#album selection

[zegalba]

Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994)

[crowdiak]

[charminglyantiquated]

✨birthday playlist!✨

it's october! if you're so inclined, please tell me one song you love - every year I make a playlist of all of them and it gets me through the winter. there's always something really special to me about knowing each song on there is important to someone else, and I've found some of my favorite artists through it. thank you thank you thank you!!

(like previous years, I'll make the playlist available on youtube and spotify when it's done!)

[disease]

[CD: SRCS 7349 | JP, 1994]

[emptyrainbowz]

Dan played Striptease by FKA Twigs in the dressing room I’m so NORMAL ABOUT THIS INFORMATION YOU ARE SO COOL DANIEL HOWELL

[ruinedholograms]

Selected Ambient Works Volume II (1994)

[winwintea]

wow i love spending my adult money and taking advantage of how cheap everything is in china (rip child labor 💀💀) (i am also broke so buying a lot of stuff is a already a lot for me)

[literallymercy]

i have let this idea of swan having a plush absolutely consume my soul so here we go

Operation Signet

Three years had passed since Swan had joined the group. The bond they shared had only grown stronger, and each member had become a key part of Swan’s life. The group had grown close, a family of sorts, and Mercy and Swan had become inseparable. Swan’s plush swan—a simple stuffed toy she’d clung to since Cleon found her under the boardwalk—had become a part of her. It was her comfort, her constant, her reminder of stability.

But today, as they gathered in the main room, Cleon noticed something—the plush was starting to look worse for wear. The once-white fabric was faded and worn, the stitching unraveling in places. It was clear to her that Swan would never part with it willingly, and if she had any chance of getting it cleaned, they would need to be subtle.

“We need to wash it,” Cleon said softly, speaking to Ajax, Cochise, and Fox as they sat around the table. “Swan won’t let anyone touch it, but it’s starting to get too dirty. We’ve got to be quick.”

“I got it,” Cochise said with a grin. “Mercy, you’re up. You’re the only one who can distract her for long enough.”

Mercy sighed, looking over at the plush swan still tightly held in Swan’s arms across the room. “I don’t know. She’s gonna be mad if we mess with it. She’s been attached to that thing forever.”

“She’ll understand, but we can’t just tell her to give it up,” Cleon replied. “She’s gotta be distracted while we wash it. You’re the best at that.”

“Fine,” Mercy said reluctantly. “But if she gets upset, I’m blaming you all.”

Mercy walked over to Swan, who was sitting comfortably on the couch, her plush swan nestled securely beside her. She sat down next to her, giving a soft smile.

“Hey, Swan,” Mercy said gently. “How about we get some fresh air? Maybe take a little walk? I think it’ll do you good.”

Swan turned her head slowly, her fingers curling tightly around the plush swan. She hesitated, then shook her head. “I’m... not sure. I don’t want to leave it.”

Mercy smiled warmly, putting a gentle hand on Swan’s shoulder. “I’ll stay right with you. Just a little walk, we’ll come right back. I promise. You could use a break, and so could I.”

Swan looked down at the plush again, her expression softening, but she finally nodded. “Alright. Just for a little while.”

Mercy helped her to her feet, wrapping an arm around her waist to guide her outside. The others worked fast.

Once Mercy and Swan were out of sight, Cleon, Ajax, Fox, and Cochise quickly retrieved the plush swan from the couch. They moved swiftly to the laundry area, taking care not to damage it further as they gently soaked it in warm water, hand-washing the fabric with the utmost care.

“Think she’ll be mad?” Ajax asked as she helped rinse it clean.

“I’m sure she’ll understand,” Cleon said, glancing at the plush. “But she needs to know we care about her, and this thing is falling apart.”

Once it was washed, they laid it out to dry, careful to make sure it was returned to its original state. It was clear Swan had an attachment to the plush, and they all knew it wasn’t just a toy—it was a symbol of the safety she’d found with them.

When Mercy and Swan finally returned, the group was silent, watching the two of them carefully. Swan immediately looked toward the couch where she had left her plush, but when she saw it was no longer there, her heart dropped.

“Where is it?” she asked, her voice quiet but filled with uncertainty.

The room went silent. Mercy stepped forward, her hands instinctively reaching for Swan’s.

“We... cleaned it,” Mercy said gently. “It was getting too dirty. It needed to be washed before it fell apart. We didn’t want you to lose it.”

Swan stood frozen, her face pale. Her hand slowly reached out to the empty space where the plush had been. She blinked, but no words came. Her eyes watered as her fingers brushed against the couch, as if she could still feel the plush’s presence.

“I... I didn’t want you to,” Swan whispered, her voice trembling. “It’s... mine.”

“I know,” Mercy said softly, her voice filled with regret. “I’m sorry, Swan. We didn’t mean to upset you.”

Swan’s lips trembled as she sat back down on the couch. The hurt was clear in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything more. Her gaze drifted downward, and she closed her eyes, holding back tears.

For the rest of the afternoon, Swan retreated into herself. She stayed on the couch, her plush swan now in her lap, and the group gave her space. Mercy sat beside her, her hand lightly resting on Swan’s, but Swan didn’t speak.

Mercy felt her heart break for Swan. She knew how much the plush meant to her, how it was tied to memories of safety and stability. And now, it was as if a piece of that safety had been taken from her.

By evening, the silence still lingered. Swan barely touched her dinner, her gaze distant as she sat quietly, the plush still pressed close to her chest. The room felt heavier, everyone unsure of how to break the tension.

Finally, during dinner, Swan broke her silence.

“They mate for life,” she said softly, her voice so quiet at first that no one could be sure they’d heard her.

The group froze, all eyes on her. Mercy glanced at Swan, her heart swelling with relief at the sound of her voice.

“Swans,” Swan continued, her voice a little stronger now. “They find a mate, and they stay with them forever. They don’t leave each other.”

Ajax, who had been idly picking at her food, suddenly jumped at the sound of Swan’s words. She hadn’t heard Swan speak like this in weeks.

“Whoa,” Ajax said, blinking. “You’re full of facts tonight, huh?”

Swan didn’t respond right away, but her eyes flicked to Mercy, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Mercy squeezed her hand, silently reassuring her.

“You... you didn’t leave me,” Swan whispered to Mercy, the words barely audible but clear.

“No, I never will,” Mercy replied, her voice filled with warmth. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Swan nodded, the tears in her eyes still there but no longer as threatening. She felt understood again. She felt safe again.

And as the evening went on, the tension slowly melted away. Swan didn’t speak much more, but the others could tell she was starting to heal. Mercy stayed close, always within arm’s reach, never letting Swan feel alone.

Later that night, as the group began to wind down, Cleon pulled Mercy aside for a quiet conversation.

“You did good,” Cleon said, her voice low. “She just needed time. She’ll get used to it.”

Mercy nodded, her expression soft. “I just wanted her to know that we didn’t mean to hurt her. I want her to be happy.”

“She’ll be alright. Just give her time,” Cleon reassured her.

And as the group settled in for the night, Mercy and Swan shared a quiet moment in bed, the plush swan safely nestled between them. Swan whispered one more fact about swans before closing her eyes, and this time, Mercy whispered back.

“Yeah, just like us,” Mercy said, brushing a strand of hair from Swan’s face. “We’ll always be together.”

---

I love the cuties and have just let this little swan plush idea consume me whole

written post album, maybe like a week or 2 after when the whole gang is still treading on eggshells a bit

yes fox and ajax are here i don't wanna kill them off 🥹

[getosugurusbangs]

oh god. the family jewels is reo isn’t it.

[hiraspit]

aphex twin cigarettes

[crumb]

Finally transferred my Benson and Randy playlists to Spotify and cleaned them up for public viewing on YouTube Music lol. I will probably add more songs to these in the future but for now each playlist has 40 songs. Each one is almost the exact same across both platforms except for Benson's playlist which has one song on YTM that's not on Spotify and vice versa. They sort of vary between songs that remind me of them, songs I think they'd like, and/or songs that feel like it's from their point of view, etc.

Spotify:

YouTube Music:

[zegalba]

Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (1994)

[bierkastenwalzer]

top 6 albums you had on repeat in 2024

thanks for tagging mee @marimule (i had your fiona apple album on repeat a few years ago as well 😌)

tagging @thefortysecondolive @sunlighnes @nonbinaryavrage if you want to :)

[ter-ror]

London After Midnight Selected Scenes From The End Of The World CD glitter gif set !!

masterlist

[hooked-on-elvis]

"Love Me, Love The Life I Lead" from the album "Elvis (Fool)," released on July 16, 1973

LYRICS Songrwriters: Roger John Reginald Greenaway / Tony Macaulay I am not a wise man neither am I a fool But what I am, the way the good Lord made me Though I need you more than you may ever understand I can't wear a face that will betray me Oh, if you're gonna love me, love the life I lead Need the things I need, don't try to change me If you're gonna take me, take me for what I am I can't be another man, I can't be free 'cause the life I lead is the life I lead Money in my pocket never seems to last too long I've gambled on the way and drowned my sorrows Though God knows, I can't pretend it's better on my own I can't promise you a new tomorrow Oh, if you're gonna love me, love the life I lead Need the things I need, don't try to change me If you're gonna take me, take me for what I am I can't be another man, I can't be free 'cause the life I lead is the life I lead Oh, if you're gonna love me, love the life I lead Need the things I need, don't try to change me If you're gonna take me, take me for what I am I can't be another man, I can't be free 'cause the life I lead is the life I lead If you're gonna love me, love the life I lead Need the things I need, don't try to change me If you're gonna take me, take me for what I am I can't be another man, I can't be free 'cause the life I

[everythingwasnormalhere]

going insane abt the sp actor au actually...