limit. If you dare say word, then I’ll make you go squish!

[loud blasts sound]

Seiichi: Whoa! Ha ha!!

Hiroshi: H-Hgh!! Now we’re having fun!!

Hiroshi: You ready Seiichi?

Seiichi: Oh you don’t have to tell me twice old man!!

[Mics activate]

A disheartened little cuckoo tainted by dull and fatuous laws! Watch as he flies into the fray of deadly smiling jaws~

Jabber Jabber Jabber with your self-centered blabbering! Your idiocy’s a crime against our kaleidoscopic society!

Now that’s going too far.

Says you, sadist Ladykiller.

On the brink of insanity! Drop dead on Harajuku’s toxic thriller!

Haruto: (huffs) Guess we’re throwing hands. You good Natsu?

Natsuki: Just start.

[Mic activates]

Just a fair warning here, close your eyes! You don’t haveta listen, but you will go blind!

I don’t play with minds, just physical suicide! Coming from a nut house, you’ll be tossed to the side!

Now where to start? Should we just strike the heart?

Go for an arteriole, watch them lose their fake twinkle.

Seiichi: Agh!! Damn!

Hiroshi: Aaaah!!

[the dust clears, Seiichi & Hiroshi appear somewhat unfazed]

???: Another fight? Just what do you men think you’re doing?

Haruto: (whispers) Huh? Natsu whose this big busted lady? Ow!

Natsuki: (hisses) That’s Kadenokoji Ichijiku. Show your respect!

Bows

Seiichi: S-Sh**!! It’s the crazy lady!!

Hiroshi: Watch your tongue!

[they both bow]

Ichijiku: Hmph. Both your Divisions hold a very small record in outbursts such as this. Although I can’t say I’m surprised coming from such barbarians.

??? + ???: R-right! We’re so sorry ma’am!

Seiichi + Hiroshi: Emiko??!

Haruto + Natsuki: Ko-chan!/Kosuke. . .

Ichijiku: I hope I make myself clear. Since you two were not here to witness the event I can’t particularly say all of you are at fault. But if I hear one whisper of a fight between your Divisions outside of the battle you will all be disqualified!!

Ichijiku: And. I expect better leadership from you young lady. This is what happens when you surround yourself with pigs.

Emiko: . . . Yes, ma’am. . . .

Ichijiku: Speak up!

Emiko: Y-Yes ma’am!

Kosuke: R-right. . .

Ichijiku: Now. Leave the premises immediately. Before I change my mind. [she walks away]

—End—

[dolphin-enthusiast]

Sdc gang having a s/o that may or may not be a human-shaped cryptid/eldritch being. Im talking bout Dr. coomer levels. They try to take a pic of them it comes out blurry. Their eyes glow in the dark like animals. They’re oldly quiet always appearing and disappearing behind them. Always saying wacky things like “my powers grows” or “i feel normal”

I kin said s/o cryptids unite❤️

Jotaro:

- Fucking confused all the time but doesn’t dare question it since he’s seen some shit in his life. Like he probably met them during his journey with the other men and since then said s/o started following them (specifically him) around just because they were bored or something and even if Jotaro didn’t care about the eldritch being at first, it all changed once they actually started helping the gang out.

- For the most part however they’re pretty passive and quiet, not moving an inch and honestly?? Jotaro quite enjoys their company. Like literally the i d e a l s/o in his opinion. They aren’t overly loud, they’re just a bit unusual and also able to fight/scare people off. Besides, the few times they had spoken Jotaro found all of the subjects they brought up quite intriguing so??

- Will fight anyone that dares diss his lovely eldritch smokey matter glowing eyes s/o. And most importantly, will absolutely deck whoever dare to follow them around just to take pictures. Not only does Jotaro himself hate taking pictures, but the fact that his s/o sometimes attracts annoying people and they STILL can never manage to snap a legit picture of them due to their appearance getting all twisted and fucked up will forever be funny to Jotaro. Serves them right, in his opinion.

Kakyoin:

- Literal fucking fanboy. This man is absolutely o b s e s s e d with cryptic shit and totally believes that Mothman or Big Foot actually exist out there, so to have the utter HONOR of BEING together with a literal cryptid? Truly a dream come true. 

- Of course, that isn’t to say he dated them JUST because of that, but that’s merely a plus. A big fat plus. Kakyoin will constantly and enthusiastically ask s/o all kinds of questions about how it feels to be an eldritch creature, to which they would either stay silent or just gesticulate something, and Kak will instantly understand it anyway because these 2 have developed a strange yet intriguing and unique way of communicating. Like, most of the time they ain’t even talking.

- Tbh Kak himself has lowkey cryptid energy, every so often my man can be seen lurking around at 3 am and whenever you try snapping a pic of him the result is just a blurry greenish red spot. At this point these 2 would be known as “the cryptid couple”. Whenever Kak posts selfies on social media of him and s/o it’s always like a fucked up blurry image, kinda like those cursed image memes. And no one dares question it anyway, it’s entirely normal. Couple goals tbh.

Polnareff:

- The most excited goofball in the goddamn world, lemme tell you. Literally had no idea what a cryptid/eldritch being was before, he just knew the “basics” due to his bestie Kak being your local cryptid expert who’s actually a cryptid himself. That being said, he was KIND OF put off by s/o’s appearance at first thinking that they might be like an enemy stand or something, but that soon changed obviously.

- He soon learned that they were pretty harmless and also very chill, basically right up his alley. Hell, the eldritch being even let out a few (arguably odd sounding) chuckles at his dumb jokes, and that was a plus considering how dead silent they are usually. Tbh him and them are quite the polar opposites with Polnareff being a chaotically loud crackhead and his s/o being a literal eldritch monstrosity that can’t even properly appear in all of the selfies he takes with them on a daily basis. But does Pol mind it? NOT AT ALL.

- Alot of cute fucking picnic and park dates which are extremely ironic once you see the borderline hilarious dynamic between him and his s/o. However Pol couldn’t wish for anything else and the same goes for his cryptic s/o. After all, opposites attract. S/o mainly does the listening in the relationship and Pol does the talking, they balance eachother quite nicely. Besides, he kinda likes the entire teleporting thing anyway, it makes him feel safe even if he sometimes has the feeling of being...watched.

Joseph:

- Wasn’t phased in the slightest by their appearance. I mean, come on bro this man has seen SHIT in his life, like we’re talking about witnessing literal fitness aztec gods. Nothing ever shocks my man Joseph anymore. Besides, he ain’t the judgy type anyway.

- Was pretty open and intrigued by them and tried his best to get close to them, even if it was just a bit awkward once he started cracking his usual god awful jokes and the cryptid merely blinked back at him in confusion. Soon enough though these two SOMEHOW got together and it just...works? Like hell, Joseph one day decided to say fuck it and just ask them out since he thinks their form and overall being and behavior was strangely alluring and they said yes.

- Much like in Pol’s case, these 2 are complete opposites but that’s exactly why it works so well. Joseph will try his best to become cultured in the cryptid domain, even goin as far as to ask Kak about how to date cryptids and how to care of them, to which the man always eagerly complies. Joseph is extremely attentive and does his best to spoil them in adequate gifts (since he has this spoiling habit) especially since eldritch monstrosities don’t quite like the same things humans do.

Avdol:

- Second most excited after Kak because G O D D A M N . You can’t tell me this man ain’t a firm believer of the paranormal and cryptic creatures altogether, so to have a chance to meet and bond with one truly is through the best things that could have ever happened to him. The second he saw them appear one night as the gang was camping Avdol couldn’t maintain his excitement and felt as if he just HAD to know more about them.

- What he thought was just scientific curiosity soon turned into something entirely different as he actually interacted and TALKED to the eldritch being. He found their quiet and somehow shy nature extremely endearing and...was that a blush on their blurry cheeks? Soon enough the two began dating and no one questioned it at all. Hell, Kak even congratulated Avdol for getting such a lit unique s/o.

- Has tried to read their future countless of times but it never really worked due to their body constantly changing shape or just...being overall u n c l e a r. But s/o always tells him not to worry since their future is “uncertain” and that they’re omnipotent anyway. Furthermore, Avdol still has a somewhat lowkey scientific curiosity even when officially dating them and he WILL sometimes ask certain questions about their nature because he’s just...very eager to discover more about their kind yknow? But fret not for he has a deep respect for them and would literally burn whoever would ever try “ghost hunting” them or some other stupid shit like that.

[asimawv]

I write and conceptualize story to music, so I’ve compiled a playlist of 30 Darkest Dungeon-specific songs that I listen to when writing (and subsequently re-writing) in no particular order, which I hope will help you set the vibe too. :+)

Names in bold are links for easy listening - tons of Hozier and Of Monsters and Men up ahead, five minute warning.

1. ‘Fire and the Flood’ - Vance Joy

If you listen to nothing else on this list, listen to this one - it’s the kind of song that’s made for movies about yearning. Folk influences, choruses of trumpets and vocal harmony, and instruments that are layered for a rich, resonant sound. This is the song I imagine Dismas and Reynauld horse-racing through a crowded outdoors market in the hamlet to, and the song I listened to nonstop freshman year when I first started writing The Myth of Sisyphus.

You're the fire and the flood And I'll always feel you in my blood Everything is fine When your hand is resting next to mine Next to mine You're the fire and the flood

The chorus is built around biblical allusions to the fire (the burning bush signifying first contact) and the flood (destruction of the first world), the beginning and end. Every line is similarly evocative of Darkest Dungeon in their simplicity (“I’ve been getting used to waking up with you,” etc.)

2. ‘Soldier, Poet, King’ - The Oh Hellos

By the title alone you can guess who this is for. Even the Guild quote for the Leper approaches these three things as the defining parts of his character (specifically it’s “a ruined man, a warrior, and a poet.”) This song coincidentally has an old world influence to it, with a Medieval Renaissance style from a guitar playing a lute-adjacent melody.

There will come a ruler Whose brow is laid in thorn Smeared with oil like David's boy, oh lei oh lai oh Lord Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh Lord Smeared with oil like David's boy, oh lei oh lai oh Lord

To be smeared with oil is to be anointed by a prophet and thus chosen by god himself to be king, just as David was and his boy after him (presumably Solomon). There’s something strangely wistful about the imagery, which is just how I like my songs about bygone kings.

3. ‘Exit Hymn’ - Bear Attack!

This song is about the end of the world in a version where everyone simply stands together in silence watching, rather than having the masses swarming in panic.

Lovely shapes to the world descending, Brothers and sisters. Lovely shapes to the world descending, Brothers and sisters Mute.

It defies Lovecraftian horror, which is based on the premise that “common human laws and interests and emotions have no validity or significance in the vast cosmos-at-large” - it flies in the face of existential nihilism and the despair that it should bring us. That’s why I like this song for deaths in the end-boss fight; it also has a special place for other death-related ideas, like full-party wipes - entire teams of people vanishing into the dungeons, gone insane, holding hands while the darkness surrounds them.

It’s a bare song which has a sanctity to it, mostly just piano and rain and human voices. Just what you would hear at the end of the world.

More under the cut:

4. ‘Pursuit of Glory’ - Jhameel

This song is laid-back. It doesn’t have the Homeric intensity that some of the other songs here do - it’s a guy with a guitar and vocal harmony. By god is it a great piece of writing though (all of Jhameel’s older songs have that quality to them), and all of it is evocative of Darkest Dungeon.

So many eyes set on the path to glory Too many ties, friendship is for the lonely Can't still my heart, my tongue has tasted folly Thirsty for art, hungry for power and money

This is a song for everyone in the barracks, especially the ‘laundry list’ of people and their approaches to the pursuit of glory.

5. ‘Good Old Days’ - Macklemore (feat. Kesha)

This fucker put a Macklemore song in here. I did, yeah. It’s not even the only song with Kesha in it here (I’m sorry.) 

It’s a sentimental pop song, and I am sentimental to a fault. This is Darkest Dungeon AMV material, and I always mishear one of the lines as “we were underground, loaded mercs in that 12-passenger van” so it’s here.

We've come so far, I guess I'm proud And I ain't worried about the wrinkles around my smile I've got some scars, I've been around I've felt some pain, I've seen some things, but I'm here now Those good old days

6. ‘Past Lives‘ - Kesha

Here it is, the other Kesha song - this was introduced to me by a good friend, also in a Darkest Dungeon context. There’s just something about the lovers spanning time trope and finding each other in one life to the next that is irresistible (for the obvious reason in the context of Darkest Dungeon.) It’s a soft song, totally out of place in Kesha’s typical discography, and has a line about losing someone to the crusades, so... you know.

There's just somethin' about you I know Started centuries ago though You see your kiss is like a lost ghost Only I would know But I, I keep on falling for you Time after time Time after time

7. ‘Viva la Vida’ - Coldplay

You cannot fight this. You know that this is the song for King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, you know it is. Did you know the official name of this genre of music is “Baroque pop”? Yes, that means more songs like this exist. You will live with this information now.

Don’t fight it. Just let it wash over you.

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never, never an honest word And that was when I ruled the world

Mirror, sword, and shield, the three other members of his party, his missionaries in a foreign field. Thinking emoji. I typed that out so I wouldn’t have a repeat of the crab emoji incident.

8. ‘The Boxer’ - Jerry Douglas (feat. Mumford & Sons, Paul Simon)

Partly inspired by the Bible, Simon & Garfunkle’s ‘The Boxer’ is a folk rock song about poverty, loneliness, and homesickness. It’s written and sung in a style that’s strongly reminiscent of older times, and the final verse about its eponymous boxer is particularly powerful:

In the clearing stands a boxer And a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminders Of ev'ry glove that laid him down Or cut him till he cried out In his anger and his shame "I am leaving, I am leaving" But the fighter still remains

This is what I use for Dismas’ life leading into organized crime and his foolish abandonment of stable job prospects in a half-baked bid for fame, as well as being punched down over and over again but with nowhere else to go. That last part is widely applicable across the cast.

9. ‘I Will Wait’ - Mumford & Sons

I am but a simple man. I see 'folk rock' and add it to my Darkest Dungeon playlist. This song I use for Reynauld - it has that sort of “salt of the earth,” somewhat biblical humility in its choice of words and style. 

Raise my hands Paint my spirit gold And bow my head Keep my heart slow

10. ‘Little Lion Man’ - Mumford & Sons

Have we not beaten this song to death yet? Can you blame us? This is the people’s song. We reserve it for all of our favorite fuck-up characters, as primal as Saturn devouring his son. We love this song. Jesus.

Tremble for yourself, my man, You know that you have seen this all before Tremble little lion man, You'll never settle any of your scores Your grace is wasted in your face, Your boldness stands alone among the wreck Now learn from your mother or else spend your days biting your own neck

The line about learning from your mother in particular is why I think of this song for Dismas’ introspection, but I also associate it with the Hellion.

11. ’From Eden’ - Hozier

There’s too much Hozier in my playlists. There is so much of it, and it’s all important to me, says the hoarder. There’s something about profoundly intimate folk music that I love, and god put folk, R&B, blues, and alt rock into a Vitamix for 45 seconds to make Hozier.

Honey you're familiar like my mirror years ago Idealism sits in prison, chivalry fell on its sword Innocence died screaming, honey ask me I should know I slithered here from Eden just to sit outside your door

‘From Eden’ is, according to Hozier, about idolizing someone from a distance, written from the perspective of the devil “looking longingly at something he desires - for everything that he does not have.” I associate this song with the Grave Robber for its playfully nihilistic tone - Audrey does say something to the effect of being left for dead by high society and the affectionate bordering condescending address is on-brand.

12. ‘Cherry Wine’ - Hozier

‘Cherry Wine’ is unabashedly about domestic violence, and its sincerity is heartbreaking, the sanctification of the blood spilled in the name of keeping her.

The way she tells me I'm hers and she is mine Open hand or closed fist would be fine The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine.

This song is strongly tied to the Vestal for me.

13. ‘Work Song’ - Hozier

A song about unconditional love - heaven and hell were just words, indeed.

When my time comes around Lay me gently in the cold dark earth No grave can hold my body down I'll crawl home to her

I think of this song for both Dismas and the Abomination - it’s a song about love transcending spiritual and even physical need, complete devotion, but something about it is also not quite right. It’s morbid and excessive, self-pitying, and almost ugly in its sincerity.

14. ‘Sunlight’ - Hozier

The strong gospel influence with the choruses, church organ, religious fervor - I think it makes a great song for traveling scenes and church/altar scenes.

I had been lost to you, sunlight Flew like a moth to you, sunlight oh sunlight Oh, your love is sunlight Oh, your love is sunlight (sunlight, sunlight) But it is sunlight

15. ‘Arsonist’s Lullabye’ - Hozier

The gospel this time is paired with electric rock instrumentation. Something about the lamentation is unapologetic and matter-of-fact in its disturbing inclinations - this is Paracelsus’ song. Arguably representative of Bounty Hunter and Flagellant as well.

Now that I think about it, it’s great for Abomination as well. Damn.

All you have is your fire And the place you need to reach Don't you ever tame your demons But always keep 'em on a leash

16. ‘We Sink’ - Of Monsters and Men

Of Monsters and Men are closer to the indie rock/pop spectrum with influences of folk, with much less biblical influence and more folklore-inspired lyrics. They make for great trailer and action songs.

We are the sleepers, we bite our tongues We set the fire and we let it burn Through the dreamers, we hear the hum They say come on, come on, let's go So come on, come on, let's go

In Lovecraft’s Cthulu mythos, dreams are how the Old Ones commune with humans on the earth’s surface while they slumber in the ocean depths (Cthulhu fhtagn meaning “Cthulhu is dreaming”); I like to think of the ‘sleepers’ as the heroes being tasked to “set the fire” and the ‘dreamers’ being the Heir and Ancestor driven by some unseen force to unearth the antediluvian underground.

17. ‘I Of The Storm’ - Of Monsters and Men

Very somber song, overwhelmingly piano and snare drum and vocals. Also a great death scene song, or for introspection around the campfire, or played to reveal a major event.

If I could face them If I could make amends With all my shadows I'd bow my head And welcome them

18. ‘King and Lionheart’ - Of Monsters and Men

My favorite OMAM song - it’s clearly written about two children, kind of reminiscent of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ in its fantastical nature, and very upbeat about the end of the world.

His crown lit up the way as we moved slowly Pass the wondering eyes of the ones that were left behind Though far away, though far away, though far away We're still the same, we're still the same, we're still the same

This part is reminiscent of the Leper’s journey, but the mentions of taking over a town, howling ghosts, the end of the world, a black sea and creatures lurking below, etc. are all evocative of Darkest Dungeon.

19. ‘Little Talks’ - Of Monsters and Men

Also very upbeat for its subject matter - according to OMAM, it’s a narrative of a woman speaking with the ghost of her dead husband, or going insane and believing that she’s speaking with her dead husband.

Some days I don't know if I am wrong or right Your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear 'Cause though the truth may vary This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

The call-and-respond style of the song is haunting. I like this song for expeditions and afflicted heroes.

20. ‘Wolves Without Teeth’ - Of Monsters and Men

Suitable for both Occultist and Abomination, being consumed by an unseen and otherworldly force that inhabits them - well, maybe just rarely seen, in the Abomination’s case. Special mention to OMAM’s ‘Human,’ same conceptual backing but more raw.

You hover like a hummingbird Haunt me in my sleep You're sailing from another world Sinking in my sea, oh You're feeding on my energy I'm letting go of it He wants it

21. ‘Desierto’ (Original Motion Picture Score) - Woodkid

This is a full album, because all of it is dark orchestral cinema music described as ‘unsettling,’ with the sole exception of ‘Land of All,’ which has vocals to it. I reserve this album for writing fight scenes and for particularly unsettling events because it’s tense and wordless. I read Junji Ito to this soundtrack too, it’s insanely high-strung and discordant.

22. ‘Iron’ - Woodkid

‘Iron’ qualifies as Baroque pop - you might recognize this as the Assassin’s Creed: Revelations song. The large-scale, cinematic style of it and thematic lyrics make it great for writing about dramatic encounters or brigands.

This deadly burst of snow is burning my hands I'm frozen to the bones, I am A million miles from home, I'm walking away I can't recall your eyes, your face

23. ‘Never Let You Down’ - Woodkid (feat. LYKKE LI)

Another somber song, orchestral with some industrial noise in the mix - another great introspection song, or one for a scene with some hard decisions to be made.

Will you come along cause I'm about to leave this town In my eyes, a waterfall, all I can hear, a siren call Could you be waiting by the shore, oh I could drown without you Will you be holding out the line when I fall?

24. ‘Run Boy Run’ - Woodkid

Church bells, fast percussion, strong orchestral presence. For chase scenes, obviously, but great for fast-paced sneaking scenes as well. Also has a strong quasi-Medieval fantasy setting style to it.

Tomorrow is another day And you won't have to hide away You'll be a man, boy! But for now it's time to run, it's time to run!

25. ‘I Love You’ - Woodkid

Don’t let the scream effects and aggressive percussion at the beginning deter you (it kind of took me by surprise the first few times too) - it soon fades into more of the church bells and melodic string accompaniment.

Oh yeah, unrequited love song? It’s free (mental) real estate, baby.

Is there anything I could do Just to get some attention from you? In the waves, I've lost every trace of you Where are you?

26. ‘Vagabonds’ - Grizfolk

A rare departure from folk! Grizfolk is alt rock/indie pop. Stylistically it doesn’t match the feeling of Darkest Dungeon, but lyrically it’s almost 1:1 to arrival in the hamlet and the subsequent expeditions. Good song for writing about recruits bonding.

Oh this careless ground, guessing this is home now Oh in no man's land, at least we're still standing And we're all just fighting, some of us will not return And there's no redemption in trying to find your way out

27. ‘Everybody Wants To Rule The World’ - Lorde

Great trailer fuel, if you’ve seen the AC: Unity E3 trailer with this song - I listen to an extended version when writing fights in the Guild, especially one where two heroes are beefing. It’s got a primal kind of thing going on. I also associate this song with the Arbalest - lyrically, it fits her backstory like a glove.

Welcome to your life There's no turning back Even while we sleep We will find you

Acting on your best behavior Turn your back on mother nature

28. ‘Torches’ - X Ambassadors

More alt rock/indie pop - kind of a rallying song for dark expeditions, hopeful but still somber in nature - some gospel elements. X Ambassadors’ more popular ‘Renegades’ is also a fun tavern song.

Come on, carry your flame Carry it higher Leave it in the darkness Carry your torches

29. ‘Passing Afternoon’ - Iron & Wine

This is a song I use for reconciliation or domestic scenes - Dismas with Junia in the garden, for example. It’s soft and kind of meandering, and features vintage piano - you know, the piano you heard in the basement of your church turned community center as a child.

There are times that walk from you like some passing afternoon Summer warmed the open window of her honeymoon And she chose a yard to burn but the ground remembers her Wooden spoons, her children stir her Bougainvillea blooms

30. ‘Some Nights’ - Fun.

You know this song, your mom knows this song, everyone knows this song from like, middle school. Thought it’d be fun to end this list on an uplifting and very popular song. This is the song that a Disney adaptation of Darkest Dungeon would use in the Training Montage™ - from the point of view of Reynauld. It hits all of the points - being their commander rather than their equal, his stern and antisocial zealotry with no true ideology behind it, the ghost of his wife.

Verse 2, starting with “Well, that is it, guys, that is all / Five minutes in and I'm bored again” is where I see it transitioning to Dismas.

Well, some nights, I wish that this all would end 'Cause I could use some friends for a change And some nights, I'm scared you'll forget me again Some nights, I always win (I always win) But I still wake up, I still see your ghost Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh What do I stand for? What do I stand for? Most nights, I don't know

_____

Well that’s all from me! Feel free to leave your own recommendations in the replies, and I’d love to know what you think about my personal picks. :+)

[souvcniir]

*  bopping  along  to  rude  boy  by  rihanna  is  𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐀  ❝   𝐑𝐈𝐙𝐎   ❞  𝐆𝐈𝐋𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓  ,  the  twenty  one  year  old  cis  woman  thrown  back  to  their   hospitality  management with  some  of  her   memories  .  voted  most  likely  to  star  in  their   own  reality  tv  show ,  rizo  was  known  for  being  flamboyant  &  loquacious ,  go  figures  you'd  always  find  them  giving  drunk  pep  talks  in  the  girls  bathroom ,  but  grew  up  to  be  punctual  &  hard  headed.  

hi  ..  how  ya  doing  ?  it’s  me  ...   again  .  gi  back  again  with  my  second  muse  who  is  just  ...  have  you  seen  her  ?  stunning  .  beautiful  .  the  mother  i  never  had   ,  the  sister  everybody  would  want   ,  and  the  friend  everybody  deserves  .  ASDFGHJ  .  let  me  stop  .  down  below  is  a  little  about  my  baby  doll  and if  you  already  liked  my  last  post  i’ll  definitely  be  bothering  you  about  plotting  with  this  baby  too  !!

*   𝐎𝐍𝐄                          𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐀𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒  .

gold   wings   dangling   in   between   collar   bones   ,   sun   light   parting   cloudy   skies   ,   vowels   dipped   in   honey   ,   baths   filled   with   rose   petals   ,    sketches   under   a   cotton   candy   sunset   . 

*   ��𝐖𝐎                          𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒 .

full   name.   arizona  scarlett  gilbert  .   nickname(s).   rizo  ,  ari  ,  zo  ,  zona  .   preferred   name.   rizo  and/or  ari  .   past  age.   twenty  one  .   present  age.   thirty  one  .   date  of  birth.   october  eleventh  .  zodiac.  libra  . gender. cis  woman  .   pronouns. she  and  her  .   sexuality. heterosexual  .   younger  faceclaim.   charlotte  d’alessio  .   older  faceclaim.   alycia  debnam  carey   .

*   𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄                          𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐒  .

(   death  ,   specifically  cancer   ).  

    in  her  first  cry    ,     she  was  gifted  an  echo   .    something  said  to  be  a  miracle  especially  upon  ears  that  had  once  suffered  the  news  of  a  lost  future  of  bearing   children  .     that  night  ,  prayers  of  thank  you’s  were  sent  to  the  heavens    ,  and  mouths  were  stuff  with  love  sculpted  by  two  pairs  of  glimmering  emerald  hues   .   

    granted  fifteen  years  of  sweetness  and  happiness  that  painted  countenances  .    the  two  were  split  from  the  same  soul  .   her  sister  was  contagious  and  arizona  was  syrupy  .   never  each  other’s  shadow  ,  just  each  other’s  biggest  fan  .  the  girls  were  great  apart  ,  but  together  they  were  unstoppable  .  but  just  like  summer  sunshine  ,  rapid  thunderstorms  creep  up  on  you  without  warning  .  their  thunder  fell  into  their  ears  as  a  disease  too  far  along  to  promise  hope  .   in  the  blink  of  an  eye  ,  cancer  had  disguised  itself  as  her  twin  sister  ,   the  light  that  once  sparkled  in  her  eyes  died  out  .

    equivalent  to  a  nightmare  ,  when  the  sun  forgets  to  rise  and  feet  forgot  how  to  move  ;   she  was  haunted  by  a  ghost  who  had  her  face  .   swore  she  could  hear  her  in  the  dead  of  the  night  ,  and  sometimes  even  in  broad  daylight  .   grief  left  her  clinging  to  bedsheets  that  still  lingered  of  her  sister’s  memory  ,  and  soon  her  emerald  hues  became  a  reminder  of  a  child  lost  .   she  no  longer  had  her  sister  to  hide  behind  ,  and  her  parent’s  were  no  longer  able  to  pretend  they  could  look  her  in  the  eye  .

reminded  herself  she  was  alive  until  tears  hung  in  her  eyes  and  screams  left  her  mouth  until  voice  was  no  longer  recognizable    .  she  might  not  be  able  to  live  life  by  her  sister’s  side  ,  but  she  could  live  life  for  her  sister  .    that  night  ,  her  hands  were  drenched  in  cold  glue  from  gluing  herself  back  together  .  and  after  that  ,  cloudy  skies  cleared  and  only  the  lingering  smell  of  raindrops  remained  .  she’d  never  get  over  it  ,  but  she  would  not  become  it  .

*   𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑                         𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓  .  

grief  no  longer   visible  in  tawny  features  ,   she   radiated  a  warmness  that  seemed  to  be  nothing  but  intoxicating  .   clung  to  a  desperation  to  escape  a  town  filled  with  broken  hearts  and  disappointment   and  took  a  big  deep  breath  of  a  new  beginning  at   rom  valley  university  .

she  was  a  face  you  spotted  everywhere  ,  on  the  sidelines  with  pom  poms  in  her  hands  and  in  class  whispering  about  how  she  had  no  idea  what  was  going  on   .   being  involved  was  something  she  thrived  on  ,   and  because  of  that  she  was  known  for  being  the  social  butterfly  ,   the  chatter  bug  ,  and  the  girl  who  always  had  a  smile  on  her  face  . 

 not  a  dumb  girl  ,  but  she  happened  to  be  one  of  those  people  who   prioritized  their  social  life  instead  of  their  grades  .  had  to  really  apply  herself  for  anything  above  a  low  b  ,   but  as  we  all  say  c’s  get  degree’s  .  and   truthfully  she  was  more  worried  enjoying  life  rather  then  having  a  break  down  over  a  calculus  class  .  

had  a  bad  habit  of  speaking  without  thinking  ,  and  feeling  without  processing  .  life  is  too  short  so  she  refuses  to  be   someone  who  keeps  her  emotions  bottled  up  .   instead   wears  them  in  facial  expressions  and  words  of  anger  or  joy  or  sadness  .  if  you  did  something  wrong  ,  she’ll  tell  you  .  if  she’s  feeling  a  type  of  way  ,  you’ll  know  .  but  because  of  this  she  is  very  forward  with  showing  those  she  cares  about  ,  she  cares  about  them  .  her  love  language  is  pecks  on  the  lips  and  i  love  you’s  before  she  ends  the  call  .   

*   𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄                         𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓   .

not  as  open  as  she  used  to  be  ,  but  she  still  shines  bright  .   learned  to  bite  her  tongue  and  control  her  careless  ways  .  in  some  ways  ,  she  simply  just  matured  ,  no  longer  that  twenty  year  old  something  that  can  get  away  with  screaming  in  the  rain  because  she  needed  to  get  it  off  her  chest  .

thinks  about  her  sister  more  then  she  did  before  ,   her  mother  says  it’s  because  she’s  experiencing  firsts  that  she  wishes  her  sister  was  there  to  see  .  she  still  refuses  to  show  her  bleeding  wounds  ,  instead  bandages  them  up  every  night  and  whispers  i  miss  you’s  to  the  sky  .

fell  into  the  career  of  a  wedding  planner  and  has  never  been  so  in  love  with  a  job  before  ,  it’s  everything  she  had  ever  hoped  for  .  she  gets  to  be  creative  ,  interact  with  people  on  the  daily  ,  and  make  other’s  happy  .  though  ,  it  has  made  her  a  true  romantic  .

her  relationship  with  her  parents  is  special   , something  that  formed  as  she  got  older  and  began  to  understand  that  yes  she  lost  her  other  half  ,  but  they  too  lost  a  child  .   she’s  grateful  for  her  parents  and  is  constantly  reminding  herself  to  give  them  some  extra  love  .  at  the  end  of  the  day  ,  they  are  all  she  has  . 

she  lives  in  the  city  of  new  york  in  a  beautiful  apartment  ,  and  while  it  is  such  a  different  atmosphere  then  the  small  town  she  was  raised  in  ,  she  enjoys  it  .   but  her  being  her  ,  she  still  needs  to  experience  as  much  as  she  can  and  so  you’ll  her  packing  her  bags  every  so  often  and  living  it  up  in  a  different  country  or  a  different  city  for  a  few  weeks  and  of  course  dragging  a  few  of  her  friends  with  her  .

*   𝐒𝐈𝐗                         𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓  𝐈𝐍  𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓   .

it  feels  like  a  case  of  deja  vu   ,  so  familiar  she  has  to  stop  and  think  about  it  for  a  little  .   swears  she  see’s  pieces  of  her  future  in  her  dreams  ,  and  yet  they  feel  so  real  it’s  almost  as  if  she’s  already  lived  it  .  sometimes  she  feels  like  she’s  going  crazy  ,  but  most  time  she’s  losing  herself  in  the  moment  .  

*   𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍                          𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐒  .

she  wears  her  sister’s  ashes  in  a  wing  shaped  necklace  ,   and  later  on  decided  to  get  something  permanent  via  tattoo  .   her  tattoo  is  located  on  her inner  arm   and  looks  a  little  something  like  this  . 

she’s  a  travel  bug  ,  and  has  been  to  countless  of  places  .  she’s  one  of  those  people  who  has  a  journal  tucked  away  with  every  single  place  she  has  ever  wanted  to  visit  and  she  will  complete  her  list  .

in  college  ,  she  was  one  of  those  people  who  wrote  the  prettiest  notes  that  you  have  ever  seen  ,  did  she  waste  more  time  writing  them  then  actually  studying  ?  yes  .

she  started  playing  soccer  in  elementary   school  and  actually  studied  at   rvu  on  a  scholarship  .  it  was  one  of  the  first  activities  that  arizona  did  outside  of  her  sister  and  after  her  passing  it  because  a  way  to  get  her  mind  off  of  her  passing  .

*  𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓                          𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒  .

*   again  ,  these  are  simply  just  ideas  to  give  us  something  to  start  with  ,  i  am  open  to  anything  that  is  not  mentioned  as  well  am  completely  and  totally  okay  with  switching  things  around  and  adding  things  to  these  ideas !!!  i  love  plotting  and  bouncing ideas  off  of  each  other  so  don’t  be  afraid  to  stray !

                    LOOK  ,  WE’RE  IN  TUNE  ,  WE’RE  IN  SYNC   .  EYE  TO  EYE  ,  DON’T  NEED  TO  THINK  (  PAST/PRESENT  CONNECTION  ┋  OPEN   )  .     labeled  as  the  duo  to  be  reckoned  with  ,  there’s  love  between  these  two  that  not  even  words  could  explain  .    a  friendship  that  has  last  a  decade  ,  you  can  hear  them  constantly  giggle  how  they’re  soulmates   .    that’s  just  their  bond  .  secrets  ,  laughter  ,  memories  ,  communication  without  words  ,  a  lifetime  of  inside  jokes  ,  being  attached  at  the  hip   .   this  is  just  a  forever  thing  .

                  WE’RE  BOTH  DROWNING  IN  GASOLINE  ,  BURNING  OVER  TIME  .   (  PAST  CONNECTION  ┋  OPEN   )  .    this  friend  is  someone  that  arizona  held  close  to  her  heart  ,  when  memories  crept  back  up  on  her  and  that  empty  feeling  in  her  heart  escape  bars  she  seemed  to  always  find  comfort  in  this  person  .  and  always  promised  them  ,  that  they  could  find  comfort  or  at  least  a  set  of  ears  in  her  .

                  I  KNOW  YOU  SAID  LEAVE  ,  BUT  FUCK  WHAT  YOU  SAID  .  CAUSE  YOU’RE  STEADY  CRAWLING  ON  YOUR  KNEES  AGAIN  ,  YOU  NEED  A  FRIEND  (  PAST  CONNECTION  ┋  OPEN   )  .    this  was  someone  that  brought  the  worse  out  in  arizona  .   they  are  the  whispers  of  careless  actions  in  each  other  ears  and  blurry  lines  of  what  they  are  to  each  other  .  stolen  kisses  and  screaming  voices  the  consequence  of  that  .  but  regardless  of  where  they  stand  in  one  another’s  life  ,  they’re  the  prime  example  that  not  every  bond  should  last  .

                  SAME  CREW  ,  I  AIN’T  HANGING  WITH  NO  NEW  BITCH   (  PAST/PRESENT  CONNECTION  ┋  OPEN   )  .    a  group  of  friend  who’s  energy  is  contagious  .  in  college  they  were  the  ones  people  watched  from  afar  and  earned  for  something  just  like  it  .  they  had  their  fair  share  of  fallout’s  ,  nights  of  blacking  out  and  holding  each  other’s  hair  back  ,  hungover  brunches  ,  embarrassing  stories  during  each  other’s  weddings  ,   but  their  bond  is  for  life  .  

              I  MIGHT  BREAK  UP  WITH  YOU  ,  JUST  TO  MAKE  UP  WITH  YOU  .  AT  THE  END  OF  THE  DAY  ,  BOY  ,  YOU  KNOW  THAT  I’M  ABOUT  TO  WAKE  UP  WITH  YOU  .  (  PAST  CONNECTION  ┋  OPEN   )  .    the  most  serious  relationship  arizona  had  in  college  ,  and  it  was  mixed  with  such  high  and  low  moments  but  regardless  the  two  always  found  their  way  back  to  each  other  .    for  arizona  ,  she  was  in  love  and  they  were  all  she  wanted  .  no  matter  what  .

             MANY  TIMES  WE  FELT  IT  ,  CAME  CLOSE  FOR  A  MINUTE  .  WRONG  PLACE  ,  WRONG  TIME  ,  YOU  WERE  ALMOST  MINE  . (  PAST  CONNECTION  ┋  OPEN   )  .    it  always  felt  like  more  .   lingering  touches  and  avoiding  the  conversation  ,  almost  never  given  the  right  opportunity  to  say  how  they  really  felt  and  in  return  for  years  watched  one  another  fall  in  and  out  of  love  with  other  people  .

[ghost-chance]

Fanfiction Recommendation: “Fat. Beautiful. Tasty. Ravenous” by MoofyKitten

Title: Fat. Beautiful. Tasty. Ravenous Author: MoofyKitten on AO3/FFN/Wattpad Fandom: BNHA/My Hero Academia Rating: M/MA for a reason. (Detailed sex in over half the posted chapters. Perv away only if you’re of age!) Pairing(s): Fat Gum [Toyomitsu Taishirou] / OFC Found on: AO3

Deets Expect some light spoilers and a mini-rant.

I am an unrepentant fanfiction addict; this is no secret. There are fics I read to wind down after a rough day, fics I read to put myself to sleep in hopes of pleasant dreams, and fics I read to tear my hear into teeny tiny fragments then build it back again better than before. THEN there are fics that don’t fit the mold – the kind that I become so invested in that I physically cannot put off reading that update. THIS, my lovelies, is one of THOSE fics, and it’s earned that place from the early chapters. This story has almost everything I need from a fanfiction, and I have a feeling the rest is just around the corner.

Let’s get the basics out of the way.

The Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are all excellent – I have yet to notice a single error, so either the author and her betas are a force to be reckoned with or I’m just getting so sucked into the story an elephant could sit on me and I’d never notice. The formatting is effective and easy to follow, and the chapters have all been of a nice meaty length, perfect for plowing through in a single sitting only to realize you missed a meal and it’s time for bed and your brain is hopelessly lost in ship-land daydreaming about what’s up next. ...wait, that’s just me? My bad.

Syntax – This one requires an entire section of its own. The fact that I’m having to actually think about how well the author’s varying their syntax says they’re effing nailing it. If a story’s syntax is at all static or the sentence even the slightest bit predictable, it’s easy enough for me to recall it because I’m mentally rearranging the bits that irk or don’t impress me as I read. I can’t even get through a bleepin’ news article or an online recipe without itching to push what I’m reading up to the standards my professors held. It sounds harsh, I know, but please take  my word for it when I say I’m not criticizing anyone. Suffice it to say, if my classes did anything, they made editing so instinctive I can’t turn it off. Confession: I have never found myself rearranging a single phrase in this masterpiece. Arguing with the characters? Encouraging the characters? Begging, pleading, and berating the characters for breaking my heart time and time again by stopping just short of the sugary fluff I can just smell right around the corner? Oh, Hell yes. I’ve done all of that and more, but I’ve never found myself with the urge to grab my red pen and strike out or scooch even a single word.

Something that strikes me about this story above others I’ve given the same rating (Spoiler: there are VERY FEW!) is the sheer variety of the scenes and environments. Sounds silly? Probably, but romances often develop a certain amount of location stagnation, and I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to bust through those patterns. (I mean, the majority of “A New Lease on Life” takes place in the Lair in some room, most commonly a bedroom, the lab, or the kitchen.) This story takes the couple off of familiar and ‘safe’ turf like homes and offices and drags them through countless other places without regard for their sense of comfort. Each scene feels real and multi-dimensional and directly or indirectly influences the characters’ behavior and reactions. It’s awesome. That’s a sign the author has done her people-watching!

Now, about that OC. I’ll readily admit, in the first chapter, I had my reservations. At first glance she seemed shallow, obsessed with appearances and her own view of the world, and – strange as it may sound – too skinny and too attractive. Yes, there’s some personal bias involved there, but the majority was practical rather than emotional. BUT! Because the writer of this story is the same who unleashed the beautiful Kacchako torment Hot-Headed upon me without a single breath of remorse, I gave Aiko a chance. Sure enough, my first impressions were entirely incorrect. The things that bothered me about Aiko? They all had explanation or purpose, and she’s turned out to be a pretty well-fleshed out character...pun intended. As the story progresses we’re seeing sides of her that I hoped for but didn’t expect and each chapter leaves me wondering what we’ll learn next.

Romantic connection. First word: “OOFTA.” The second word, I’d spell out, but it’s a shrill, wordless, begging whine that I cannot translate into English for the life of me. This pairing starts without any sort of romantic connection; it skips straight to the shenanigans and leaves hope that the snugglebunnies will follow eventually. Friends…if you’ve read any of my writing before, you’ll know that I. LIVE. For. The. FLUFF. The awkward mush, the sweaty palms, the am-I-gonna-barf-or-do-I-have-a-crush, the absolutely tooth-rotting sweetness capable of sending a reader headlong into diabetes with a dopey grin and heart eyes - they’re my crack and I love them. This story started with no fluff but it’s been slowly developing in the background. It’s an entirely new situation for me! I feel like I’ve gotten used to eating my dessert first then digging into an equally sweet dinner without a moment to cleanse my palate. This story? It’s like gorging on smoky, meaty St. Louie barbecue for weeks on end with literally just a smear of something sweet as an afterthought. Mind. Frackin’. BLOWN. It turns out I’m more masochistic as a reader than I ever suspected.

Another relationship I want to cover is the building friendship between Aiko and Fat Gum – because nope, she has not managed to mentally connect the half-starved Taishiro she’s climbing like a tree with the big-and-beautiful Fat Gum who owns the agency. Yep. She thinks she’s boning Fat’s beefy little brother. It’d be funny if my heart wasn’t whining for fluff. While frustrating to fluff-starved readers, Aiko not knowing the beefcake and the brother are one and the same provides an intriguing and natural way for her to build an actual relationship with him. This means none of the fetishistic bullarkey rampant in other stories pairing plus-sized male characters with OCs.

What sort of fetishistic bullarkey am I talking about? To name a handful: I love you so lose weight. I love you because you’re big. I’m fat too so it’s okay if we’re together. Blatant fat-fetish disguised as romance. Fat character’s life absolutely revolves around food and it’s gross/nvm it’s okay. Lastly, OC’s only chance at being loved by fat character is feeding them. Maybe to thin folks those don’t sound negative but to those of us who fit the description? NOPE. These don’t make healthy relationships. Using these can turn a well-meaning pairing toxic and frankly, it tends to piss off those of us who – GASP! - accept ourselves no matter our size. These...tropes, let’s call them, have made me hesitant to even try fiction involving plus sized male characters because I’ve been let down so many times. Finding plus sized female characters is easy, especially OCs, but appreciation for the chonky bois isn’t nearly as common. They need love too, dammit!

Ahem. Rant over.

As mentioned before, I ain’t seen any of that crap in this story. This author is treating Fat Gum like she would any other character instead of focusing on the fat. I wish with all my heart that more authors were capable of (and willing to) do the same with Fat Gum, and with other plus sized male characters. I can’t even put into words how much it means to me that she’s doing such a fantastic job portraying a character type that so many writers bungle without ever realizing it. I’ve needed this story my entire life and never realized it wasn’t there; I shudder to think of how long I might have been waiting for it if this author never found the inspiration to do so.

If I don’t shut up now, I fear I never will. I love this story that much. Moving on.

Warnings

Explicit sexual content – do NOT read this around your family unless you have a stronger will than I and can do so without creeping them out. (According to my husband, when I read smut I “look like a demented vulture staring down at a half-flattened ‘possum waiting for it to take its last breath,” complete with hunched shoulders and heavy breathing. Flattering, I know.) The smut scenes, while not my usual cuppa tea, wreck. My brain? Broke. Chapter four’s budding romance? It’s goin’ on my headstone ‘cuz I’m dead.

There are mentions of human trafficking and the future may include more about it. Slut-shaming comes up a few times because men are assholes and asshole exes are the ultimate assholes. Situational fat-shaming and lack of body confidence come up as Aiko comes to recognize Fat Gum for who he is instead of what he is; on the other end of the tag, Fat is also doing a lot of it to himself even when it isn’t spelled out. You can see it behind some of his reasoning in his POV chapters and since the writer is kickass at portraying thoughts and feelings without ever breaking out of restricted POV, you can also see hints in other chapters. That said, if the shaming was really bad without any redeeming purpose, I’d have noped my way right out’a that fic and never looked back. It has a purpose, and it’s not that bad. Give it a chance.

Recommendation level

This story lacks purple prose and excessive fluff, and I haven’t seen any signs of the pop culture, literary, and music references I love so dearly, but the rating remains the same:

Ten. Out. of. Farking. TEN!

YES! I’ve finally found another 10/10!!! A quick reminder for anyone who’s managed to not see my other reading recc posts, I don’t even need both hands to count off all the 10/10s I’ve read. Congratulations, Ms. MoofyKitten – your story rocks my world and I have an addiction I do not care to shake!

[maximelebled]

My quick review of the ASUS XG27UQ monitor (4K, HDR, 120Hz)

I originally wanted to tweet this series of bullet points out but it was getting way too long, so here goes! I got this to replace a PG278Q, which was starting to develop odd white stains, and never had good color reproduction in the first place (TN film drawbacks, very low gamma resulting in excessively bright shadows, under-saturated shadows, etc.)

The hardware aesthetic is alright! The bezels may feel a bit large to some people, but I don’t mind them at all. If you’re a fan of the no-bezel look, you’ll probably hate it. There is a glowing logo on the back that you can customize (Static Cyan is my recommendation), but it isn’t bright enough to be used as bias lighting, which would’ve been nice.

The built-in stand is decent; it comes with a tacky and distracting light projection feature at the bottom. It felt quite stable, though I don’t care about it because it got instantly replaced by an Ergotron LX arm. (I have two now, I really recommend them in spite of their price.) 

The coating is a little grainy and this is noticeable on pure colors! You can kinda see the texture come through, a bit more than I’d like. Not a huge deal though.

The rest of the review will be under the cut.

The default color preset (”racing mode”), which the monitor is calibrated against, is very vivid and saturated. It looks great! But it’s inherently inaccurate, which bothers me, so I don’t like it. It looks like as if sRGB got stretched into the expanded gamut of the monitor.

sRGB “emulation” looks very similar to my Dell U2717D, whose sRGB mode is factory-calibrated. However, the XG27UQ’s sRGB mode has lower gamma (brighter shadows), so while the colors are accurate, the gamma is not. It feels 1.8-ish. Unless you were in a bright room, it would be inappropriate for work that needs to have accurate shadows. This mode also locks other controls, so it’s not the most useful, but the brightness is set well on it, so it is usable!

The “User Mode” settings use the calibrated racing mode as a starting point, which is a big relief. So it’s possible to tweak the color temperature and the saturation from there! I checked pure white against my Dell monitor and my smartphone (S9+) and tried to reach a reasonable 3-way compromise between them, knowing that the Dell is most likely the most accurate, and that Samsung also allegedly calibrates their high-end smartphones well. My configuration ended up being R:90/G:95/B:100 + SAT:42. This matches the saturation of the U2717D sRGB mode fairly closely. You also get to choose between 1.8, 2.2, and 2.5 gamma too, which is not too granular, but great to have. It kinda feels like my ideal match is between 2.2 and 2.5, but 2.2 is fine.

The color gamma according to lagom.nl looked fine, but I had to open the picture in Paint, otherwise it was DPI-scaled in the browser, and that messed with the way it works!! (That website is an amazing resource for quick monitor checks.)

Colors are however somewhat inaccurate in this mode. It’s easy to see by comparing the tweaked User Mode vs. sRGB emulation. There are some rather sizeable hue shifts in certain cases. I believe part of this is caused by the saturation tweak not operating properly.

Here’s a photo of what the Photoshop color picker looks like when Saturation is set to 0 on the monitor, vs. what a proper grayscale conversion should be. It’s definitely not using the right coefficients. 

So in practice, when using the Racing & User modes, compared to the U2717D sRGB, here’s a few examples of what I see:

Reds are colder (towards the purple side) & oversaturated

Bright yellow (255,215,90) is undersaturated

Bright green (120,200,130) is undersaturated

Dark green (0,105,60) is fine

Magenta (220,13,128) is oversaturated

Dark reds & brown (150,20,20 to 90,15,10) is oversaturated

Cyan (0,180,240) is fine 

Pink (230,115,170) is fine

Some shades of bright saturated blue (58,48,220) have the biggest shifts.

The TF2 skin tone becomes slightly desaturated and a bit colder

It’s not inaccurate to the point of being distracting, and you always have the  sRGB mode (with flawed gamma?) to check things with, but it’s definitely not ideal, and some of these shifts go far enough that I wouldn’t recommend this monitor for color work that needs to be very accurate.

I’ve went back and forth, User vs sRGB, several times, on my most recent work (True Sight 2019 sequences). I’ve found the differences were acceptable for the most part; they bothered me the most during the Chronosphere sequence, in which the hazy sunset atmosphere turned a bit into to a rose gold tint, which wasn’t unpleasant at all — and looked quite pretty! — but it wasn’t what I did.

I’m coming from the point of view of a “prosumer” who cares about color accuracy, but who ultimately recognizes that this quest is impossible in the face of so many devices out there being inaccurate or misconfigured one way or the other. In the end, my position is more pragmatic, and I feel that you gotta be able to see how your stuff’s gonna look on the devices where it’ll actually be watched. So while I’ve done color grading on a decent-enough sRGB-calibrated monitor, I’ve always checked it against the inaccurate PG278Q, and I’ve done a little bit of compromising to keep my color work looking alright even once gamma shifted. And so, now, I’ll also be getting to see what my colors look like on a monitor that doesn’t quite restrain itself to sRGB gamut properly.

Well, at least, all of that stuff is out of the box, but...

TFTCentral (one of the most trustworthy monitor review websites, in my opinion) has found suspiciously similar shifts. But after calbration, their unit passed with flying colors (pun intended), so if you really care about this sort of stuff and happen to have a colorimeter... you should give it a try!

I hope one day we’ll be able to load and apply an ICC/ICM profile computer-wide, instead of only being able to load a simple gamma curve on the GPU with third-party tools like DisplayCAL. Even if it had to squeeze the gamut a bit...

Also, there are dynamic dimming / auto contrast ratio features which could potentially be useful in limited scenarios if you don’t care about color accuracy and want to maximize brightness. I believe they are forced on for HDR. But you will probably not care at all.

IPS glow is not very present on my unit; less than on my U2717D. However, when it starts to show up (more than a 30°-ish angle away), it shows up more. UPDATED: after some more time with the monitor, I wanna say that, in fact, IPS glow isit's slightly stronger, and shows up sooner (as in, from broader angles). It requires me to sit a greater distance from the monitor in order to not have it show up and impede dark scenes. It is worse than on my U2717D.

Backlight bleed, on the other hand, is there, and a little bit noticeable. On my unit, there’s a little bit of blue-ish bleed on the lower left corner, and some dark-grey-orange bleed for a good third of the upper-left. However, in practice, and to my eyes, it doesn’t bother me, even when I look for it. It ain’t perfect, but I’ve definitely seen worse, especially from ASUS. The photo above was taken at 100% brightness, and I’ve tried to make it just a tad brighter than what my eyes see, so hopefully it’s a decent sample.

Dead pixels: on my unit, I have 5 stuck dead green subpixels overall. There are 4 in a diamond pattern somewhat down and right to the center of the screen, and another one, a bit to the right of that spot. All of them kinda “shimmer” a little bit, in the sense that they become stronger or weaker based on my angle of view. They’re a bummer but I haven’t found them to be a hindrance. Took me a few days to even notice them for the first time, after all.

HDR is just about meaningless and uses some global dimming techniques, as well as stuff that feels like... you know that Intel HD driver feature that brightens the content on the screen, while lowering the panel backlight power in tandem, to save power, but it kinda flattens (and sometimes clips) highlights? It kinda looks like that sometimes. Without local dimming, HDR is just about meaningless.

Unfortunately, the really nice HDR support in computer monitors is still looking like it’s going to be at the very least a year out, and even longer for sub-1000 price ranges. (I was holding out for the PG27UQX at first, but it still has no word on availability, a whole year after being announced, and will probably cost over two grand, so no thanks.)

G-Sync (variable refresh rate) support is... not there yet?! The latest driver does not recognize the monitor as being compatible with the feature. And it turns out that the product page says that G-Sync support is currently being applied for. Huh. I thought they had special chips in those monitors solely for the feature, but it’s possible this one does it another way? (The same way that Freesync monitors do it?)

DSC (Display Stream Compression) enables 4K 120Hz to work through a single DisplayPort cable, without chroma subsampling. And it’s working for me, which came as a surprise, as I was under the impression this feature required a 2000-series Turing GPUs. (I have a 1080 Ti.) I was wrong about this, it’s 144 Hz that requires DSC. And I don’t have it on this Pascal card. But I don’t really care since I prefer to run this monitor at 120 Hz, as it’s a multiple of the 60 Hz monitor next to it.

Windows DPI scaling support is okay now. Apps that are DPI-aware, and the vast majority of them are now, scale back and forth between 150% and 100% really well as they get dragged between the monitors! The only program I’ve had issues with is good old Winamp, which acted as if it was 100% on the XG27UQ... and shrinked down on another monitor. So I asked it to override DPI scaling behaviour (”scaling performed by: application”), which keeps the player skin at 100% on every monitor, but any call to system fonts and UI (Bento skin’s playlist + Settings panel) are still at 150%. So I had to set the playlist font size to 7 for it to look OK on the non-scaled monitor!

A few apps misbehave in interesting ways; TeamSpeak, for example, seen above, scales everything back from 150% to 100%, and there is no blurriness, but the “larger layout” (spacing, etc.) sticks.

Games look great with 4K in 27 inches. Well, I’ve only really tried Dota 2 so far, but man does it get sharp, especially with the game’s FXAA disabled. It was already a toss-up at 1440p, but at 4K I would argue you might as well keep it disabled. However, going from 2560x1440 to 3840x2160 requires some serious horsepower. It may look like a +50% upgrade in pixels, but it’s actually a +125% increase! (3.68 to 8.29 million pixels.) For a 1080 Ti, maxed-out Dota 2 at 1440p 120hz is really trivial, but once you go to 4K, not anymore...  you could always lower resolution scale though! (Not an elegant solution if you like to use sharpening filters though, looking at you RDR2.)

Overall, the XG27UQ is a good monitor, and I’m satisfied with my purchase, although slightly disappointed by the strong IPS glow and the few dead subpixels. 7/10

[cardest]

Las Vegas playlist

VIVA LAS BRALESS! Welcome to Las Vegas! Neon night, shining lights, hangovers in the desert. This is my Las Vegas playlist with a few songs about Death Valley, California and Area 51 of Nevada thrown in. Songs about gambling? This is the playlist for that. Have they stopped counting the votes in Nevada in the US Election yet? If not, this is the ultimate Las Vegas/Nevada playlist for them to listen to as they count the votes. Might make them count faster! Now, let’s hit the roulette wheel.

001 Southern Culture On The Skids -  40 Miles To Vegas 002 Faith Hill - Let's Go to Vegas 003 ZZ Top - Viva Las Vegas 004 Gram Parsons - Ooh Las Vegas 005 CSI Opening Theme Las Vegas 006 Dean Martin -  Ain't That A Kick In The Head 007 Vanishing Point Soundtrack - Welcome To Nevada 008 The B-52's - Queen of Las Vegas 009 ALBERT HAMMOND - DIME QUEEN OF NEVADA 010 The Cult - The Big Neon Glitter 011 Ocean's Eleven OST - Main Title Theme 012 Vista Chino - Acidize? The Gambling Moose 013 Ian Thomas - Pilot 014 Ocean's 11 OST (1960) Saul Bass - Intro theme song 015 The Runaways - Neon Angels on the Road to Ruin 016 AC-DC - Sin City 017 The Allman Brothers Band - Desert Blues 018 Ocean's Eleven Soundtrack - The Plans 019 Sir Nesmith - Nevada Fighter 020 Gil Evans - Las Vegas Tango 021 Alan Jackson - Gone Country 022 Electric Light Orchestra - [Face the Music] Poker 023 Charlie Clouser - Let It Ride (Las Vegas OST) 024 Love/Hate -  Wasted in America 025 The Fall - Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul 026 Blue Man Group -  Drumbone 027 Atreyu -  Nevada's Grace 028 The Clash -  Three Card Trick 029 Madonna - Gambler 030 Bob Seger- Still The Same 031 Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas 032 Mike Patton - A Little Poker Tomorrow Night? 033 Steely Dan -  Do It Again 034 Ocean's Thirteen soundtrack - Snake Eyes 035 Demon Lung - Lament Code 036 Grateful Dead - Deal 037 Kraftwerk -  Neon Lights 038 Dean Martin - Drink to Me Only 039 INXS - Pretty Vegas 040 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas OST - one toke over the line 041 Sally Dotson, Smoky Babe, Hillary Blunt - Your dice won't pass 042 David Holmes - Boobytrapping 043 The Daughters of Bristol - Addiction 044 Frank Sinatra - Luck be a Lady 045 Golden Earring - The Last Frontier Hotel   046 David Bowie - Cactus 047 Jimmy Buffett - Death Valley Lives 048 Vista Chino - Good Morning Wasteland 049 Mark Lanegan - Driving Death Valley Blues 050 Heart - Death Valley 051 Sacred Reich -  Death Valley 052 A Storm of Light -  Wasteland 053 R.E.M. - All the Way to Reno (Youre Gonna Be a Star) 054 Michael Nesmith & The First National Band  - Nevada Fighter 055 Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats -  Death Valley Blues 056 Talking heads - road to nowhere 057 Poison Idea - Getting the Fear 058 Dwight Yoakam - A Thousand Miles From Nowhere 059 Audrey Horne -  Desert Song 060 Sonic Youth  (W/ Lydia Lunch) - Death Valley 69 061 DEATH VALLEY GIRLS - ELECTRIC HIGH 062 The Byrds - Mr. Spaceman 063 Little River Band - Lonesome Loser 064 Sepultura - Arise 065 ACDC - Badlands 066 John Cale and Bob Neuwirth -  Paradise Nevada 067 Artension -  Area 51 068 Hypocrisy - Eraser 069 Sammy Hagar -  Silver Lights 070 Megadeth - Hangar 18 071 Lalo Schifrin - Nevada Mood 072 Billy Joel - Stop In Nevada 073 David Holmes - Ruben's In   074 Scott Kelly - St. John the Gambler 075 Helmet -  Sinatra 076 J.C. Satan - Prehistoric Stomp 077 ELLINGTON, DUKE - Caravan 078 The Pynnacles - Tonight In The Desert 079 Don Peake - The Hills Have Eyes 080 Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want) 081 The Gun Club -  Bad America 082 Journey - Separate Ways Worlds Apart 083 Motorhead -  Ace Of Spades 084 Kenny Rogers -  The Gambler 085 Ramones - Zero Zero UFO 086 ABBA -  The Winner Takes It All 087 David Holmes & Oceans 11 OST - Gritty Shaker 088 Billie Erckinsten  - Lady Luck from No Cover, No Minimum 089 The Hives - 8-black jack 090 Righteous Pigs - Overdose 091 New Kingdom - Paradise Don't Come Cheap 092 Sammy Davis Jr. - Mr. Bojangles 093 Marvin Whoremonger - Sex In Motion 094 Lecherous Gaze - One Fifteen 095 Scream 2 Soundtrack -  Right Place Wrong Time 096 Shirley Bassey Big Spender 097 Sweet - Hot Shot Gambler 098 Ween - Blackjack 099 Liberace - Beer Barrel Polka 100 Blue Man Group w- Venus Hum- I Feel Love 101 Neil Diamond - Diamonds Are Forever 102 April Wine - Roller 103 David Holmes & Oceans 11 OST - Planting the Seed 104 The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice 105 Buck Owens - Big In Vegas 106 The Stanley Brothers - If I Lose 107 Bad Company - Good Lovin' Gone Bad 108 Ray Charles - Blackjack 109 The sopranos TV Show intro theme song 110 Slaughter- Up All Night 111 David Holmes & Oceans 11 OST - 160 Million dollar Chinese Man 112 Buzzcocks - I Don't Mind 113 Aerosmith - Uncle Salty 114 Scorpions - I'm Going Mad 115 Tom Waits - Straight To The Top 116 TESLA - Modern Day Cowboy 117 Quincy Jones - Blues In The Night 118 Pearl Jam - Dirty Frank 119 Tom Jones - She's a Lady 120 Orville Peck - Dead of Night 121 David Holmes & Oceans 12 OST  - 165 Million dollar Round Up 122 Guns N' Roses - Dust N' Bones 123 Ocean's twelve OST - L.S.D. Partie Roland Vincent 124 Demon Lung - Heathen Child 125 BB King - Midnight Believer 126 Gil Evans Orchestra - La Nevada (part 1) 127 Meat Loaf - Elvis in Vegas 128 Down - His Majesty The Desert 129 Oceans 12 OST - Lifting the Building 130 Frank Sinatra - Ring-a-ding-ding 131 Country Joe And The Fish ‎- stateline Nevada 132 Iron Maiden - The Angel And The Gambler 133 Peps & Blues Quality - I was once a gambler 134 Neil Diamond - Glory Road 135 Iron Butterfly - My mirage 150 David Holmes & Oceans 12 OST - What R We Stealing 666 Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas (OST - Snatch) I may have forgotten a song or two, so don’t be shy and let me know.

[writtenkitten18]

My Blood: Auditions

After we had finished our discussion about being business partners of the club, the four of us signed the paperwork that Dad gave me and created flyers for auditions for performers, no one showed up, so we decided to hold auditions for another day.It was halfway through the day when the entrance door opens. I look over at the door and I see my dad walking in with the entire squad walking in behind him.

I stand up from my seat and walk towards him. "Hey Dad. What are you doing here?"

Dad shrugs his shoulders. "Well we caught a break in the case and we all needed a break from the police work that we've been doing. So, we decided to come by and check in on how everything is going at the club."

I nod my head. "Well, as you can see, we're trying to hold auditions for performers for the club. However, we're in day two and no one has decided to show up."

"The man is in the building and he is ready to slay!"

The two of us look over at the person who entered the room. It was a black male who had a full on entourage with him. He also had some dancers trailing behind the entourage, so I automatically assumed that he was here to audition.

I cross my arms. "I'm guessing you're here to audition then Mr...."

The man walked over to me and places his hand in front of me. "Tommy Coulson." As I place my hand in his for a handshake, Tom puts my hand to his mouth and kisses it, much to my dismay. "Call me Tom."

I roll my eyes and pull my hand out of his grasp. "Nice to meet you Tom. I'm Lily, owner of the club." I sit down at my chair and gesture to the stage. "Let's see what you got Tom. And trust me when I say this. I don't impress well."

Eric sits down in the chair next to me with a smirk on his face. "This should be fun." Cam and Shawn sit down in their chairs and the squad, my father included, stands alongside the wall behind the table that the four of us were sitting at.

Tom nods his head and walks up to the stage with the back-up dancers trailing behind him. He gestures over to someone in his entourage, who pulls out a jukebox and presses a button. R&B music plays out of the jukebox and the background dancers dance to the beat. After a few seconds, Tom begins to dance as well and sing along to the beat.

You make It hard for me to see somebody else I'm calling her your name Yea it's messed up, cause I'm thinkin 'bout you It's your fault babe I never wanted us to break up No not this way But you don't understand it girl

When she touches me, I'm wishing that they were your hands And when I'm with her it's only 'bout the sex With you I had a bad romance And if I could, just trade her in I would Cause nobody compares to ya

Throughout the entire verse, he tries to maintain eye contact with me and flirt with me with his eyes. I didn't respond back because I knew in my heart that I only had eyes on one guy. With his name in my mind, I look behind me over to where Dad's squad was standing and I cast my eyes over to Jay, who's is rolling his eyes at Tom's performance as well. He cast his eyes towards me as well and we lock eyes for just a second. In that moment, I had finally felt what I had been looking for. A connection with the guy that I liked. I may have known him for such a short time, but I was already willing to give my heart and soul to him if I meant that I could get just a kiss in return.

I'm in love with Jay Halstead.

I think I better let her go Cause I can't leave you alone Every day that I'm with her, all I want is you I wanna leave but I'm afraid That you don't even feel the same And now I realize that she ain't you

When the chorus of Tom's song hit, he steps off of the stage and walks over to the table that we're sitting at. He walks over to me and places his hand under my chin, positioning my face to look into his eyes. He then roughly pulls my face towards his and tries to make me kiss him, but I just managed to break away from his grasp and stand up from the table.

I look over at Tom with my arms crossed. "Okay Tom. That's all we need to see at this moment."

Tom stands up straight and crosses his arms as well. "So. What did you think? Did I make the cut?"

I ponder for a moment and then respond. "No."

Tom's face falls. "What? What do you mean no?"

I reply. "Well you were going good for the beginning of the performance, but you decided to get some balls and try to kiss me, aggressively I might add, it completely changed everything. Now, I want you to leave and maybe I'll consider deciding to hire you back."

Tom scoffs. "You're bluffing. I'm the only person here auditioning for your tired ass club. So, you have no choice but to hire me."

Just as he finishes that statement, a trio consisting of two girls and a boy entered the room as if they were in a rush. The boy and one of the girls had brown hair, white skin and brown eyes while the other girl was also white with blonde hair blue-gray eyes.

The girl with brown eyes speaks up for the trio. "I'm sorry that we're incredibly late. We came all the way from New York and the subway was down and we had to take the bus all the way up here. I'm Nicki." She points to the boy and the girl. "And this is Michael and Michelle, my friends. We saw your flyer online and we remember you from when you were singing at Labyrinth. You were incredible and we love when you sing. Is there any that-"

Before Nicki could finish what she was saying, I interrupted her. "You three are hired."

The three of them were taken by surprise and Michelle speaks up for them. "Really? But you haven't even heard us sing yet."

I shake my head. "I don't have to listen to what you're singing to know how good you are. I remember you guys singing on the streets a few months back. You guys have some good talent. All you need to do now is show up to rehearsal over the next few days and opening night is next week."

Michael nods his head and smiles. "Okay. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Can we ask just one small favor from you?" When I nod my head yes in response, he continues. "Could you sing Wonderful Life for us? It's one of our favorite songs that you sing and we know that you haven't sang it since Bella died, but it would really make our day."

Tom chuckles slightly. "Oh yeah. That's where I know you from. You're Lily Tutuola." He looks over to where Mom and Dad was standing with the squad, where Dad was trying with every fiber of his being to not choke out Tom. "Daughter of the sister of a SVU detective and Chicago  PD Sergeant  Hank Voight." He looks back at me. "When you were 16, you were kidnapped with your friend Bella. You managed to make it out alive, but Bella wasn't so lucky. So, how does it feel knowing that you were the reason that your best friend is dead?"

After he finished what he's saying, I push Tom away from where I was standing and ran out of the room with Eric, Cam and Shawn trailing behind me, tears flowing at the thought of my best friend Bella.

[luvneedsnosyt]

My Favorite Albums of August 2019

Here’s my monthly list of albums released in August I was feeling.

My Previous monthly lists from 2019: January, February, March, April, May, June, July

You can find my list from June of my favorite albums halfway through 2019 here

The Best:

Astrid S - Trust Issues Genre: Pop

Proof: Doing To Me / Someone New

AUGUST 08 - Happy Endings with an Astrisk Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul

Proof: Simple Pleasures (Feat. GoldLink) / Blood on My Hands (Feat, Smino)

Baby Rose - To Myself Genre: R&B / Soul

Proof: Borderline / Regrets

Bas - Spilled Milk 1 EP Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: Fried Rice (Feat. J.I.D.) / Nirvana (Feat. Falcons & B. Lewis)

Black Milk - DiVE Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: If U Say (Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid) / TYME

Blaq Tuxedo - Blaq Tuxedo Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul

Proof: 1am Watermelon / Jet Speed

Bon Iver - i,i Genre: Indie Pop / Experimental Folk

Proof: Hey, Ma / U (Man Like)

Boy Scouts - Free Company Genre: Indie Rock / Alternative

Proof: All Right / Cut It

BROCKHAMPTON - GINGER Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: NO HALO / DEARLY DEPARTED

Channel Tres - Black Moses Genre: House / R&B

Proof: Sexy Black Timberlake / Raw Power // Bonus: Sexy Black Timberlake (SG Lewis Remix)

Clairo - Immunity Genre: Indie Pop

Proof: Sofia / Feel Something // Bonus: SG Lewis & Clairo - Throwaway / Mura Masa & Clairo - I Don’t Think I Can Do This Again

Dabin - Wild Youth (The Remixes) Genre: Electronic / Future Bass / Dance

Proof: Part Time Lover (Crystal Skies Remix) Feat. Claire Ridgely / Alive (Trivecta Remix) Feat. RUNN

Electric Youth - Memory Emotion Genre: Synth-Pop / R&B / Electronic

Proof: The Life / thirteen

Friendly Fires - Inflorescent Genre: Synth-Pop / R&B / House

Proof: Heaven Let Me In / Sleeptalking

G Flip - About Us Genre: R&B / Pop

Proof: I Am Not Afraid / About You

half●alive - Now, Not Yet Genre: Synth-Pop / Indie Pop

Proof: steel feel. / arrow

HVDES - Stand Alone Complex EP Genre: Electronic / Dance

Proof: Akuma / Human

ILLENIUM - ASCEND Genre: Electronic / Future Bass / Dance

Proof: Good Things Fall Apart (Feat. Jon Bellion) / Gorgeous (w/ Blanke Feat. Bipolar Sunshine) // Bonus: Crashing (Rock Mafia Remix) Feat. Bahari / Pray (Sam Lamar Remix) Feat. Kameron Alexander / Good Things Fall Apart (Tiësto’s Big Room Remix) Feat. Jon Bellion

Jay Som - Anak Ko Genre: Indie Rock / Alternative

Proof: Superbike / Peace Out

Jidenna - 85 to Africa Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: 85 to Africa / Babouche (Feat. GoldLink)

Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell! Genre: Pop

Proof: Venice Bitch / Fuck it I love you & The greatest

Little Brother - May the Lord Watch Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: Everything / Black Magic (Make It Better)

Mabel - High Expectations Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul 

Proof: Don’t Call Me Up / Mad Love

Mac Ayers - Juicebox Genre: R&B / Neo-Soul / Funk

Proof: Shadows / Better

Marika Hackman - Any Human Friend Genre: Pop

Proof: the one / come undone

Missy Elliott - ICONOLOGY EP Genre: R&B / Hip Hop

Proof: Cool Off / Why I Still Love You

MURS, 9th Wonder & The Soul Collective - The Iliad is Dead and the Odyssey is Over Genre: Indie Hip Hop

Proof: Give Me a Reason / SIN

Olivia Nelson - Back to You EP Genre: R&B

Proof: Summertime / No Answer

Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee Genre: R&B / Soul

Proof: Something Keeps Calling Me (Feat. Rob Bacon) / My Walk

Rapsody - Eve Genre: Hip Hop

Proof: Nina / Aaliyah

SAINt JHN - Ghetto Lenny’s Love Songs Genre: Hip Hop / R&B

Proof: Trap (Feat. Lil Baby) / Call Me After You Hear This

Shura - forevher Genre: Synth Pop / R&B

Proof: religion (u can lay your hands on me) / BKLYNLNDN // Bonus: BKLYLNDN (i-vu London Dub)

SiR - Chasing Summer Genre: R&B / Soul

Proof: You Can’t Save Me / Mood (Feat. Zacari)

Taylor Swift - Lover Genre: Pop

Proof: Lover / Afterglow

William Black - Pages Genre: Electronic / Dance

Proof: Dying Day (Feat. Prettyheartbreak) / Back Together (Feat. RUNN)

!!! - Wallop Genre: Synth-Pop / Dance

Proof: Serbia Dreams / $50 Million

Bonus:

A few albums I missed and a compilation album of one off singles by one of today’s biggest artist.

Curren$y & LNDN DRGS - Umbrella Symphony EP Genre: Hip Hop Released May 2019

Proof: Ghetto Gospel / Payback

Drake - Care Package [Compilation] Genre: Hip Hop / R&B Released September 2019

Proof: How Bout Now / Girls Love Beyoncé (Feat. James Fauntleroy)

Olivia Nelson - For You EP Genre: R&B Released August 2018

Proof: Hideaway / Smother Me

Tyla Yaweh - Heart Full of Rage Genre: Hip Hop / R&B Released February 2019

Proof: High Right Now / They Ain’t You

Others:

Abby Jasmine - Abbnormal EP, AJ Mitchell - Slow Dance EP, The Alchemist - Yacht Rock 2, Algee Smith - atl, A$AP Ferg - Floor Seats, Bazzi - Soul Searching, Bishop Nehru & Brady Watt - The Real Book, Vol. 1 EP, Black Belt Eagle Scout - At The Party With My Brown Friends, bLAck pARty - Endless Summer, Blank Mass - Animated Violence Mild, Blu & Damu The Fudgemunk - Ground & Water EP, Bun B - Bun B Day EP, Cousin Stizz - Trying to Find My Next Thrill, Chase & Status - RTRN: THE ORIGINALS EP, Christian French - bright side of the moon EP, Common - Let Love, Cross Record - Cross Record, Curren$y - Hot August Nights EP , Dame D.O.L.L.A. - Big D.O.L.L.A., Deb Never - House on Wheels EP, Dillon Nathaniel - Obsessions EP, Emmavie - Honeymoon, Emmavie - Stop the Tape EP, FLETCHER - you ruined new york city for me EP, Four Tet - Anna Painting EP, G&D - Black Love & War, G-Eazy - B-Sides EP, GRAFIX - Refuge EP, GRiZ - Bangers[2].zip EP, Headie One - Music x Road [Mixtape], Hope Tala - Sensitive Soul EP, Hoodie Allen - Whatever USA, HTRK - Venus in Leo, i_o - House of God EP, Isabella - 12 Angels, JackLNDN - Thoughts, Jezzy - TM104: The Legend of the Snowman, Joell Ortiz - Monday, Joseph Ray - Room 1.5 / Chem - Ex EP, Justine Skye - Bare With Me EP, Kayzo - Unleashed, Kevin George - My Darlings a Demon, Kingdom - EXTERRA, Vol. 1 EP, LICK - Dark Vibe Order, Little Boots - Jump EP, Lillie Mae - Other Girls, LV - Xcited, Lyfe Jennings - 777, Lynda Dawn - At First Light EP, Madeaux - Club Demons EP, MarMar Oso - Oso Different, Moksi - The Return of House Music, Nao Yoshioka - Undeniable, Navvy - The Breakup EP, Nick Catchdubs - Ufo, Obie Trice - The Fifth, Pete Yorn - Caretakers, PJ Morton - PAUL, P-LO - SHINE, Powers Pleasant - Life Is Beautiful EP, Quality Control - Control The Streets Volume 2, Ra Ra Riot - Superbloom, The Regrettes - How Do You Love?, Rick Ross - Port of Miami 2, SATICA - Dear April, Ily EP, The Score - Stay EP, Sheer Mag - A Distant Call, Sleater-Kinney - The Center Won’t Hold, Slum Village - The Source, Snoh Aalgra - Ugh, those feels again, Snoop Dogg - I Wanna Thank Me, Social House - Everything Changed… EP, Somos - Prison On A Hill, Tess Henley - Better EP, Tora - Can’t Buy the Mood, Trae tha Truth - Exhale, Tropical Fuck Storm - Braindrops, Valentino Khan - House Party EP, Various Artists - 13 Reasons Why (Season 3) [Music Inspired by the Netflix Series], Velvet Negroni - NEON BROWN, Whitney - Forever Turned Around, YACHT - Chain Tipping, Zo! - FourFront, 93PUNX - 93PUNX