#also this episode felt so doctor who to me
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mavity mention !!! i hope mavity goes on forever for the rest of time to the point where people don’t even remember why it’s called mavity
#yes i’m assuming doctor who will still be airing 100 years in the future#idgaf this show is never ending#also this episode felt so doctor who to me#u know what i mean????#doctor who#doctor who spoilers#dw spoilers#doctor who christmas special
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Learning about the Doctor Who specials' expanded budget: oh no, what if they overuse CGI to look more 'professional' and high-budget?
The first scene of the Doctor Who Special:
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#:D#[ID: The Fourteenth Doctor looking tired in front of a green screen of space \End ID]#it's still just as cheesy and silly as it was during 10's run#doctor who#fourteenth doctor#the image looks like something a fan would make tbh#the only very jarring part of the budget was how nice quality the camera was throughout the episode#I kind of wish it was a little less crisp because it made everything look a bit off in a way#but I also haven't watched 13's run so maybe it's not as stark of a jump as it felt for me#10 especially always felt very fuzzy and warm in terms of camera quality#tenth doctor#the star beast#twilight-zoned-out#doctor who spoilers#dw#dw spoilers
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i think the thing that gets me so bad with this last episode is that there was no consequences. everyone came back unharmed. like they fought a god of death and he was gone in like thirty minutes and everyone is vibing while eating pizza??
#my opinions sorry LMAOO#i just#idk#it gets me because this was meant to be a big bad#and i keep thinking about how everyone came back alive in the same episode#again just my opinion#doctor who#mine#fifteenth doctor#sutekh#ruby sunday#also all that build up for her mom and she was just some random person who happened to point at a sign#like what#it just…#it felt lazy to me?#also david tennant seventeen was just chilling with donna?? LIKE#i still liked the episode#or i liked parts#for the last twenty minutes i was just in shock because it felt so inconsequential 🤷#ALSO KATES DEATH?? i was immediately like… oh they are coming back#so i wasn’t even sad 😭#i keep going back to season one in 2005#they had this huge threat of the daleks… they KILLED people and sacrifices had to be made to have a good outcome#which is how doctor who goes so often#but somehow in this episode everyone was relatively fine#AGAIN THE GOD OF DEATH#they brought them BACK so i am meant to think they were strong enough to be a threat twice but everyone was fine#they just got blipped (like marvel HELP me) for like an hour
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i saw a post saying boom was good bc it feels like it could be done with any doctor/companion duo and honestly that was one of the things i felt was wrong with it
#in a show with a title character that could be Literally Anyone and a companion sharing the lead that could be Literally Anyone#i value the little moments that set this duo apart from the rest. ESPECIALLY when it comes to returning writers like rtd/moff#fifteen and ruby felt a little too eleven/twelve and clara adjacent in boom. in both their dialogue and characterization#space babies also landed a little weird at first bc it lifted a bit from end of the world BUT the scenes that fifteen and ruby#had to themselves. like ruby getting covered in snot and fifteen laughing. or fifteen and ruby looking after the Space Babies#or fifteen going out of his way to save the monster bc that monster is the only one of its kind Just Like Him Fr#that stuff is so good and its also something we haven't seen from another nuwho doctor. the vulnerable bleeding-heart empathy#and a dynamic w a companion that is basically 'two troublemakers that just deeply love fun and adventure and getting into trouble together'#oh yeah and also the devil's chord was peak fiction because it touches on fifteen's renewed connection and love for humanity#and marries it to ruby being a musician and how music like any art is the expression of the human soul etc etc#WHAT MAKES A DOCTOR WHO STORY GOOD TO ME IS PARTLY HOW THE PREMISE TIES INTO THE DOCTOR AND COMPANION'S CHARACTERS#IT HAS TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS TAILOR MADE TO THEM. ELSE IT WONT LAND RIGHT TO ME#i hate the take that they should've saved wild blue yonder for a fifteen episode bc#the tension is hinged on how well the doctor/companion know each other. u have a level of it that u can ONLY get#with fourteen and donna who are two halves of a whole soul but have also spent much more time missing the other than knowing them#im not rewatching fifteen's eps rn until a week later when i can watch it w my qpp but#rn i still feel a stronger sense of fifteen and ruby's characters from all the rtd-written eps rather moffat#which like. i get that a lot of that is my personal dislike of moffat's writing style but still#dr who#15 era#dw spoilers
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Until the ending 73 yards gave me Midnight vibes
And really..this was an amazing episode.
#doctor who#doctor who spoilers#73 yards#ruby sunday#15th doctor#this really felt like a doctor who episode#also so creepy#had me gripping my seat#loved it
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hmmmm not gonna lie that did not hook me very strongly
#felt like the pacing and character motivations were a bit screwy; like why did the dr just show up to unit#ramble about susan twist and then randomly pivot to finding ruby's mom like what triggered this connection#why did everyone just make the leap that the two things are connected... cmon the universe is so big#unit feels like it's starting to be mcu-ified and I know I sound very old man yelling at cloud but I don't like it!!#things I did like: Carla trying to reassure ruby's birth mum in the time window that ruby's safe and she grows up loved... that got me ;-;#also Kate Stewart? love her#wish we got more of rose noble personality-wise; in this episode she functions almost entirely like any other background unit character#doctor who#dw spoilers#i spy an original post
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seeing wilfred mott back on my screen healed something in me i think
#genuinely those 60 secs he’s on screen made me so so so happy#rest in peace dude what a cool fucking guy#also that episode was so good#and like. so much better#character wise#idk the first one was also amazing but#the conversation felt so much more organic this time#god I fuckin love doctor who#doctor who#dw#doctor who spoilers#kind of#just in case
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doctor who spoilers below
i am going INSANE mr russel t davies you cant just use the exact same plot device as 15 years ago literally beat for beat 'the one adventure i can never have' BRO YOU'RE HAVING IT TWICE AT THE SAME TIME why are there canonically three separate versions of david tennant running around at various points in the doctor who universe(s) what is HAPPENING here
#dw spoilers#doctor who spoilers#okay im gonna talk more so dont read tags if you dont want more spoilers#im mad im ngl#i've always felt like tentoo was too tidy of an ending for rose and my thoughts dont change when you apply it to donna#its taken years for the tentoo ending to grow on me#and it HAS#but still. again???#THE SAME PLOT DEVICE?? AGAIN??#but also ncuti was stellar v hype to see him at christmas#episode was good i had a good time#but yeah im not a fan of the ending sorry#also no martha :(#life stuff#oh also just saw someone say it felt emotionally stunted and i have to agree massively#as much as i want all the characters to hang out and have a good time forever its essential to dw that they CANT do that#its a show about change so why are we so scared of CHANGING
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About half the reblogs are about 73 yards and I'm sorry to break it to you but I don't really like 73 yards that much..
No hate to the episode I thought it was cool as an idea but wasn't really well done in my opinion
Firm believer that doctor who should get fucked up and unnerving on the regular
#absolutely not calling it bad. it has some killer moments and i absolutely loved the entire welsh pub segment#but as a whole although unnerving it kinda fell flat#it felt vague for the sake of being vague and not for any actual reason#i dont mind being left in the dark as too what truly happened but giving literally ZERO idea of what the fuck that was kinda sucked#like the doctor just going “idk fukin fairy circle” was a really lame ass ending#i liked ruby taking initiative and really showing off what she can do tho#ngl i know the whole jab in the pub was that everyone thinks wales is all witchy but i kinda wish it was actually some curse#idk i thought that would be sick#also the whole 73 yards thing relating to the tardis' perception filter was weird. like was it the tardis or was it not the fuckin tardis???#okay midway through writing this it clicked the plot is likely the tardis activating some emergency paradox thing and looping ruby#i think atleast? but then what about the fairy circle? where the fuck did the doctor go????#again i like a confusing story and i love the horror of the unknown but when im never given ANY answer at all in the end i feel annoyed#idk fucked with the vibe and set up but the plot lost me#if you think its amazing all the power too you because it is a pretty sick concept#but when i talk about getting weird and fucked up i mean 73 yards but borderline straight up horror film#also about that whole thing of people being scared of ruby what the fuck???#i originally thought it was going to relate to the one who waits but it never pays off at all???#theres so many ideas happening that i just feel dont blend well and it makes me confused and nauseous#maybe im just stupid but that's my feelings on it#sorry for ranting so long. again ZERO hate to this episode i just wish it was more coherent in its themes and storytelling#doctor who#dw
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dearly beloved you are in the presence of a man who has seen all of dw*
*not counting the original series or the audio or any of the prose or any of the spinoffs and probably other things im forgetting about
#YAYYY. it was fun#im very intrigued i did like the newest season i sorrrrt of. hrmm. i had fun and i do understand that like. a lot of the stuff was From the#old series lol so i suppose i cant complain but i personally wish there was less likee. god stuff/fantasy stuff just bc i prefer it more#sci-fi at least for dw. this is just my opinion... but i had fun regardless i rly liked ncutis doctor i thought he was so fun#and i also like that even tho hes like. clearly Better at dealing with his stuff he isnt fully pver it and isnt perfect i like that it felt#nice ^_^ i kind of regret being high for like 2 entire episodes but in my defense i didnt realize there were so few in the season... mixed#feelings on this im kinda sad that we only got like. however many eps with ruby BUT i like rhat her story was like. it felt satisfying and#stuff and it had a defined ending and im glad she isnt going to like. overstay. Like someone else i know#flood hss me very eyes bc my mom told me abt how her outfits match rpev companions which i didnt notice#AND. she was wearing fucking claracwntric outfit in the scene where she went clever boy. ill kms before this continues . get her out of h#<- joking. i dont actually hate clara that bad she judt kind of annoyed me a lot and she just like. Stayed around. for so long#and i am sick of her 😭😭 i dont find her interesting at allll i liked her better when she was a dalek and or a victorian lady but tis what#tis. YAY! yay. idk who my favorite doctor was.... difficult to decide#missy easily favorite incsrnation of the master Obviously like thats genuinely my precious princess#and donna my favorite companion That is literally my precious princess.
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for whom good omens is being written
Hey maggots and the rest of the fandom, it's the Good Omens Mascot here. Today I read a post about this tweet:
The accompanying video genuinely made me cry. And I've been thinking about this for a long while, as far back as February, when I saw a lot of conflicting opinions on what people wanted from the third season. It really is true that no matter what you do, some people will be dissatisfied. But what matters is that Neil is writing this for Terry.
And I was reminded of some paragraphs from the Good Omens TV Companion, which I'd read in Amazon's sample excerpt of the book. I know this is a long post, but I really truly do think you all need to read these, I've done my best to select only the most important parts. Here you go:
'His Alzheimer's started progressing harder and faster than either of us had expected,' says Neil, referring to a period in which Terry recognized that despite everything he could no longer write. 'We had been friends for over thirty years, and during that time he had never asked me for anything. Then, out of the blue, I received an email from him with a special request. It read: “Listen, I know how busy you are. I know you don't have time to do this, but I want you to write the script for Good Omens. You are the only human being on this planet who has the passion, love and understanding for the old girl that I do. You have to do this for me so that I can see it." And I thought, “OK, if you put it like that then I'll do it."
'I had adapted my own work in the past, writing scripts for Death: The High Cost of Living and Sandman, but not a lot else was seen. I'd also written two episodes of Doctor Who, and so I felt like I knew what I was doing. Usually, having written something once I'd rather start something new, but having a very sick co-author saying I had to do this?' Neil spreads his hands as if the answer is clear to see. 'I had to step up to the plate.' A pause, then: 'All this took place in autumn 2014, around the time that the BBC radio adaptation of Good Omens was happening,' he continues, referring to the production scripted and co-directed by Dirk Maggs and starring Peter Serafinowicz and Mark Heap. ‘Terry had talked me into writing the TV adaptation, and I thought OK, I have a few years. Only I didn't have a few years,' he says. 'Terry was unconscious by December and dead by March.'
He pauses again. 'His passing took all of us by surprise,' Neil remembers. 'About a week later, I started writing, and it was very sad. The moments Terry felt closest to me were the moments I would get stuck during the writing process. In the old days, when we wrote the novel, I would send him what I'd done or phone him up. And he would say, "Aahh, the problem, Grasshopper, is in the way you phrase the question," and I would reply, "Just tell me what to do!" which somehow always started a conversation. 'In writing the script, there were times I'd really want to talk to Terry, and also places where I'd figure something out and do something really clever, and I would want to share it with him. So, instead, I would text Terry's former personal assistant, Rob Wilkins, now his representative on Earth. It was the nearest thing I had.'
(...) As Neil himself recognizes, this is an adaptation built upon the confidence that comes from three decades of writing for page and screen. But for all the wisdom of experience, he found that above all one factor guided him throughout the process. 'Terry isn't here, which leaves me as the guardian of the soul of the story,' he explains. 'It's funny because sometimes I found myself defending Terry's bits harder or more passionately than I would defend my own bits. Take Agnes Nutter,' he says, referring to what has become a key scene in the adaptation in which the seventeenth-century author of the book of prophecies foretelling the coming of the Antichrist is burned at the stake. ‘It was a huge, complicated and incredibly expensive shoot, with bonfires built and primed to explode as well as huge crowds in costume. It had to feel just like an English village in the 1640s, and of course everyone asked if there was a cheap way of doing it. 'One suggestion was that we could tell the story using old-fashioned woodcuts and have the narrator take us through what happened, but I just thought, “No”. Because I had brought aspects of the story like Crowley and the baby swap along to the mix, and Terry created Agnes Nutter. So, if I had cut out Agnes then I wouldn't be doing right by the person who gave me this job. Terry would've rolled over in his grave.'
And, finally, this paragraph:
"Once again, Neil cites the absence of his co-writer as his drive to ensure that Good Omens translated to the screen and remained true to the original vision. 'Terry's last request to me was to make this something he would be proud of. And so that has been my job.'"
I think that's so heartwrenchingly beautiful, and so I wanted you all to read this, too, just in case you (like me) don't have the Good Omens TV Companion. It adds another layer of depth and emotion to this already complex and amazing story that we all know and love.
Share this post, if you can, please, so that more people can read these excerpts :")
Tagging @neil-gaiman, @fuckyeahgoodomens and @orpiknight, even if you've definitely read these before :)
#good omens#neil gaiman#sir terry pratchett#good omens show#good omens fandom#good omens mascot#weirdly specific but ok#asmi
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The Saga of Bob: Endgame (hopefully)
This one was awhile coming. Partly I was afraid that if I posted it, the tumor would come back the next day, and partly I had some complications that took awhile to iron out. But here we are, at long last, sans Bob.
You can learn all about how I had cancer in Part One or hit the prior episode at Part Seven.
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What is with doctors and painkillers?! Though to her credit, she was like “I am so sorry you’re in pain! Let me write a new prescription!”
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(Still not sure if it’s PTSD.)
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That last bit was the really scary one. (It was, uh, pretty bad. Never been bedridden before. Don’t recommend it.)
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Shout out to Doctor Pinkeye who had it sorted in two business days. Also, when I first reported my symptoms, she said “You never complain about anything. If you say something’s wrong, it is.” She’s a doctor in a million.
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Lack of cortisol can cause problems in about twenty different ways, including dangerous levels of potassium and blowing your electrolytes all to hell. It’s actually kinda interesting, in a “wow, look at all the fascinating ways I could keel over!” way.
Honestly, after two months of slowly crashing cortisol levels, complaining about radiation would have felt like complaining over a hangnail. It was boring and I moisturized a lot, the end.
Also there are some quite nice MedicAlert bracelets on Etsy.
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And here is hoping I never have to make another one of these!
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THE NEXT EPISODE || thanos
pairing: Thanos/Choi Su-bong x f!reader
summary: You and Su-bong reunite after his stay at rehab. No debt/no games AU.
word count: 3.2k
warnings: rehab, drinking, drugs, addiction, depression
A/N: i've been working on this for like two weeks and i still feel like i could work on it more. i love this mini series i made and i'm excited to see how other people like it :) if you find any mistakes no you didn't <3
Part 1: Wake Up Call
Today is the big day. The day Su-bong has been working towards for the past six months.
Today he gets out of rehab.
He originally tried to quit on his own, but after multiple relapses, he decided he needed help. Due to his multiple addictions and how long he's been addicted for, the doctors at the facility suggested a longer stay for him, to which he agreed.
Before he left, he gave you the keys to his apartment, putting you in charge of managing the place while he's away. You also promised to get rid of anything in his apartment that could potentially be abused.
Rehab had actually not been bad. It certainly wasn't easy, but Su-bong felt better about it knowing there were so many other people there going through the same thing as him. He had ended up making some really good friends there, friends that he was excited to see again once they all got out. A few of them had made plans to meet up at a coffee house soon, about a week after Su-bong is released.
The thing Su-bong has been looking forward to the most while in rehab is seeing you again. The only visitors that were allowed were family members, so he had to settle for just talking to you on the phone.
"Can I see you soon?" Su-bong asks into the phone.
"I have to work today, but I'm off tomorrow if you want to come by?" you say. "Oh, and I left something for you on your counter."
Su-bong smiles into the phone. "You didn't have to do that."
"Don't get too excited, it's not much," you laugh. "But I just wanted to give you something to congratulate you."
"I'll be happy with anything you give me," he says.
"Cheesy," you groan, making him laugh. A small gasp comes from Su-bong's phone. "Shoot, my boss just texted me I have to go in early. I'm sorry, I gotta go. Text me when you get home, okay?"
"All good," Su-bong says. "Yeah, I'll text you. Let me know when you get to the club and back home safe."
"I will," he can hear the smile in your voice. "I'll see you tomorrow."
<>
Su-bong walks into his apartment. A chill washes over him. It's been so long since he was here, and he's changed so much. He puts his things down, walking into his kitchen.
A feeling of dread fills him. Was six months enough? Is he really able to do this?
A glint catches his eye, and he sees a small chain sitting on his counter. Attached to it is a dog tag. He picks it up, examining it. When he notices a clasp on the side of the dog tag, he opens it, revealing a small note in your handwriting.
'I'm proud of you <3'
A comfortable warmth fills his body as he smiles at your note. He closes the tag, immediately putting the chain around his neck.
He looks around his place. It holds way too many memories of his time before rehab. Waking up with a headache so bad he's worried his head might implode, turning over to see some random girl in his bed who's name he can't remember. That's not how he wants to live anymore.
He takes a water bottle from the fridge, which you must have put in there for him, and sits on his couch, looking up listings for available apartments. Preferably one close to you.
<>
Su-bong feels his heart race as he stands in front of your apartment door. He's been waiting for this moment for six months. With a deep breath, he knocks on the door.
Footsteps are heard from the other side of the door. Something makes a loud bang and he hears you curse, making his lips twitch upwards.
The door opens and there you are. He swears you've only gotten more beautiful since he last saw you.
"Woah, I almost didn't recognize you," you smile.
He smiles, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. He hadn't dyed his hair since before rehab, leaving it at its natural dark brown. "Yeah, I've been getting that a lot."
"I like it," you say. "You look much more like Su-bong."
He feels his face heat up, muttering a shy 'thank you'.
You step to the side, opening the door wider. "Come in! I'll go grab a snack."
Su-bong walks into your apartment, a smile playing on his face at the familiar set up. You move to the kitchen and he sits on your couch. He chuckles at the new blanket laying next to him, clearly having been used recently.
He looks up as you walk back into the room, placing a bowl of pretzels and a bottle of blue Gatorade on the coffee table in front of him. You remembered.
He gestures toward the blanket. "That new?"
You put a pretzel in your mouth and smile at him, nodding enthusiastically. "My mom got it for me. You have to feel it, it's so soft." He chuckles as you cover your mouth with your hand, too excited to tell him about the blanket to wait until you've swallowed your food.
He reaches out to the blanket, eyes widening when his fingers graze the fabric. "Holy shit."
"Right?!" you laugh, picking up the blanket and sitting down. You toss it over both of your legs. You take a moment to study his face. "You look really good, Su-bong."
He feels himself blush, turning away in embarrassment. "Yeah, my pupils are finally the correct size."
You laugh at the comment. "Yes, that. But you also just look much healthier. Much happier."
He nods. "I feel happier. I thought I was happy all those nights at the club, drinking away my life. But now I know that wasn't real happiness." He looks at you, looking deep into your eyes. "This is real happiness."
Now it's your turn to look away, feeling heat rush to your face. "I'm glad. You deserve happiness."
He smiles.
"Even though you once tried to pay me to take off my shirt."
Su-bong cringes, bringing his hand to his face as you laugh. "Can you please stop bringing that up?"
You shake your head. "No way. This is the punishment you get for that. Me making fun of you. I think it's a fair exchange."
He laughs. "Fair enough."
You continue talking for the next hour or so, telling each other about everything and nothing. Su-bong's heart soars every time he is able to make you laugh. He's made music his entire life, but no song could ever compare to the sweet tune of your laughter.
"On Sunday I'm gonna meet up with a few friends from rehab at that new coffee place around the corner," he says. "Do you want to come?"
You shake your head. "Thank you for the invitation but I don't want to intrude."
"You wouldn't be intruding," he assures. "I, uh, talked about you a lot and they really want to meet you."
Your face heats up at his admission, nodding. "In that case, I'd love to go."
He smiles. "Good."
You put on a movie to watch, saying you saw one while he was away and couldn't wait to show it to him. Throughout the movie, Su-bong sneaks glances at you. He's wanted you ever since he first laid his eyes on you. You were the hot bartender with a fiery personality.
Now, though, as he watches you chew your lip in concentration, he sees just how amazing you truly are. You're the beautiful girl who changed his life for the better. The amazing girl who gave him a reason to become a better person. The kind girl who talked on the phone with him every day while he was in rehab.
You're his best friend. And he's deeply in love with you.
<>
Su-bong opens the door to the coffee house, letting you walk inside first before entering as well.
"Hey, Su-bong!" a voice yells, getting his attention. He smiles when he sees his friends, waving at them. He motions for you to follow him as you head over to the table.
"Hey guys," he greets, giving each of them a small hug. It feels nice to see them on the outside. They all accomplished the same thing, and they'll forever be close for doing it together.
He looks to you. "Oh right. This is Jung-su, Shin-il, and Ji-hae."
Each of them wave and smile at you as he says their names. Once he introduces you, they all seem to get a similar look on their faces.
"Oh, so you're the girl he keeps talking about," Shin-il smirks. Su-bong lightly smacks his arm, making the boy laugh.
"Shin-il, be quiet!" Ji-hae rolls her eyes. She turns to you. "He told us about how you helped him get sober. We're glad he had someone so supportive helping him."
You smile. "I just wanted to help any way I could. He's the one who ultimately chose to get help." You smile at him and he feels his heart melt. "And I'm glad he was able to make some great friends in there, from what he's told me."
"Aw, you talked about us?" Jung-su flashes Su-bong with puppy eyes, making the ladder roll his own.
"Plus, now he doesn't call me 'Señorita' anymore, so really I got something out of it too," you say.
The table bursts out in laughter and Su-bong hides his face behind his hands. "Maybe it was a mistake bringing you here, I didn't realize you were all going to gang up on me."
You laugh, rubbing his arm. "I'm just kidding. Come on, let's go get something to drink."
You move to stand but he puts a hand on your shoulder. "I got it. What do you want?"
You tell him your order, thanking him as he walks to the counter.
Ji-hae leans across the table to you. "He really likes you, you know," she smiles. "Talked about you all the time."
You smile. "He's a really great guy. I wish I could've talked to him sooner, maybe he would've gotten help sooner. He's my best friend now."
"You should go out with him," she says. "Based on how he talked about you, he'd treat you right."
You turn to look at Su-bong, smiling as he rocks back and forth on his feet while waiting in line.
"I do like him," you say, turning back to Ji-hae. "I just want to give him some time first. He just got out of rehab, I feel like he should have some time to figure out what he really wants and adjust to sobriety, if that makes sense."
"Totally," Jung-su says, nodding his head. "I've been out two months now and I still feel like this is all new."
"Just please be there for him," Shin-il asks.
You nod. "I'm not going anywhere."
On the other side of the coffee house, while waiting for your drinks, Su-bong feels a hand grasp his shoulder.
"Holy shit man," a familiar voice says behind him. "You dropped off the face of the earth!"
Su-bong turns to see the smiling face of Nam-gyu.
"Where have you been, dude?"
Su-bong opens his mouth to answer but is cut off when Nam-gyu continues.
"You know what, it doesn't matter." He pulls a small bag out of his jacket pocket. "I just got some new shit. It's fucking insane, man. You gotta try it."
He stares at the pills. This is the first time that drugs have been so accessible to him since before rehab. A cold sweat breaks out and his breath gets quicker. It would be so easy. All he'd have to do is pop one little pill.
He turns back to look at the table. You're sitting there, laughing with Jung-su. The sound flows to his ears and a soft smile graces his face. The sweat stops and his breathing goes back to normal.
He doesn't need pills anymore. He has you. And you make him so much happier than pills ever have or ever will.
He turns back to Nam-gyu, straightening his posture. "No, I don't do that stuff anymore."
Nam-gyu gives him a look. "Are you kidding, dude? You can't get this shit anywhere, and you're turning it down? What the fuck happened to you, Thanos?"
"It's Su-bong, actually," he says.
"No more Thanos!? What's going on?"
Su-bong opens his mouth to respond, but is beaten by another voice.
"Nam-gyu, leave him alone, please," you say, putting a hand on Su-bong's shoulder as you step beside him.
Nam-gyu looks between the two of you before a knowing smile spreads on his face.
"Oh, I see," he says. "So this is the guy you've been calling all the time." The barista calls out his name and he takes his cup. "Knew it was only a matter of time before you two got together, I should've bet on it." He turns, walking toward the door. "I'll see you at work!"
You wave to him as he leaves, turning to Su-bong. "Are you okay? He didn't give you anything, did he?"
He shakes his head. "He offered, but I said no. I was expecting him to be a lot less understanding."
"I've been talking to him the past few months at work, turns out he's not bad when he's not constantly sticking his nose up someone else's ass," you say, making Su-bong laugh. His name is called and you take the cups from the barista, thanking them before handing Su-bong's drink to him, taking his hand and leading him back to the table.
"Welcome back, Señorita," Shin-il smirks.
The table bursts out in laughter again and Su-bong stands from the table, waving goodbye to everyone. You grab his wrist before he can get too far, laughing along with him as he sits back down next to you.
<>
It's been about five months since Su-bong got out of rehab. He's been doing very good, resisting every time he feels even the slightest temptation.
He's gotten back into music and is working on his next album, which is going to be the first he's releasing that's not under the name "Thanos", instead rebranding as Choi Su-bong. You're of course his biggest supporter and he plays you all of his songs to get your opinion. You've even helped on a few songs, and he plans on crediting you as a co-writer.
Remembering what you told him nearly a year ago, he surprised you one day with your own guitar, taking the time to teach you how to play. You're still learning, but he loves everything you play, nearly as much as he loves your laugh whenever you play the wrong note.
You've been dancing around each other for the past few months, both aware of your feelings, but liking what you have going on between you for now. As time passes, though, Su-bong can feel himself getting closer to the edge, ready to take the leap.
One day you're both sitting in Su-bong's new apartment when he turns to you.
"Hey," Su-bong says. You look up from your phone at him. "I uh, I want to play something for you, if that's okay."
You smile, locking your phone and putting it face-down on the couch. "Yeah, I'd love that."
He stands up and reaches his hand out towards you. You take it, standing as he leads you to his piano. He sits on the bench, making room for you to sit beside him.
"I actually wrote this for you," he says, shyly looking at you. You smile at him, giving him a nod of encouragement. With a deep breath, he begins playing the notes before singing.
"I text a postcard sent to you Did it go through? Sending all my love to you You are the moonlight of my life every night Giving all my love to you."
You feel your eyes start to water as you listen to the words. His words reflect exactly how you feel, put in a way that makes it more beautiful than anything you could say to him.
You've heard him sing more ties than you can count. But sitting here next to him, listening as he pours his heart out to you, you don't think any song will ever compare.
"With every breath that I am worth Here on Earth I'm sending all my love to you So if you dare to second guess You can rest Assured that all my love's for you."
Su-bong puts his entire heart into the song. He had started writing it on the piano they had at the rehabilitation center. He had written a few songs while he was there, but this one was specifically inspired by you. The lyrics were from notes he would write down while talking to you, things that came to his head as your sweet voice drifted through the speaker of his phone.
"My beating heart belongs to you I walked for miles till I found you I'm here to honor you If I lose everything in the fire I'm sending all my love to you."
He stops playing, bringing his arms to his sides. He slowly looks up at you. "You've done so much for me. I don't think I can ever pay you back, but I'll spend the rest of my life trying if you'll let me."
A tear escapes your eye. You sniffle, nodding your head.
Su-bong reaches out to cup your cheek, wiping away the tear with his thumb. He looks down to your lips before looking back up to your eyes. "Can I kiss you?"
"Please."
He leans forward, closing his eyes as his lips make contact with yours. Su-bong has kissed girls before, more than he'd like to admit, but he feels like a teenager kissing their crush for the first time.
This is a moment nearly a year in the making. All of his longing for you, his adoration of you is put into the kiss.
He pulls back, regaining his breath as he looks over your face. Your kiss-swollen lips are just begging to be kissed again, but there's something that needs to be done first.
"I love you," he says. "I've loved you for a long time. You're the most amazing person I've ever met and there's nothing I want more than to be with you."
You smile at him, and he feels starstruck by how beautiful you are. "I love you too, Su-bong," you say. "I'm forever grateful that you showed me the real you that day in my apartment. Because I love the real you. So much."
Su-bong's face lights up in a smile, leaning forward to capture your lips again in an awkward kiss that makes you both laugh.
All his hard work is paying off. He is finally worthy of happiness. He is finally worthy of you. And he's going to spend every day making sure he stays worthy.
Song: Last Night on Earth by Green Day
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Your werewolf hubby's knot won't seem to go down no matter what you do, so now it's up to the monster doctor to walk you through different ideas in his office... Perhaps he breaks a few rules and joins in halfway through. Don't worry, he's a doctor and he knows what's best. ;)
Kabr0z Writes Episode 48: Medical Attention
Find the rest of the Kabr0z Writes anthology here!
I also decided to revisit Professor Blaidd from the Debt trilogy
CWs: Medical malpractice (kinda); double penetration; knotting; creampie; dubcon, but not from the person you're expecting;
A/N: This one may wind up more comedy than pornography... We'll see how it shakes out, I guess!
######################################
Try it, they said. You'll have fun, they said. Well, you tried it, and you just wished when you bought that packet of little blue pills you'd read the label more carefully. Maybe then you'd have spotted where it said "not intended for lupines" before getting your brains fucked out and winding up tied together.
You don't mind it, per se, but you're naked, leaking, and have been stuck holding onto the front of your lover for the last hour. Every time you move he whimpers as you push his sensitive cock around in you, god knows what'll happen if you sneeze.
A knock at the door. Owain's here. He was the best man at your wedding, the devious arsehole who ensured your husband spent the subsequent morning taped to a streetlamp, and by remarkable good fortune happened to be a licensed physician specialising in lupine care.
"Well, Mr. Blaidd" you gestured to the door "Company's here"
Your lover smiled, "I suppose, Mrs. Blaidd, we'd better answer the door." He stood up, wincing as your weight pushed his knot another inch into you "Normally I'd be masked in this situation" he muttered under his breath. You stifled a laugh, but your belly still shook a little, making him grab the wall and growl.
He backed up to the closed door and you turned the handle with an outstretched foot so if it wasn't your friend, all they'd see is your husband's back rather than a full show of his cock lodged in you. Thankfully, it was Owain there, the wiry grey wolfman laughing at your predicament
"Rhys you old dog, got a predicament have we?"
He slapped your husband on the back, jostling you both. You gasped a little as the cock buried in you twitched again and a little fluid leaked out of you.
"Yes, you bastard, we've been stuck like this for an hour" Blaidd growled softly as he shook his friend's hand before leading him in to the sitting room, still disturbed from your earlier lovemaking.
"So, how long have you been..." Owain mimed an erect penis
"About two hours?"
You laughed "About one and a half"
"Ok, so the danger zone for a lupine starts around six, so as long as he's out and deflated by then, you're golden"
You looked at your husband. He looked at you. You both looked at Owain.
"We'd like a little sooner?"
Owain laughed, visibly searching his memory "Easiest way would be to make a little cut and... Drain the organ"
Blaidd went pale
"But that's a last-resort. We could always try... Hmm. Worth a shot" Owain got up and left the room, returning a moment later holding one hand in another before holding it to Blaidd's muzzle.
Blaidd sniffed, then gasped, then sneezed hard. The cock stuck in you was forced upwards, you gasped as a little more fluid leaked from it, joining the half-gallon it felt like you were carrying already.
Owain looked at you both, stroking his chin "You know, normally I'm treating the opposite problem... I bet I know what would work, but it's not altogether... Ethical..?"
You looked at each other again, then back at the other wolf in the room
"You want to fuck me up the ass?"
The two wolves stared at you. Then at each other. "He's been eyeing me since he walked in, have you not noticed?"
Blaidd coughed, reaching behind his head in the way he does when he's not willing to admit something. Owain was desperately trying to avoid eye contact, but the growing bulge in his pants told you everything you needed to know
You sighed at your husband "It's not the first time we've shared, is it?" Then, to Owain "There's lube under your seat"
The doctor didn't need telling twice. Stripping his lower half and grabbing the bottle from under the armchair he was on. He's already hard, slathering the cool lube on his cock and your hole only made him more excited. Already panting into your ear, he lined himself up, precum bubbling onto your ass.
He pushed in, your tight hole stretching for him. It didn't hurt, you're well prepared and slick, but the sensation of two cocks in you at once made you gasp.
He isn't shy any more. Thrusting and grasping at your hips. You can feel his cock rubbing against the thick knot already in you, making Blaidd gasp and groan as the sensitive organ is frotted against.
You moan and your cunt clenches, the two thick cocks driving into you bringing you off. Your fingers brush your clit, hurling you over the edge as your heart races. Blaidd groans as your cunt milks him to another aching orgasm inside you, right as Owain knots your asshole.
You're locked in. Your husband on one side, his best friend on the other, and both of them sealed into your holes, emptying their balls into you.
You're no less stuck than you were before, but the two big wolves are so furry, so soft, you reckon it's probably fine.
###################################
Yeah, this was more farcical than titillating, but hey, overstimming your werewolf husband while his performance-enhanced knot is stuck in you by getting anal from his best friend is one hell of a plot.
Either way, tomorrow's episode is another TF extravaganza, with even more questionable medical ethics
#kabr0z writes#original content#textposts#fem!reader#monster smut#monster fucker#monster fuqqer#monster x fem!reader#monster x human#comedic smut#monster x reader#monster#monster fudger#werewolf x fem!reader#werewolf x female#werewolf x reader#werewolves#werewolf#werewolf fucker#werewolf fic#werewolf x you#werewolf x human#smut with plot#werewolf smut#second person pov#send asks#send assumptions#send anons#send anything#free commissions
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|| series masterlist || next // previously ||
genre(s) -> angst, fluff, smut, non-idol, hybrid au, poly au paring(s) -> ( eventually ) ATEEZ x reader warning(s) -> mentions of violence, mention of putting down / death, etc. words -> 2.4K
abstract -> “I hope we can get along”
y/n's perspective
San has been spending more time with me to try to remember. He’s refused to actually spend time alone in his room but also refused to go out with me. I had to go to the hospital for a change in my bandages but recently Yeosang and Wooyoung have been very adamant on bringing one of them with me. I couldn’t do that however, since I needed someone to look over San.
I saw this as an opportunity to patch things up with Hongjoong. He’s been trying to find his place here but when he tries, he ultimately fails.
He was firstly banned from the kitchen and Seonghwa refuses to have him help him clean saying he’s clumsy. Yeosang and San never really assigned themselves roles except when Yeosang chose what I wear.
Hongjoong felt that he was out of place even though he had been helping… quite a lot with San. He couldn’t match his strength but did help hold him down when he turned… aggressive. San has been having night terrors of his past in the fighters ring, luckily however he hasn’t turned aggressive on any of us.
I’ll mostly however just have San with me as I write my novel revamped like old times.
“I don’t want you to go,” he said as he gripped my waist firmly and I sighed. “Sannie, I have to but I'll be back soon okay? Do… you want me to bring you anything?” I asked and he shook his head.
“Just come back” he muttered and I smiled. “I always do,” I said and he nodded. “I know, '' he muttered and I knew his memories were there… they just confused him. He says that he knows that he attacked me, he remembers it clearly and he’s starting to remember his time in the kennel and meeting Wooyoung.
I left my room in hopes of getting to see Hongjoong.
“y/n… are you leaving already?” Wooyoung asked? I nod as I notice his worried look. “Yeah, but it should be fine, don’t worry–” “You should take Wooyoung with you” Yeosang cut me off and I smiled softly. “You know he doesn’t like places like that… besides the doctor doesn’t allow hybrids inside and I’d rather not trigger an attack or episode,” I said while smiling at Wooyoung. He looked upset but I didn’t want to jeopardize his mental health.
“I’ll go with you,” Yeosang said and I shook my head. “I need you to help with San,” I said and he sighed. “Can I go?” I heard and I saw Seonghwa. “He’s scared of hospitals… especially doctors,” Hongjoong said while getting hit by Seonghwa for catching his lie.
“Then why don’t you come with me?” I asked Hongjoong and he looked at me confused and shocked. “He’s the one who–” “Yeosang… second chances remember?” I asked and his eyes widened slightly before looking away. “I’m ready when you are Hongjoong!”
hongjoong’s perspective
I don't understand why she wanted me to go? I get that she needed the canine hybrids to help with San and his disturbed memory. However, I couldn’t let Seonghwa go knowing he had a fear of doctors and hospitals… he would’ve been panicked and upset.
But why would she trust me?
The walk was silent… I made sure to keep an eye on her and she only walked with a smile on her face. Why? When we made it to the hospital I was glared at by the paramedic who saved her… he was her friend I believe.
“y/n!” he said happily and I saw that her face had a smile to see the man.
“I can see you chose to trust the tiger that caused these wounds,” he said while pointing at her bandaged jaw… I didn’t want to show him how I felt but I also couldn’t help but look at the ground. Why was I even here?
“This is Hongjoong… and it's okay, everything was a misunderstanding on both our parts,” she said and I sighed, "How was she so forgiving? “Well maybe you should have Kun do special training with him like he did with Yeosang '' he suggested…
Yeosang did special training?
“Here, just sign in and I'll tell the doctor you’ve arrived,” he said as he left and she started answering some questionnaire he gave her… I didn’t notice how lost in my thoughts I was when I heard her ask me
“Are you okay?” she asked while I nodded not wanting to worry her. “I noticed you aren’t bad with others… you just have a lot of mistrust,” she said and I sighed.
“You don’t have to be scared of anyone,” she assured and I didn’t want to accept that.
“What did he mean?” I asked and she looked at me confused. “Yeosang? He did training?” I asked and she nodded. “He had many behaviors that he had trouble with stopping. It was mainly because of his training by his old owner it was hard to override it,” she said and I understood what she meant.
“Would it help me?” I asked and she shook her head with a comforting smile. “It's the same reason why San isn’t doing any training… you can’t be around strangers and Kun won’t risk that” she said and I knew that it was a reasonable explanation.
“Hongjoong I know you’re sorry… you don’t have to try so hard you know? I didn’t give you any reason to trust me and you were a hybrid who just escaped hell. We both didn’t make an effort.” she said and I shook my head. That was my fault… I made her doubt herself.
“Do you know what you ripped that day?” She asked and I felt my body freeze… I knew it was some draft of a book she was writing… all I read was that it was named Circus. It angered me to think I inspired some fictional story for others to enjoy… based on my life of suffering.
“There's this character named Jum… he’s a lion hybrid. I first started with circus being a hybrid story of two hybrids who were mistreated and how they’d end up dead because of the hands of their ring leader–” she explained and it did remind me of the actual circus
“–but then I added another hybrid and now it's gone. It originally was gonna end sadly. I restarted my story however, I added two more hybrids wanting to make almost a rebellion-type story” she explained…
A rebellion?
“The hybrids will end up escaping and defying society. Government laws will purge themselves and ultimately become an apocalypse-type end” she spoiled and I almost liked the sound of that.
“Jum is inspired by you,” she said and I was shocked… just how did she see me? “He’s a lion hybrid… star of the show. He’s gonna lead the other hybrids to escape,” she said with a smile and I was shocked she’d give me such a big role in her book.
“You’re the protagonist… it used to be San in my other version. But you naturally lead so I thought it was better to be inspired by you” she said and I smiled softly… It made me feel happy that she saw me that way and not in a bad way.
“y/n?” I heard as I saw the nurse call her. “They don’t let hybrids in so you can wait. Here and don’t rip it to shreds this time” she joked as he handed me a draft…
Hybrids, an experiment gone wrong. Human hybrids of animal counterparts. Animals but also humans. Considered disgusting creatures morally disgraceful. Below Humans… until they decided to embrace their animalistic counterparts. Seen as pets, attractions, objects. Standing in front of a stadium of people doing dangerous tricks that a normal person would never dream of doing… only to be cheered for almost dying. To do degrading acts against our will… “Jum!” I heard as I saw the ringleader command me to behind the curtains… where I'd be stuck in a cage rotting for the rest of my life… “You’ll be sharing a cage from now on,” a clown said as he pushed me into the cage where I saw the leopard hybrid. “Hello… I'm Si-woo” he introduced. He looked scared… confused as to what was happening. “Where do you come from?” I asked curious as to who I would be performing with from now on and sharing a cage with. “My owner sold me. She decided I was too old to keep so she sold me to the man in charge,” he explained making me scoff. Age, Species, and Appearance were important for humans when it came to hybrid collecting. “How long have you been here?” he asked softly. “All my life” I answered. “HEY! WATCH IT!!” I heard as I saw them now put a black and tabby cat hybrid in a cage. The black hybrid thrashing around in protective equipment. “Make sure that black cat gets punished later” I heard and I sighed. New recruits… I wonder how long they’ll last. “Yong calm down! They’ll kill you if you continue behaving this way” the tabby cat softly said. “Tch! Don’t you get it Kyong! We’re gonna die here!” he yelled. “What?” Si-woo said and the cats now looked at us. “What? Did you assume you're here to learn tricks? They’ll use us until we’re dead.” Yong said and I agreed. “We can’t stay here! I-I don’t wanna die!” Si-woo yelled and I sighed. “As long as you behave, you won’t die” I heard a familiar voice. Yeong was the only hybrid allowed outside. He was one of the popular acts with the magician… and is considered the best-behaved hybrid here. “HEY! You can get us out!” Kyong exclaimed… how naive was he? “And risk my life for you? No way” he said and the hybrids physically deflated. “Jum, you know the rules” the rabbit warned and I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you wanna leave?” Si-woo asked and the hybrid scoffed. “Where would I go? I would be adopted just to get mistreated there? I’d rather be here and play human than out there” he said and the cats glared. Outside wasn’t safe… not until hybrid laws were outlawed. “So we live here? Until we die?” Si-woo muttered. “It’ll only last a few years if you're lucky,” Yeong said while looking at the ground. He was a hybrid in charge of the rules… played human but I could see the guilt in his eyes when a hybrid died. “If you’re lucky it’ll be painless,” I said and I knew this wasn’t right… but what could I possibly do? It's not like I could start a movem–
“All done!” I heard as I looked up to see y/n. She had a change of bandages but otherwise looked fine. “Do you think it’s okay for now?” she asked and I couldn’t help but feel shocked.
How did I judge her so wrong?
“Hongjoong?” she said and I smiled softly while handing her the story with shaky hands. “I’d love to read it some more,” I said and she smiled brightly. “Maybe you can help me!” she said as we started walking out of the hospital when I saw a boy probably her age maybe even younger?
“y/n!” he said happily while smiling almost like a samoyed dog hybrid would… “Jeno! How are you? I hope Johnny isn’t working you too hard” she said and he chuckled. “No… not yet anyway. And you?” he asked and she smiled. “Working but so far everything is okay,” she said and he nodded while staring at me cautiously…
I knew they all looked at me as a threat… they also looked at the panther the same way as well as even the Doberman
“Make sure to be safe. There's been pickpockets… a lot of people have lost their wallets,” he said and I scoffed… pathetic.
“Huh?! I lost cash, probably two hundred dollars worth” she said and I was shocked… usually someone was with her so how did they manage to steal from her?
“Most people lost their entire wallets,” he said and I scoffed… I wouldn’t allow them to steal from her again.
“I will, I have Hongjoong with me! He’s probably the most intimidating besides San” she said and the boy nodded. “Be careful… and no more emergency room visits” he scolded as they said their goodbyes.
“Don’t go too far” I said as I grabbed the back of her shirt to be closer and she chuckled. “Don’t worry too much! The only times I've lost money were when I was alone” she said and I nodded. “I need to protect you” I confessed and she smiled.
“No you don't–” “I do… it's the least I can do for you. I’m not good at other things. I can’t cook like Wooyoung or Seonghwa, I just end up making more of a mess when I try to clean–” “You don’t have to be… just as long as you're happy” she said cutting me off with a genuine smile and I felt my tail wag slowly… something it hasn’t done I think ever.
“I will protect you… no matter what you say” I vowed and she smiled. “Thank you, Hongjoong,” she said and I nodded. That would be my purpose… protect her.
We walked in a peaceful silence when I noticed a tall man looking at her… he smelt like a dog hybrid. He looked at me as he panicked and hid…
A hybrid was the pickpocket.
I soon saw another big hybrid come out and point at her but before I could growl at them—
“Hongjoong… I hope you’re happy by the way. I don’t want you to hate me… not hate anyone from the apartment even if you don’t consider it your home” she said and I sighed. I didn't at first… I hated you, thought you were another hybrid collector, another consumer who’d enjoy the stupid two-hour show of the circus.
“I really do… I like my new home and I’ll do anything to protect it even if that means going against my own species” I said while looking up at the two hybrids… though I knew it wouldn’t make sense to her.
“I just hope you don’t feel like the beginning where you hated me” she said softly and I smiled.
“I don’t think I could hate you… I was wrong about you so let’s just go home”
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Thread: Sylvia Feketekuty on the influences of Emmrich and the Mourn Watch
The rest of this post is under a cut due to length and possible spoilers.
Sylvia Feketekuty: "I think I've gotten to most people’s questions, and I promised I'd talk about influences on Emmrich and the Mourn Watch before wrapping this up. So here we go! It took me while to figure out Emmrich's character voice. I'm happy with where I landed, but he was a tough one. A few books helped me out. MR James' Collected Ghost Stories (1890-1930) My favourite ghost stories of all time. James excels at building dread, at writing people finding strange things in books, or around the corner, or in the old lane at night."
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"He was also an antiquarian and a scholar at Cambridge. I wanted Emmrich and the Watchers to feel formal, but not like they were from another epoch. James’ language, polished by a rich academic career, was an excellent benchmark for 'older, but not ancient'. E.g.: if using contractions was appropriate for James' time, it was appropriate for Emmrich. It freed me up, mentally speaking, to deploy them whenever they improved cadence or flow. Thomas Ligotti's Songs of a Dead Dreamer Fellow Ligotti fans may already be thinking Emmrich doesn't really share the philosophy underpinning Ligotti's work, and they’re right. However!"
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"Songs of a Dead Dreamer is filled with fantastical imagery that’s a bit lusher than that found in Ligotti's later works. It was really good at bringing to mind the kind of moody, expansive dreamscapes I think our necromancer mentally occupies. It’s from a different book (Noctuary), but Ligotti’s “The Spectral Estate” also merits a mention. If you plunked it down in front of Emmrich to read, he’d know exactly what it was on about. The Romantic poets (or any poetry on similar themes: overpowering swells of emotion, the grandeur and awe of nature, love and loss and grief.) Palgrave's Golden Treasury was usually in reach."
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"If I was in a jam, or psyching myself up for a scene, sometimes I’d read a few poems to get into the proper head space. Or just for the pleasure of it. Poems are great! Please take a link to Shelley's "A Dream of the Unknown", one of my favourites. [link] I also read a few books by morticians and funerary directors. A friend lent me Smoke Gets in your Eyes and From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty (probably the most famous mortician on the internet?) I also checked out Nine Years Under: Coming of Age in an Inner-city Funeral Home by Sheri Booker."
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"These books were full of lessons about how people react to death, how different cultures treat it, how anger and grieving express differently but come from the same wellspring. Very humane looks at how we deal with loss and other people. Moving on to non-books: My First Cadaver, a podcast of stories from medical students and medical professionals."
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"I listened to a few episodes My First Cadaver, and there were some incredible tales in there. Gross (I could never be a doctor) but incredible. And I was struck by was how much students working on donated cadavers got attached to them. I can’t remember if it was in MFC or not, but there was one story about a medical student introducing his date to the cadaver he was working on like she was a beloved aunt. It was very sweet! Peter Cushing in Horror of Dracula (1958) and The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) These films are filled with handsome costumes, ominous sets, and the oversized passions I associate with gothic melodrama. Cushing's perfect in them."
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"His portrayals of Van Helsing and Baron Frankenstein are brisk, determined, obsessive, and brimming with energy; they’re scholars who are experts in their field, yet still men of action. They felt like natural touchstones for a professor suddenly called to grand adventure. I also ended up reading Cushing's memoirs. In a bit of strange synchronicity, there were similarities between his life and traits I'd already decided to give Emmrich. Cushing came from a working-class family, had an intense phobia (his was of the dark), was vegetarian, and so on. I'd had no idea."
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"(Humans tend to pattern-match, but it was a little eerie.) A side note: I've seen people speculate Emmrich was based off of Vincent Price. There’s a bit of the good Mr. Price in there, but Cushing got to play more heroic roles than he did. He felt more right to me. A second side note: did you know Vincent Price was a gourmand who loved to entertain? He and his wife Mary put out a beautiful cooking book, A Treasury of Great Recipes, filled with warm and charming commentary. If you're interested in that kind thing, highly recommended!"
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"One influence when I was pitching the Memorial Gardens to the rest of the team was Swan Point cemetery in Rhode Island. It's where Lovecraft was buried, and like many a Weird Tales nerd before me, I was curious and wanted to see it."
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"I wasn't prepared for was how lush the plants and flowers were, and how beautifully landscaped everything there is. Swan Point is a historical burial place, and also a carefully tended garden and arboretum. It stunned me. I'd never been in a cemetery like it. Emmrich complains about Hezenkoss making him play complicated wargames when they were students, and that one in particular had three separate rulebooks."
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"I've seen people guess whether I was referencing D&D or Warhammer 40K. D&D was formative, and I know a frankly embarrassing amount about WH40K at this point (No regrets. Necrons and Admech 4-ever.*) But the origin is even sillier. *Why yes, Mechanicus 2 IS my most anticipated upcoming game. I used to own the first edition of a board game called Mansions of Madness, and was supposed to learn the rules so I could lead my friends through it. But come the day, I’d procrastinated, and was running short on time."
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"Fantasy Flight's previous game in the same vein was Arkham Horror, and AH is not a simple game. But I remember being hopeful, as I peeled the shrinkwrap off, that maybe MoM would be easier to learn than AH. Have streamlined rules, or fewer things to remember. Then the top popped off, and three separate rulebooks fell out and slithered to the floor. (The DAV game’s not meant to be MoM, but the absurdity of that moment stuck with me.) (It's not the game's fault, by any means, that I was unprepared, and the session went as well as it could have with me flipping through the books going "Okay wait...hold on...I think that was here...no, wait.") The Nevarran hazelnut torte recipe is actually a family recipe from my grandmother, on my father's side. I’m beyond delighted people have actually made it. (Our recipe uses metric measurements, but the DA style guide uses imperial, so I was worried about the conversion. Looks like it went okay.)"
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"On my mother's side of the family: my grandmother cooked and cleaned for a living, and my grandfather was a butcher. He passed away before I was born, and my grandmother when I was very young. So I gave Emmrich’s parents those professions as a little nod to the grandmother I only knew very little, and the grandfather I never met at all. I would’ve liked time with them both. And to end on a lighter note, "Ever thought of becoming a hat person?" is an extremely oblique reference to a line spoken to one of gaming's greatest characters: Murray, the demon skull from Curse of Monkey Island. (Curse is the first Monkey Island game I ever played, and therefore my favourite.)"
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"Small bonus: here’s the music I listened to most while working on Emmrich and the Watchers. Some of it probably only makes sense to me, some of it seems thematically obvious. (I don’t have Spotify so best I can do is an itunes screenshot.)"
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"Not on the screenshot because I changed PCs halfway through, but I also listened to a lot of music from Cryo Chamber, a great dark ambient label. [link] And their sister label, Cryo Crypt, which does "Dark Fantasy Dungeon Synth." [link] And also Allicorn IS on the screenshot but I think I've listened to his stuff on every game I've worked on by now. [link]"
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Bonus: follow-up comments and exchanges -
User: "I KNEW the torte was somebody’s family recipe!!" // Sylvia: "My only regret is that the icing was originally a stove-boiled icing made with eggs and chocolate and butter emulsified together. I couldn't get it working, however, these past few years. I think we lost some crucial part of the steps when trying to write out a clean copy. So I went with ganache for the game, because I didn't want to print something that didn't work, and I've used ganache myself. It's good! But I'm going to try to replicate the original again one day." [source, two] // User: "I noticed that sometimes, ingredients doesn't react the way they used to and part of that is probably due to some "industrial" changes in the recipe for ingredients like chocolate or butter to cut the cost of making them, imho. It's sad because it means we lost a very specific way to do things..." // Sylvia: "Yeah, that was the first thing a friend who bakes a lot suggested. I wonder if I was a victim of "Buttergate" when Canadian cows were being fed so much palm oil butter was harder to spread as a result. After a long search, I found a local place that makes butter that actually tastes good, which is an incredibly sad sentence to have to type out." [source, two]
Sylvia, re: Vincent Price being a gourmand and his cooking book: "It's extremely cool. My library had a copy and I remember it being pretty big, too." [source]
User: "I was following this thread and I'm delighted about all of these facts and information. Thank you for sharing!" // Sylvia: "Aw thank you! And thanks for reading, it was nice to unpack all the stuff kicking around my mental attic." [source]
User, re: MFC: "Sorry to post again but this one got me- my mom is a doc, and i remember her telling me stories of the cadaver she worked on (evidence of different surgeries she had, the cancer she had, etc), and mom always ended her stories saying how thankful she was to her. It really does stick around." // Sylvia: "No need to apologize, I liked hearing about your mom's reaction! It's exactly what I kept hearing and reading about, a sense of reverence for the gift." [source]
Sylvia: ""The irony that I had to convert the measurements back to metric" Haha. I tried to get as close as I could. Here's the written down metric version of the cake batter. It's an older recipe so I had to try to guess what a "knife tip" ended up as." [source]
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A user on the torte being a family recipe: "Oh my gosh 🥹 that makes it all even lovelier!" // Sylvia: "Thanks! I was really excited to share the family recipe, it's a bit of work but it's one of my favorites." [source]
A user under the post about MR James' Collected Ghost Stories: "So you're probably the one behind the mysterious bronze whistle, I take it?" // Sylvia: "Haha, guilty. Cameron Harris, our editor, helped me figure out a phonetic guide to the latin. (If it fails anywhere it's very likely my fault.)" [source]
User: "As an avid Emmrich lover & someone trying to write some Emmrich POVs in my Emrook fanfictions, I can not thank you ENOUGH for this wealth of info / music inspo to go off of" // Sylvia: "Thank you! (Seriously though some of those songs probably only make sense to me, they're not all thematically on point, but some are. Hope you enjoy!)" [source]
User: "As another "needs a million hours of droning ambient music to write" writer I appreciate these greatly" // Sylvia: "We both have good taste! 🎶" [source]
User: "Thank you for writing out this list!! Peter Cushing makes so much sense as an influence. I love the variety of media here, it gives me so much new stuff to check out!" // Sylvia: "Thank you for reading! If you do check out some of this stuff, hope you enjoy!" [source]
Sylvia: "thanks so much, and for reading the thread! It was fun to write." [source]
User: "Thank you for sharing these books!I was looking for a good ghost book" // Sylvia: "Thanks! Hope you enjoy James. "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad" was the first story of his I read and I'll never forget that experience." [source] // Sylvia: "I just love the mood James could create, so much." [source]
User: "ELECTRIC SIX MENTION" // Sylvia: "My greatest favorites, now and forever." [source]
Sylvia: "Please archive away, I am intent on deleting the account eventually but it'd be nice to know people could look this stuff up later if they're curious. (Future generations need to know which Atrium Carceri tracks I listened to!)" [source]
User: "Amongst many things, not the least of which is the gratitude and delight of having your fantastic insight into the writing process of Emmrich, my grandmother’s hazelnut torte is fantastically close to the Nevarran version which was a delightful discovery." // Sylvia: "Ah now nice. I assume she was also central/eastern European then? I suspect it was a popular recipe at a certain time." [source]
User: "As an ex-mortician turned game writer, this was a FASCINATING read!" // Sylvia: "Haha, I definitely took inspiration from morticians! (Thank you for checking it out, that thread got long)" [source]
User: "ATRIUM CARCERI - Such a perfect band for the Mourn Watch!" // Sylvia: "I stumbled on Atrium Carceri when I was a student, and there's happily so much dark ambient available now, but Simon Heath's particular vibe can't be beat." [source]
User: "Rockefeller Street is just like that, man. It's sticky." // Sylvia: "Yes! It's so good, it just hits a certain mood dead center." [source]
Sylvia: "Ginkys of BlueSky has created a Spotify list of the music I listened to when writing Emmrich and the Watchers! Almost everything's on there. Thank you Ginkys. (FYI: Not everything I listened to matches the MW vibe, sometimes it was just a song that got stuck in my head for a few weeks.) - [link]" [source]
User: "I appreciate Replay being on here so muuuuch" // Sylvia: "My favorite song on the album! Though 911 was also real solid." [source]
User: "Love that there's Lady Gaga" // Sylvia: "Friend just sent me Abracadabra, I'm excited for the Gothic Camp here." [source]
Sylvia, about the torte recipe: "If it's useful, here's the full thing in metric. WARNING: Last two times I tried this cooked icing, it failed. I'm not sure whether I miscopy a crucial step, or if changes to local butter were the culprit. Either way, proceed with caution. A ganache is way safer, and very similar." [source]
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^ User: "Thank you! That's helpful. I haven't baked many cakes before so I'll do some research about icing/ganache before trying. Hopefully looking at local (Swedish) recipes will give me a hint of what to be careful with." // Sylvia: "Ganache is SUPER simple (you basically heat cream and pour it over chopped chocolate), so I lean even more towards recommending you go with that instead of the cooked icing. Hope you the baking." [source]
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#dragon age: the veilguard#dragon age the veilguard spoilers#dragon age: dreadwolf#dragon age 4#the dread wolf rises#da4#dragon age#bioware#video games#long post#longpost
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