#The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
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My Best of 2023: My Top 5 Non-2023 Books
1. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas, 1844)
2. No Country For Old Men (Cormac McCarthy, 2005)
3. Britt-Marie Was Here (Fredrik Backman, 2016)
4. In the Miso Soup (Ryū Murakami, 2003)
5. The Storyteller (Dave Grohl, 2021)
Note: These were chosen from the 10 Non-2021/Non-King books I read in 2022. (Low, I know, but once again I got caught up in new releases.) Same as previous years, Stephen King gets his own Top 5. The only Classic I managed was The Count of Monte Cristo, which was epic and took up pretty much my entire January. My first two reads for 2024 are Lonesome Dove and Don Quixote, so hopefully I'll get in the trend of reading more Classics throughout the rest of this coming year.
Thank you all so much for reading/sharing/etc. And please follow for My Top 5 Stephen King Books of 2022 & My Top 10 2022 Books, Coming Soon!!
-Timothy Patrick Boyer.
#booklr#best of 2023#mybestof2023#the count of monte cristo#no country for old men#britt-marie was here#in the miso soup#the storyteller: tales of life and music#the storyteller#dave grohl#classic books#books#reading#fiction#readers of tumblr#lists#alexandre dumas#cormac mccarthy#fredrik backman#Ryū Murakami
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The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl
Read time: 2 Days Rating: 3/5 Stars
The Quote: Though Kurt and Jimmy were not "family," I invited them to be, and that invitation can sometimes be even more intimate than the connection to any blood relative. There was no biological obligation here; we were bonded for other reasons: our parallel spirits, our love of music, and our musical appreciation. You cannot choose family, and when you lose family, there is a biological imperative that implies a built-in type of mourning. But with friends, you design your own relationship, which in turn designs your grief, which can be felt even deeper when they are gone. Those can be roots that are much harder to pull. — (p.187)
Warnings: Drug use, references to death. Neither are particularly graphic and the drug of note is weed.
Rather than writing The Storyteller as a linear timeline of his life Dave Grohl has written this as a series of short stories I guess tied together by theme. It is a good writing style to use allowing for events impacting each other over time to be discussed together. Such as the chapter He's Dead which discusses the deaths of two influential men in Dave's life, Kurt Cobain and Jimmy Swanson despite them happening over a decade apart. Others such as Bedtime Stories with Joan Jett tell the story of a limited event in this case introducing Violet and Harper to Joan Jett, at first her as an inspiration than her in person. It does glance over some of the more darker/ negative moments in Grohl's life but I'm okay with that if I'm honest. There is nothing but love from him when it comes to the 5 most important women in his life, his Mother Virginia Grohl, his wife Jordyn Blum and his daughters Violet, Harper and Ophelia Grohl these are also the women to whom the book is dedicated. You can feel Dave's love for his mother on the page to the point where she is the last person he talks about, to in the epilogue.
Changing my review style for this one a bit, something that I will think about doing for biographies in the future too. It is my opinion that it is not the place of readers to judge the experiences of an individual it is our place to read and enjoy their presentation to us. So I've decided to make this review a series of dot points moments that made me laugh, quotes I want to comment on or just note-worthy things. • In a way similar to Kimi Raikonnon's biography Dave Grohl's first wife, Jennifer Youngblood, isn't mentioned. The only time he comes close is in referring to their 1997 divorce in relation to another event. More surprising is his not referring to his older sister, Lisa, by name at all. Though I know nothing of their relationship.
• The man and his injuries... the ones he talked about floored me. One of them is the infamous "I think I just broke my leg" moment from a concert in Ullevi Gothenburg. It is just one of the moments you see exactly how much he will do for his fans. There is an interview with Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins and Johan Sampson from Sweedish tv filmed in 2017 that just made me laugh. Another of the injuries tells you exactly how much Virginia Grohl went through, Dave describes being hit so hard in the head (accidentally) by a golf club that he split his skull open.
• Having no true musical training, I didn't refer to the sound as "notes on paper; it became shapes that I could see in my head as I listened intently to the multiple layers of instruments. Like colorful building blocks stacked upon each other, music became something I could "see," a neurological condition known as synesthesia, where one sense is activated (hearing) and another unrelated sense (vision) is activated at the same time. — I like this description of synesthesia, it is accessible not all of the ones I've seen are. He explains later it as seeing LEGO bricks, each part of a song is a LEGO brick that needs to be clicked into place. (p.65)
• or hiding small chunks of hash in Skeeter's dreadlocks so that we'd all have something to smoke on the long drives between shows (nothing like watching our bassist play with the drug dog on the border, knowing full well that his tangled mop was filled with ounces of spicy hash), we did what we had to do to get by. But not without a few close calls along the way. — I don't know why this is so funny to me. But I couldn't not include it. (p.121)
• "David... I know that you love your friends, but sometimes you have to put your needs ahead of others'. You have to take care of yourself." — This is Virginia's advice to Dave when he has to make the decision between staying with his friends at Scream and joining Nirvana. We all know what he chose. (p.130)
• It's appealing to see a different side of Kurt Cobain, seeing the man rather than the muso. There is a particular section I like... "At the end of the couch sat an old table where Kurt kept a pet turtle in a putrid terrarium. A true lover of animals, Kurt had an intriguing, perhaps metaphorical appreciation for turtles, as their wheels, the thing that most protected them, were actually quite sensitive. "Like having your spine on the outside of your body," he once said. But as beautiful and anatomically correct poetic as the sentiment may have been, it eventually made no difference to me, as this goddamned reptile kept me awake every night by tapping its head against the glass for hours on end in an attempt to escape our shared den of filth. I couldn't blame the poor thing. I often felt the same." (p.134) On this sentiment even while being courted by record labels, hard, the early days of Nirvana were hard as balls. It was fairly obvious they would be but it's more than I realised. Their fame and potential to better their circumstances was astronomical.
• I never knew the import of Smells Like Teen Spirit to Nirvana's story. Not the release of it but the writing and creation of it. The story of the M/V is fantastic. • The chapter He's Gone is heavy. It starts with the lines... ""He's gone, Dave" My knees gave out and I dropped the phone as I fell to my bedroom floor, covering my face with my hands I began to cry. He was gone. The shy young man who had offered me an apple upon our first introduction at the Seattle airport was gone. My quiet, introverted roommate who I'd shared a tiny apartment with in Olympia was gone. The loving father who played with his beautiful daughter backstage every night before each show was gone." (p.181). This is not actually from Cobain's death, it's from his March 3rd OD. This severely impacted his ability to grieve his suicide 5 weeks later.
• I had no idea where the Foo Fighter's name came from. Or that Dave Grohl was a UFO nut. Has an interesting take on spirituality.
• Taylor and I had become practically inseparable since he had joined the bad the year before, becoming devious partners in crime from day one. During his stint as Alanis Morissette's drummer, long before he became a Foo Fighter, we would bump into each other at festivals all over the world, and our chemistry was so obvious that even Alanis herself once asked him, "What are you going to do when Dave asks you to be his drummer?" Part Beavis and Butthead, part Dumb and Dumber, we were a hyperactive blur of Parliament Lights and air drumming wherever we went, so there was no one I would rather have shared this psychopathic safari with than Taylor. — It was this moment that made me realise that Taylor Hawkin's memorial might rival Chester Bennington's for star power. It's also a fantastic description of the relationship between Taylor and Dave. (p.213)
• There they were, wandering about like us mere mortals. And in the light of day, no less! I had always imagined (hoped) that these dark figures only came out at night after hanging upside down like bats in their mausoleums, nocturnal creatures refusing the sun, just waiting to terrorize us all with their evil anthems beneath a full moon. To my dismay, I think a few of them in shorts holding soda pops but whatever. Metal lives. — This is talking about the legends of metal performing at Ozzfest. Honestly I just think the man has a way with works, this made me laugh because it is a helluva visual. (p.215)
• The whole Down Under DUI chapter is fun. I barely remember it, but I do remember it. Getting a DUI shouldn't be funny but it kinda is when that is how you achieve it. I'm glad that Dave Grohl recognises that they are not as chaotic as Blink-182 but those two in the same room? 🤣
• Our secret was mostly safe, though Paul somehow knew, because well, he is the all-knowing, all-seeing, omniscient and omnipotent Paul McCartney. — Dave Grohl and Paul McCartney have a really interesting relationship. They have a long relationship that led to Paul playing drums on a Foo Fighters song (on which Taylor sings) Dave has performed multiple Beatles songs including with Violet. (p.300)
• There was no way that I could possibly repay this roomful of icons for the years of inspiration that they had given me, but if I could make them smile, dance, and feel the joy of music, as they had done for me my entire life, I was making a small dent in my debt. — This is about a room full of some of the most influential people in Dave's life including Paul McCartney and AC/DC. (p.302)
• Inspired Yet Again is a smart chapter. It is a few people he's met that had an impact on him in varying degrees. It does end with an ending. Dave is a gifted orator (perks of being the son of a speechwriter as well as a songwriter) he's spoken at multiple inductions are ceremonies over the years, but this ending was a funeral, Motörhead's Lemmy.
• For in a world full of Barbies, every girl needs a Joan Jett. — The whole chapter with Joan Jett Violet and Harper is just gorgeous and I'm so pleased that it was included. If you know a little girl without a strong female role model... find it, provide it. Especially now in the social media generation. To me, this is a chapter for his girls and daughters everywhere. (p.331)
• I love the idea of the Daddy-Daughter Dance, especially in an area with so many workaholic dads. This chapter has an insane story of travelling 40 hours return just to keep both his fans and daughters happy.
• WTF... KFC and champagne? Can someone who drinks tell me if that actually works?
• It is fantastic to read a person so trusting in their own instincts. Leaving school to make music his life, giving up the opportunity to join Tom Petty, performing Blackbird at the Oscars.
To me, this is a book that needs to be read to be appreciated. You do not need to be a fan of Dave Grohl's music to appreciate this, in disclosure, I am not a fan of Scream, Nirvana or The Foo Fighters. I read this because it was acclaimed, I quite like biographies and Dave Grohl has the reputation that made with appealing. Usually, the high praise of a book would put me off it but it's different for biographies I judge them differently and have different expectations from them. I firmly believe this deserves the praise that was heaped upon it in the wake of its publishing. Dave Grohl has lived a helluva life from being raised by a strong single mother, Virginia and breaking so many bones to being in immensely popular bands and living surreal moments with famous and finally raising three beautiful and talented girls he would move the world for.
#the storyteller#dave grohl#book review#memoir#tw drug use#tw death mention#ktreviews#read 2022#the storyteller: tales of life and music#booklr
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“Lost in a nightmare” | About internal struggle | Audiobook
Title: Margo-Rita
Extra: “NIGHTMARE” (All chapters)
Description: This video contains all the chapters of the additional part of the story Margo-Rita, specifically the story of her struggle and awakening from the nightmare. For many years, the girl adapted to circumstances and people, and it changed her, making her a completely different person. But the one she was in childhood, when there was at least one person who understood her, is still alive inside her. The girl faced a difficult journey through the depths of her own consciousness in order to be reborn anew and to be her true self, with all her vices and virtues.
#youtube#audiobooks#audiobook#short story#shortstory#storytelling#story#sleep#relaxing music#relaxingmusic#horror story#horrorstory#fairy tales#fairytales#scary tales#scarytales#inspiration#life lessons#lifelessons#relationships#everyday life#everydaylife#pixel art#pixelart
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With Them, Who Swallowed a Star
PAIRING: Professor!Task Force 141 X F!Student!Reader WORD COUNT 5.3k CONTENT WARNING: NSFW! group sex, age gap, fingering, cunnilingus, oral sex, handjobs, facefucking/blowjobs, unprotected sex, p in v, anal sex, slight usage of nicknames, reader is a pianist/student, tf141 are professors, smut with plot SYNOPSIS: A musician is a storyteller in their own ways. You had told yours and captured the sights of men you never expected to pull when you stepped inside an academy. AUTHOR'S NOTE: I tried to be poetic. This fried my brain and I'm not going to write something like this again. That's a lie because I have a series that has 5 love interests. This one was supposed to have Graves as well since he's actually my inspiration for writing this shit, but I ended up not adding him. I might do it on Drabbles if someone asks though. And yes, I have changed my username from DontFearTheReaperAzura. Here's the Masterlist for more! Also on Archive of Our Own / DISCORD SERVER
Your fingers fluttered slightly as you lifted your hands to the keys, blocking out the rustling from others as they sat in the grand auditorium. Long and drawn, you began to tell a tale you had held for a long time. Notes swam in the air, old friends that played with your tresses and caressed your skin.
The story started slowly, the sound of the beginning, the beginning of the end. Longing clashed with trepidation, your fingers sang a song of despair. You swayed with the music, lost in the whims of unspoken words—of a world you owned. Quicker and quicker, the notes climbed in sync with your heart, growing joyful in hopes of masking the mournful melody surrounding you.
It filled the emptiness deep within your chest for a moment, before like the heavens shed tears upon a barren land, you showed—you poured out the lore of your world, and with heavy reluctance to leave what you created, you played the last few notes.
For a few moments, you kept your eyes closed, and when a series of claps reached your ears, only then you opened them. You were shackled back to reality just as you held back your work.
You looked at the people, who in your eyes were nothing but shadows at the beginning, now enamored, yearning for the rest. You knew they felt it, too. Pulled, as though you were the center of the system. Like the Sun, a star.
And one man stuck out more than others, gazing at you, blue eyes almost ravenous. But it didn’t last for long, just like a song in the wind, he faded among the standing crowd, drowned out in the flurry of praise.
You breathed out a sigh as you stared at the towering structure before you, now your second hell—in replacement of the ramshackle place you call home—after you had gotten a scholarship to this prestigious university after years of a couple of years of working your ass off. Students rushed past you on their way in and out of their classes, but you stood frozen.
Suddenly you felt awfully unprepared for this unfamiliar place, of socializing and strangers, and of university. Of life. What did Google say about socializing with people your age again? How about impressing a professor? Good lord.
You shrugged off your thoughts and sauntered to your class. A large lecture hall welcomed your sight and you found an empty seat at the front row. Not the perfect place for observation of the whole place, but good for listening to the professor.
The sound of expensive shoes echoed throughout the hushed room and you kept your eyes down as you took out your notebook and pen. As the quiet dragged on, you glanced at the professor and found your brows raising at his sight.
He was tall, seemed to be fit, and in his thirties. He had a few wrinkles, a beard, and brown hair, but no sign of graying.
Above all, you could remember those eyes. An endless swirl of blue. The man at the concert hall.
You put your gaze down as the professor looked down on you, your heart hammered against your ribs, sudden nervousness springing in your nerves. You wished he wouldn’t recognize you, but at the same time, you hoped he did.
Yet, the silence remained, and in curiosity, you looked back up. Your breath hitched as your eyes met his, gaze shining with something you couldn’t decipher, and a smile formed on his lips.
You forced yourself to mirror it and batted a glance at the door. You wanted to get out.
The professor introduced himself as Jonathan Price, and told the class a few things about himself, before diving straight into the first lesson of Philosophy.
Time seemed to flow fast throughout his class and you kept your fingers busy, writing down his words. He was easy to understand, bringing out intricate details in his lesson, and asked questions now and then if he was going too fast while walking around the room.
You couldn’t help but notice his slacks fit in a certain area. Then again, that thing wouldn’t give you a brain cell even if you suck it off.
The bell chimed and you gathered and stuffed your notebook and pen inside your bag, jolting up to your feet. But as you approached the exit, his canorous voice called out to you.
“Pardon me, young lady.”
You turned to face the professor, keeping a respectable distance from him, which he closed off, only standing a couple of feet from you.
“Yes, sir?” You asked in a small voice when he remained silent, his eyes studying you with disconcerting intensity, just like how he gazed at you at your performance.
Finally, after an uncomfortable silence, he asked. “What’s your name?”
You spoke of your name in a steady voice, equally confused and intimidated, you gripped on the strap of your bag. Everyone had already left, now bringing quietness to the hall.
He smiled once again, his head tilting a bit to the side. “A pretty name.” His voice sent goosebumps on your skin, making you breathe in deeply, inhaling the scent of his pleasant cologne. “Such a shame I couldn’t catch it after your performance a couple of weeks ago.”
He remembered you.
Your cheeks began to burn.
Oh, how he yearned to caress your tinted cheeks, place a kiss on them, and mutter praise against your soft skin.
“Ah, you were there, weren’t you, sir?” You offered him a smile and a pause. “I think I caught a glance of you in the front rows.”
“Correct.”
“Thank you for watching, sir,” you said, not knowing what to speak of next, and nodded at him, reaching out to the knob to leave. But he reached for the door, making you blink at his unexpected actions, caged between the door and him.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off of you,” he fessed, bodies now closer to yours that you almost touched, and you gulped. “You were magnificent.” He opened the door, a hand motioning at you. “See you on Wednesday. And I hope we see more of your performance.”
We?
You jolted awake at the loud laughter of a raucous group outside of your room and grunted at the sudden pang of pain in your head when you stood up. You glanced at the alarm clock by your bedside and muttered a crisp curse, hauling your bag. You burst out of your room, slipping past students in the hallway like a breeze, hurried apologies were called out to those poor victims she bumped into.
The morning had been long and tiring, and you decided to take a nap earlier, only to end up sleeping for a couple of hours. Now, you were about to get late for your next class, and the usual ten-minute walk turned into a five-minute run and an uncalled exercise.
You glanced from left to right in the hallway, glancing at your phone to make sure you were in the right building, and turned to the right, following the signs. You halted before a room, strangely closed even though the class was supposed to start in five minutes.
You used your phone as a mirror and patted down your hair, before turning the knob and opening the door. You walked into a softly lit room and realized the mistake you had made as you spotted a man splayed down on a couch across the room. A hand behind his head and over his stomach, and over the lower half of his face was a black mask.
Inside was a personal office, belonging to one of the professors.
You immediately turned away, about to exit the room when an angry voice echoed.
“Have you got no manners?” The man rose to sit, a scowl painted on his face.
For the nth time in your sorry life, you wanted to bury yourself alive. You dipped your head low in embarrassment. “I’m very sorry, sir. I thought this was the room my class was in. I didn’t mean to intrude.” You frantically fumbled on your phone, inputting the wrong password one time, and read your schedule.
You read the room number wrong.
Brilliant. Bloody brilliant.
The professor fixed his crooked mask. “What class were you supposed to go to?”
“Uh, a math class of Mr. Simon Riley,” you read on your phone, keeping your head low.
A hum escaped past the man’s lips, making you glance up at him. His dark blond hair slightly ruffled from his apparent nap and coat a bit crooked. He ran his hand on his hair, fixed his coat, and patted down the invisible wrinkles on the fabric.
He stood up and you inched back, surprised at his stature. A tall man with broad shoulders and arms noticeably strong, (massive honkers) and eyes like a pool of honey, swirling like molten gold under the light.
“You’re in luck, sweetheart. I’m Simon Riley. You’re in my office, our class is in the next room.” Unlike earlier, his cold voice had turned a bit softer, but the fact that he was your professor made your sweat run cold.
You nodded, inwardly wincing at your dumbass. “Again, I apologize, sir.”
He stood before you, next to the opened door. Gladly, there were no students passing by in the hallway.
“What is your name, love?” he questioned, his hands going to his pockets. His eyes narrowed at the way your head dipped, refusing to meet his gaze. Like a meek little bunny, scared of the world and what all those pretty eyes could see.
He wanted to place a finger under your chin and lift your face up to look at him.
You never knew introducing yourself could feel like an interrogation until now. You told him your name, averting your gaze down at his shoes that shifted slightly. “Nice to meet you, Sir Riley. I’m sorry it wasn’t under the best circumstances.”
He hummed once again and stepped out of the office. “Pleasure’s all mine."
You followed him out of the room and he swiftly closed the door behind you, his being a bit closer to you than comfort.
With a nod, Professor Riley led you to the classroom. Dozens of students had already occupied the room and you silently made your way to a vacant seat on the second row, placing your bag next to you.
Just like Mr. Price, the masked professor went straight to the point, briefly introducing himself to the crowd, and began his lesson. He, too, was easy to understand, repeating the equations some couldn't get well, and was kind enough to let the class take a few minutes of break, before continuing. You had also come to notice he would fix his mask every once in a short while.
And when the bell chimed, he bid his students goodbye, yet called for your name. You halted on gathering your things as he approached you. His eyes glanced at the students who last left the room before he spoke.
"Feel free to come by my office whenever you have a question or need anything. Can't have you lose your way again, do we?" He asked, a bit of amusement in his voice as he leaned close.
You smiled at his offer. "Thank you, sir."
Sure as shooting, you asked him where your next room was for Chemistry. By good fortune, he knew where it was and who the professor would be.
"Ah, there he is." Sir Riley abruptly came to a stop, making you halt in your tracks as well and follow the direction of his gaze, to see a man with a mohawk.
"Simon!" The man jogged towards the two of you, a grin playing on his lips in contrast to the man who never took off his mask. Another person with blue optics, but his were bluer as though someone took a piece of the briny deep and placed it in his optics.
He kept a smile as his attention swept to you. "And who's the little bird?"
You frowned a bit at the nickname, nonetheless gave him your name, and watched his eyes light up with fascination. The man began to tell the pull he felt by the notes of your music, how enamored he was by the unspoken words of your tale.
He was there, too and Sir Riley was along with them.
Your face flushed as he ranted and they both noticed, taking note of the shades painted on your skin, bashful of the sudden recognition.
"He is John Mactavish, your Chemistry professor," Sir Riley piped in, placing a hand on the other man's shoulder, before bidding his farewell at the moment, marching down to his next class.
Left all alone with Professor Mactavish, you turned to him. He grinned at you and he beckoned at you to follow him. The man was, well, talkative and wasted not a second expressing his applause of your performance and how he never expected to see you in the university.
You could only mutter small words and nod, already feeling exhausted. But it was pleasant to hear him compliment you. You could get used to it.
And you could get used to his enthusiasm for teaching. His first lesson went straight to an experiment and dragged you to his side as his assistant, instructing you to mix chemicals. Occasionally, his fingers brushed over yours as you passed vials.
Your eyes met, and sparks flew all around.
Literal spark.
And fire.
Professor Mactavish pulled you to the side, hand remaining on your arm as the chemicals were set ablaze.
With a couple of ticks of the clock, a giggle erupted from your lips and like there was a pull, his chuckles followed.
In the sea of awes, his laughter floated on the surface.
You sprinted on the hall, navigating through the winding routes of the structures, and arrived at one of the most exquisite auditoriums you had ever set eyes on. Your eyes took in the magnificent chandeliers and the divine paintings stretched across the ceiling.
The sound of a throat clearing pulled you from your stupor.
“Are you just going to stand there?” a voice called for your attention to where he stood near the stage. The man basked in the warm glow of the concert hall, skin as though molten caramel, and eyes like embers.
“Oh, forgive me, sir.” You straightened yourself up like a soldier before a superior. “I was just, well, this place is beautiful.” You couldn’t help but glance around once again.
“Isn’t it?” A soft smile crawled its way to his lips and he approached you. “I am Mr. Garrick and you are . . .” your name rolled out of his tongue like a serenade, gentle to the ears, a sight to see the way his lips moved, and he extended a hand to you.
You clasped it gently before realization dawned on you. “Pardon me, Garrick as in the Kyle Garrick?”
In a flash of a moment, something sparkled in his eyes and searched yours. “Yes, it is me.”
You nearly squealed and ran around the room in excitement. “Oh my God. Wow. I-I’m a huge fan, sir. You were such a huge inspiration to me—and, and, I wished I could have watched your performance at the concert before, but I was busy preparing for mine. Oh, that must be why Mr. Price, Mr. Riley, and Mr. MacTavish were there! You are friends!” Your words tumbled out of delight.
"Yes, well, thank you for the kind words." His hand sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, his smile becoming wider.
You gazed at him for a few moments before you snapped out of it, your brain slapping it to your face that you just rambled in front of this gentleman. "I'm very sorry, that was unprofessional of me."
"No need for apologies. But I do want to get a feel of your play today as soon as possible." A hand landed on your back, his warmth slipping through the fabric as he led you towards the grand piano patiently waiting for you at the stage.
Your fingers itched in anticipation.
Sir Garrick gave you a comforting smile and sat on the front row seat. "Feel free to play whatever your heart desires."
What your heart desires.
With a shaky breath, once again, you began to tell a tale, the notes sounding like a human voice as it wove its sonorous song.
A ballad to tie what dream your heart made. An andante at first and increased tempo at each heartbeat.
Lightning striking and thunder howling, Kyle was consumed with the way you swayed from one note to another. He couldn't peel his eyes off you as though you had him in your grasp, a puppet for you to control. And only when the last of the music hung in the air, could he snap free of the strings.
He walked towards you and dropped to his knee, taking one of your hands in his palm. "You were truly astonishing."
"I'm telling you, she was marvelous," Kyle exclaimed, pacing around Price's office and pointing at his fellow professors. "Blimey, if only you guys were there the other day, you'd feel chills."
Simon kept a straight face as he sat on the couch, legs spread, his knees bumping with Johnny who took a seat beside him, sipping from his mug of coffee. Whilst, Jonathan inclined on his chair behind a mahogany desk, decorated with intricate carvings and souvenirs he had gathered as they traveled across continents.
"I get that you're delighted, but could you quiet down?" Price grumbled on his desk, a pang of pain shooting his head.
"No, I am not shutting up." Kyle raised a hand, shaking his head. "She recognized my name. My name.” He pointed at himself.
“Anyone would recognize your name if they’re yer fan or hater,” Johnny quipped and placed the mug down on the coffee table.
Kyle turned to him. “You don’t get it, mate. She said she’s a fan of mine. I was a huge inspiration to her—”
“Was a huge inspiration to her,” Simon echoed, leaning back against the couch. “Used to be, not anymore.”
Kyle glared and stomped towards the masked man, grabbing his collar when the other merely raised his brows in a challenge. “I swear to God, Simon, I swear to—”
“I swear to God if you three don’t shut the fuck up—” Price paused, straightening himself from his chair as Kyle shook Simon, and glared at them— “I’ll have you asinine blokes chopped into bits!”
Kyle let go of Simon, who simply fixed his crooked collar and tie, and raised a brow at the man behind the desk. He sat down on a vacant chair, his eyes not leaving Price, and asked, “Are you jealous she recognized me, Price?” he was answered with another glare, which he shrugged at. “Or not.” He definitely is.
For a few moments, they sat in silence, each lost in their train of thought. All centered on a certain lady, whom they had watched from afar, now within their grasp. They only acted as though it was their first time meeting you.
Each born to a wealthy family, presented interesting things which soon died down as they broke them down into pieces, they had grown bored. And had found that there were only a few they could put their trust in this world. Though not related by blood, they shared everything since they were younger. They knew one another strengths and weaknesses. Their faults. Their passions.
Their desires.
A knock pulled them out of their reveries.
Johnny being the closest to the door, got up and opened it. A smile was brought to his face as he found you. “Hello, bonnie. C’mon in.” He swung the door open, a hand motioning at you.
You hesitantly stepped in as you saw your professors inside the office, eyes all settled on you. You put a hand on your other arm to hold down your nervousness as the door behind you shut.
Four men who were strangely overly friendly to you. You could think of a couple of reasons. The first being a musician they had watched and the second, being their student.
A hand landed on the small of your back, guiding you further in, making your face flush. “Have a seat,” Sir MacTavish waved a hand at the sofa, where he and Simon sat.
You kept your gaze low as you obeyed him, sitting between him and your math professor, red cheeks going in a deeper shade as you met Kyle’s gaze. Embarrassed, you finally faced Price, and asked, “What is it that you called me for, Professor?”
Price put his elbows over his desk and intertwined his fingers. “We have a proposition for you . . .” Your name rolled sensually out of his tongue.
The proposition was to be their assistant. Given their overlapping schedules these days, it was hard for them to handle them. At first, you refused the offer, telling them you had a part-time job to do, along with practicing your skills in piano. But they had already thought about that and said they could pay you for your work.
A tempting proposal. Perfect for a student like you who got into this prestigious school through a scholarship.
You tapped your pen on the table and heaved a sound sigh, slouching on the chair. You were in a cafe near the school, in an attempt to change the atmosphere and help you write a report for Sir MacTavish's and Sir Price’s classes, but it didn’t seem to be helping at the moment. A pleasant music came from your earphones to block out the background noises and you closed your eyes to lull yourself.
When you opened your eyes, you jolted up your seat. “Shit!” your hands immediately flew to your potty mouth and straightened your spine at the sight of one of your professors, Simon, across the table. “Ah, uh, I’m very sorry, sir. I didn’t notice you—”
“Why do you apologize so often?” his rough voice was low and he placed a cup of tea on the table. His eyes landed on your notebook, full of notes, written clean as though it was printed.
You pursed your lips, unable to think of an answer, and ran your tongue over the soft flesh, catching Simon’s attention. “I . . .”
Simon glanced around the empty cafe, the only other person within the area was the staff over the counter, who kept her eyes on her phone. And you had perfectly picked a secluded spot. He looked back at you and reached out a hand, placing it under your chin. He lifted your face to bring your eyes to his.
Your heart raced at his actions.
“An angel as brilliant as you are should carry yourself with confidence, sweetheart.” His thumb caressed your lips. “Perhaps, we could teach you that.”
Your lips parted at his touch, warmth pooling at your stomach. You knew this was strange—wrong, and yet you didn’t want him to stop.
But he let go and leaned back, and you found yourself gripping on your thigh. “Have you thought of our proposal last week?”
You nodded, clearing your throat. “I have, sir.”
“What do you say?”
“The offer is good, and I don’t think it will clash with my schedule under normal circumstances, either.” You paused, letting him wait for your answer as you gazed into his caramel eyes. “I’ll take it, professor.”
You were fond of puzzles. You were interested in mysteries. And you were drawn to danger.
Being their assistant had more perks than you initially thought it was. You talked with them about their terms and added some of yours, and they seemed to be pretty considerate about it.
Maybe, a bit too much.
You had moved to an apartment they got you, so you wouldn’t be distracted by your roommates. When you had breaks, they would call you to their offices and give you desserts and snacks.
And more often than not, their touches lingered, turning into hugs, caressing, and pinching when in private. To close, seemingly the start of a taboo, a risk, and yet when Professor Price had you pinned between him and Professor Garrick in his office one late night when most of the people at school had gone home, you didn't want them to stop.
You wanted the heat to rush over you, like a forest fire, unwavering.
Didn't pull back when he planted his lips on you. Didn't stop the very professor you looked up to as a musician to bunch up your skirt and grind his dick against your ass. Didn't stop even when the other two entered and Sir Price had his hand rubbing against your clothed cunt. Didn't stop when Professor Riley locked the door behind him as Sir Mactavish joined in.
Johnny’s snaked a hand around your waist, a bit harsher than the ones he’d always done, but you didn’t mind it. Not when his lips were gentle against yours, patient and exploring as he led you on his lap when he sat on your couch, stealing you from Price and Garrick. He drank on your gasp as you felt another pair of lips on your nape, dusting kisses along your flesh.
Simon breathed against your shoulder, hand grasping the swell of your breast and performed maddening massage that got your nipples pebbling under the fabric of your top. You flinched when he took them by fingers, the rolls languid, and shifted on the other man’s lap as you felt a poke underneath.
Johnny groaned against you, parting the breathtaking kiss. He removed you from his lap, only to turn you against him, now facing the professor who had shed his mask. His fingers dipped under the band of your panties, into your untouched bud and your wet folds. He rubbed with a hum, spreading your filth.
“You're so wet, hen,” he commented and inserted a digit, rubbing it against your slick walls.
Your teeth sunk to your lower lip, biting back a squeal at the sudden intrusion.
Simon placed his fingers under your chin and leaned down on you, his tongue running over your lips, something he had always wanted to do before. “Don't bite your lips. That's something we're supposed to do, yeah?” He whispered on your lips and explored your mouth, savoring the echoes of your pleasure, and left to plant his marks on your collarbones. Hands gathered your shirt and lifted it, exposing your chest to his sight.
His mouth dropped to the nipple, sucking while his hand went to work on the other.
Johnny began to pump faster, making you throw your head back to his chest, moaning out in pleasure as you shot a glance at other professors.
“You are not so innocent after all, hm?” Price took your jaw and ran his thumb over your lips, before pushing it in, muffling your cries.
“No one's that innocent nowadays, Price,” Garrick remarked, watching the frown on your face and the flutter of your lashes at every jerk of Johnny's hand made and Simon’s tongue did. His tongue ran over his lips, hand cupping over his hard-on, palming himself through his pants.
You began to suck on Price’s finger, making his dick twitch in his pants—his brain wondering how good your mouth would feel around him. He pulled his hand away to work down on his belt and pants, hands pulling out his shaft. He gave it a few pumps, chuckling when he noticed the way your tongue ran over your swollen lips before a groan escaped from it as Simon planted a bite on your neck and Johnny's thumb began to work on your clit.
Price brought his tip to your mouth. “Open up, dove,” he demanded and grunted as he pushed his shaft in, breath hitching at the warm feeling of your tongue and your throat. Your face twisted a bit at the taste of his precum. He let you adjust for a couple of seconds, hand going to the back of your head before he began to thrust.
One of your hands flew to hold onto his hip as you let him use your mouth, eyes fluttering closed and focusing on breathing through your nose. Out of the blue, Johnny pulled his fingers out and Simon stepped away, eliciting a whine from you. Vibrations ran down Price’s body and he groaned.
Unbuckling of belts echoed in the air, and you were pulled away from Price, making him curse. The next thing you knew, you were staring into the eyes of the man you had admired for so long.
“Sir—”
Kyle put his thumb over your lips, cutting off your words. “Not sir. Call me Kyle.” He positioned his cock under your cunt, rubbing the tip on your entrance.
You gasped at the sensation. “Kyle . . .” Your jaw slacked as he slowly went in, hands pulling you closer to his clothed body, fingers running on your flesh, gentle just as how he played his instruments.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s it,” he groaned, hands sliding down to your ass to guide you up and down on his length.
Now, he made music out of you.
It didn’t take a few ticks of the clock until they fucked you with all they had.
Simon’s cock was buried in the confines of your mouth, fingers tangled on your tresses, watching the curls of your lashes get soaked by the tears that rolled down on your cheeks as they relentlessly pounded on you—Kyle on your pussy, Price on your ass, and Johnny on your grasps. You had never felt so full, so complete.
You feel your legs shake—the sign you have reached the pinnacle of pleasure and exhaustion when Kyle hits the spot deep in you. You whined against Simon’s cock, groaning as beg for the overdue orgasm that they had been keeping from you.
You felt a hand slide down your thigh, finding your swollen clit, before the rough pads of the fingers rubbed aguishly gentle and slow. If they weren’t your professors, you would have cursed at whoever the one was doing it. But your wish had been heard and he picked up the pace until you were crying, arching your back.
But they weren’t done.
You felt Kyle and Price become rougher at each of their thrust, Simon tugging on your hair harder, and Johnny losing his rhythm on your hands, until they all pulled back, coating your skin with their cum.
You slumped on Kyle’s chest, limbs like a stringless puppet as you ride out the aftermath of your orgasm. Your heavy lids fell close, tired from the deed, but you fought back the drowsiness, not wanting to fall asleep in the state you were in.
“You did good, love,” Kyle cooed into your ear and planted a soft kiss on your temple.
Johnny leaned down and pressed a kiss on your shoulder. “Yer amazing, bonnie. Can’t wait to have more of ya.”
A hand caressed your flushed cheek, swiping the transparent mix of tears and sweat. “Let’s bring you back to your apartment, dove,” Price said in a gentle voice.
Gentle fingers scraped your scalp, gaining a hum from you, must be Simon with how his fingers feel on your head. An unspoken apology about the way he tugged on your locks.
Like the sky glowing, your skin glittered in the ruins they drew up. A masterpiece you were, vulnerable, vincible in their sight, like walls that had fallen. And yet as though a book which held thousands of words, they still had more things to know about you.
Like every start of a relationship. How fortresses were made. Each beginning of a story.
You basked in the echoes of their praise, letting their words bring you comfort and slowly help you regain your mind and strength.
Like after a fire, new maps were drawn. A new tale was written, with them, who swallowed a star.
Taglist: @itsyellow
#call of duty#cod 141#141 x reader#cod mw2#simon ghost riley#john price#kyle gaz garrick#john soap mactavish#soap x reader#gaz x reader#ghost x reader#john price x reader#john price x you#john price smut#soap smut#ghost smut#gaz smut#cod smut#soap cod#professor!au#student reader#musician reader#i tried to be poetic#price smut#cod mw#cod mw3#cod
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Diamond Castle au- introducing, Shadow, Muse of History, Astrology and Astronomy
Once a mortal in ancient Greece, moulded from clay by an inventor and brought to life by the blood of a god, he spent his years caring for his ill sister, Maria. Doing his best to assist his creator in finding a cure. Since the blood of god ran through his veins and, seeing that his existence was a miracle in of itself, it stood to reason that he could be the miracle that helped save her
Cuz he was quite literally born yesterday, his sister loved to tell him stories about historic events, tales of gods and heroes to teach him about the world and how it cane to be. She was a damn good storyteller too, always leaving Shadow craving for more.
His favourites were the ones related to the stars, the constellations, so much so that Gerald noticed and taught him how to properly chart them
Maria wasn’t allowed to leave the house, her grandfather fearing that the elements would be too much for her and that often made her sunny demeanour dull and, looking to cheer her up, he did his best to find ways to brighten her mood until found one that worked
He entertained his bed-ridden sister with tales of history, of old dead heroes, of gods, of prophecies, things that he had picked up from local traders and travellers when he was out running errands for Gerald.
Maria was enthralled by them, hanging off of his every word
“The island of Crete truly holds such a monster?”
“It’s travellers gossip, but who’s to truly say.”
He wasn’t as good of a storyteller as she was but he did keep record of every story he could, and Maria loved it so that was all that mattered
As Maria got worse, Shadow started praying and giving offerings to the god Asclepius and the god Apollo, he doubted they would come to his aid but if there was a chance they could help he wanted to be sure.
But it was getting harder to cure her, some of the medicinal herbs they needed grew far off and the merchants that brought them to the markets to sell them kept marking up the prices out of greed. So Shadow, who had been blessed with inhuman speed, was sent off to pick the herbs himself, allowing him the opportunity to venture and see more of the world and bring back more stories, even making a few of his own, slaying a few monsters on the the way
The soldiers for the nearby king didn’t make it easier, tormenting the people for laughs, outright stealing, sometimes outright killing people when they refused to cave to their demands. Gerald was always being pulled away from his work for a cure to craft machines and statues for the king, the only reason the soldiers were unable to harm him or Maria when he refused was because of Shadow being there to protect them.
This became an issue when the king decided that he wanted Shadow
Soldiers stormed the house and workshop, taking the inventor prisoner, dragging him away to the castle and as Shadow tries to get Maria to safety she pushes him out of the way of blade and gets stabbed through her stomach
Shadow blacks out.
When he comes back, his hands are covered in blood, the bodies of dead soldiers litter the floor, his ears are ringing.
The only other breathing Shadow could hear besides his own was the shaky, laboured breaths of his older sister
He rushed to her side and examined her, the wound was deep, too deep. He tried his beat to clean up the blood but he could barely see what he was doing past his own tears. As he did he prayed, to his other father, to Apollo, to any god that would listen, to please save his sister, to not let her die
Then Maria’s hand squeezing his stopped him
“Sh…Shadow… o-one more story…”
“Maria please, please, i have to treat this, I won’t let you die, i won’t let you, i can’t let you die!”
“One…one m-more… please?”
“…okay… okay, one more story.”
So he shakily told her a story, about the fabled diamond castle, the birthplace of music, home to the museum of music. He struggled to remember parts of the story but Maria shakily helped him fill in the blanks
Then as the story concluded, Apollo made his presence known and applauded the two on how exemplary their storytelling was. It turns out Shadow has gained Apollo’s attention for a while, ever since he started praying to him and he had an offer for him
He wanted him to be his muse, an inspiration, a god. Initially Shadow wanted to refuse until Maria winced and coughed in his arms, then he got an idea
“…Lord Apollo I will accept this honour on one condition, that you heal my sister of her wounds and her ailment so that she may live as freely as she wishes.”
Apollo accepted these terms and gave Shadow, ambrosia (the food of the gods). It burned away his mortality and left him a god
And Apollo fulfilled his part of the deal, healing his sister, and did Shadow one better by turning Maria immortal so that she may be Shadow’s attendant to assist him in his duties before whisking them both off to the diamond castle
50 years later Shadow meets the next muse
#sonic au#sonic fanart#sonic fandom#sonic the hedgehog#sonic the hedghog fanart#srb#sth au#sonic the hedgehog au#sonic#sonic art#sth#sth fanart#sth fandom#diamond castle au#sonic au art#shadow sonic#shadow the hedghog fanart#shadow the ultimate lifeform#shadow the hedgehog#shadow sth
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Neptune In Houses Of Groom Persona Chart
[PS: For entertainment purposes only. Have fun.💚]
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{Neptune in a groom’s persona chart represents dreams, intuition, spiritual connection, and the potential for idealism or illusion in his approach to marriage and life. Neptune reveals how the groom expresses compassion, imagination, and emotional sensitivity, as well as how he may deal with confusion or unrealistic expectations. }
▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️
Neptune in the 1st House
Neptune in the 1st House makes for a spouse with an immediate, otherworldly magnetism. His dreamy and compassionate nature makes him gentle, spiritual, and deeply empathetic. He may intuitively know what others need emotionally, which could make him very appealing to his spouse. Nevertheless, the fluidity of his identity may make him too fluid in establishing boundaries, and at times, he will question his role in the relationship. This groom often wants to be an ideal partner and may sacrifice or have issues with being authentic. His spouse will find him creative and artistic, but the spouse needs to offer grounding energy to help him through reality.
Neptune in the 2nd House
This placement suggests that the spouse may approach his values and material possessions with an idealistic or spiritual lens. He might prioritize meaning and emotional connection over financial stability, sometimes leading to impractical financial decisions. However, he is generous to a fault and enjoys sharing his resources to create beauty and harmony in the relationship. He is looking for a partner who understands his selfless nature and respects the fact that he tries to bring abundance into the world in ways other than financial. The challenge is to keep financial clarity and not let his idealistic tendencies blur his practical responsibilities.
Neptune in the 3rd House
Neptune in the 3rd House speaks with poetic elegance, and he often views life through a powerfully imaginative yet abstract perspective. His words stir the emotional psyche, and he is a very engaging storyteller or communicator. This placement can indicate that he idealizes communication in his relationship, seeking a deep, almost telepathic level of connection with his mate. He could have a good sense of humour. 😄His creative ideas add depth to the marriage and his compassionate dialogue, yet his tendency to dream on about what was said, misinterpreting details, causes confusing situations. His partner needs to appreciate his dreamy overview while keeping him focused on everyday discussion and life's duties.
Neptune in the 4th House
Neptune in the 4th House seeks a home life that is very much a sanctuary: a place of love, spirituality, and emotional safety. He may idealize family life and dream of creating a mystical ambiance in the house. However, this very idealism runs the risk of leading him to disillusion when the reality doesn't match the dream. This placement would suggest a deep emotional attachment to the family of origin or a longing for an idealized version of it, which might influence his approach to marriage. His spouse must learn to deal with his emotional sensitivity and sometimes escapist tendencies by encouraging healthy communication and keep the family grounded regarding practical matters.
Neptune in the 5th House
Neptune in the 5th House approaches romance with a sense of magic and wonder. He may well be an artistic soul, probably having an artistic inclination for music, painting, or other kinds of creative activities. In romance, he idealizes passion and playfulness, and he is looking for a relationship that will make him feel like part of some kind of fairy tale. However, this idealism can make him vulnerable to unrealistic expectations or disappointment if the romance becomes mundane. His spouse needs to embrace his artistic and playful energy while keeping him grounded with the practical realities of maintaining a relationship. This placement also highlights emotional connection to children, as he may view them as an extension of his creative spirit.
Neptune in the 6th House
This placement can reveal a spouse who is unselfish, serves others, and often incorporates spirituality or creativity into his day-to-day toil. He should be very caring and take much care in whatever kind of responsibility he undertakes, though at times he might be inconsistent or unclear about boundaries in respect to routines. As a husband, he is deeply empathetic and willing to put his spouse's needs first rather than his own. But he should not lose himself in that process or forget his health. His spouse will play a key role in helping him find routines and healthy habits and striking a balance in his selflessness with self-care.
Neptune in the 7th House
Neptune in the 7th House suggests that your spouse is quite dreamy about a soulmate connection and idealizes partnership. He can bring a dreamy, romantic dimension to the relationship, often working at making an intense, almost spiritual connection with the spouse. However, this placement can also blur boundaries, codependency, or lead to unrealistic expectations from his partner. Sometimes, he projects onto a spouse fantasies projected and expects them to live out roles that are unreal. This wife should handle these predispositions by inculcating healthy communication and developing realistic expectations without losing respect for the dreamer/romancer within him.
Neptune in the 8th House
Having Neptune in the 8th House your husband is easily led to enjoy very heavy, emotional depth in intimacy, going into those intimate moments for extreme transformational reasons in a marriage union. He desires a level of connection where souls will spiritually and emotionally connect. This placement suggests a fascination with shared resources, mysteries, and even life's spiritual aspects like death and rebirth. However, this strong urge to change can lead to confusion or secrecy in the relationship. His partner will have to support his spiritual quest but also make sure that everything they do together is clear and trustworthy.
Neptune in the 9th House
It will put him as a person who is highly visionary, constantly pursuing spiritual or philosophical truths, and idealizes traveling, going to school, or religious studies-all of which can be shared with a spouse as part of their crusade. He wants those relationships to widen his vistas and inspire growing; though, he resides so much within ideals he has difficulty focusing on his visions for this life. His wife needs to understand his adventurous spirit and encourage him to take realistic steps toward manifesting his dreams.
Neptune in the 10th House
Neptune in the 10th House describes a spouse who idealizes his career or public image, and he often aspires to inspire or heal others through his work. He is likely attracted to artistic or spiritual professions and may be interested in a legacy that reflects compassion and creativity. However, such idealism causes confusion or diffidence about what he wants out of his work. As a husband, too, he works at balancing aspiration with home-based responsibilities, and he needs his partner to help him connect his vision with practical strategies for achieving fulfillment.
Neptune in the 11th House
This house represents an idealist in friendship and social causes. He dreams of a better world and enlists his spouse to be a part of such visions. That position indicates he may idealize group dynamics but must guard against disillusioning or misplaced confidence in others. His spouse needs to encourage his humanitarian endeavors while helping him maintain discernment in his relationships and goals.
Neptune in the 12th House
Neptune in the 12th House, he is deeply spiritual, introspective, and in tune with the unseen side of life. Thus, he may have an enriching inner life and become a very emotional and spiritual supporter for his wife. However, his introspection may at times turn into withdrawal or inability to state his needs. He seeks something more than material as a husband, but a husband has to help him keep the integrity and prevent things from becoming misunderstood or alienated.
------> Each Neptune placement will show how idealistic, vulnerable, and spiritually-emotionally connecting the spouse is, showing specific ways in which he approaches marriage and the role he plays in marriage.
#astrology#astro community#astro observations#astro notes#birth chart#horoscope#persona chart#groom persona chart#briede persona chart
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What's New In IF? Issue 2 (2025)
By Bex, Dion, Briar and Peter
Now Available!
Itch.io - Keep Reading below
If you read the zine, consider liking the post: it helps us see how many people see it! And sharing is caring! <3
~ EDITORIAL ~
It’s time for a revival!
As you might have noticed, our Column section has been dead for a while. We feel like it’s time to do something about that!
Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?
Send us a message and we will be happy to feature it in our future Issues!
There’s power in numbers!
Are you an IF fan and would like a way to give back to the community? We’re once again looking for new members of our Team!
Do you enjoy keeping up with updates and finding new gems? Maybe you even enjoy working with Google Sheets?
Then our Tracker of News position is made just for you!
Contact us on any of our socials or email and help us stay on the top of our game and make our Database even better!
BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER
~ ANNOUNCEMENTS ~
Most importantly:
WNiIF? is switching to a bi-weekly schedule!
Keeping up with news and releasing a new Issue every week is exhausting. We have decided to change it up a bit, hopefully preventing a possible burnout. We also hope that this will give us more time to make every Issue a bit better.
We thank you for your understanding.
What else?
Our X/Twitter account is no longer active. Please check out our other social media to keep an eye on releases and news.
We plan on releasing a special What’s 2024 in IF? Issue summing up all Issues that came out last year. This will include New Releases, Event Highlights, Columns, Game Highlights and more, making it easier for new readers to check out the Zine. The date of release is not set yet, but hopefully soon!
More exciting stuff is to be unveiled in the upcoming Issues!
~ EVENT SPOTLIGHT : Queer Vampire Game Jam 2025 ~
🦇 🥀 🕯 🪦 🩸
Queer Vampire Game Jam is a month-long interactive fiction game jam hosted by kit, nyehilism, that will run from January 10 - February 20th, 2025. The goal of this jam is to create more interactive fiction games about queer vampires, focusing both on queer relationships and queer experiences as told through a vampiric narrative.
Last year’s edition had over 50 amazing submissions. Give them a look too!
~ ENDED ~
The Queer Winter Game Jam is in full swing. Those interested can submit their work until January 16th 2025.
~ VOTING ~
Feeling nostalgic about the golden age of text adventures? Relive those days by participating in PunyComp 2024!
IF Short Games Showcase 2024 is a great way to shine some new light on projects made in the past year (Jan 1, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024). You now have until January 25th 2025 to vote.
~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~
Media depicting healthy examples of polyamory isn’t that common. The PolyJamorous 2024 is trying to break the status-quo!
ShuffleComp is a musical interactive fiction competition where you make games based on songs, which are submitted by other entrants. Creators have until January 20th 2025 to upload their works.
Once upon a time, a game jam was held to create stories around the theme of fairy tales… and that game jam is the Once Upon A Time VN Jam. It’s running from October 1st to January 31st.
Concours de Fiction Interactive Francophone 2025 is for all French-speaking enthusiasts. Submissions are accepted March 3rd 2025.
The Black Visual Novel Jam is all about working with creative professional developers who work in visual novels to bring more Black stories to life. The goal is to create a space where Black creators can show their unique storytelling through visual novels.
SeedComp! is a 2-round interactive fiction game jam, focusing on creativity and the growth of ideas and the Sprouting Round has just started! Check out the Planting round for inspiration.
BL stands for Boys' Love, a genre that focuses on romantic and emotional relationships between male characters. The Ultimate BL Visual Novel Game Jam is all about that!
Are you a fan of Vampires? Then lucky for you, because the Queer Vampire Game Jam is back!
Sealed With A Kiss Jam 2025 is a fantastical romance jam for all VN lovers!
The eighth annual Ace Jam is a game jam about creating games with asexual spectrum characters.
~ NEW RELEASE ~
Joyride To Hell (Ren’Py) After weeks of not hearing from your girlfriend she called you panicked, wanting to meet up with you. You want nothing more to do with her. But as they say, forgiveness is a virtue.
The Shadow Over Cyberspace (Ren’Py) From the same creators of Arcade Spirits. Time is running out, barter with gods, embrace the deathless aeons, or go offline permanently.
Full moon. Cold night. Dark shadow. Warm gun. The Beast of Glenkildove has stalked Ireland for centuries. Now, you must hunt it in Hunter: The Reckoning — The Beast of Glenkildove (CScript).
In Five Candles in the Meadow (Twine) even in the far flung future, penpals still exist. With a sea of stars between them, two young adults keep correspondence as best they can, with lone data relays acting as their heavenly messengers. @windsoflimbo
As always, don't forget to check out the submitted entries to the events mentioned in the previous pages. They deserve some love too!
~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~
After Mina Murray is reunited with her childhood friends Jonathan and Lucy Harker, they are all invited on a cruise to Transylvania with a mysterious man named Count Dracula. - Syndromedia's Dracula (Ren’Py)
Rite of Decay (Ren’Py) or, Sense in Self; The testimony of one Nastya V. Yarocz, Rot Physician, on the peculiar happenings at Pavia Manor following the death of honoured Guest Lord Kallistos of Arkhé. And on the even more curious romances she has forged therein.
House of Prestidigitation (CScript) is a school of magic game, a chance for you to pursue a specialty in the magical arts while competing in extra-curricular events, investigating clandestine clubs, and preventing a disastrous curse from carrying away the House before the end of term! You can also explore the strange history of the House itself, or turn your attention towards more romantic endeavours.
What will you do now that you find yourself in the captain’s chair of a starship tasked with exploration and diplomacy? Forge your name in the history of the Astral Alliance as a hero… or a traitor in Captain’s Log - Space Adventure (CScript).
In Time Fall (CScript) — Time does not wait for anyone, even for the one that controls it. Life in the undercity of Draeken, also known as The Depths, is brutal enough. But when an ill-fated encounter leaves you forever altered—your blood itself changed—you’ll soon realize that time is strange, and the thin fabric of reality a fickle thing. Even more so when it’s something you can no longer just witness … but may be forced to control.
Until the Dogs Come Home (CScript) is about war, though you play no part in it. Instead, you are the sole member of your hometown’s postal service, who must venture into fire and brimstone to bring the word of loved ones to the front lines. As the battle rages on and new truths come to light, your seemingly simple job transforms into a rescue mission, where the very lives of the people you were tasked to deliver to are in your hands.
In Velocity's Edge (Twine) as the adrenaline-soaked story unfolds, secrets are unveiled, loyalties are tested, and the pursuit of the checkered flag takes on a life of its own, propelling the characters toward the finish line which is only the beginning of the ultimate race. @velocitysedge-if
In the summer of 1984 you get a letter informing you of your mother's death. The first and only letter you get in ten years since you left your hometown. You stand in the middle of the old, tiny room that you can barely afford to rent and read it over and over again until the buzz at the back of your head quiets down. - There Are No People Left (Twine)
In Bride of Shadows (Twine) step into the tragic and fleeting existence of a Vestal of Dawn—a priestess bound by sacred vows of purity and an unwavering devotion to scripture. But when the sun goddess abandons you, your faith shatters. In your darkest moment, a tempting offer arises. A new covenant. A second chance at life... but at a cost. @bride-of-shadows-if
In Lecture Me Later (Unity) you wake up in a classroom way after your lecture concludes. The person who wakes you up looks familiar. Oh right, it's that one popular guy that everyone likes. With the light of the setting sun on your skin, you engage in conversation with the popular young man, realizing that things are taking a very scandalous turn, and that his interests are far more fascinating than you'd think. @lehxra-arts
~ UPDATES ~
A Shriek of Ash and Fire (CScript) added new content to their demo. @krogpile
Eldritch Tales: Inheritance (CScript) released second portion of Chapter 3. @darielivalyen
Keeper of Life and Death (CSscript) added new content to their demo. @keeperofthesunandmoon
Lightweaver: Chosen (CSscript) updated their demo. @lightweaver-chosen-if
My One and Only (CSscript) added new content to their demo. @reds-corner
Strings of Fate: Origins (CScript) released full Chapter 3.
The Eternal Library (CScript) updated their demo. @leiatalon
The Ultimate Magic Student (CScript) added new content to their demo
Thicker Than (CScript) updated their demo. @barbwritesstuff
Throne of Blood (CScript) released Zero and Cy’s aftermath Chapters. @throneofblood-if
Tri City Monsters (Ren’Py) released Akello Chapter 4. @tricitymonsters
Weeping Gods (CScript) updated their demo. @jcollinswrites
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Marry My Stalker released Chapter 1.
The King's Hound (Twine) released the second half of Chapter 2. @the-kingshound
Hybrid (Twine) added new content to their demo. @heart-forge
~ OTHER ~
Mathbrush released Learning from the Best of Text [IF History Book], a collection of various historical essays about the history of interactive fiction as told through the lens of IFComp, the XYZZY Awards, and Spring Thing. (We thank Anon for bringing our attention to this release.)
When Winter Comes Again (Definitive Edition) (Ren’Py) is the fully remastered version of the romance visual novel originally released for mobile devices. Now available on PC, this edition brings an enhanced experience with improved visuals, and refined storytelling.
To Ashes You Shall Return (CScript) is looking for beta testers!
Sanguine Sky: Winter Special Collection of the short stories is out! @sanguinesky-if
let’s TEST IF#2: playtesting your game is also out! @golmac
As you might have heard, Dashingdon, a free ChoiceScript game hosting service, will be shutting down at the end of the month. All users and games will be permanently deleted. (Read more here)
If you know about a project that’s moving to an alternative hosting service, please consider updating the link in our Database. Our Team will be working on this in the upcoming weeks, but any help would be appreciated.
As always, we apologize in advance for missing any update or release from the past week. We are only volunteers using their limited free time to find as much as we can - but sometimes things pass through the cracks. If you think something should have been included in this week's zine but did not appear, please shoot us a message! We'll do our best to add it next week! And if you know oncoming news, add it here!
~ MAYBE YOU NEXT? ~
We did not get a submission this week. But if you have an idea for a short essay, or would like a special space to share your thoughts about IF and the community...
Shoot us an email!
~ HIGHLIGHT ON ~
A couple of games that we thought were cool.
Velocity's Edge by Amelia (Twine).
It's the first F1 based interactive fiction I've seen! Its very unique!
//submitted by anon//
Your favourite game here?
Do you have a favourite game that deserves some highlighting?
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our anons
For sending us a Highlight and news!!
And as always, huge thanks to all you readers who liked, shared, and commented on last week's issue! What might be tiny actions are huge support and motivators to us!
Thank you for cheering us on this journey!
See you in two weeks!
BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER
WHAT'S NEW IN IF? 2025-ISSUE 2
THIS ZINE ONLY HAPPENS WITH YOU!
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#NEW ISSUE IS OUT!!#What's New in IF#interactive fiction#if news#visual novel#parser#choice of games#choicescript#twine#ink#twine games#ink games#itch.io#interactive game#interactive novel#IF#games#hobby#indie dev#choose your own adventure#if-whats-new#zine
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(steddie | explicit | 1.1k | tags: established relationship, sub!eddie, top!eddie, dom!steve, bottom!steve, porn with feelings, Good Boy Eddie | @steddielovemonth Love is liking the version of yourself you are with them the best by @tinytalkingtina | AO3)
Eddie has been called many things in his life. Some good, more bad.
He's been called a good friend, a herder of lost sheep, a dungeon master, a rock star, even a hero.
But he's also been called a pariah, a coward, a waste of space, a fuckup, trailer trash, a freak, a murderer, a monster.
But no one had ever called him a good boy. Not until Steve.
Ever since he was a little kid, Eddie had learned to fit in, to become whatever someone needed him to be.
When his ma got sick, he learned to be her sweet little boy, quiet and uncomplicated instead of loud and wild. To take up as little space as possible, one less thing for his mama to worry about.
After she died, Eddie learned to be self-reliant. An adult in a child's body, able to take care of himself because who else would. Whenever his father was around, he adopted the Munson charm, the easy smile and empty flattery. He learned how to hot-wire cars, pick locks, steal, lie.
In the process, he learned to hate himself and even more the path his father was trying to set him on.
It wasn't until he started living with his Uncle Wayne that he didn't know who to be, because his uncle never asked him to do anything but be himself. Which should have been a relief, but by then Eddie had almost forgotten who that was.
So he began to reinvent himself in ways that made sense to him.
A storyteller, like Tolkien, spinning tales through his campaigns and having his party hanging on his every word.
A rock star, like Osbourne, van Halen, or Hammett, who played his heart out and made himself heard through his music.
A rebel, like Bowie, who stood up for those who, like him, were on the fringes of society, being their shield and offering them a safe place and a community where they could be their wonderfully weird selves.
Those versions of him were all Eddie, but at the same time they weren't. Not all of him.
Not the soft parts, the sweet and sincere and quiet parts he thought he lost when his mom died. Being all that for her hadn't been enough, it hadn't saved her, so Eddie buried that part of himself with her and became someone else. Someone the world couldn't break so easily.
Until Steve.
Brave and reckless, kind and bitchy and oblivious, self-sacrificing and self-centered, vain and dorky Steve. An enigma if Eddie ever met one. One he couldn't get enough of, each layer a new but pleasant surprise.
With Steve, Eddie doesn't have to reinvent himself, doesn't have to be any of the stories or boxes or labels.
With Steve, Eddie can let go.
With Steve, Eddie can stop looking over his shoulder.
With Steve, Eddie can let down his guard and show his soft belly.
With Steve, Eddie can be a good boy, sweet and obedient and sincere.
"You're doing so good, baby, so good for me. Fucking me so well, so sweet, feeding me that thick cock of yours. Can feel it in my throat. All for me, my good boy treating me so well," Steve coos with his mouth right next to Eddie's ear. They've been at it for what seems like hours and Eddie is so far gone, trembling in Steve's arms as he keeps rocking his hips, the only thing on his mind is Steve. Being good for Steve.
He's already made Steve come down his throat, lapping up every single drop like the good boy he is, before opening Steve up with his fingers and tongue. He pulled another orgasm out of him as he kept stroking across his prostate while licking messily inside him where he had spread him open on his fingers.
Eddie thought they were done, but Steve had other plans as he gathered up his own cum to spread over Eddie's cock, intention clear. Eddie had hesitated, afraid to hurt Steve because it was too much. It was only when he told Eddie to fuck him with a smoldering look from under his lashes that he finally, carefully, pushed inside him.
He's been hard and aching ever since Steve pushed him to his knees and made him nuzzle the bulge in Steve's tight Levis.
He's been ready to come since Steve's cock hit the back of his throat, moaning so prettily as it fluttered around him.
He's been holding himself back from coming by the skin of his teeth since Steve started clinging to him, overstimulated and loving and everything Eddie could ever want, cooing the sweetest and filthiest praise as Eddie slid in and out of the hot, tight grip of his body.
"What do you want baby, tell me, I'll give you everything my sweet little thing, just tell me what you need." Steve's soothing voice washes over him and he realizes he's whimpering into the sweaty skin of Steve's neck.
"You," Eddie replies without hesitation. "Just you, wanna make you feel good, 's all I need, just you." He's babbling, too far gone to be anything close to coherent. Reduced to his soft, needy core. "Love you so much, wanna stay like this forever, never wanna leave you." Things he never thought he'd say out loud spill out of his mouth and he can feel Steve tighten around him, impossibly so and he's so close but he can't, not without -
"Eddie, baby, don't stop, 'm so close, I love you too," Steve pants before whimpering, "Oh God, you're making me come again, kiss me, please, baby, kiss me."
He can't really feel his body anymore, his mouth clumsily seeking Steve's, but he could never deny him anything. Especially not when he's begging him so sweetly.
They both come within seconds of each other, no more words needed. Steve, whose legs and arms are wrapped around Eddie so tightly that it's impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins, is the first to spill between their bellies. The fluttering of his hole, the bucking of his hips and the rhythmic way he clenches around him makes Eddie follow suit.
It almost hurts in its intensity after holding back for so long and he can't help the pitiful whimpering or the overwhelming tears.
Cradling Eddie's head in his giant hands, Steve wipes away the tears and kisses the whines from Eddie's trembling mouth. More tears follow, his love and devotion and gratitude for being loved in this way running down his cheeks as salty droplets, and Steve kisses them away as well.
"You were perfect," he whispers between his kisses, "I love you so much."
When his face is clean, the tears finally stopped, Eddie sinks back down onto the man beneath him. The man who gave him back this side of himself, a side he missed and mourned without even knowing it. A version of himself he has learned to love, to like best, thanks to Steve Harrington and his unwavering love for Eddie.
#steddie#steddie smut#steddie fanfiction#stranger things fanfiction#steve harrington#eddie munson#steddielovemonth#day 22#Love is liking the version of yourself you are with them the best#my writing#nsft
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Meet Me At Midnight
my @steddiebingo countdown to midnight fill as well as my @strangerthingswritersguild exchange fic for @mission2mordor! i hope you like it!
tags: fantasy au, noble!steve, bard!eddie | divider by @/enchanthings
Read on AO3
“I don’t like the look of him, but at least the music’s not half bad.”
Steve leaned back in his chair, picking up his mug of ale and taking a sip. The new bard in town continued his performance, hamming up the daring story of some Lady Apple-something or other. The song itself was nothing revolutionary, the story downright predictable, but the way his fingers danced over the strings, his eyes sparkled, his voice ran smoothly through the notes… Steve couldn’t take his eyes away.
“He’s certainly something,” he agreed, not even glancing over to his cousin. Beside him, Tommy sighed.
“What, do you actually like this?” He sounded unimpressed. “He’s the same as every other peasant who thinks they can sing coming through town with stories of heroes. You know none of them are true, don’t you?”
“How would you know?” Steve retorted. “Have you travelled as much as he has?”
He knew that Tommy hadn’t, because they’d grown up together in the same town, stuck there their whole lives. Their family was one of the wealthiest around, and their parents weren’t about to risk their heirs wandering off on some adventure and getting killed. No, Steve’s life had been set out for him since birth: marry a noblewoman, take over the Harrington Estate when his father passed, and reign over it with the same iron fist that had been beaten into him.
He hated it.
“Who cares if it’s true, anyways?” He continued. “It’s still a good story.”
Tommy rolled his eyes, but was stopped from continuing the argument by a round of applause starting up, startling them both. Steve quickly joined in as Tommy stood.
“Gotta piss,” he grunted, and walked off towards the latrine.
Steve was privately relieved to have him gone. Tommy was just the type of friend that his parents liked and he detested. Unfortunately, they were bound together by blood and familial obligation as cousins and heirs to the Harrington wealth. But gods, Steve wished that Tommy would just pick up on the fact that he didn't actually like him. He wished he could just befriend the servants — they seemed pleasant enough. But they could never let their guard down around Steve as long as he remained a Harrington.
“What’s got you looking so down?” A voice questioned, and Steve jumped as he realized the bard had somehow gotten to his table without him noticing.
“Ah — Just lost in thought,” he demurred. “Nothing to worry about. I liked your performance.” He offered him a smile, and the bard returned it, his large eyes crinkling.
“The Tale of Lady Applejack wasn’t enough to make you feel better?” He teased. “I’ll have to play a happier one tomorrow.”
“Oh, I — You don’t need to do that just for me,” Steve said, flushed all of a sudden.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t be the only one to appreciate it,” the bard said, leaning in with a sly smile. He lingered there for a moment too long, then sprung back, sticking his hand out to shake. “Eddie Munson, travelling bard and storytelling extraordinaire.”
Steve took his hand nervously and shook it. “Steve Harrington. Um, Hawkins local.”
“Aw, Steve, I’m sure you can do better than that,” Eddie said, leaning on the table now. “No job? Hobbies? Things you do for fun?”
Steve snorted. “I don’t get to do things for fun.”
“Don’t get to? Do I sense a damsel in distress, calling for aid?” Eddie was clearly teasing, but he looked genuinely concerned underneath the bravado. Steve wasn’t sure of the last time he’d seen that much care directed at him.
He waved a hand and laughed it off. “I’m no damsel.”
Eddie waggled his eyebrows. “You sure? You’re certainly pretty enough.”
Steve hid his smile behind his cup, picking it up and taking a drink of ale. Before he could pull a sentence together, Tommy came back, his lip curled at the sight of the scruffy bard talking to Steve.
“What are you doing here?” He said, arms crossed.
Eddie straightened up, dusting off his shirt before falling into a deep, ostentatious bow. “Eddie Munson, travelling bard. Maybe you missed my show earlier.”
Tommy didn’t look any less annoyed. “We didn’t.”
“Ah, so then you do know me!” Eddie sprang back up, his flailing hands catching Steve square in the side. “Sorry.”
Tommy scoffed. “Move. You’re in my way.”
Eddie looked back at the chair he was standing in front of, and back at Tommy. He turned to Steve. “You’re friends with this guy? You seem much too nice for him.”
With a harsh shove, Tommy pushed him aside and reclaimed his seat. “Who do you think you are, talking to us like that?” He spit.
“I believe I already introduced myself,” Eddie said, for the first time looking less confident in this conversation.
“Do you even know who you’re speaking to?” Tommy asked.
Eddie straightened up, now back on solid ground. “Sure do. Steve Harrington, Hawkins local, and…” He swiveled around to point at Tommy. “His uppity friend.”
Tommy barked out a laugh. “Hawkins local? That’s one way of putting it.”
Eddie cast a confused glance at Steve, and he wished for a moment that he was brave enough to cut Tommy off, to stop him from coming out with him tonight in the first place. But he was too slow to speak, and his new friend was about to learn why he should never speak to Steve again.
“The Harringtons practically own this town,” Tommy proclaimed, sounding disgustingly proud that he got to rub it in Eddie’s face. “Little Stevie here isn’t like any other Hawkins local — he’s been trained to rule over it since birth.”
Steve sat shamefaced, staring into his mug. He didn’t want to look up and see Eddie’s reaction.
“And you are?” He heard him ask slowly.
Tommy held out a hand. “Tommy Harrington, his cousin. The other heir to Hawkins.”
Eddie didn’t shake his hand. “I see,” he said.
“Glad to hear it,” Tommy responded. Steve cursed his association with that smarmy face. I’m not like him! He wanted to yell, but he couldn’t cause a scene and he couldn’t disgrace himself. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Without another word, he took Steve’s arm and yanked him out of his chair, leading him out towards the door.
“I’ll be here all week!” He heard Eddie yell as the door slammed shut behind them.
He thought about it all the way home.
The next night, Steve snuck out again and went to the Hideout. It was a little trickier this time, but Steve was a pro at it by now, and he was able to slip into the town undetected. He had made sure to wear his plainest clothes, not wanting to stick out or seem like he was flaunting his wealth in front of Eddie.
After the show, he managed to catch Eddie in between talking to patrons at the bar.
“Hi.” He sat on the stool next to him, fingers curled in his lap so he couldn’t see his nervous fidgeting.
“My lord.” Well, that wasn't encouraging. Steve chanced a glance over. Eddie didn’t look angry, more just surprised, so that was a good sign.
“Listen, I just wanted to apologize for last night,” Steve started. “Tommy’s a prick, but I don’t have much choice in spending time with him. If I could, I would have ditched him as soon as I could and come back to you.”
Eddie was silent for a long moment. “I appreciate that,” he said. “You don’t have any other friends to take to shows?”
“Not… as such, no.” He didn’t want to let on the truth of his situation, which was that Tommy was truly his last and only option.
“A pity,” Eddie murmured. “Suppose I’ll have to fill that gap.”
Steve looked up, surprised. Their eyes met, and a hopeful warmth grew in his chest. Eddie’s eyes creased at the corners, crinkling in a way that Steve never knew could be attractive, and he was done for.
“One last question,” Eddie started, and Steve nodded, sitting up attentively to answer it. “Why did you lie?”
“I tried not to lie,” he said, edging around the answer. “Technically, I told the truth. Just not all of it.” He sighed. “But that’s not the answer you’re looking for.”
“No.”
“I know I have a charmed life. I know I have what everyone wants. Money, power, influence.” Steve kept his eyes trained on the worn wood of the bar, worrying at the edge with his fingers. “I hate it. No one knows how lonely it is. I wasn’t allowed to fraternize with anyone of a lower station, so the only playmate I had was Tommy. My parents needed an heir, but they didn’t want to deal with a child, so I was raised by nannies and tutors until I was old enough to not need them. My whole life has been set out for me since before I could walk, and I hate it.” He blinked tears out of his eyes, his voice rough with the lump rising in his throat. “I know it probably sounds silly to you — I’m rich, what do I have to complain about? But I — I really do.”
A hand wrapped around his own, calming his fidgeting. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Steve,” Eddie said softly, and Steve couldn’t hold back a shuddery breath. “That doesn’t sound like much of a life,” he observed carefully.
Steve let out a watery laugh and shook his head. “It wasn’t. It isn’t.”
“Well,” Eddie said, eyes sparkling, “I suppose we’re going to have to fix that, aren’t we?”
-
The next week passed unreasonably fast and unbearably slow. Steve came to the Hideout as many nights as he could — which ended up being most of them — and spent them in awe of Eddie. They would stay out sometimes until the small hours of the morning, just talking. Telling each other secrets, dreams, things they’d never told anyone else before. Steve had never felt so close to someone so quickly.
How someone so talented, so beautiful, so exciting, had decided to befriend someone like Steve, who did nothing but capitulate to the whims of his parents, was beyond him, but he couldn’t help but be thankful for it. His days were spent waiting until he could sneak out again, eyes glued to the clock, counting every second.
On the last night, Steve went to see Eddie’s show as he usually did. He was trying not to think about his new routine coming to an end. Maybe Eddie would want to be penpals?
Eddie played his usual songs, a little bit of extra fervor put into them, and was Steve imagining the extra attention directed his way? No, surely it just felt like that because he wanted to catch his eye and congratulate him on such a successful performance. Once it ended, he wasted no time doing just that, buying him a drink as soon as he swung by his table.
Eddie laughed, but didn’t turn down the beer. “Many thanks for the free drink, my lord.”
“What are friends for?” Steve asked with a wry smile, and Eddie’s smile softened.
“You’ve been more than just a friend to me, Steve,” he said, a hand laid on top of his own.
Steve’s mouth fell open. Was he — Did he mean —
“You’ve been a confidant. An ally. A spectacular audience member,” he joked, leaning in to bump their shoulders together, and Steve laughed. “But most of all, you’ve become someone I’ll miss.”
Steve blinked, not expecting him to get so serious. “I’ll miss you too.”
“I’m sure you will.” Eddie’s smile turned wobbly, and he took a deep breath as if to prepare himself. “I have a proposal for you.”
“A — a proposal?” Steve repeated, heart beating faster. Surely he couldn’t mean — But they had only known each other a few days —
“A proposal,” the bard confirmed with a smirk. “As you know, this is my last night in Hawkins. I’ll be leaving after I finish my show at the Hideout.”
“You’re certain you can’t stay any longer?” Steve asked, trying not to pout too obviously at the thought of Eddie leaving. He’d always known it was going to happen — Eddie was a travelling bard, it’s in the job title — but he didn’t like to dwell on it.
“That’s where you come in,” Eddie told him. “Come with me.”
Steve blinked. There was no way he’d just heard what he thought he did. “Come again?”
“Come with me,” Eddie repeated, and yes, it seemed this was really happening. “That’s my proposal. This week here with you has been one of the best I’ve had in a long time. I love meeting new people and seeing the world and all that, but travelling gets dull sometimes, you know? But meeting you?” A soft smile came over his face to match the blush he was now sporting. “It’s like I’m seeing everything through your eyes, and it’s beautiful.” He held eye contact with Steve as he said that, and somehow he got the sense he wasn’t just talking about the picturesque countryside. “You don’t like it here. You feel trapped. You want to see the world, you said it yourself,” he said bluntly. To hear it all laid out like that was quite the wake-up call.
“I — I —” Steve stuttered. He felt like he must defend himself, but it was true, wasn’t it? He hated this town, the way he’d never seen what lies beyond it, the trappings of his family name and title weighing him down with every new order his parents gave.
“Take your time to think about it,” he said, a soft look on his face. “I’ll be waiting outside the gates until midnight. If you decide to come with me, meet me there. If you decide you’d rather stay, then…” He swallowed roughly. “Then I shall be on my way.”
“I don’t need to think about it,” Steve said, the words spilling out of him in a rush. “I accept your proposal.”
A bright smile grew on Eddie’s face. “You do?”
Steve nodded. “Of course I do. You’re right, Eddie. You’re right about all of it. I want to see the world. No, more than that. I want to see it with you.”
Eddie’s eyes shined with unshed tears. “Steve Harrington, you truly are incredible.”
“Not half as much as you.” They smiled at each other, basking in their happiness, until Eddie gasped.
“I can show you Evereska! It's where the elves live, everything is so bright there, you’ll love it. Ooh, and the dwarven marketplaces in Mirabar! I could spend hours in there and still barely scratch the surface. Oh, and you've never even been to the Sword Coast!” Eddie gushed, more animated than usual, which was saying a lot for him.
Steve laughed. “Hold on, I still need to gather my things. I don’t think I’ll be able to get there in time for your show, but… I’ll see you at midnight?”
Eddie grinned, radiant and happy. Steve buzzed with the excitement of knowing he would get to see that all the time. “See you at midnight.”
He darted in for a quick hug, pecked a kiss on his cheek, and whisked away into the dusk, leaving Steve with the scent of dusty leathers and smoke and a burning on his cheek.
Well, he’d better get to it. There was plenty to do before midnight.
#*writes#stwgwinterexchange24#steddiebingo#steddiebingocountdowntomidnight#bingo card is under the cut btw if ur curious#steddie
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Day 11 — Cozy Night
Pairing || TFATWS!Bucky x Female!Reader
Word Count || Around 600
Contents & Warnings || Fluff — no warnings.
Disclaimer || English is not my first language so I apologise for any mistakes or misunderstandings!
Advent Calendar 2023
You and Bucky had spent the week in a magical cabin nestled within a winter wonderland forest. The getaway was a relaxation for you both, offering a sanctuary from the busyness of everyday life. Your days were spent visiting the charming town, exploring cute vintage shops, and savoring cocoa at the cozy cafe.
Your evenings unfolded in the warm embrace of the cabin, where you and Bucky cuddled by the crackling fireplace with an assortment of books. Wrapped in a thick blanket, you shared beautiful moments, taking turns reading passages and stealing soft kisses between lines.
On the last day, plans of departure were interrupted by an unforeseen snowstorm, the roads dangerous. Stranded for a few more days, you and Bucky embraced the unexpected twist of fate, turning it into another cozy night with each other.
The storm-induced power outage left the cabin in darkness, with only the flicker of flames in the fireplace and the gentle glow of the candles illuminating the space.
Nestled on a plush sofa, your legs covered by a thick blanket, you and Bucky snuggled together. The warmth from the fire and each other kept the chill away.
You were at the end of your book, and Bucky took charge of reading the final chapters. His voice was a soothing melody, a comforting cocoon enveloping you both. He kept the story flowing, his voice becoming a rhythmic lullaby that was almost hypnotic. Tracing the plates of his vibranium palm, your fingertips danced along to his storytelling.
At the conclusion of the book, Bucky’s soft voice lingered in the air, leaving a warm, happy feeling behind. Closing the book, he kisses your temple, and you hummed in contentment.
“Hmm, that was a wonderful story, babe. Your storytelling skills are on point. I could listen to your soothing voice forever.”
“Well, I’ve had a few centuries of practice,” he mumbled, brushing his lips against your skin.
Cuddling closer, limbs entwined, you let the warm flames and the echo of the tale envelop you both.
“What should we do now?” you pondered, breaking the comfortable silence.
“You’re not tired?”
You shook your head. “Are you?”
“Not the slightest. How about we do a puzzle?” Bucky suggested, eyeing the 500-piece set on the coffee table. The box was adorned with a snowy, picturesque landscape with a cabin, much like the one you found yourselves in.
“Let’s do it.”
Seated comfortably on the sofa, still close, you unpacked the contents of the puzzle box onto the coffee table, sorting through the countless tiny pieces.
You began with the edges, searching for the border pieces that would lay the foundation for your masterpiece. Your conversation flowed between debates over puzzle piece placement and sweet nothings whispered to each other. Occasionally, Bucky would kiss your cheek or nuzzle against your skin.
As the puzzle took shape, you became immersed in the details of the image coming to life. The crackling logs and the wind’s howl serve as background music, along with the satisfying click of connecting the pieces together.
When the final pieces fell into place, a sense of accomplishment washed over you both. The once chaotic pile of puzzle pieces had transformed into a breathtaking panorama.
“We did it. It’s beautiful, Bucky,” you hummed, resting your head on his shoulder, nuzzling into the soft material of his sweater.
“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” he agreed, voice low and soothing as he draped an arm over you, pulling you closer. “Almost as beautiful as this moment with you.”
Meeting his gaze, filled with adoration, you felt a rush of affection. “I’m so glad we got stranded here for a few more days.”
“Me too, doll,” he whispered, leaning in to press a tender kiss to your lips. “It turned our simple getaway into a magical adventure.”
Feedback through a comment is highly appreciated! Or let me know through an anonymous ask if that feels more comfortable. As well as a reblog to share my work with other people!
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#advent calendar#tfatws!bucky#bucky barnes#bucky barnes x reader#bucky barnes x you#bucky barnes x y/n#bucky barnes x female reader#bucky barnes x f!reader#bucky barnes fluff#bucky barnes one shot#bucky barnes imagine#bucky barnes drabble#bucky barnes fanfiction#sebastian stan#sebastian stan x reader#sebastian stan fluff#sebastian stan one shot#marvel#marvel x reader#marvel fluff
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When the twisted wonderland anime comes out what are the things you hope they do better then what they could do in the game?
To quickly clarify a few things (so new readers and anyone stumbling across this post doesn't get the wrong idea): firstly, we do not yet have any confirmation on what the Twisted Wonderland anime will be about. Secondly, I have previously expressed that I would prefer the TWST anime to be random slice of life rather than another main story adaptation. If we assume that the anime will be another adaptation of the main story, I don't think the anime staff has a ton of liberty in the alterations they can make to the source material. Book 2 is widely known to be the greatest example of Bad Writing in TWST, and it cannot exactly be swept under the rug since it's in the main story. I doubt anyone would be allowed to make massive rewrites to the script or to the series of events; the biggest changes we get are slightly compacted scenes in the manga and the light novel. For example:
Skipping lines that appear in the game. (Ex: in the Book of Heartslabyul, Ace does not joke about sharing a room with Yuuken.)
Combining scenes to save on time. (Ex: In the light novel, Yuuya and Deuce meet Leona for the first time not in the Botanical Garden, which is the case in the game. Instead, the mob student that broke the eggs meant for Ace's apology chestnut tart is a Savanaclaw kid that Leona shows up to reprimand.)
Adding slight details to fill in logical gaps. (Ex: Yuuya in the light novel is granted a NRC uniform by Crowley; the uniform is described to us, the readers. Yuu getting a uniform is never mentioned in the game.)
Continuing from the last point, new details can also serve to flesh out character motivations, backstories, and lore. (Ex: the Heartslabyul light novel informs us that Riddle faces social repercussions for his OB and almost got expelled from school; the Savanaclaw light novel sheds new light on Leona's motivations, and the same can be said of Riddle.)
So basically, the story (again, if the anime does end up following the plot of the main story) would be the same. What would make the anime different from the manga, game, and light novel is largely the medium in which it is presented. I have talked about this at length in a number of older posts, but here is one example of how the manga, uses visual storytelling (as it is primarily a visual medium). A manga chapter is usually limited in length due to it being physically printed and shared in a magazine alongside other manga; there is therefore a constraint on how long-winded it can be, and its limited pages must be used effectively. We need to think about the strengths and the weaknesses of each individual medium and how those strengths and weaknesses affect how it might slightly change how TWST I presented.
An anime is able to incorporate animation with sound in a 20ish minute time slot to tell a tale. It gets the same benefits of the game, but far more freedom of movement. There is, however, also a time constraint to be considered. One complaint TWST often gets is that despite half of its core gameplay (I'm not going to count reading as gameplay) being rhythm games, the music the game has is NOT memorable. While the anime most likely won't have a ton of original songs, I hope that it can at least creatively incorporate some of TWST's scores as background tracks to fun scenes and make them more enjoyable that way. The anime will also be able to... well, be animated!! We won't get just a static screen where a maximum of three characters are crammed onto the screen at once staring back at you. It's okay to have in the game to save on time and budget, but you have to admit it does get boring to look at after a while. But with an anime production, we can get exciting lighting and camera angles that result in cool animation! I hope that this will really help the TWST characters' stories come to life on the screen ^^ One scene in particular that I hope the anime will adapt well is the VDC/SDC performances of RSA and NRC. The game tells us that RSA's performance is clumsy and amateurish, but it still managed to capture people's hearts. The game also tells us that NRC was not able to perform at their maximum capacity because they were already physically worn down from dealing with OB Vil. I want to see these descriptions actually be realized on screen (the Rhythmic/Twistune alone isn't enough), as it could help us better judge and have an enhanced understanding of the situation. I know a lot of fans who, to this very day, still feel that NRC was cheated of the win and shouldn't have lost to such a lackluster performance from RSA, so I'm hoping that a fully animated version might give us more perspective.
#twst#twisted wonderland#twst anime#twisted wonderland anime#disney twisted wonderland#disney twst#notes from the writing raven#question#twst light novel#twisted wonderland light novel#twst manga#twisted wonderland manga#episode of heartslabyul#episode of heartslabyul manga#Ace Trappola#Deuce Spade#Dire Crowley#Yuuya Kuroki#Kuroki Yuuya#Yuuken Enma#Enma Yuuken#Leona Kingscholar#Riddle Rosehearts#Vil Schoenheit
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The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl
“I stopped trying to understand fate and destiny a long time ago, but dumb luck seems to be my specialty.”
I am a huge Foo Fighters fan. And Dave Grohl is very high on my list of all-time favorite drummers (and front-men). So, naturally, I was pretty damn excited when this book was first announced. Then it was released, and because I generally just do not read non-fiction, it slipped through the cracks. Fast-forward to this month, when Spotify announced the availability of audiobooks for premium members. I'm not normally a fan of audiobooks, as I'd much rather read my books than listen to them (my brain just processes/devours them better that way). But, seeing as this one was read by the man, himself, I figured... why not?
This was easily the best way for me to experience this book. Grohl has an extremely excitable - and likable - personality that makes these stories just fly by, and saves the book from his often awkward prose. And hearing him actually tell these stories, instead of just reading his words, brings an emotionally touching sense of reflection to them. It also keeps all of the name-dropping from ever feeling like (just) bragging. Instead, it makes them feel like the world's luckiest fan sharing the unlikely situations - and unbelievable encounters - that led to him becoming one of the biggest rock stars in the world.
My biggest complaints would be that there are some periods from which I would've liked to get more stories, his prose can often be awkward - but is (mostly) saved by the audiobook - and the stories are seemingly organized randomly in terms of chronology, making it difficult to keep track of where we are on the Dave Grohl timeline.
This isn't really a book about Grohl's craft, nor is it a comprehensive account of his life as a musician. It's just a storyteller telling stories. Knowing this, I was able to kick back and enjoy these tales for what they are. Dave Grohl may be one of the biggest rock stars in the world, but he's also a fan, and it's so fun listening to him geek out about meeting his personal heroes on his journey to becoming one of ours.
7.5/10
-Timothy Patrick Boyer.
Note: I'm including a few favorites from when I got to make photos of Foo Fighters back in 2015 at Fenway Park.
#booklr#the storyteller#dave grohl#memoir#audiobook#book review#reading#non fiction#the storyteller: tales of life and music#books#book reviews#readers of tumblr#2021 books#foo fighters#nirvana
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magnus protocol season 1 part 1 praise and credits
all right my lovelies, we are at our Magnus protocol hiatus and you know what that means?
Credit where credit is due, we do not get wonderful stories without wonderful storytellers, and storytellers don’t get to tell stories without the people working tirelessly to bring the story to the audience. So thanks to everyone at Rusty Quill who makes these stories possible! I also want to shout praises to our part 1 guest writers: Graeme Patrick, Cole Weavers, Jamie Petronis, Shaun Pellington. Stellar work everyone!
All credits and my thoughts on each episode are below, so SPOILERSSSSSSSSS, you have been warned.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 1 – First Shift
CAT1RBC5257-12052022-09012024 Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email] CAT23RAB2155-10042022-09012024 Transformation (eyes) -/- Trespass [chat log]
Written by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall
Script Editing by Alexander J Newall and Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: stunner of a first episode, juggling meeting literally everyone and setting up the huge diversity of case styles we will be seeing. Also shout out to Alex for making sure we got such a banger of a line: ‘Canaries should stay above ground’.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 2 – Making Adjustments
CAT3RBC1567-23092022-18012024 Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic [video call]
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Editing by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: Like walking down a stone spiral staircase, you never know what the next thing is going to be (but you know it'll be dark and make your stomach drop a little). Enjoying the twist on accurate CS terminology (yes, contractors ARE called Externals).
The Magnus Protocol Episode 3 – Putting Down Roots
CAT2C8175-03042009-22012024 Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]
Written by Graeme Patrick (for more of his work visit https://www.aintslayednobody.com)
Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall
Thoughts: absolutely now a fan favourite, compelling gruesome body horror, with an intriguing backstory. The slow unravelling of a mind. Brings to mind horrors like Kafka's The Metamorphosis and the film The Ruins (not because they are similar stories necessarily, but, well, vibes). Definitely need more Graeme Patrick in my life!
The Magnus Protocol Episode 4 – Taking Notes
CAT3C7494-19111831-29012024 Collection (blood) -/- musical [letter]
Written by Cole Weavers (for more of his work visit https://www.thetownwhispers.com)
Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall
Thoughts: A curious tale, that gets more curious in the re-hearing. Sure, an instrument plays the player. But how was the teacher driven wild BEFORE the pupil got the special violin? Maybe the chaos was from him, and the violin was a conduit? Got to hear more Cole stories! Dear grandpa Augustus does always tell such lovely stories, if Tim Fearon can narrate my life, that would be great thx. Also - need a promotion? get your windows NT to tattle on your boss! Lena giving Gertrude vibes with the killing-my-assistants theme.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 5 – Personal Screening
CAT2RB2377-10012023-05022024 Disappearance (undetermined) -/- Invitation [internet blog]
Written by Alexander J Newall and Jamie Petronis (for more of his work visit https://www.thecellarletters.com/)
Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall.
Thoughts: I really love this one, it is such a brilliant thrilling story that genuinely has me shouting 'WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? I need more details!!' - which is a hallmark of all good mysteries honestly. Will be on the hunt for more Jamie stories.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 6– Introductions
CAT1RB4824-09022024-12022024 Injury (needles) -/- intimidation [999 call]
Written by Jonathan Sims
Script Editing with Additional Materials by Alexander J Newall
Thoughts: Needles is a lame tryhard. I love him. Also Alice referring to Lena as 'Big Bird' is hilarious. Also, yay, Celia!
The Magnus Protocol Episode 7 – Give and Take
CAT2RC3338-03022016-12022024 Agglomeration (miscellany) -/- congregation [email]
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: I really hope that Mr Clayton turns up again. As the remains of a crime scene. Also, worldbuilding: hello Oxford. hello people in what is essentially an antique shop repeating the same phrases. Getting déjà vu. And Gwen, you know the Civil Service is really easy to move around, right? You can get a secondment, a loan, a transfer, there's internal job adverts... are you sure you want a promotion?
The Magnus Protocol Episode 8 – Running on Empty
CAT2RBC3366-12072023-28022024 Architecture (liminal) -/-hunger [coursework]
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Editing with Additional Materials by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: I feel like I just experienced a TMA/Backrooms crossover and I can dig it. Interesting repetition of ... repetition as a theme ('people' repeating phrases over and over). I like this one a lot, I feel that it communicates a great deal about the way this universe (or at least, its spooky experiences) works. Also, I really really hope Gee Gee is a villain in this story, just so Sue Sims can be the tiny cackling witch she was destined to be.
Interestingly, the official transcript has the name Hostile Workplace - an early title perhaps?
The Magnus Protocol Episode 9 – Rolling With It
CAT3RB3354-14101998-08032024 Dice (bone) -/- fate [Magnus Statement]
Written by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J Newall
Thoughts: This is a fun one, and does put an interesting twist on the idea of owning an artefact, that one could compel others to take the negative consequences. Can't decide if the ending (oh one last time) is too predictable - but definitely immensely satisfying. Also, I'm not sure if the truck/diner death is a direct reference to a final destination movie ending, but I noticed some similarities.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 10 – Saturday Night
CAT1RB2275-06082021-09032024 Mascot (kids) -/- murder [TV interview]
Written by Jonathan Sims
Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall
Thoughts: appropriately named! The sound design for this episode gives me intensely-visual mental images of the TV interview, and I really want a YouTube video unpacking the Bonzo Butcher and his crimes, timelines, arrest, everything.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 11 – Marked
CAT23RC5246-06012020-11032024 Tattoo (corpse) -/- compulsion [email exchange]
Written by Jonathan Sims
Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall
Thoughts: Shirley Jackson Susan Hill called, she wants to know when she can have her haunted typewriter back.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 12 – Getting Off
CAT1RB4728-09032024-13032024 Mascot (kids) -/- frenzy [insurance claim]
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: Possibly my favourite so far. Alex is bringing the gory horror and it's perfect. Excellent descriptive storytelling - opening a guy's head like a book is a visual I did not know I needed.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 13 – Futures
CAT3RB4622-17092023-14032024 Gambling (application) -/- murder [voicemail]
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: Can someone get Alex in as a writer for Black Mirror? The series might actually get good as a result. Also can someone start a series tally for died in a hospital bed due to wickedly cool sound design? Thanks. Death by personal adjustment is giving TMA season 5 Mortal Garden vibes.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 14 – Pet Project
CAT1RB4426-01081995-15032024 Transformation (snake) -/-horde
Written by Shaun Pellington (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14461505/)
Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall and Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: Sometimes well-written characters come and punch you in the gut. Character writing isn't always prioritised in horror, as the characters can just be the vehicle through which horror happens. But the transition from report to last message to dad really hit hard, and the story was creepy af. Shaun writes podcasts and voice acts, so check out his stuff.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 15 – Well Run
CAT1RB-6451-22062023-22032024 Hunt (aristocratic) -/- compulsion
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: the real horror is being forced to be the monster. Yet you had a choice, you chose the monster, before anyone else could. I will always praise the sound team, though it is amazing how a shot through a window also kinda sounds like a brick wall falling down. I enjoyed Alice's run-in with the drowned woman, great writing, sound design and authentically chaotic. Also, let us all simp for Lady Mowbray, purely because it disgusts Jonny.
The official transcript also has an alternate name Good Show
I know exactly what Jonny means about disgust for the aristocracy, but his reaction is too funny to not do it.
PSA - nellie the elephant was dropped as a CPR technique bc you need to depress a chest by 2 inches to pump someone's heart, and compressions were too shallow when people used that song. Another One Bites The Dust and Stayin' Alive are better rhythms to use.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 16 – Anti-social
CAT1RB1565-30102023-25032024 Tattoo(influencer)-/- Cardiac
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: I genuinely really like this case and the character. Sure, cringy, but she's young, overexcited, and wants attention, like every other human being on the planet. I think she's quite a compelling character to follow, as she trips headlong into abject misery. Spectacular sound design on the death scene.
Also, a lot of people were complaining about the slang, but given the load of cringy slang that the fandom made the cast read out: this episode was 100% deserved. You want them to call their characters dummy thicc? You made your cringy slang bed, now lie in it (I say with love, affection, and sarcasm).
I am aware part of the complaints were that non-AAVE characters were using AAVE - but unfortunately, that is how real life, and real slang use, works. For example, the word 'cool' meaning good, has been around since the 1930's, and originated from Black Americans in the Jazz scene. Now, everyone uses it. I can't comment on whether this is good or right (and I don't think the show does either), only that the show's use/misuse of slang is accurate to real life.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 17 – Saved Copy
CAT2RC1147-30111997-04042024 Doppleganger (interdimensional) -/- murder
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: Alex and Jonny are very good at twisting existing formats. Evil Twin/Doppleganger? Oh he'll want to kill you, replace you, drain your life, steal your existen- oh he wants a friend to play in his murder dungeon? That's new! Also, the receptionist and orchid-pervert - stop being a tease Alex!
The Magnus Protocol Episode 18 – Solo Work
CAT1RC2374-20032024-10042024 Memory (derelict) -/- compulsion
Written by Jonathan Sims
Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: How can a body speak without lungs? Autopsy reports are some of my favourite horror (see The Mortuary Assistant game and the autopsy of Jane Doe film). A house full of fog and forgotten poems.
Also, I got the credit details from the official transcript, so I'm not sure if Jonny writing and editing his own script is an error or deliberate, but it is kind of funny on an episode called 'Solo Work'.
Everyone complains about the AQA Anthology (2004) we had to read for English GCSE, but I loved it intensely.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 19 – Hard Reset
CAT13RBC1137-21031684-11042024 Transformation (canine) -/- growth (Crystalline)
Written by Alexander J Newall
Script Edited with additional material by Jonathan Sims
Thoughts: Alex writes the word 'Christendom' in a story and is immensely happy about it. I get the deep suspicion that Alex and Jonny have 'Edward-Kun'-ed the boys into a horrific electronic chimera a la Full Metal Alchemist. Excellent world-building. Wonder if the 'Protocol' is going to be 'yeah, we find people acting sus, and we teach them what the second part of 'fuck around and find out' actually entails'. Also COLIN ISN'T DEAD YET. YAYYYYY.
The Magnus Protocol Episode 20 – Social Stigma
CAT1RAB2534-12042024-12042024 Transformation (tattoo) -/- Social Media (influencer)
Written by Jonathan Sims
Script Edited with additional material by Alexander J Newall
Thoughts: Talking to a supernatural person... in person. I love it. Interesting dialogue on parasocial relationships and Gwen trying and failing to be an authority figure is hilarious (I am very similar!). Gwen's playlist is just RESPECT covered by Aretha Franklin on repeat. She can't get no respect ever.
Created by Jonathan Sims (@jonnywaistcoat) and Alexander J Newall (@rqbossman) Directed by Alexander J Newall Executive Producers April Sumner, Alexander J Newall, Jonathan Sims, Dani McDonough, Linn Ci, and Samantha F.G. Hamilton Associate Producers Jordan L. Hawk, Taylor Michaels, Nicole Perlman, Cetius d’Raven, and Megan Nice Produced by April Sumner Featuring (in order of appearance) Billie Hindle as Alice Dyer
Kazeem Tosin Amore as Teddy Vaughn Anusia Battersby as Gwendolyn Bouchard (@anouchard) Shahan Hamza as Samama Khalid Sarah Lambie as Lena Kelley Alexander J Newall as Norris Jonathan Sims as Chester Kate Sketchley as Daria Jenny Haufek as Therapist
Tim Fearon as Augustus Paul Schmidt as Klaus
Hattie Quinlan as Operator 1 Harry Roebuck as Needles Tom Park as Operator 2 Joe Bence as Police Operator Lowri Ann Davies as Celia Ripley
Jon Gracey as Gerry Keay Sue Sims as Gertrude Robinson
Catherine Luff as Geraldine Hardy Steve Newman as Nigel Dickerson
Uncredited as Mr. Bonzo Beth Eyre as [Error]
Zena Carswell as Answerphone Euan Shedden as DarrienEp
Jesse Hawke as Voicemail Danny Scarre as Caterer Ellie Dickens as Lady Mowbray Yanick Ghanty as Luke Dyer Lara Sawalha as Drowning Victim
Vera Chok as Ink5oul Ki Griffin as Madam E
Sasha Sienna as Georgie Barker (@sashasienna)
----
Dialogue Editor – Lowri Ann Davies Sound Designers – Tessa Vroom, Katharine Seaton, Meg McKellar, Mastering Editor - Catherine Rinella
Music by Sam Jones (orchestral mixes by Jake Jackson) Art by April Sumner Fabulous work everyone! Can't wait for the next part!
Official transcripts:
#standing ovation#top work#what did you think#the magnus protocol#magnus pod#jonathan sims#magnus archives#tmagp shitpost#tmagp vague#tmagp spoilers#tmapg#tmapg spoilers#magnus protocol#the magnus protocol spoilers#celia ripley#alice dyer#samama khalid#lena kelley#the magnus institute#the magnus archives#colin becher#chester tmagp#tmagp chester#tmagp season one#norris tmagp#tmagp alice#gwendolyn bouchard#tmagp#tma#tmagp theory
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The Amazing Devil are underrated storytellers
Like I'm sure many people did, I discovered alt-folk band The Amazing Devil through Joey Batey as a fan of The Witcher. Someone on TikTok was talking about the song Fair and how the actor who plays Jaskier (or Dandelion, depending on preference of material) from The Witcher sang it.
Instantly, I knew I had to listen to this song and I sat with it on repeat for an hour, picking through references and laughing at how pure and simple the love conveyed in those words was. It's the kind of love you dream of, where your partner completes you and life without them seems impossible. A love that goes beyond you both, as if there was no choice but to fall for one another. It's not pretentious or impossible to understand. It's universal and I fell in love with it.
Months later, I found Battle Cries, a song of overlapping whimsies. It tells the tale of two lovers ending their relationship and trying to find pieces of calmness in the uproar of their breakup, comparing it to a war not just between each other but within themselves. There a metaphors deeply woven within the lyrics and each line is magic as Joey and Madeleine sing over each other, words occasionally syncing up, representing the way they struggle to feel in tune with each other at the end of their relationship.
Battle Cries lead me to Marbles, the story of a couple where one of them is suffering from memory loss, the trials and tribulations of watching the person you love forget who they are and who you are too. It is a beautifully told story that feels so genuine, making me wonder how close to home the inspiration was. This song is an absolute guarantee at tears while also making you laugh.
Ruin came to me next, as wells as Drinking Song for the Socially Anxious and The Horrors and The Wild, three songs with such incredibly different vibes that don't just need to be listened to but thoroughly devoured.
Finally, a song I can never praise enough, Inkpot Gods. This song brings together so many ideas and images I love. Again, it is heavy on its use of metaphors but contains one of my favourite references they have ever used. The song discusses the love you can hold for another person and the lengths you will go to so you can protect them. It talks of breaking generational expectations and being there for someone when they can't defend themselves.
The best part of Inkpot Gods, however, is the Lord of the Rings reference where Madeleine sings "you might not fear a man//but to a woman by the end you'll kneel and plead". This is popularly theorised to be about Eowyn in The Return of the King and the line "I am no man" she speaks as she ends her foe's life, a show of her strength not despite of her gender. Easily the best line of the trilogy to me, and hearing it in song form cements this, following it with "I'm more than what my mum told me", breaking this tradition what what a woman can or should be.
While Joey Batey was the draw to The Amazing Devil's music for me, Madeleine has kept me there, she has such a beautiful voice and her and Joey together have made some stunning music that I will always love. They tell these fantastic stories within a few minutes, creating characters worthy of epic tales and narratives so deep and complex it leaves you thinking for long after.
#the amazing devil#joey batey#madeleine hyland#the witcher#jaskier#music#music analysis#eowyn#lord of the rings#return of the king
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Welcome to the Son of Tydeus: The Musical blog!
Our progress, ideas, polls and more will be posted here on this blog to keep you up-to-date!
We're also very open to any asks, comments, questions and suggestions!
It really warms our hearts and delights us to see how many poeple have already shown interest in this project, and we're excited to continue this journey with you :)
Overview and FAQ to the musical and us below
Who are we?
In the most literal sense we are Ley and Bea. (Our personal blogs are @leynaeithnea & @friedmagazinebouquet )
We are two storytellers who are completely normal about mythology, and Diomedes in particular! Obviously!
We started working on this musical in early October, after an off-hand comment in a discord server that someone should make a musical about Diomedes.
Somehow we decided to keep daydreaming about it, asking "what-if" after "what-if", and eventually figured that sometimes you have to take things into your own hands.
What will this musical be about?
The life of Diomedes of Argos, from his father's death when he was 4 years old, all the way up until his own. As of now we plan to be covering his childhood, the Trojan War, his homecoming, exile, life in Italy and the end of his mortal life.
What will be the format of the musical?
It will be fully sung-through, allowing for it to be easily accessible to everyone once it is complete.
We want to emphasize auditory storytelling so that no visual elements will be necessary to get the full expierence.
Though visuals (be it animation, stage play or other) might still allow for even more immersion, it's an element that we won't put our focus on for now
What stage of production are we at?
We are currently in the earliest planning stages, where we are gathering information, researching and working on defining a set timeline, figuring out what aspects we'll want to focus on and what story we are trying to tell, before we move on to drafting a storyline and eventually tackling the songs itself.
Why are we doing this?
Primarily because Diomedes rarely ever gets mentioned in any modern media unlike so many other ancient greek heroes. Despite his incredibly interesting life and major role in the Iliad he gets cut from nearly all adaptations and is barely known at all, and we decided we want to change that.
On top of that we also see it as a great chance to not only expand our knowledge about Diomedes himself, but gain a more in depth understanding of the myths and tales themselves.
#son of tydeus the musical#pinned post#intro post#as the project progresses this post will be updated
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