#and i love hearing how youtubers work the back ends of their channels. like the stuff we dont see

[losticaruss]

i get a lottery ticket. but it tells me the only way i can win at life is if i learn how absolutely everything works. and now im obsessed with it.

[miviaceleste]

A Blackrock Story: A Boy with Turquoise Eyes

Happy 12th Anniversary to Blackrock Chronicle!

This comic ended up being 47 pages long (when I first sketched it, it was only 20 pages long). Since I can only upload 30 images in a post, I had to combine 2 pages into 1 image so hopefully it's still visually fine and not annoying to scroll through!

I wrote this mini-story more than 10 years ago, so I figured it was time to finally make it into a comic (after editing the writing a lot because I became a much better writer since lol).

Be aware of the TWs, and I hope you enjoy this comic!

TW: Violence || Blood || Injuries/Scars/Burn Marks || Kidnapping || (Temporary) Death || Loss of Limb / Amputation

Thank you all for reading one of my most insane projects ever!

Now, here’s another long story:

About 8 years ago, my life became so busy that to stay on top of my studies and activities, I stopped watching a lot of YouTubers, including the Yogscast.

I’ve grown up throughout the years. I had to stop acting like a kid to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I’m still an artist today, but I haven’t drawn in this way for about 3 years to pursue my real passion. I love to draw, but I didn’t have the time or inspiration to make something grand.

About 3 months ago, I suddenly got curious about how all those YouTubers I stopped watching were doing, so I checked out their channels and watched a video or two before moving on. When I got to the Yogscast channel, on the other hand, I quickly fell in love with the new content and with everyone again.

It was insane to see how immediately my love for them came back. In 3 months, I’ve watched so many videos and streams/VODs. It’s all so comforting, funny, and uplifting. Clearly, I missed so much content in the past 8 years, but at least I don’t have to worry about running out of things to watch for a while.

What made me most happy was that despite changing a lot, I never stopped being that kid who laughed at the Yogscast’s shenanigans. It just goes to show that no matter how much the world tries to push you around, you never lose that sense of joy you had as a child.

Now, about Rythian:

Since I started watching the Yogscast in 2011, Rythian has always been my favorite. I loved his series so much, especially with how he got into character to give us an immersive experience. It was an escape for me as a kid. When difficult moments were thrown at me, I watched Rythian’s series to find a sense of comfort.

So when I started watching his and Zoey’s Blackrock series, my mind was blown. The storytelling, acting, humor, and drama of the series were so immersive and touching that my creativity exploded.

I mainly use art to express myself and my interests because I struggle to talk about it. But funny enough, Blackrock was the only interest of mine that got me to not draw, but to write. I wrote a lot of short stories about the series—even how I envisioned the series would end. I was so inspired to create all the time from this series.

And what’s crazy is that at the beginning of this summer, I found all of those written drafts and notes from when I was a kid. I kept them all for 10+ years and found a very loose (and not that good) draft of this comic and I felt really inspired to finish it.

It was roughly when I was first watching Blackrock too when I realized that I can be creative in the future. The Yogscast helped me understand that I can do whatever I want for the rest of my life. If they could do it, then why can’t I?

What’s also wonderful is that even after so many years, Rythian never stopped being my favorite. When I started watching the main channel again a few months ago, I immediately found myself rooting for him whenever he was in the group videos. I just remembered how much happiness he brought me when I was younger and it makes me so happy that I still get so much joy whenever I hear his voice.

While working on this comic, I watched all of Kirbycraft and caught up on Kirby Farm. I can’t help but smile the whole time Rythian, Briony, and Kirsty interact with one another. The dynamic of these three brings me so much laughter and comfort. A part of me is upset that I didn’t get back to watching everyone when Kirbycraft was still live, but better late than never, right?

I also originally started this comic without the intention of posting it. But then I figured, Hey, it’d be great to share it with everyone who’s also been impacted by this series and the Yogscast in general, so I made this blog to post it here. Honestly, I’m not sure when the next time I’ll be able to draw is (who knew building a career takes away a lot of your energy and time?). But I think that’s what’s so wonderful about my love for Yogscast and particularly Blackrock: I didn’t make this comic for the likes or views. It was just because I wanted to, and I’m so happy to see there are so many people on here who feel the same love for them as I do.

This series and the people who made it, along with the people who supported it and loved it and continued to love it, impacted me for the better. I learned so many years ago that I can be creative for a living, and have been working hard towards doing that since.

Happy 12th Anniversary to the Blackrock Chronicle. To Rythian and Zoey who put a smile on this kid’s face even during the toughest of times.

And to the Yogscast, thank you for being there for me when I needed you all the most and for still being here when I came back. Your ability to inspire me and make me laugh never disappeared throughout the years I was gone, and I’m ready to laugh some more.

[whereforarthur]

It's Been Way Too Long

Request: id love a george smut, perhaps one of us have been rlly busy like all summer and barely had any time to see each other so when it gets to september time (ish) we havent realised how much we miss each other

Pairing: George Clarke x Reader

Category: Smut

Word Count: 2.2k

*****

“I think I'd miss you even if we never met.” — The Wedding Date

The London skies were a canvas of soft grays and muted blues, hinting at the promise of rain. The bustling streets below were a blur of umbrellas and rushing footsteps. Amidst the thrum of the city, a solitary figure sat on a bench in a small, overlooked park, a patch of green nestled between concrete giants. George Clarke, known to the internet as "The Clarke Cut", was a man of sharp contrasts. His online persona was vibrant, full of life and humor, but in this quiet moment, he was lost in thought, his eyes reflecting the weight of the world.

For months, George had thrown himself into his work, leaving little room for anything else. His YouTube channel had grown exponentially, the demands of content creation an ever-hungry beast that consumed his days and nights. The price of success had been steep, and he felt the cost keenly as he stared at the empty space next to him, where you, or y/n as he liked to call you, should have been. The vividness of your laughter and the warmth of your smile had been replaced by the cold metal of the bench, and the echoes of the city's cacophony.

The first leaves of autumn began to dance around him, a sad ballet of nature's end and rebirth. The chill in the air seemed to mirror the chill in his heart, a stark reminder of the seasons passing and the time lost. You had been his anchor, a steady presence that kept him grounded amidst the chaos. Without you, the city felt like an alien landscape, one he was navigating for the first time without a map.

George pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over your name in his contacts. The urge to hear your voice washed over him like a wave, but fear held him back. Would you be upset? Would you even have time to talk? With a sigh, he sent a text, keeping it light, hoping it didn't betray the tumult in his soul. "Missing you," it read, with a simple heart emoji. It was all he could manage.

Minutes ticked by, the silence stretching into a symphony of unspoken words. His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. It was you. "Miss you too, George," it said, followed by a smiling face with a tear. His heart clenched at the sight. You had felt it too, the distance that had grown between them like an invisible wall.

The rain finally made its appearance, lightly kissing the leaves before turning into a steady rhythm against the pavement. George didn't bother moving, the cool drops a soothing balm on his heated skin. The scent of wet earth and the faint smell of rain-soaked flowers filled the air, a familiar comfort that only heightened his longing for your presence.

As the drops grew heavier, his thoughts grew clearer. He knew what he had to do. Success meant nothing if he couldn't share it with the one who truly mattered. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the path ahead. He had to make time for you, to prioritize what truly made him happy. The rain grew into a crescendo, each drop a beat in the rhythm of his newfound resolve.

Standing up, George tucked his phone away and took a deep breath, the rain soaking his clothes and hair. He'd rearrange his schedule, make the calls, and do whatever it took to bridge the gap that had formed. With a renewed sense of purpose, he stepped into the storm, the cold water mixing with the warmth of his determination. The city around him blurred as he set off in the direction of your flat, eager to feel the warmth of your embrace and to apologize for his neglect. The rain washed away the dust of the summer, leaving behind the promise of a fresh start, a chance to rekindle the flame that had been smoldering between them.

By the time he arrived, the rain had become a downpour, turning the streets into rivers and the air into a thick mist. He took the stairs two at a time, his heart racing in anticipation. The door to your flat stood before him, a symbol of the comfort and love that waited within. He took a moment to compose himself, wiping the rain from his face before knocking softly, his breath hitching in his chest.

When the door opened, the sight of you took his breath away. You looked tired, your eyes a bit sad, but the moment they met his, a spark ignited, lighting up the room. The silence stretched between them, filled with the unspoken words of regret and longing. Without a word, George stepped inside, closing the door behind him, the sound echoing through the small space like a declaration of intent.

You stood before him, rain-soaked and beautiful, your hair clinging to your face like a veil. The air was charged with tension, the kind that comes from months of missed moments and unspoken truths. He reached out, his hand brushing against your cheek, the touch sending a jolt through both of you. Your eyes searched his, looking for reassurance, for a sign that he truly meant it. And in that moment, George knew that he had made the right choice. He leaned in, capturing your lips in a kiss that was both desperate and gentle, a silent promise to never let you go again.

The kiss grew in intensity, a conflagration of passion that had been smoldering for too long. Your arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer, as if trying to erase the space that had grown between you. The world outside the flat disappeared, leaving only the two of you, entwined in a dance of love and apology. The rain outside was now a mere backdrop to the symphony of your hearts beating in unison, a testament to the fact that no matter how busy life got, you two were destined to find your way back to each other.

Breaking the kiss, George whispered, "I'm sorry. I've been so caught up in work, I forgot what's truly important."

You looked up at him, your eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's okay," you murmured, your voice a soft melody that soothed his soul. "I understand. But I missed you. So much."

He cupped your face in his hands, thumbs brushing away the stray teardrops. "I missed you too. And I promise, from now on, I'll make more time for us."

You nodded, a small smile playing on your lips. "I'd like that."

With the storm outside mirroring the tumult in their hearts, George took your hand and led you to the couch. You sat down together, the fabric warm and welcoming against your cold, wet clothes. He wrapped an arm around you, pulling you into his side, and you rested your head on his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath your cheek.

The sound of the rain grew softer as you talked, sharing stories of the summer's escapades and the moments you'd wished you could have shared. Each word was a thread weaving the fabric of your relationship back together, stronger than before. The warmth of the room began to seep into your bones, chasing away the chill of the rain and the months of separation.

As the conversation lulled, George reached over to the coffee table, picking up a notebook and a pen. He flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the words and doodles that chronicled your life together. "Look," he said, pointing to a page filled with sketches of the two of you in various stages of laughter and love. "I want to fill this book with more memories. Starting now."

A blush crept up your cheeks as you took the notebook from him. The promise in his eyes was more than you could have hoped for. With a shaky hand, you wrote, "September 15th - The day George realized what truly matters."

Underneath, he scribbled, "And the day I came home to you."

*****

The moment was filled with the quiet understanding that sometimes life gets in the way, but true love always finds a path back. The rain outside had slowed to a gentle patter, as if it too knew that the storm had passed and that now was the time for growth and renewal.

George's hand slid down from your cheek to your neck, his touch sending shivers down your spine. He kissed you again, this time with a hunger that had been building for months. Your bodies pressed closer, the warmth of your skin a stark contrast to the cold fabric that separated you. The rain had made the air thick with desire, and you could feel the heat radiating from George's body, his need for you palpable.

Your hands found their way under his shirt, feeling the dampness of his skin and the tautness of his muscles. The sensation sent waves of electricity through you, and you realized just how much you'd missed the simple act of touching him, of feeling his heart race in response to your touch. His hands roamed your body, exploring the curves and valleys that he knew so well, yet somehow felt new and exciting. The rain outside had become a soft, rhythmic backdrop to your reunion, a natural metronome setting the pace of your passion.

As you kissed, you both began to peel away the layers of clothing that had kept you apart, revealing the warmth and desire that had been trapped beneath. Your skin met with a sigh of relief, like two long-lost friends finally reunited. The couch cushions grew soggy with rainwater, but you didn't care. All that mattered was the connection that surged between you, a current more powerful than any storm.

The smell of damp fabric and the gentle scent of your perfume mixed with the musk of passion as you became lost in each other. The storm outside had brought you back together, and now, you were determined to make the most of every moment. The sound of the rain grew fainter as you became more attuned to the sound of your breaths mingling, the beat of your hearts syncing up as one.

George lifted you effortlessly, carrying you to the bedroom, his eyes never leaving yours. The floorboards creaked underfoot, a gentle reminder of the history you shared in this space. You knew every inch of this room, every crevice and corner, but it had never felt more intimate than it did in that moment.

Laying you down on the bed, he hovered over you, his gaze intense and filled with love. The soft light from the streetlamp painted shadows on the wall, playing across your bodies as you moved together in a dance of passion. The thunder outside rumbled in the distance, punctuating the silent promises made between kisses and caresses.

Your bodies intertwined, the coldness of the rain forgotten in the warmth of your love. The room was filled with the sound of the rain, the sighs of pleasure, and the whispers of sweet nothings that meant everything. The storm outside mirrored the intensity of your reunion, each flash of lightning illuminating the passion in your eyes, as if the very sky was celebrating your reconciliation.

The rain grew softer, the thunder a gentle reminder of the tempest you had weathered. As your bodies found their rhythm, the storm outside seemed to mimic your own, building to a crescendo before subsiding into a gentle lull. You lay there, tangled in the warmth of each other's arms, the city of London a silent witness to your love.

In the aftermath of your passion, you both lay still, listening to the fading patter of rain and the steady thrum of each other's hearts. The world outside had continued to turn, but for a brief moment, it had stopped for you both. You knew that from now on, no matter how busy life got, you would always find time for each other, because you had just survived the storm, and the calm that followed was more beautiful than any summer's day.

You leaned up to kiss him softly, tasting the salt of the rain and the sweetness of your shared love. "Thank you," you whispered, your voice a mere breath against his skin.

George smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from your face. "For what?"

"For reminding me what's important," you said, your eyes searching his. "For coming back to me."

He kissed you again, his arms tightening around you. "Always," he murmured, his voice a solemn vow. "I'll always come back to you."

The room was a cocoon of warmth and love, the storm outside a gentle lullaby, as you both drifted off to sleep, the sound of the rain a soothing serenade. Hours passed, the city's heartbeat growing quieter as the night deepened. When you awoke, the rain had stopped, leaving a freshness in the air that seemed to cleanse the very essence of the world. The scent of wet earth and the faint sound of distant cars washed over you, bringing with it a sense of peace.

******

@gvf23

@xxkatxgracexx

[keen-li]

"IT JUST SLIPPED"

Today you had to shoot a cooking talk show like video for your YouTube channel. You were so excited and happy cause you had two special guests. Bangchan and felix.

You had a hard time sleeping cause you were so nervous today. And as you walk through the studio towards the set up kitchen you get even more nervous.

"Have they arrived?" You ask your assistant as she walks beside you.

"Yes they just got in" as she says that the nervousness sinks in more.

Its the first time you and any straykids members are filming something together, you have many reasons to be nervous but the main reason is you're afraid you might slip up. Slip up? Yeah you're afraid you might accidentally call chan 'baby' like you always do when you're with him. But most of the time when you're with him it's not infront of large lights and cameras.

Nobody knows that you two have been dating, not your companies, not your crew, not even you're assistant, it's still kinda new so you wanna keep it low. The only people who know you and chan are dating are his members. Who said they found out when they all "accidentally" saw you and chan's chats. The defenders were han and Lee know, when you saw those two open there mouths to defend you knew it was bullshit. Who accidentally reads three months worth of conversations in front of others accidentally.

You were kinda mad and embarrassed that they read your messages cause you and chan had some spicy texts and pictures in there. But chan promised to talk to them and keep his phone better which made you feel better.

And it seemed like chan's talk did work on them, cause they never brought up any of the messages or made any silly joke about it. They only congratulated you and made you feel comfortable.

You see the familiar figure of your boyfriend and his bandmate walk in straight to you. You and chan give eachother smiles hoping no one noticed cause you and him need to keep this a secret.

When they approach you, felix first, you share greetings and give eachother hugs. When chan hugs you he tries to not make it obvious by placing his hand a little lower on your back.

"I missed you" he whispers into your ear and you feel the heat consume you.

"Shut up were supposed to be undercover" you joke.

"But I missed you too" you confess still in a whisper.

You two missed each other like you didn't text and facetime everyday when you can.

He walks by you as he greets the crew.

After sometime and getting things ready it's time to film.

Since its your youtube channel and show you have to be the one to introduce them.

"So today we're gonna do a little cook and chat" you begin to say to the camera.

"But before we do I wanna introduce you to two people" you give a look to chan and felix as they take it as a sign to get into frame. They give their biggest smiles to the camera as they bow to it and to you which you return as well.

They give their intros and you smile at them as they express how they're happy to be here and how much they've always wanted to be on your show. It makes you blush but it's not like you didn't know. One of the reasons this filming idea came up was because chan expressed to you how much you he wanted to be on your show. And after both of your companies accepted, the date was set.

You and the boys laugh as you answer some funny questions and chop up some food. One of the questions led to chan having to tell an embarrassing story which makes everyone in the studio laugh. You also end up telling a story and chan can't help but watch as you smile and giggle when you tell the story.

He always loved hearing you talk and express yourself, it's one of his favourite things about you. Feeling his loving gaze on you, you glance at him and warn him making him look away and focus on washing the lettuce.

You're cutting some cucumber when it slips from the grip of the knife and cuts you a bit.

You hiss catching everyone's attention. Chan looks at you worried as he watched you rush to the sink. It kills him how he can't just run over to you and care for your wound just because people might find out.

"I'm good guys" you say but it doesn't help lighten chan's heart.

Felix notices his uneasiness and taps him on the back. "She's okay bro relax" he doesn't pay much attention to that as he watches a staff wrap your finger with a bandaid.

After you get back you grab a new knife and new cucumber as chan stares at you still uneasy.

"I'm okay chan" you smile at him and he feels a little more relieved when you say it directly to him, maybe it's your smile that comforts him. But he still wishes he had been the one to help you.

You continue to shoot the video as chan takes over the cutting duty and puts you in egg boiling duty. Which you rolled your eyes at. He's so protective, as if you couldn't burn yourself with hot water.

After you're done with the shooting, chan approaches you.

"Let me see your hand" he grabs your hand not even letting you choose whether or not he can see your hand. But you let him cause he's just trying to be caring.

"Are you okay?" It's a question he keeps asking you and you don't know if you wanna answer him again.

"I'm fine chan, now let go of my hand before someone sees us." He doesn't take heed to your words and continues to examine your finger touching I lightly which you find comforting.

"You don't look fine. Want me to give you a hug?" He says slowly moving into you. If no one has noticed the two of you someone's gonna notice now. You try and push him away giggling at his words, you really don't want your cover blown but chan doesn't seem to care. He doesn't care actually.

"Baby I'm okay" you say a little louder than you expected. You immediately move away from chan and stare at the people now staring at you. If the company hears about this you're screwed.

"I meant chan" you laugh awkwardly.

"It just slipped" you try and assure the people around you. You know they couldn't care less but you'd never know who'd be a snitch.

"I call everyone baby anyways" chan laughs as you try to convince yourself.

It's no use they heard you clearly.

.....

Its been been seven days since your cooking episode with chan and felix aired. And you heard some rumours and theories going around on the Internet.

So you decided to check on the comments yourself.

Chan giving y/n those loving eyes

I want someone to look at me like the way chan's looking at her

If these two aren't dating I'm gonna take y/n

These two gotta be dating look at the way he's looking at her.

I can feel the tension between them

The chemistry between these two.

Kiss already

You didn't realise the tension between you and chan was so obvious. Maybe it's the way you spoke and looked at eachother. And after watching the video for yourself you can definitely see it.

"Our love can't be hidden" chan said when you brought the issue to him. You laughed, he doesn't take this seriously huh?

[devilishchaos]

Needy | Rúben Dias Imagine

Rating / genre: M (18+); smut, fluff

Pairings: Reader x Rúben Dias

Summary: Y/N is needy for vitamin Rúben.

Warnings: Explicit smut, explicit talk, unprotected vaginal penetration (don't do it!!! stay safe!), hair grabbing, thigh riding, size talk just for a sec

Word Count: 2 307 words

This is a work of fiction. The story, names, characters and incidents either are product or the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

You were watching the training livestream on the Man City YouTube channel, trying to catch a glimpse of your man training on the field. The Etihad Campus had an open door day so the training could be watched online and since you stayed at home today and spent some much needed chill and relaxing time, you decided that you had nothing better to do than to thirst over your man. 

Watching him work hard made you come to the realization that you missed him a lot today, missed his touch..you craved him, not being able to feel his skin on your own or to please him the way he could please you - drove you absolutely insane. The only thing you could think about was Rúben..and his long fingers tracing down your body, starting around your nipples and touching them until they’re rock hard, then going lower and lower so he’s brushing over your inner thighs, teasing you until he lightly runs one of his fingers through your folds, coating it with your wetness before slipping it in, soon adding another one and pumping them in and out of you in a slow way, making you desperate for more, begging him to put his mouth to your dripping pussy and fuc- 

The ringing of your phone snapped you out of your daydream, Rúben’s name appearing on your screen. You furrowed your eyebrows and looked at your laptop to see the stream had ended, meaning training was finished and Rúben was almost free to come home to you. 

“Hello, handsome.” you said when you picked up the phone, trying to not let him hear the trembling in your voice after turning yourself on by fantasizing about him..and his hands. 

“Hi, amor. I’m just calling to say I’ve finished training. We’ll have a quick recovery session and after that I’m heading home, okay? I love you.” Rúben hung up right after you said the three words back, indicating he was in a hurry, but it made you smile that he still took the time to call you. 

The agony of waiting for him to enter your shared apartment followed by your little daydream had caused you to be wet for the rest of the day, your panties soaked by now and you were needing a release and to have Rúben with you was a must. 

After what felt like eternity, you finally hear the gentle clicks of Rúben’s key unlocking the front door of your guys’ apartment and feel a rush of excitement fill your chest. You immediately leave your spot on the couch to greet him. 

Rúben, with his backpack over one shoulder and his shoes in hand, barely closed the front door when you said 

“I want your dick..right now.” 

That made him turn towards you so fast, his backpack slipped off his shoulder. 

“W- What?” Rúben asked puzzled. 

“Hello, love. Welcome back. How was training? I want your dick.” you paused for a second and closed your eyes, took a deep breath in and added “I want it now. Like I have to have it..right now. Please, Rúben.” you gave him your best puppy eyes. 

With his mouth slightly open, Rúben was flashing in rags at you and simply said “Okay.”

“Perfect. So..youuu..wanna do it on the couch or in the bedroom?” 

“Wherever you want, baby.” and with that you took his hand and led him to the couch, because it was closer. 

You tore his jacket off him, dropped it on the floor and pushed Rúben to sit on the couch, then straddled his thighs. 

“Wait, wait, wait..I- I-..um..I’m not..I have to..” Rúben nervously tried to explain that he wasn’t hard yet 

“Shh..relax. I’m gonna take care of you.” you lean in for a kiss and he revels in your sensual embrace, loving your soft fingers tracing around his abdomen, feeling around his chest. Rúben lets out a noise, halfway between a purr and a grunt, hand gliding from your ass to the hem of your (his) big t-shirt as he tugs it over your head. You aren’t wearing anything to cover your breasts, which he’s eager to kiss. 

Taking his own t-shirt off, Rúben tosses the garment over the back of the couch. The roaring fire, coming from the fireplace, coupled with the heated friction between the two of you, makes things hot very quickly, temperatures rising as he pulls you in for another kiss. 

Your touch is voracious, groping and kneading into every available space of skin, molding Rúben in ways that he never thought were possible. You are passionate and exploratory, like the lick of an open flame, leaving behind incendiary sparks that make his stomach church with anticipation. You reciprocate his kiss, open-mouthed and heady as his palm falls against one of your breasts. 

Rúben moves you up, so you're straddling just above his hips, enough for him to have room to kiss your body. Each caress of his mouth to your flesh makes you shiver, fingers blindly skimming about to tangle within his hair. His lips are snug against your breasts, leaving behind pleasant trails of red marks. 

Allowing his mouth to wrap around one of your nipples, he begins to lightly suck at the sensitive nub, groping and squeezing at the one left unattended. Your fingers are tangled throughout his dark hair, melding your body to his as he showers your chest in appreciation, throaty sounds escaping from you. Rúben’s attentive, kissing and sucking until he pulls away, face pressing into the valley between your breasts. 

You can feel his cock prodding into your thigh at this point, twitching and throbbing inside of his pants, full of an aching want for you. Being on top of him doesn’t relieve anything either, but Rúben isn’t finished with you just yet, adjusting your legs until they’re situated atop one of his legs, and not straddling his lap. The material of your panties happen to be paper-thin, you are able to feel the sinewy muscles of his thigh.

Rúben places his mouth everywhere he can reach, letting out some husky whimpers as you begin to grind yourself into his thigh, attempting to find the perfect angle. Tilting yourself forward, your fingers grip his hair, his mouth tracing all over your neck, feeling you start to rock atop his thigh as you find the perfect amount of friction. 

A soft moan tore past your parted lips, feeling the muscles of his thigh, the angle at which you grind your pussy into him..the sensations sending shivers up your spine. Rúben’s hands grope at your hips, holding onto the curve of your waist as you ride his thigh, coaxing your face closer as he kisses you with blinding passion. Heat pools between your legs, soaking your panties in the process even more, if that was possible. 

“Rúben..” you moan against his mouth, his hands guiding you along, pushing you onto his thigh with each roll of your hips.You are putty within his grasp, able to be molded and bent as he saw fit, steadily rocking your clothed cunt into his thigh, making you squeak and mewl. 

As you’re riding his thigh, chasing after the growing sensation of your orgasm, Rúben’s palm splays out across the small of your back, face nestling into the crook of your neck as he shoves you further downward. He’s exuding more of his strength, letting your clit rub against the muscles of his leg, moving you with a force riddled with friction. 

His cock throbs and twitches within his pants, aching to be inside of you, but Rúben is willing to be patient, watching you move on top of him with a slight clumsiness, but he’s beyond understanding. You’re absolutely perfect..you’re stunning like this, straddling his leg and moaning his name, mouth having fallen apart to express your state of bliss. 

Rúben eases you forward, planting hot, messy kisses against your soft flesh, feeling your legs quiver around him as he jostles his thigh against your slit. The sounds you make are beyond delicious, he’s absolutely enthralled by you, mesmerized as you desperately careen into him, wanting an orgasm so very terribly. 

You feel his hand drift toward your ass again, giving it several greedy gropes and squeezes as he nudges you off of his leg. There’s a dark, wet splotch left behind, not that it bothers him, and before you know it, you’re situated on your back, Rúben between your legs. He’s tugging your panties off, gently sliding them down until they’re somewhere around your ankles. 

“I need you..” you whisper, Rúben responds with a husky noise, a throaty rumble that fills your stomach with warmth. The crackling of the hearth is beyond atmospheric, filling the living room with heat, making your skin break out with light perspiration “..Rúben, I need you..so bad.” you say it again, feeling his cock knead against your soaked folds. 

Rúben's face is hovering above yours and he settles for showering you in needy kisses, mouth settling along the curve of your jaw and just to the side of your jugular. 

Grinding his groin into you, his cock pushed past your folds, slathered with a sheen of precum, throbbing and hot as he teases your cunt. Rúben is well-endowed, you’ve come to learn, thick as ever as he slowly rolls his hips into you, keeping your legs apart. The noises you let out are vulgar, abhorrently sinful as he sluggishly thrusts his way into your aching slit, a low groan escaping from him in the process. 

It’s incendiary, the rush of heat between the two of you, chest to chest, flush together. Your hands come underneath his arms, feeling the muscles of his shoulder blades move, knees constricting his hips as he begins to find a pleasurable pace. Each roll of his hips finding a way to stuff you completely, until he can’t go any further. 

Rúben was horribly possessive in the moment whether you fully realized it or not, dominating you and keeping you pinned underneath him. Even when trapped within the throes of passion, Rúben’s mouth is furious, relentless as he covers your chest in amatory kisses, alternating between your lips and breasts. 

He sets a pace that reaches deep inside of you, lacking callousness or a hastiness. Rúben savors each bump and sliver of friction, rutting into you at a slower crawl. You squirm and moan underneath him, as his cheek nestles against yours and you quiver out of sheer excitement. 

“R- Rúb- ben..ugh..yess.” you croon, shuddering when you feel his teeth scrape along your neck, hips rutting into you. Rúben’s pace becomes increasingly steady, cock pounding into you with those torpid thrusts. A feverish heat creeps across your flesh, nearly burning you alive, though the fireplace seems to contribute to such a sensation. 

Your nails sink into the dips of his shoulders, eliciting a heady, wanton growl that tears out from the back of his throat, ripping through you as goosebumps collect along your spine. Rúben’s cock continues to pound away at you, trembling as your walls clench around him, his stomach pooling with warmth. It’s a sensation that drives him wild, coupled with your nails wringing into his back, leaving behind red trails. 

Rúben can’t get enough of you, drunk on desire, drunk on the feelings you stir within him. Wistful and desperate to please you, he begins to drag his hips back, cock nearly out of you completely before he slams himself back inside. 

The living room is silent, save for the crackling of the dying fire and your intermingled noises, Rúben’s throaty groans and your mewls. He plucks one of your hands away from his shoulders, intertwining your fingers together as he pins your arm back against the leathery sofa. 

It’s perfect - he’s perfect, holding your hand as he fucks you into the couch. 

Your knees are wrangling onto his hips, squeezing and coaxing him closer, your free hand snapping to hold onto his arm, muscles tensing and flexing underneath your fingers. Rúben picks up his speed as he chases after his orgasm, throbbing cock sending pulsations of heat into you, shockwaves even..as you lazily grind your hips against his, careening inward for another blistering kiss. 

He shudders, his thrusts stuttering as he cums inside of you with a throaty moan, feeling your cunt clench around his cock, your fingers clinging onto him as if you were a drowning woman. Rúben huffs, snapping his hips into you again as he fills you up, peppering feather-light kisses all along your jaw. 

You happen to cum in tandem with him, sticky and messy as you involuntarily push your thighs together. Rúben’s gaze is adoring, simply put - lovesick. His thumb strokes across your cheek, pulling out of you with a soft grunt. 

Rúben puts your (his) t-shirt back on, retrieving some articles of clothing that were lost along the way. His touch is gentle, tender after everything as he tidies himself, sinking back into the sofa. He’s quick to scoop you up, placing you back into his lap. 

Curling into his chest, your palm settles along his abdomen, tracing patterns onto his ribcage. Rúben seems to voice his enjoyment of such a gesture, letting out some noise that’s a cross between a hum and a purr, hands massaging into your hips, cheek nestling against the top of your head. 

Rúben stares at you as if you’re the only person he’s ever known, the only one for him, placing his fingers underneath the t-shirt you wear, caressing your skin. 

Neither of you say anything - you don’t need to. Whatever just transpired between the two of you conveys all that you need to know, any unspoken feelings having bubbled to the surface. You press a kiss into his mouth and snuggle against his chest with a smile of contentment. 

[buzzyb33]

Moral of the story

Prompt: after Y/n and Ethan broke up a year prior and seeing each other again just pisses off the girl and excites Ethan, they didn’t end their relationship on good terms but he’s still got the feels for her.

Warnings: swearing, ansty

I was walking down the streets of London, my coat wrapped around my waist as I treaded to my apartment.

I have my head down as the weather was foul, the biting winter hitting hard.

I keep walking before I slam into something hard and I hear a soft ‘oof’

I go to apologise but as I look up and make eye contact with the man we both freeze.

“Y/n?”

“Ethan..”

-

Last year, I was working on my photography and YouTube channel, I was big on the side of British commentary and met people that helped me grow, I put more budget into my videos and in 2 years I was one of the biggest female alone British channels.

I met bigger YouTubers and came close with the sidemen, especially Ethan.

We went out and drank together.

We fell in love.

We were happy for 2 and a half years, until June 2023 that was.

He was going out more which was fine, I couldn’t keep him on a lead.

He grew more distant but that’s fine, he’s stressed, I’m not his whole life.

He became more antsy, that’s fine, he needed some space.

I gave him space and he got drunk and fucked Mia Malkova as she stayed in the uk after their recording, I didn’t find out till three weeks later.

The worst thing was he didn’t seem to feel bad at all, I found out through friends of friends.

My heart broke and when I confronted him he got on his knees in front of me and begged.

He said how ‘he was drunk’ and ‘she doesn’t mean anything to him’

He spoke about things he didn’t mean the whole time I started packing my shit with tears pouring down my cheeks.

“Ethan! Stop!” I say in between broken sobs as he tries to hug me but I push him off.

I put all my bags in my car and wipe my eyes as Ethan continues to plead behind me.

“Y/n- I swear! Please don’t go- you mean so-“

I cut him off.

“I’ll send cal round tomorrow for the rest of my shit.”

I slam the door to my BMW and go home, I drive in to my road

I call Callum (Callux) and ask him to come round.

“N/n- is it important?” He said and I responded with a simple ‘yes’

He came round and knocked on my door.

I opened Ito and immediately hugged him.

“Woah, n/n-“ he began as I started to cry again.

“What’s happened..” he muttered to me as he held me to his chest.

I tried to stand up but he shushed me and sat on the floor with me between his legs as I calmed myself down.

His back was against the door as he held me gently.

“… was it Ethan?” He asked me gently as if I’d break if he spoke any louder. I nod between sobs.

I hear him exhale deeply.

“Can- I ask you yes and no questions?” He uses the same time with earnt him another nod.

“Have you broken up?” He asked me with a sickening soft tone, especially for his character.

I respond with another nod.

“Okay- did.. he break up with you or-“

I shake my head and he exhaled again.

After cal realised Ethan had cheated on me, he let me sob into his hoodie for a while.

Keeping away from each other was difficult, especially when he wanted to just ‘talk’.

You can’t excuse sticking your dick in another girl while in a relationship though.

I got my pre recorded videos out when appropriate and announced I was having a break.

Ethan had trouble talking to the boys about what had happened.

“Where’s Y/n? Why’s she having a break?.” Simon commented as they were having a break from the set of their sidemen Sunday.

“What? Oh we broke up.” He said averting his gaze to his finger nails as Tobi chokes on whatever flavour of prime he’s drinking.

“What?! Why? You two are like-“ Tobi sputtered.

“I don’t know lads- I don’t wanna talk about it..”

He started and Harry looked at him.

“What did you do?” Ethan’s face turns a tint of red.

“Not-“

“Mate, what did you do, I’ll just ask cal, they’re like- weird friends. They tell each other everything.” He eyes him, having his own guesses.

Harry starts and Ethan’s mind goes to the way Cal looked at him when he came to collect the rest of Y/na stuff.

He’d never seen him so.. angry.

“I- was drunk boys! I just-“

“You cheated on her? Ethan man..” Josh tuts, clearly disappointed.

“Well-“ he sighs. “Yeah, lads, I did.” Doesn’t even have it in to defend himself. Why should he?

“Mate, you’ve well and truly, fumbled the bag.”Having his friends almost ashamed of him wasn’t good.

They were in the same friendship circle, made videos with the same people, Ethan’s best mates were her best mates, this would cause problems and they knew it.

No sets together. No among us together. No joint colabs. Just. Y/n and Ethan.

On some nights, Y/n went too see Freya and they spoke, one time they got too drunk, Josh heading giggles from the other room before the tone switched up.

“Freya- I- miss him.. maybe it was an accident.. cal told me to-“ I exhale. “Cal told me to not let him get to me- I saw it coming..” I say as I rub my eyes.

“Maybe- he never loved me- you know, he was my first real boyfriend since I was like 17.” I say as tears rim my eyes.

“N/n.. just- let time take its course- maybe, you’ll be okay without him.” She said to me, I could hear how unsure she was.

I nod and sip my wine.

It would never hurt less.

-

“You- look good.” He smiles uncertain, opening his mouth to talk again. “Do- you want to talk?”

“Uhm. No, move the fuck out of my way, Ethan.” I spit, urging him to move from the sidewalk.

“Y/n, please, just a talk.” He pleaded, his blue eyes showing desperation, utter desperation.

“There’s nothing to say!” I say in a defeated tone and meet his eyes.

“I loved you- I don’t understand why- alcohol isn’t an excuse either! I don’t want to talk to you!” I whisper- shout as people swerve around us.

Since before this, we haven’t spoken to each other, at all. In a year and a half. Cal got all my stuff and I could avoid him.

This was a lot right now.

“Y/n- you don’t understand how sorry I am- I hate myself everyday for it! Please- just- a coffee?”

He pleaded, his hands clasped together.

“Once a cheater, always a cheater.”

I shove past him and keep walking.

He stands there, lost.

He wants her back.

He well and truly fumbled the back a year ago, but who was to say he couldn’t get it back?

He turned around and saw his ex girlfriend storm away from him.

He’d take his chances now, he pulled his phone out and called Callux.

“Yes mate?” He picked up after two rings.

“Can you set me up with Y/n? I know- but- I’m just trying to at least make things right.”

No, he wanted her in his bed arms. Both.

He stayed quiet for a while.

“Mate- she.. I don’t think she would want me bringing you up at all- and I’m like her gay best friend- who isn’t gay- so- setting her up is just..”

He trailed off as Ethan thought of something else.

“Just- ask her how she feels about me.”

He says into the phone as his legs take him further down the street.

“Oh I know what she thinks of you- she fucking hates you, she said you broke her heart, you ruined how she looks at men- how she thinks a stupid ginger prick- her words- have her trust issues and how she doesn’t want to miss you.”

He says matter of factly.

“So she misses me?”

Cal sighs: “listen mate- there’s nothing I can do- you can ask freezy to arrange a video or something- that’s your best bet- also- you should like listen to what else I said. Not just the missing bit.”

Ethan sighed down the phone before letting out a small 'yeah, okay' and hung up.

This girl. She trusted him and now what? Would he be that pathetic and got on his knees for her? Yes. Yes he would.

-

“No, fuck off.” I say the second the words leave his mouth.

“N/n it’s a charity video. Are you that much of a bad person to not contribute?” Cal says as his hands grip my shoulders.

His stubbles growing in. That meant another talking stage.

“Yeah. With the sidemen, Cal- Ethan-“ I start. “And don’t guilt trip me.” I huff.

“Yeah. The sidemen. Not your ex boyfriend it’s the sidemen. The YouTube group. No strings attached with so many over people. It’s a massive set. Challenges. A twelve hour stream.” He pleads.

“I’ll be there! Just- I’m begging you!” He shakes me lightly.

I couldn’t say no.

“Okay..”

A week and a half later I was preparing my camera around my neck as i mildly listened listen in on freezy and will talking about F1.

I sigh as I enter the set.

“Ten minutes!”

I sit next to Freya and Cal and lean my head back.

-

His eyes snap up. She came. Looking beautiful.

-

Time passed; the stream went on. I leave set to fill up my water and Ethan is behind me.

“Bella..” he says and I close my eyes.

“Ethan.” I say.

“I- want to say sorry. I didn’t even explain myself at the time properly. I just.. tried to get myself out of trouble.” He says, looking down at me.

“Thank you.” I say reluctantly.

He picks his words carefully from the way his mouth opens and closes a few times.

“I.. miss you.” He says.

“I miss what we were, too.” I say simply and he gulps.

“Can.. we stop avoiding each other? Just.. be.. mutual.” He smiles weakly.

“Okay..”

Maybe I was healing. Well: that was until he called me while drunk.

“Hey pretty..” he slurs.

“You fucked someone else? Drunk, came to say sorry?” I say a little bitterly as I leave my phone on my desk, loudspeaker my fingers editing my video.

“… harsh.. miss you.. just..” he hiccups. “I don’t want your body.. well.. that would be nice.. but, more than anything, n/n.. I want.. I wantchu.. a hug..”

I blink.

“And, just.. i hope.. you can forgive me.. and hug me.. in my heart it’s enough. More than.. enough but in my soul.. fuck, pretty.. I wanna marry you.” He slurs with a small laugh at the end.

“Love you, y/n.” He mumbles after a few minutes of silence.

“I love you too.. I miss you..” I whisper. All the walls I’ve built up cracking. But I hold out.

“Come over when your sober.” He hums and I hang up.

Two days later I get a knock, I open my door and see Ethan, his hands cupped around some water lilies.

“Uh..”

He says.

I take the flowers.

He smiles.

“I.. miss you.. so much.. please.. just..”

I nod and his arms immediately go around me.

“I’m sorry baby..” I say softly. “I just.. can’t.. trust you again..” he gulps and pulls away.

I stick my pinky out.

“Friends?” I ask and his pinky extends too, though shaky.

“Friends.”

Masterlist!

[the-breath-in-air]

9 Queer Movies from the 1990s You May Not Have Heard Of

It's New Years, which means it's time for lists. And while everyone else is doing 'top X of 2023,' I've decided to list 9 queer movies from the 1990s. Why? Because I wanna. Plus, in discussions of representation, I often see folks talk about it with a heavy focus on mainstream 'Hollywood' produced movies, which leads folks to talk as though progress has been linear. As if, in the past there was no/'bad' queer representation and now there is 'good' representation. But of course it's not that simple. Plenty of amazing queer movies were produced in the past decades...they were just indie movies and thus difficult to find in a world prior to Netflix and Mubi and whatnot. But now we have streaming services, so allow me to share some of my favorites from the before times (specifically the 1990s).

Without further ado....here is an alphabetical list of queer movies from the 90s you may not have heard of (especially if you're under 30).

--

Beautiful Thing (1996) (dir. Hettie Macdonald)

Before there was Heartstopper, there was Beautiful Thing. It's a story about two gay teens, one sporty and one very much not sporty...and about how they deal with pressure to come out and pressure to hide who they are. It's a very sweet coming of age story, really. However, unlike Heartstopper, in Beautiful Thing the economic class of the protagonists plays an important role in the story (the characters all live on a counsel estate in London). The characters stories are nearly as much about them being working class as it is about the two main character being gay. It's one of the first movies I ever saw about gay teens, and I loved it. I still get a wistful smile every time I hear Mama Cass Elliot's "Make Your Own Kind of Music." (cw for parental abuse)

--

Edward II (1991) (dir. Derek Jarman)

The real Edward II was King of England for 20 years in the 14th century. At the end of the 16th century, Christopher Marlowe wrote a play about Edward's reign and eventual downfall. In 1991, Derek Jarman streamlined Marlowe's play and brought all the homosexual subtext between Edward and Gaveston way out front. In the film, Edward II is in prison and reflects on the events which have led him to that point. The trouble begins when Edward takes the throne and brings his exiled lover, Gaveston, back to England. All around them the rest of the aristocracy (including Edward's wife) conspire to bring Gaveston down. The movie itself is anachronistic (set in 1991), with minimal sets and costume, and staged a lot like a play. A lot of the dialogue is right out of Marlowe's play, though there are some changes to the story (notably at the end). It's honestly my favorite Derek Jarman movie, and frankly one of my favorite movies, full stop. (cw for blood, animal corpses, violent death)

--

Fire (1996) (dir. Deepa Mehta)

Fire is the first film in the Elements Trilogy written and directed by Deepa Mehta. Each film in the trilogy is about different characters in India, with the connection between the three being thematic rather than plot or character. Fire is about two Indian women, Radha and Sita, who form a bond through their struggles living within a traditional "joint-family" (i.e. a family where all extended family live together and all money and resources are shared). The women in this family have very little agency and this film explores how the two main characters navigate through it. The men in this film are also repressed by the social structure in which they live, and this film spends some time looking at that as well. It's a film about queer desire between women living under patriarchy. (All the movies on this list are available on streaming services in the US, except Fire. However, I was able to find it uploaded to a random YouTube channel) (cw for someone catching on fire, brief domestic violence (a slap), and non-consensual kissing)

--

Happy Together (1997) (dir. Wong Kar-wai)

In Happy Together, two men from Hong Kong travel to Argentina and eventually get stuck there when they run out of money and are unable to return home. The relationship between these two men is very tumultuous, with a lot of arguing and breaking up and getting back together. It's one of the first movies I saw in which queer folks have, just, regular ol' relationship drama - exasperated by the regular ol' struggles of life. (i cant remember if there are any content warnings i should put here; it's been a few years since i've seen it)

--

Lilies (1996) (dir. John Greyson)

Lilies is a Canadian film in which a prisoner requests a bishop come to the prison to hear the prisoner's last confession. It quickly becomes clear, however, that the prisoners have something else in mind when they begin staging a play. It turns out the bishop and prisoner knew each other as teens, and the play is about the events in their lives that led up to the prisoner being put on trial. So you end up with a play-within-a-play (or rather a play-within-a-movie). The film weaves between the production staged in the prison and the memory of the events in a really fluid way. All the prisoners portray their characters in the 'memory' sections, which lends itself to some really great moments in the prison sections. And at the heart of this memory/story is a queer love story. (cw for parental abuse, murder, fire, and suicide)

--

The Living End (1992) (dir. Gregg Araki)

This is a film about two young gay men who are diagnosed HIV positive. Unlike more mainstream films about HIV that came before (and after), The Living End wears its anger and pain on its sleeve. The entire world is entirely fucked up, and so these two men turn to a nihilistic outlook. The acting is just okay and some of the dialog is a bit ridiculous...but what draws me to rewatch this movie is the way that it conveys the emotion of the time. It's a ball of rage manifest on film. (cw for attempted suicide, rape, murder)

--

Love is the Devil (1998) (dir. John Maybury)

One of the problems with the average biopic is that it attempts to portray a person's entire life in a single movie. Thankfully, Love is the Devil doesn't have that problem; it focuses on only 8 years of Francis Bacon's life - the time he spent with a man named George Dyer. By this point, Bacon was already an extremely famous artist (and, at least in the film, a bit of an asshole). Bacon meets Dyer as Dyer attempts to burgle Bacon's studio - and thus begins an extremely dysfunctional love affair. If you want to see Derek Jacobi and Daniel Craig portray this dysfunctional relationship, then this is the movie for you. Also, if you want to see a biopic that lets the subject of the film be portrayed as a shitty person, this is a film for you. (cw for bdsm, drug use, untreated mental illness, and suicide)

--

Orlando (1992) (dir. Sally Potter)

From right out the gate, Orlando announces its queer themes by having Quentin Crisp portray Queen Elizabeth I, and Tilda Swinton portray Orlando (a man). From the first scenes it becomes clear that gender is going to be a main theme in the movie. Orlando is a young man who will never grow old and never die. He begins life in the 1500s, during Queen Elizabeth's reign, and we see him (and later, her) throughout the centuries between then and 'present' day (1992). The film is broken into thematic chunks (poetry, politics, society, etc). In each of these chunks we see Orlando's life as it reflects the social norms of the time (especially gender norms).

--

Swoon (1992) (dir. Tom Kalin)

Like Rope (1948) and Compulsion (1959), Swoon is a film about the Leopold and Loeb murder. Unlike the earlier films, Swoon makes the gay relationship between Leopold and Loeb explicit. Their relationship in the film is fairly uneven, with Loeb being characterized as more of an explicit manipulator. Leopold, on the other hand, is driven more by wanting to please Leob. Complicating this dynamic is the way that Leopold is the one more interested in their sexual relationship. Is Loeb exchanging sex for help with his criminal activities? Or is Leopold committing crimes in order to elicit sex from Loeb? Or both...something a bit more complicated than either/or? The film, especially the latter half, eschews and lampoons the sensationalism of the reporting of the crime from the time. (cw for murder, blood (in black and white), and animal corpses)

--

Honorable mention goes to more well-known movies I didn't put on this list, such as: But I'm a Cheerleader, Velvet Goldmine, Bound, Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Birdcage, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, My Own Private Idaho, Bent...there are actually a whole lot of queer movies from the 1990s, now that I think about it.

[galatially]

❝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠❞

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 / 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 / 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐨𝐧 x 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤!𝐫&𝐛 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 — through rain or through shine, our love transcends; dick surprises you on tour 

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 — 1.9K

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 — 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐍𝐈, 𝟏𝟖+, strong language, mostly fluff MOSTLY, friends to lovers, smidge of jealous!dick, heavy makeup session,

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 — i might go back and change the ending later but for now, enjoy!

as always, lovely banners and dividers by @firefly-graphics​ 

“How are y’all feeling tonight?”

The crowd erupted into raucous applause and screams. All of their love, all of their devotion, you felt it in the air. Like electricity running along your skin. 

Ever since you were a little girl, you wanted to sing. You sang in the church and school choirs, took vocal lessons, and taught yourself to play the piano, guitar, and the drums. By the time you were in college, you took a few music production classes and had started up a YouTube channel. 

It took almost three years before your channel got any traction but you were no stranger to hard work. By the fourth year anniversary of your channel, your songs had been used in two major television shows and you were nominated for three Grammys. 

But you’d be nowhere without your fans. You could remember when you went on your first headlining tour with Paloma Wagner, a former Gothamite that you had posters of on your childhood bedroom wall, and you’d spent all night at your merch table talking to the kids and signing autographs. All of your hard work staring back at you, in the eyes of people who believed in you just as much as you believed in yourself. 

You brought the mic back up to your lips, a hand on your chest. “I cannot thank y’all enough for supporting me and my dreams these past four years. From sitting in my room making videos to playing small local shows to y’all selling out stadiums.” 

“We love you!”

“Now, I know that this is the last show,” the crowd groaned and you smiled, “but this is my home sweet home of Metropolis! How about we play an oldie? The song that started it all, yeah?”

The crowd roared again and you smiled. Your band started playing behind you. “This song is called, ‘Love Letters’.”

“Great show tonight, y’all.”

“Did you want to celebrate with us?” one of your dancers, Alisha, asked.

Another dancer, Mila, came up behind you, smirking. “Nah, she’s probably going to wait for that boyfriend of hers to call.”

“Bruce Wayne’s kid, right?”

You rolled your eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend. He’s barely a friend.”

Mila snorted. “Didn’t he leave you that bouquet of tiger lilies a few weeks ago in Texas?” 

Alisha’s eyes widened. “That was him?”

You smirked at them through the reflection of the glass. “Didn’t y’all want to go out with the others? They’re probably halfway to the parking garage by now.”

“Tell your boyfriend that we say hello, at least.” You playfully waved them off and bid them goodbye. Mila and Alisha made kissy noises as they left your dressing room. 

You turned back to your mirror, your smile still on your lips. As you took off your makeup, your mind dwelled on the aforementioned billionaire’s son. He was far from your boyfriend but a little more than a friend. You can’t really recall how you met Dick other than the fact that he appeared almost instantly in a coffeeshop in a Gotham during one of your first visits. You sat and talked at a window facing table for three hours before he had to get back to work. Then, a few weeks later, he found you on Instagram and you started talking more frequently. 

That was two years ago now. 

While touring has limited how much you got to visit Gotham, you still kept in contact through Instagram and Snapchat. Dick even congratulated you on finishing your newest album a few days ago. 

You wondered if he listened to your music at all. If he would be able to decipher which songs were about him, hear the words that always seemed to get stuck in your throat when he was near. 

A sharp knock came up on your door. 

“Come in.”

Your manager, Lawrence, poked his head in. “You almost ready? The car’s waiting outside.”

“Let me just grab my bags and change really quick.” 

He nodded and ducked back out of the room. As you packed up the last of your makeup and threw your hoodie on, your phone chimed with a text.

Great job on the sold out tour ;) ;)

You were flipping through titles on Netflix when you heard the balcony doors open. You grabbed the lamp from the bedside table and tiptoed towards the sound, your cellphone in hand. As you got closer, you saw the figure, half-hidden behind the curtains. You raised the lamp higher and lunged. 

Everything happened so fast; hands went to your wrist and torso, holding you against them, and you were crowded up against the wall. Bright blue eyes stared back into yours. 

“Hey, sweetness.”

“Dick!” You pouted up at him. “You scared the shit out of me!”

“‘M sorry. Wanted to surprise you.” The corners of his mouth lifted. “Heard the show was a hit.”

You smiled. “My manager said that tonight’s show was the best show of the tour. Hometown heroes and all that.”

Dick pressed a kiss to your forehead. “That’s my girl.”

Your lips cut into the biggest smile. “How’s your family doing? I thought I saw Jason in Metropolis for some reason but forgot to text you about it.”

Something passed in his eyes before another smile came upon his lips. “Really? I’ll have to text him later. He’s been avoiding me the past few weeks.”

You frowned. “We were texting last night and he didn’t say anything.”

“Since when do you and Jason text?” 

A small part of your brain thought that his words sounded sharper than norma but you shook it off, lifting your shoulder as best you could. “He was in Metropolis a few months ago during one of my press tours, we got to talking, and exchanged numbers. We have a streak going on TikTok at the moment.”

Dick pouted. “You follow each other on TikTok? You don’t follow me on TikTok!”

“Do you want me to follow you on TikTok, Ricky?” you teased, chuckling. 

He cleared his throat, hugging you closer. “‘M just saying that it’s odd that you’re closer to my brother when I’m your best friend.”

Your smile fell some. “Why can’t I be both?”

“No offense, babe, but I’ve had to share most of my life with my siblings. I want to keep you to myself as long as I can.”

For a moment, you could pretend that the words were a heavy as you wanted them to be. That this would be the catalyst to one of the greatest love story ever to be told. But you knew better.

“So…we’ve been standing here for, like, ten minutes and I’m starving.” 

You playfully rolled your eyes. “You’re as bad as Jay is, Jesus.” He pinched your side and you swatted at him. “I’m just saying what Alfred is too polite to say! Don’t pinch me!”

His laugh rumbled through you as he led you back to the bedroom. 

“The Gotham City Opera House was one of my favorites to perform at.”

Dick was sat on the hotel floor, four pizza boxes beside him as he looked up at you on the bed. It reminded you of the first few months of meeting each other; staying up late to answer FaceTimes, talking on the phone for hours. You used to be damn near glued to your phone awaiting texts from him. 

It was insultingly easy to fall in love with Dick Grayson. 

“Did you go full orchestra like you wanted?”

Your eyes widened. “You remember that?”

He snorted. “Of course I do! You’ve been practically dreaming about singing with an orchestra ever since you told me about that concert you saw in Rome.” He smiled warmly. “You wouldn’t shut up about it for months. Alfred got you that vinyl recording of Carmen, remember?”

You nodded. “I still listen to it every once in a while. I have to remember to thank him again.”

“Speaking of music,” he leaned up against the edge of the bed, his forearm against your bare knees,”you should make me a playlist.” The last time you made me one was, what, eight months ago?”

“Something like that,” you offered. “What’s your vibe these days? More Tamaranian folk songs? Ooh! Maybe shoe-gaze since you live in Bludhaven now and want to get grungy?”

Dick wrinkled his nose. “Since when did you start listening to shoegaze?”

You lifted a shoulder. “Jay’s been getting me into Cocteau Twins and Pale Saints lately.”

“First TikTok streaks, now you guys are sharing playlists?”

Your brows pulled down at his tone. “Why are you being so weird about me and Jason hanging out right now?”

“You’ve been talking about him all night! If you wanted Jason so bad, why didn’t you text him?” You sucked in a sharp breath. “Shit. Sweetness, I’m —”

“I’m allowed other friends, Dick. I’m sorry that it’s your brother but you don’t get to judge me for that. We like the same music and movies and we just clicked.” You sat up on your legs, your brown eyes hard. “I don’t get upset when you talk about Barbara and I didn’t get upset when you were dating Kory and constantly telling me how beautiful and smart and kind and amazing she was. So why do you get to shame me for sharing some things about Jason?”

“I’m not shaming you,” he argued. “I just — you’re not attracted to him, are you?”

An exhale, or maybe it was a scoff, left your mouth. “You’re not serious.”

He moved to his feet, suddenly reminding you just how big Richard Grayson was; big, broad shoulders, large  hands moving to rest beside both of your thighs., effectively caging you in agains his strong, broad chest. His blue eyes that normally regarded you with warm were now leveling you with a gaze alien to his features.

Desperation. 

“Tell me.”

Your heart was pounding, blood rushing in your ears. Your face was burning hot. He was so close, his pants of breath fanning against your face. 

“Please, sweetness,” he rasped, “I need you to tell me that you have feelings for my brother. Because if you don’t, I’m going to kiss you and I can’t come back from that. Not with you.”

Dreaming. You had to be dreaming. 

“I don’t have feelings for your brother.” You let out a surprised squeal as your back hit the mattress, Dick’s lips against yours. He kissed you hard and slow, as if he were committing the taste of you to memory. He moved a thigh between your leg and you sucked in a breath. One of his large hands moved to cup your breast. 

“Dick, hold on.” You gripped his wrist, your chest rising and falling in heavy pants. “Just… give me a second.”

He helped sit you up, his hands hovering instead of touching you. “I’m sorry.”

“I just want to be clear that this,” you motioned between the two of you, “isn’t just some flash in the pan and you didn’t just kiss me out of some weird territorial shit with your brother.”

“I can assure you that I didn’t kiss you out of spite to Jason,” he said, a half smile on his lips. 

“So you like me. Romantically.”

“I do.”

Your face warmed. “Good. Because I like you, too.”

Dick gave you a brilliant smile. “Good.”

𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 — like, yeah, jason todd is my bestest boy but dick and i are ✨synonyms✨ you know?

[kennys-shinyforehead]

hiyaa I was wondering if you could right smthing where yn/ and sharky are filming wit the boys and they flirt a lil and the boys keep like shipping them

Love and guidance xoxo

Pizza or romance? - Sharky 💚

————————————————————————

Summary: You and Sharky have been dating for a couple weeks now but still haven’t told anyone. During filming with beta squad you both decide to flirt a little bit to see how the others would react.

Thank you so much for this request!! I ended up changing the idea slightly and putting my own little spin on it so I hope that was ok to do! Please enjoy x

————————————————————————

“Ok! Is everyone ready to start filming?!”

You hear Chunkz yell from across the room, everyone yells some form of yes and you all get ready to start.

Today, you were filming with the Beta Squad again, something you often did for their YouTube channel. However, this time the dynamic was different. Since the last video, you and Sharky had started dating, but hadn't told anyone yet, unsure of their reactions. So, you both decide it would be a good idea to flirt during filming to see if the others would notice as well as how’d they react.

This video was a simple one, make a pizza without a recipe. This was a video the Beta Squad had done before with various different dishes. The teams ended up being Niko and Kenny, Chunkz and AJ and then you and Sharky. This arrangement was absolutely perfect for your’s and Sharky’s plan so it was safe to say, you were both pretty pleased with the teams.

The camera was now rolling, the boys were scrambling to make their pizzas and you and Sharky were flirting till both your heart’s content.

“Nice moves you got there.”

You tease as you watch Sharky try and then subsequently fail to spin your team’s pizza dough in the air.

Sharky is quick to respond with an enticing remark,

“Well I am great with my hands, you know.”

“Oh really?”

You question with a slight smirk.

You both look around the room to see if the this comment gained any reaction from anyone but the rest of the Beta Squad was too busy with their own pizzas to notice the subtle exchange at first.

Niko was too focused on putting a shit ton of chilli powder into the pizza sauce, Kenny was preoccupied rolling out the dough and AJ and Chunkz were arguing over how to grate cheese.

You and Sharky just take this as an invitation to flirt even more than originally planned.

“Sharky, what toppings do you think we should add?”

You say, turning to face the array of toppings on the counter top in front of you.

You feel Sharky’s body come up behind you, peering over to take a look at the toppings.

“Hmm, maybe we do a margarita?”

He says as reaches out to grab the cheese, brushing his hand against yours for just a moment longer than needed, turning something that could be accidental into a purposeful action.

“You’re awfully close there. Afraid I’ll pick the wrong topping?”

You ask, looking up at him with a grin.

Sharky leans down just slightly, his breath warm against your ear,

“Nah, just can’t seem to keep my hands to myself when i’m around you.”

“You really love talking about your hands huh?”

You remark, before taking Sharky’s hand and intertwining it with yours, not even trying to be subtle anymore.

Suddenly you hear a loud snort from across the room. It’s Niko, who is clearly catching onto what’s happening, the plan was working.

“Oi, hold up”,

he says, eyes narrowing in suspicion,

“You two are being way too cozy over there.”

You and Sharky exchange a quick, knowing glance, and you can’t help but giggle. “What are you talking about?”

You ask innocently, pretending to focus on your pizza. Sharky is quick to back you up,

“We’re just working as a team, can’t you see?”

“Yeah, a very close team.”

Niko says, raising an eyebrow,

“Is there something you’re not telling us?”

He asks with a smirk on his face.

Sharky shrugs, a mischievous grin appearing on his lips as he speaks,

“Nothing at all. Just enjoying the pizza-making process.”

Chunkz suddenly chimes in from the other side of the kitchen, overhearing the exchange,

“Bro, I’ve been watching you two for the last 10 minutes, the way you’re both acting is definitely suspicious. There’s definitely something going on.”

You both freeze for a second, exchanging glances again, but neither of you can hold it in. You burst out laughing, unable to keep the act going any longer. Sharky joins in, also laughing uncontrollably.

“Alright, alright, you got us.”

You say in between fits of laughter.

Niko raises his eyebrows in surprise, you can tell by his face that he doesn’t know whether to believe you both or not.

“Wait, seriously? You two are—?”

Sharky, still grinning, wraps his arm around your waist, pulling you close as he says, “Yeah, we’re together. Been a thing for a little while now, just didn’t think it was the right time to tell you lot.”

The rest of the squad stands there for a moment, processing the news, but then AJ who has just put two and two together speaks up,

“Oh! That’s why you’ve been acting all…”

He pauses, looking for the right word. “Flirty!”

“Flirty?” Chunkz repeats, now thoroughly amused.

“Bro, you two weren’t just flirty, you were full on acting like a couple. I knew something was up. I just thought you were keeping it a secret for a prank or something.”

Kenny, who had been too focused on his own pizza creation to notice anything before, finally looks over, eyes widening in realization. “Wait, so all that touching and laughing wasn’t just for the camera?”

You grin, nodding.

“Nope. Maybe it was a little over exaggerated but for the most part completely real.”

“It all makes so much sense now. You two are way too cozy to be just friends.”

Niko says with a smug smile, finally accepting this news as the truth.

“Alright, alright, so now that you guys know, let’s get back to the pizza making, yeah?”

Sharky says raising his hands slightly in mock surrender.

“Ok fine, but next time, no keeping secrets you guys.”

Niko says smiling, clearly happy for you both. You nod, playfully rolling your eyes. “We’ll be sure to announce it next time, yeah?”

“Good.”

Kenny says with a grin. “Now, back to the pizza, me and Niko have got a challenge to win.”

“Yeah good luck with that.”

AJ says laughing.

The filming continues and to both you and Sharky’s surprise, nothing had really changed, well apart from a few playful teasing remarks from the other members, all in good spirit of course. The prank had worked for the most part, but now, with the secret out, it feels as though a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. You glance over at Sharky, who catches your eye and winks,

“Guess we’re not just making pizza anymore, huh?”

He says softly, his grin never fading.

You smile, leaning in slightly.

“Guess not.”

———————————————————————

OMG THIS FANFIC TOOK ME SO LONG 😭😭 tbh i really struggled with this one but I hope you all enjoy xx

I promise i’ll get back to posting more regularly starting now!

As always, requests are open 💚

[2d-beefcakes-my-beloveds]

OC Marina Grayson

As a young man, Orm fell in love with a marine researcher. When she didn't return the next year with the pod of dolphins she was studying, he assumed she had been killed over their relationship bc it's something his father would've done. When he finds out it's actually bc he's a father and small children aren't allowed on research vessels, he peacefully abdicates the throne to his brother so he can marry the love of his life and raise his daughter in Gotham. Since he has the wealth of the ocean at his disposal, he purchases the local aquarium so they can still do marine research and start sharing some Atlantean knowledge with the surface world in order to help environmental awareness.

(HC for all Atlanteans) Atlanteans have scales they can display at will, and coloring is indicative of familial line. They also have facial markings when underwater and generally the bolder the better; more fierce and therefore beautiful. Orm inherited a Siren's Voice from his mother, and Marina was able to prove her ancestry with her Royal Gold scales and the incredibly rare Siren's Voice. Her facial markings look similar to a goth egirl, and are considered the height of Atlantean beauty. When she does her makeup on land she mostly just adds back her natural features, though the specific colors and shaping might vary a little. Dick is considered kinda ugly in Atlantis without the domino mask.

Because of her vocal ability, she had to visit Atlantis fairly often for training in control and as a backup heir to the throne. She was trained in traditional combat using a trident, but she's never felt right with the thought of ever needing to use it to take a life. The Atlantean public loves their kind and gentle surface princess, but the other court families think she's too free spirited and want to push their sons on her to keep the Voice within Atlantis.

She was Dick's classmate and acquaintances at the very least until she saved him from drowning in Gotham Harbor when they were 11. She dived in to rescue Robin, and was shocked to hear her classmate's voice thanking her. She paired up with Dick on their next school project so she could have an excuse to visit the Manor. She then confesses to Dick, Bruce, and Alfred to having figured out their secret, and tells them about her being Atlantean to show she's not intentionally a threat.

She and Dick become good friends after this since they can talk about their secret lives, and she joins the original Teen Titans when they form. She wrote the choreography for the team's lip-sync and dance videos for their official YouTube channel since, as younger millennials, they were some of the first heroes to publicly goof off on the internet in costume.

At one point during a school dance, she slapped her own date for calling her best friend a "dirty gypsy." There was a month or so when they were 15 where Dick did date Starfire, but there's no hard feelings or jealousy from it.

In high school, she was a competitive diver and worked at the aquarium as a mermaid in the shark exhibit in her spare time. She picked up air ribbon acrobatics as well because it's the closest thing she can do on land that feels like being underwater.

I'm undecided as of yet how they started dating, but Dick proposed with his mother's necklace. Some Romani vistas (I've heard) use coin necklaces, so I think he'd use his mom's the same way ppl use heirloom rings. It amuses Wally to no end that Circus Boy has a royal title and his favorite teasing nickname is "Your Highness."

Marina quit being a vigilante as they got older because it was getting harder to pull her punches as she got stronger. She recognized that it would be devastating for Surface-Atlantean relations if either the Princess or a representative hero killed someone even on accident, so stepped back to be a more supportive role as Surface Ambassador and post patrol medical assistance. Most of her work as Surface Ambassador involves negotiating ocean cleanup and environmental improvements on a governmental level with the various world powers.

She absolutely does not want to inherit the Atlantean throne. She despised her tenure as Regent while Arthur was dead before he was brought back to life in Darkest Night, and gave the throne back the very next day so she could go home.

While Bruce was stuck in the time stream, she was fully on board with Dick over legally adopting Damian. Sometimes he'll actually call her Ummi since she's more affectionate than Talia, especially when he's overtired. She does eventually adopt him under Atlantean law by challenging Talia for Mother's Rights. Since their fight was underwater due to Atlantean rules and Talia wanting whatever's best for her son, Marina wins and Damian is technically royalty as well now too. She's not even mad that Talia let her win, and gains a new respect for her as a mother who's willing to let her child go for a healthier upbringing than she could give.

When at home or for some semblance of privacy in public, Dick and Marina speak a blend of English and as much Romani as Dick can remember. Sometimes they'll include some Atlantean for extra security in public, but as English is Marina's first language they don't usually bother.

In the public eye on the surface, Dick is considered the trophy husband with a day job as a detective. He kinda loves their visits to Atlantis bc he's actually taken seriously as Dick Grayson without his pretty privilege. He can actually be his fully intelligent self there without the Atlantean public being shocked that he has more than a single brain cell.

Marina fully encourages sibling shenanigans amount the younger Batfam. She and Dick used to prank Bruce after all, and it's good and healthy bonding for them.

Jason is the adorable little brother who was taken too soon and came back angry yet still just as loved. She's kinda neutral about Tim but fully supports his tinkering and pranking shenanigans, and he likes her coffee more than Alfred's. Unfortunately I haven't known about most of the rest of the younger members long enough to have any relationship specifics in mind, but she's kinda like the cool auntie to all of them who will absolutely provide mischief supplies and assistance. No questions asked, just immediate "here you go I didn't see or hear anything."

[acaplaya-musings]

VoicePlay 2024 Recap

It's time for a recap of everything that VoicePlay has been up to over this year!

If you somehow missed my recap post for Geoff's channel, you can find it HERE. This post will overall have the same format/structure, but of course I have more videos to talk about, so I'll try not to talk too much. I'll link relevant posts of mine just like in my Geoff recap, but I won't link any of the VoicePlay Visuals - just go to my masterpost here!

Okay, first let's give some love to the Minis! VP released 21 Minis to YouTube and other social media platforms this year, (though by the time the year is fully done, it may be 22 or 23, shhh), so I'm not gonna list them all, but some of my favourites were The Last Shanty (absolute earworm!), Pure Imagination (on my sleep playlist), Baby On Board (very cute and also catchy!), and Jump In The Line/Shake Senora (a bop, a banger, and super fun!). And we got cooking challenges too! (And you didn't hear this from me, but you might be getting a new one sooner or later - early January at latest).

Now time for video summaries! (Or my attempt at "summaries" at least, lol)

.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight - released January 19th

So when the video premiere schedule thing for this dropped on YouTube, I gotta say that I honestly wasn't sure what to expect! I guess you could say that I was still "settling into the Rabbit Hole", still working my way down, and so I was almost maybe a little uncertain about this song? Like I knew it wouldn't be bad, but I was like "eh well the original is fairly simple in composition and I don't really know what VoicePlay are gonna do with it", but anyway, Never Doubt VoicePlay Ever, because I really really enjoyed this! It's a warm hug in musical form, while also being a really fun/silly video, and it's the first of VP's 2024 stuff to hit a million views!

Favourite music moment: Getting to hear Layne on lead vocals, followed by a little bit of Geoff on lead, followed by that cool backing vocals "stack" of "tonight- tonight- tonight!" MAN it's so good!

Favourite visual moment: The appearance of Violayne! Totally took me by surprise the first time but it was totally delightful, and Layne looked so happy and pleased when playing his violin! <3

Sleeping In The Cold Below - released February 16th

Just like with Geoff's channel, I was keeping mental notes over this year about what VoicePlay release was my favourite of 2024, and just like with Geoff's solo stuff, it was VP's second release this year that easily jumped to First Place in my mind and stayed there for a good while!

Seriously I was not prepared for how freaking incredible this music video is! Every part of it! I've never heard the original song before, but I absolutely adore this cover (and so did the Warframe devs/creators themselves, apparently, but more on that further down). Also I ended up doing fanart of Geoff from this video (he looked hella good in this video let's be real), which you can find HERE!

Favourite music moment: That ending!!! The way Geoff descends on his "we're all bound down to the deep and we'll all be sleeping in the cold below" line while Eli, Omar, and Cesar take off into the rafters??? (Contrary motion is the proper technical term, apparently). Utter perfection! A shot of adrenaline right to the veins!

Favourite visual moment: The ending shot of them all back in the mask things and motionless is of course quite cool, but I also love the opening shots of each of them removing the face mask armour(?) things one-by-one (like the shot of Layne removing his as he stares right down the camera with those violet contacts while beatboxing? Dang!)

Black Hole Sun - released April 19th

From one kinda futuristic cyberpunk video to another!

I don't really have a ton to say about the video, but that's fine, this is gonna be a long post anyway - might as well embrace any chance to make it a little shorter!

Favourite music moment: Geoff casually dropping in a C#1 subharmonic like it's nothing on "wash away the R A I N N N N N" (also Layne doing snake sounds after the line "sometimes far too long for snakes")

Favourite visual moment: Not really a "moment", but respect to the set design! It's pretty cool how the set looks like they're singing on top of like an apartment building or something! (That short 'brick' wall (not real bricks) behind them was actually made by Eli, with the help of his wife and some other person whose name I don't recognize in the description)

Classical Chaos - released June 28th

This was the first video I got early access to after joining VoicePlay's Patreon! It had released there just a couple or so days before I joined, but for whatever reason it would be more or less a whole four weeks before this video hit YouTube!

Not only did this video make me go and finally watch VoicePlay's "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" video, but then this ended up being unexpectedly amazing? Like my brain was able to look past the initial "weirdness" of the costumes and really enjoy it! And in fact for this video I did a "running commentary" on my first watch, where I paused to type up thoughts as I went, and you can find the post for it HERE! Additionally, I ended up making a comparison post between the "Grundel" characters in Mountain King vs how they appear in Classical Chaos, which you can look at HERE.

Favourite music moment: The return of "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" but with that random syllabic chanting behind it, was honestly pretty epic. Also that kinda "EDM/club remix" of Fur Elise was fire ngl.

Favourite visual moment: All of it? The can-can bit, Geoff's eyeroll during the romance bit, the cool fire effects, that skull thing? Yeah there's a reason why I needed to split my VoicePlay Visuals into 2 posts for this!

The Way You Make Me Feel - released July 19th

To make up for the super long wait for Classical Chaos, this video released only three weeks later, instead of the average four!

Not a lot to say on this one - I feel like I don't know enough music theory to give it the full appreciation it deserves, but I know a lot of more music-knowledgeable people really loved it, and in fact it's become VoicePlay's second video of 2024 to hit a million views!

Favourite music moment: When the song is slowly building and then we get the vocal percussion and the song really kicks into gear for the final section. Love it!

Favourite visual moment: Layne and Cesar looking over at each other during their two-part harmony bit. It's cute!

Total Eclipse Of The Heart - released August 16th

Honestly this is an underrated VoicePlay song imo - released four months ago and hasn't even quite reached 200k views as I'm typing this? (EDIT: it is at 200k now as of the 19th, finally!) Bruh it's a well-known song! Was the algorithm just not on their side for this one?

I think I've gotten a little more "confident" with doing music thoughts/commentary posts, because had this released more recently, or last month or whatever, I probably would have made a post with at least a few notes on cool stuff I liked in the arrangement! And I'm kinda sad that I didn't do it for this one!

Favourite music moment: Does the entire Spanish section count? It's either that or the chorus right afterwards where the vocal percussion kicks in (like in TWYMMF kinda) and when Ashley starts going off with the vocals!

Favourite visual moment: The whole "B-roll footage" part of the video with Cesar and Ashley portraying a couple (each having memory flashbacks?) was a cool addition! Something a little bit novel that definitely worked! (Also I really do love the styling/'costuming' in this one)

Be Prepared - released September 27th

This dropped to Patreon at roughly 11:45PM for me on a Saturday night. I was actually in the middle of watching some YouTube video, and I just happened to check Discord (ADHD be like-), and saw someone had just posted about the Patreon notification and I was like hang on WHAT?

Honestly it took me a red hot minute to force myself to make it past even the first ten seconds of this video, like ohhhh my god. VoicePlay doing "Be Prepared", one of the best Disney Villain songs ever, with Geoff as Scar, having most of the vocals, with hair on point, that awesome jacket, and eyeliner?!!?!! I literally cannot be normal about this video (and yeah Sleeping In The Cold Below was my favourite of 2024, until this came along and overtook it without a second glance).

You can find my thoughts on the song/arrangement HERE, a visual comparison between this video and VP's Oogie Boogie's Song HERE, and a fanart I did of Geoff from this video HERE!

Favourite music moment: The mid-song dialogue part that got turned into a kind of rhythmic "rap" thing was utterly brilliant! Also every single thing that Geoff does in this video, obviously. <3

Favourite visual moment: Don't! Make! Me! Choose! I'm just gonna say I love all the stuff that got replicated from the original scene - the replication of "the lights are not all on upstairs", the thumb/digit across the neck for "take Certain Duties on board", the lighting changing at the same moments as in the original scene and being the same colours as well, it's all perfect!

Thriller - released October 11th

In terms of classic/iconic Halloween songs, VoicePlay have more or less done them all, and so of course they had to get around to doing this song sooner or later! In fact I had the idea myself earlier in the year (like May or June even?), and so did a lot of the other Patrons, as it turned out.

This is only sitting on 370K views as I type this (it deserves way more!) but this was a HIT with reactors! The VP Patreon Discord server has a thread for sharing reaction video links and I swear this video got so many people doing reactions for it! I won't say too much about my own thoughts, because you can read my thoughts/commentary on the song cover itself HERE, and you can go find my 2-part Voiceplay Visuals (again!) for this video via my Masterpost link at the top of this post! Oh and also I shared this picture of Geoff in the video as its own post and people really seemed to like it, so I might as well put that link here as well.

Favourite music moment: I mean like the arrangement is freaking amazing and everyone brought their A-game with the vocals, but like c'mon, I had one main hope for this cover, and they delivered! Geoff doing Vincent Price's spooky monologue is everything I wished for and more, and I love it.

Favourite visual moment: Again, this is a case where it's really hard to choose, but I think I'm just gonna have to hand the whole dang award to Geoff. The shot of him rising up (almost vampire-like) after the first transformation part, the shoulder movements during the monologue, the way he never blinks once after getting zombified, like he absolutely crushed it! Came, ate, left no crumbs!

Stand By Me - released November 15th

This one was filmed around the same time as Be Prepared was (like I think the following day or the day after that?), and honestly given the two super amazing full-production music videos we got for the previous two months, VoicePlay more than deserved to have their next video be a bit more "simple" and relaxed! Plus it's a gorgeous arrangement, with gorgeous vocals, and it deserves more views! (Seriously the portrait video format didn't seem to affect The Lion Sleeps Tonight in terms of getting noticed!) You can find my thoughts/commentary post about it HERE!

Favourite music moment: I mean Layne's lead vocal line was of course absolutely lovely (and followed by Geoff getting lead vocals no less!) but I did also enjoy Mykal's 'ad-libs' of "you don't have to do it alone, you don't have to stand up on your own!"

Favourite visual moment: Cesar smiling down at Mykal and Eli and then smiling up at Geoff and Layne during his main lead part early in the song <3

Zat You Santa Claus? - released December 6th

This is a song that I would've been totally unfamiliar with had I not gone and listened to all of VoicePlay's 2012 Peppermint Winter album like a week or two before this dropped to Patreon! And even then I wasn't really sure what to expect from this, because obviously the lineup is a little different here to what it was 12 years ago, and the arrangement of this is different to the album version as well! But I really loved this, it's so jazzy, and in case you missed my thoughts/commentary post about it, then you can find it HERE.

I also ended up making a post comparing the lyrics of VoicePlay's version to the lyrics of the original, which you can find HERE, and although I didn't make a proper Voiceplay Visuals for this one, I still ended up doing a mini "screenshot compilation", which you can find HERE.

Favourite music moment: Layne's lead vocal part was obviously very cool, but so was J's scatting, and the harmonies were great - it's just a fun awesome arrangement!

Favourite visual moment: The build-up on "he's coming to get yaaa...." with the quick switches of everyone leaning in "spookily" towards whoever was sitting in the middle was great, as well as J handing off the gift to Cesar (who accepted it delightedly and then used it like a shaker instrument), while Geoff and Eli were definitely looking uncertain/sus about it.

Party Of Your Lifetime - released December 13th

Man I did not see this one coming, but I certainly ain't complaining about it!

Yeah so the Warframe creators liked VoicePlay's cover of Sleeping In The Cold Below so much that they asked to do an official collaboration thing with the group, and the result is this freaking awesome video and freaking awesome song cover! Seriously between the makeup and costuming, and the dancing, and the whole 90s boy band energy (but with a sci fi twist!) it's honestly just a great time, as I knew it would be! (And if you haven't seen my thoughts on the vocals/music/song arrangement, go HERE!)

Favourite music moment: I mean imo it has to be the "join us embrace us, don't ever erase us" breakdown section, like the way it slowly builds, just starting with Geoff and then having Cesar come in, and then Eli and Layne and stuff, like it's just very cool (but I also enjoy the key change for the final chorus!)

Favourite visual moment: The whole video is great, and the dancing and jumping around looked very fun, but honestly I think I'm gonna have to also hand this one to the "join us embrace us..." section. Like maybe I'm suffering from a bit of recency bias and I might have a different answer if you were to ask me in like a month, but everything about that part was just *chefs kiss*

.

So yeah, there's my VoicePlay recap for 2024!

I know this post is already quite long, but if you'll just allow me to talk a little more, I just want to say thank you. When I started this blog in late January, I wasn't sure if there were any VoicePlay fans much active on Tumblr at all (or at least anymore). I got used to it - this blog was made for my own entertainment, not for trying to become popular or anything - but y'all came, and y'all found me! (Or maybe I found you!)

I was looking at one of my older mini comparison posts I did, between High And Dry and Wicked Game, and it currently has zero notes on it (as of me typing this). But if I were to post it now? I know it'd at least get a few likes, and maybe even a comment, and/or a reblog or two! Heck, I can post a 'random' picture of Geoff now and have it get 18 likes! And I take not a single one for granted!

I remember and recognize many of your usernames, and even if I have never talked to you or interacted with you or followed you, I still see you! If you have ever liked or reblogged or commented on any of my posts, I appreciate you so much! (But also to my beloved mutuals: I love you a whole lot, you know who you are <3). Thank you for making my fan creator experience extra fun and enjoyable, and see you all in 2025!

(But also see some of you tomorrow for more fic posting!)

[ghostiiess]

[NSB HEADCANONS] - when they do a prank on youtube and call you clingy and actually hurt you

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pov: (this headcanon is long!!) filming a youtube prank for their channel and calling you clingy, the boys didnt know you were going to be angry and upset after these words. the truth is, you had a rough day and all you wanted to do is spend time with them..

warnings: keeping emotions, a bit of angst at the beginning, being called clingy/needy, being laughed at, being tired from school, i think that's all? let me know if there's more!

type: a bit angsty at the beginning when the guy say you're being clingy/needy and all, but otherwise it's pretty much comfort with an happy ending at the end!!

member: all of them!

!! note: i don't think the boys would ever do this, they're all really sweet and caring. so please, do not take this too seriously! :) !!

this one was requested! thank you!! i'm so sorry it took so long!! i've been super busy with my finals exams and i was super stressed- also, i changed social media / situation for each members (some do not have social media's prompt) depending the one they were using the most/ fitted them the most!

likes and reblogs are greatly appreciated :)

oliver:

he woud be gaming with the boys

probably playing smash or something like that

and you just finished a bunch of rough days :/ you were super busy with college stuff and all the studies you had

and of course, you didn't want to tell oli

he was already a bit stressed and working super hard over his music and the videos for the nsb channel

you didn't want to make him more tired and stressed then he already was :(

(the rest of oli's hc and the members' under the cut!!)

to say the truth, all you wanted to do was hearing your boyfriend's voice

so you called him in hope to hear his soft voice

when he heard your call, he sighed

he continued playing like he didn't hear the ringtone.. to which the members were pretty surprised about it..

usually, he's picking up the phone super quick when it comes to you..

so why wasn't he taking his phone?

"your girl is calling you, bro" ryan said while continuing to play

"i know" oliver replied while gaming with his best friends

"did you guys had a fight or smth?" sebastian asked while looking at him "usually, you pick up your phone super quick when it comes to her.."

the oldest moy brother in the group sighed

"yeah, but.. i want to finish beating up regie! i'm this close to have this win!"

a new ringtone could be hear in the room

oliver moy sighed again and gave his joypad to one of the members

he quickly walked of the room while taking his phone

"i'll be right back"

oli walked out of the room and sighed while accepting the call

"hey y/n" oliver said

"hey oli! how are you?" you said

"i'm good, how are you my love?" he said smiling, happy to hear your voice

"i'm tired" you said while sighting

oliver laughed "but you don't seem to be tired of me, huh?"

you laughed a little bit

"what do you mean by that?"

oliver played with his hair anxiously

"i mean.. you always call me and text me.."

you sighed enough for him to hear it

"oh yeah..?"

"yeah"

you sighed again

"y/n, baby, i love you, but please don't say you didn't notice the numbers of call and texts you gave me for the last past weeks.."

"i mean.. can't i call you and texts you?" you asked while yawning from your exhausting day

he sighed

"yes.. i'm not saying you can't, it's just.. you're being clingy a bit.. you're not usually like that.. that's all"

you sighed and felt a pain in your throat

"what do you mean i'm clingy? i'm just asking if we can see each other soon. i just miss you, that's all.."

oliver moy sighed

"you're always asking that, y/n! it's just.. i love you, i really do love you, but.. no need to call me everyday or texts me if i'm being okay and if we can hang out.."

you started to feel tears in your eyes

"fine, i'm sorry then" you said with your voice breaking, making oliver understand he hurt you

"baby, wait, i didn't want to-"

and you hang up

you were just tired of always studying, revising, going to college and still not be able to relax at home. you had work to do nonstop and everytime you thought you were done, your teachers gave you more and more homeworks and studies to do

you just wanted to hang out with your boyfriend to feel more relax, pass time with him and receive his hugs that always made you feel better

and still, you couldn't even have that

you started tearing up until you heard a knock on your door

you knew it was him.

you texted oliver and sighed

"what do you want?"

"i just want to talk, okay? please, i hate when i see or hear you crying. as soon as we're done talking, i'll leave you alone if you wan to, i promise. i just want to talk. i'm really sorry, y/n."

"fine"

you opened the door and immediatly felt two pairs or arms around you and his head on yours

"i'm really sorry, y/n. i really am. i didn't know it was going to make you cry. if i would have known, i wouldn't have do this. i hate seeing you sad, even more when i'm the cause of your tear on your face.."

he hugged you tighter, your arms were wrapped around him

"i'm sorry if i was obsessive with the numbers of calls and texts. i just had a rough week, but today was the worst. i have a ton of exams and studies to do and it seems like it never ends. i should have just tell you how i felt. i just didn't want to make you worry since you already have a lot of stress and things to work out right now.." you said

without moving, oliver said softly:

"no, don't apologize. it's not your fault. it's mine. i shouldn't have called you like that, i'm sorry. i should have accepted your love and appreciation. i don't care if you call me. i love you and if you want to call me, then do it."

he kissed the top of your head and looked at you with teary eyes

"i hate seeing you like this, y/n. i know college isn't easy and i should have known that you were tired too. you're working so hard, my angel. i'm sorry, y/n."

you hugged him and sighed

"if you want to call me, do it. you don't need a reason to call me. i love you and as a boyfriend, i should be here with you. next time, please tell me how you feel, okay?" he wipe your tear of your face and smiled a little bit

"i want to take care of you, y/n.."

seb:

he was in his parents' kitchen, facetiming you and making his breakfast

he was pretty happy to finally be able to talk to you

he was smiling so hard

"did you eat your breakfast today, baby?" he asked you while looking at the screen

you smiled

"i did."

he smiled even more

"glad to hear that."

he smiled and cracked an egg in the stove

"do you want to crash at my place, tonight?" you asked seb

seb smiled and looked at you in the screen while laughing

"why? we saw each other yesterday.. are you that obsess with me?"

he wanted to tease you

you laughed and rolled your eyes

"you wish"

he laughed and continued to cook his breakfast

"so.. can you? i miss you and i would love to have some of your hugs tonight!"

he smiled

"what's up with the cuddly thing? are you missing me that much so we have to see each other everyday?"

you frowned, losing your smile

"what do you mean?"

"i mean, we facetime pretty much everyday and.. i think that's enough? we don't need to see each other every night, do we?"

"i've just missed you that's all.. i've been pretty stressed for the latest days"

he laughed

"you are so clingy i swear to god... but okay! I'll come to 6, is that okay?"

you quickly hang up

you didn't know why you were that affected by that

it was only the word "clingy"

but still..

you missed his hugs and his presence, his spicy cologne he was wearing only for you, his sweet and warm kisses he was giving you..

when seb noticed the call was done, he didn't though much about it

but when he tried to text you and saw that you were lefting him on read, he started to understand a little bit

maybe he did hurt you with his word..

"seb, guess what y/n did?!" matteo said while smiling and showing him a picture of your recent work that you spent at least 30 hours on it for the latest weeks and months

"what's that?" seb asked smiling

"y/n's project! she texted me yesterday that she finally was done with it.. it must have been stressful for her.. look at all the details!! soooo cool!"

then it hit seb

you were stressed

and anxious

all you wanted his hugs and his kisses after working for so long

and still

you couldn't.

he felt so bad 😭

so he immediatly tried to call you and text you like "i'm so sorry, i didn't know, i'm so stupid"

since you were going to college today, he couldn't just go there like that

so he bought you your favorite candy, your favorite snacks and drinks

and since he knew when you finished school or when you had breaks, he was trying to text you once in a while, hoping you'll answer

"i'm so sorry, y/n. i should have know. i'm really sorry to have calling you like that when all you wanted to do was relaxing and passing times with me"

he would greet you with hugs and promise himself to never make the same mistake again

he hate seeing you sad and if he can avoid it, he'll 100% do it

ryan:

damn

that boy

he was playing videogames and was playing with the boys online

when he saw you entering his bedroom, he quickly smiled

"hey babe." he softly said

"hey" you said while (trying) giving him a side hug

"someone's in the mood for hug, huh?" he laughed

"i love your hugs, what can i say?"

he kissed the top of your head and smiled

"alright shorty. imma continue to play, stay here if you want"

after like 30 minutes of playing, you gave him a kiss and played with his hair

"someone's touchy today... you're usually not like that.."

"boy, stop lying, i know you like my hugs"

he laughed

"hahaha you wish"

you looked at him, still kissing his head and admiring his beauty, while he was continuing to play with the boys

"you are so needy sometimes, y/n, it's funny"

you stopped kissing him and looked at him

"you think it's.. funny?" you asked in confusion

"i mean, yeah.. you're like super introverted and hate physical touch.. so it's kinda funny to see you like this"

you quickly walked away from him and sighed before going on his bed

"sorry, just tired"

he looked at you and laughed before talking into his mic

"guys, i think we found the missing piece!!! go, go, go!!"

you sighed again

"ryan, could we cuddle, please.."

he looked at you and frowned

"maybe later, baby? i'm playing a game, right now. but you can continue to hug me if you want to.. i won't just be able to hug you back"

you sighed

"please, ryan.. for like 10 minutes at least?"

he sighed

"babe, i promise i'll cuddle you right after the game. we have one left"

you frowned

"can't the guys do it without you or like something like that? i mean.. we're rarely had the time to see each other this week and i thought you would want to pass some quality time with me.. we're both pretty busy an it's rare to have both day off.."

he sighed, while smiling

"you're so clingy for me.."

he looked at you and saw the expression on your face and frowned

"you okay, hun..?"

"whatever, i'll go take my shower"

he knew something was wrong

he looked back at his computer's and saw the little calendar standing there, on his left, saying"Y/N'S FINALS!!!!" encercled in red ink

hahaha.

he understood really quick.

"fuck"

"humm guys, i need to go, i'll be right back maybe later. bye" he said not letting them reply

he quickly went to his bathroom and knocked on the door

"baby?"

ofc you didn't respond

you just wanted comfort.. and your boyfriend couldn't even give you that to you

"i'm so sorry. i forgot that your finals were today. how did it went?"

you sighed

"leave me alone, ryan. i want to take my shower. go back to your game"

he sighed and knocked back on the door

"please, y/n. i'll let you alone right after this, but we both know we need to have this lil' talk right now. i hate when we're mad at each other"

you opened the door and instantly received a hug

"i shouldn't have called you clingy. i'm really sorry, i didn't meant to hurt you."

you hugged him back and sighed

"i accept your sorry. i was just super stressed and tired and i'm sorry if i was sounding like i was depending on you or some stuff like that"

he frowned

"never. i should be the one saying that. i shouldn't have said that and.. even though i love gaming, i should have understood your feelings."

he kissed your forehead

"let's just forget this and cuddle, okay? we can talk about those finals if you want to."

you quickly nodded

"right after my shower."

jp:

i feel like it would be in texts

"i miss you :(" you texted

"hope ur taking care of u and not negligating ur health"

"bc u often do that lol"

"EAT"

"AND"

"DRINK WATER PLS THJANK YJOU"

"damn i can't write correctly"

"fuck english grammars, i rather fuck you instead ;)"

"how do i delete this message"

"wait i think i found it"

"idk if it will only be deleted for me orrrr"

"i did it, can you see the message?????"

"anyways"

"i saw a tiktok and it made me thought about you lol"

"anyways, today a random girl went to me"

"smh she just asked me for ur number -_-"

"i thought we were pretty evidate"

"like kissing and holding hands"

"sometimes making out.."

"I MEAN I HOPE PEOPLE DIDNT SEE US MAKING OUT BC OTHERWISE IT'LL BE WEIRD AF"

when justin saw his phone notifications, he didn't thought he'll have that many messages of you

you and him usually don't send a lot of message during the day

and when he saw the notifications, he quickly thought something was wrong

"is everything okay? and no i cannot see the message, what were u saying"

"NOTHING- and yeah i'm ok, y?"

"idk, you texted me like 20 times. that's like a lot"

"ah"

"i thought u were in danger"

"i am not, i just missing you"

"no shit you're missing me, did you see the numbers of messages you sent me 🤣"

"sorry i guess"

justin sighed

"im working on a song, i cannot talk rn, but what did you want to tell me?"

"nothing. like i said, i was just missing u"

justin sighed again

see, justin is like an independant guy

he wouldn't send too much messages at the same time just to say "hey i miss you"

he would rather send you messages like "hey cutie, i miss you"

or like "hey" "baby" "my loveee" "i miss you!! <33"

but nothing like you did

"i miss you too, but i have to work so i'll ttyl, ok my love?"

"r u mad or smth"

"ain't"

justin continued to work on his song with oli

his concentration stopped at the vibration of his phone in his pocket meaning he had received another message from you

"what do you want, y/n, i have to work, i cannot text you rn"

"sorry i was just sending you the tiktok"

"it's giving clingy vibes lmao"

"the tiktok?"

"no, you. it's giving clingy vibes when you spam me like this 🤐"

"is it a bad thing that ur gf want to text you"

"no but it's clingy"

"ah"

you didn't really know what to say

it was making you hurt a bit

"im sorry ig"

"clingy y/n 🙄 am i right? <3" he texted you while joking, thinking you'll get the joke and the sarcasm

in reality he didn't mind having spam of you

he thought you knew he was only kidding

so when you stopped texting him

and lefting him on read..!

he knew something was wrong :(

"baby, are u mad? 😟"

"i'm sorry i called you like that"

"i didn't mean it. i was only kidding, i didn't know why i said that and thought that it'll be funny."

"i'm sorry. pls resply to my texts. i hate when we fight"

you continued to left him on read

you didn't know why it was making you so mad

and so disapointed

you just wanted to text your bf and have quality time with him

you knew he was working but you loved texting him

"y/n, please"

"don't u have a song to work on???"

"i do, but i want us to talk. i wont b able to concentrate after that"

you sighed

"i'm sorry if i was sounding like a clingy person, i had a rough week and i only wanted to text you and to have some of ur attention. i know you're working and can't leave to see me, but i thought we'll be able to text for a bit today"

"i'm sorry, i should have told you i had a rough day, but i didn't think you would mind it or that we'll have a small fight about it"

justin sighed.

he felt so bad

"don't say sorry. i'm the idiot for calling you like that. i know it can hurt and i should have been more careful with my words. i'm sorry, so sorry and pls next time, let me know. again, im so sorry y/n"

"i'll stop working and go to ur dorm. i don't mind if i dont work on the song 4 now, ty won't fire me or smth, plus seb's not here either so.. we cannot even do videos or tiktoks to promote our songs"

"fine, but only if you bring ur hoodies and ur switch"

"4sure. as again im sorry and will think more before acting or speaking."

kane:

so it happenned in the anime store..

*sigh*

so you were choosing anime figurine and felt kane's hand on yours who were on the figurine

"nice figurine!"

"yeah, i think i'm going to buy it for my room!"

"you should! It'll look super great!" he said

you smiled and took his hand

"hey, check the shirts! we could match, what do you think?"

"yeah, maybe.. we could.."

he checked other figurine and smiled

"god this store is one of my favorite! check this figurine!! so amazing, isn't it?"

you smiled and kissed his cheek

"you're too cute when you're smiling and having fun. i love you"

he smiled

"thank you"

he continued shopping like nothing happened

"i love you, kane"

"me too babe-HEY IS THAT AN AOT HOODIE THAT I SEE?? OMG!!!!"

he walked away from you and your hand while you checked the clothes based on one of his fav anime

"i love you, pls say it back. for real this time."

"i love you? you happy?"

you sighed and played with his fingers while he looked at you

"god, you want attention this afternoon.." he said while laughing

"i thought it was going to be a fun afternoon with you.."

he frowned

"wdym? i'm with you! we're having fun, aren't we?"

he frowned

"everytime i'm want to hold your hand or something, you just do the opposite. is everything okay?"

he sighed while having a smile on his mouth

"baby, y/n, i'm fine, don't worry!"

after a few seconds, he finally said

"god, i didn't know that you, not holding my hand would make you clingy.."

at first, he didn't know how hurtful the word "clingy" was

it's only when you frowned and stopped talking when he knew something was up

"is everything okay? why are you mad?"

"i'm not mad."

"you are, i know you! what's up, y/n? did i say something bad?"

you looked at him in the eyes

"i just had a rough week of studying, i had my final this morning and all i wanted was being with you and you call me clingy..?"

it hit him

he felt so bad

like so bad :/

"y/n, i'm so sorry. i didn't know it would make you hurt. if i would have known, i would never have told you that. i'm sorry. i didn't think before speaking"

"i don't know why i thought it was going to be funny. i'm sorry. i really don't mind if you want to hold my hand or give me hugs or even kisses.. i don't mind at all. i like it. no.. I love it!"

"as again, i'm super sorry, y/n. Please, never feel like you're my second priority.. because you're actually my first."

dar':

no because this man give me cooking vibes???

like- omg

so i HAD to write one with like cooking and all

anyways-

i'm already losing tracks, let's gaur >v<

anyways, so like i was saying, i think darren's one would be about cooking!!

cooking together and all, something like that? i don't think it'll be on social media because i don't think darren would say it over the phone or smth like that

like he's more a direct person

so let's set the background :)

he was cooking rice and ramen

and the boys were next to him

and let's say, you had a rough week, a lot of exams and stress

you missed him

like a lot

not only because it's been like two, almost three, weeks you guys haven't see each other except on facetime and on call

but also because you were so stressed and you knew how comforting he was when you had days like these

his hugs and kisses always made you feel better when you had rough days

it's been a while since you guys had see each other so.. of course, he was happy to see you when you walked in the kitchen where the others boys were

"hey y/n!! baby! i missed you!" he said

you gently hugged him and felt his hand coming up and down your back

"someone wanted a hug, huh..." he said laughing

you rolled your eyes, ignoring what he had just said and waved your hand to the others members to say hi

"what're you cooking, dar?"

"rice with ramen"

"oooh" you said smiling "smell good!"

"yeah, i'm also making your favorite with some rice on the side. i thought it could be good. and i wanted to make you something nice"

you smiled while tooking his hand

"i missed youuu"

"i missed you too, y/n"

some minutes later, you hugged him and smiled even more

"ah it smells so good, you're a real chef!"

"thank you babyy"

darren isn't really a pda guy.. i mean he doesn't really mind, he's just a bit more comfortable and lovey dovey when he's alone with you

and just a reminder that you were in front of the others boys

they were trying their best to not make fun of darren and how he couldn't handle your love and all

they thought you both looked so good together

"i missed you" you said with your head on his back while back-hugging him

"i know, you said it earlier"

you smiled and started to kiss his neck (don't worry, it won't turn into a smut) and went to the sink to wash your hands

"can i help you?"

"nah, i'm good. just sit at the table and stay here, i'm almost done, anyways"

"c'mon, you forgot the main ingredient! let me help you with that, at least."

he sighed

"y/n, i'm okay, don't worry! i can handle it alone, trust me! just go sit somewhere and i'll bring you a plate of it, okay? i don't want you to do anything for the moment, just go relax, okay baby?"

"you didn't even started to cook the main ingredient. at least, let me help you with that so we can eat sooner"

he sighed again

you guys knows what's coming...

"why do you want to help me so bad?? i'm good, i told you!"

"aw jeez, i just wanted to help you, that's all. i just missed you, i'm sorry"

he sighed again for the 4758585 time already (yes he sigh a lot in this hc)

"why're you acting like that??"

"like what? i'm not doing anything!"

"no, you're all clingy and all needy!"

then it hits you

damn bro

you don't know what was the most painful: your irrevalant stress you had for like two weeks straights because of your exam or the fact that your boyfriend called you clingy just because you missed him

you knew it was only a word, but still.. it still hurt you know?

"wdym i'm clingy? i'm just hanging out with you, that's all. i missed you"

"i know, but you're acting like that.. anyways, if you really want to help, then could you pass me a fork? i think the rice's boiling or smth, idk"

you just walked away

the rest of the members were like 🤨

"you good, bro?" they said

"yeah...? why?"

"idk, you just called your girl clingy.." justin replied

"and..? what is the problem? she was just a bit.. overwhelming.."

"boy, you're stupid af" regie said while rolling his eyes "you know that clingy and needy aren't just words, right? just.. ah fuck off man, what the fuck is going on in your head, bruh.."

"darren doesn't know how to treat a girl or what?" sebastian laughed while walking in the room

"stfu sebastian, you're not even in the problem, you didn't even know what happened!"

with that, he walked away and went to his room

where you were

"y/n? can i come in?"

after a few seconds of not you answering, he decide to open the door and saw you all sad on his bed :(

it broke his heart

he didn't know the words clingy or needy could hurt you

and if he would have knew, he would have never said that

"y/n.. i'm so sorry.."

we know how darren isn't really good with expressing his feelings because he's more a show guy than a talkative guy if i can say it like that, like he won't say it how he feel but he'll show it to you

so i guess he'll do smth like that haha

"i'm so sorry, y/n. i truly mean it. i didn't know it would make you sad."

"i love the attention you gave me, i don't know why i said that"

he sighed again

"i know you're stressed and i feel super bad to not have noticed your feelings and your stress building up to you"

darren would try his best to show you how he cares about you :(

he won't say sorry a lot

but when he do, know he mean it.

he won't ever say "sorry" just because he need to or have to say it

he'll say sorry because he mean it.

"i promise i'll be more careful with my actions and my words for now on, at least, i'll try my best to do it so"

reg:

this man is nonchalant

we know him..

he just wanted to watch some tiktoks by himself..

listen, everyone have rough days

and it was one for regie :(

he was a bit stressed with the work and the job the boys and him had to do

filming tiktoks, filming youtube videos.. work on music video and on different music.. write music, edit their videos and do some meetings..

that was only a lil' part of regie's everyday life

he knew you had finals and exams too and that you were also a bit stressed

but let's say the stress make us forget things..?

when you came to his room and quickly went to his arms, he smiled

"hey pretty girl"

"hey" you said tiring

he kissed the top of your head and smiled

"you missed my arms, huh?"

"yeah"

you could feel and hear his smile literally???? like i know when you smile it doesn't have a sound, but to me, i think regie have some type of smile that we can know if he's smiling or not

when you took his hand and kissed it (no because i feel regie's type of relationship is simply super pure and cute like?? idk he just give me a vibe of like sweet dom boyfie or smth), his heart >>

he smiled even more

"something's up, babe?"

"nah, just tired"

"cuddle into me, if you want.. i don't mind"

he continued to watch tiktoks

until he felt your lips on his neck

were you in the mood or what????

nah bc neck kisses for regie is NOT something to ignore

like bye, we're talking about regie macalino here

if you know the meaning, you know the meaning 😏

he sighed at the affection you were giving him

"yeah, just tired, i told you"

"you okay, bubs?"

"whatcha have today, jeez? do you need some hugs or attention?"

he nodded and when you started to hug him and hold his hand.. damn this boy was a bit annoyed 😭

he really love them at little parts and not too much

so when it's becoming too much, he'll tell you

regie didn't mean it in a mean or a bad way

he was just.. curious? he normally don't get that much attention usually

"i mean.. we usually don't have that much kind of attention to each other... is everything okay?"

you just nodded and sighed

"i'm just tired of all my studies, that's all."

he nodded without really listening since he was watching a tiktok that caught his attention

you played with his fingers and kissed them slowly when regie looked at you and started laughing

"you're such a clingy girl, omg"

he said it in a teasing tone of voice and with his smile

he though you knew that he was only teasing you and trying to make you smile or laugh

but indeed, he made you sad :(

your smile quickly fade

ofc he didn't notice

after a few minutes of you not talking and not really moving because of your thoughts, he quickly saw how it affected you

you were lost in your thoughts

were you really that clingy?

was he angry because of all the affection you gave him?

what if he really thought you were super clingy?

he quickly took your hands and put yours in his' and sighed

"i'm sorry."

you looked into his eyes and shruged

"i'm sorry, y/n. i really am."

he sighed again

"i was only trying to make you smile, but indeed, i didn't. i don't know why i thought it could be funny"

you looked at him without saying a word, feeling tears in your eyes

"i know we're both stressed right now, but it still doesn't give me a reason to joke with the meaning of these words.. i'm sorry again, y/n."

he'll try to comfort you as much as he can

"i know i'm an idiot sometimes, but i truly care about you and i love every affection you give me.. i know i don't say it enough, but i do loves you and cares about you. i truly do."

he's so so sweet :(

our regie nonchalant boy haha

anyways, that's the end of the headcanon since i'm running out of ideas, i'm sorry 😭

that's it!!! i really hope you guys liked it, i think it took me like 5 hours to write this thing 😭😂 i couldn't think of differents ways with the apologies and all, so sorry if it's a bit repetitive, but i did try my best to do some differencies with the context, the situation and the different ways to tell them :) i also did some researches (like i usually do when i'm not 100% sure about the subject) so i hope those were rights and not stuff that isn't relatable or something like that!

thank you for the request again, and i'm sorry it took me so long :(

taglist (open! send an ask if you want to be in it!) : @nsb-rkive @kentisbaby @firebenderwolf @hyuneee0

[lowpolynpixelated]

Nightmare Kart: Multi-Track Dreaming

LW Media have done it again. After making one of the best fanworks on the web with “Bloodborne PSX” star developer Lilith Walther has returned to the realm of nightmares to go a little faster this time. How much faster? Somewhere around 200cc or so. Nightmare Kart made its debut on itch.io on June 3rd 2024 and has already become yet another banger from the dev that keeps on giving. First imagined as “Bloodborne Kart” the game hit a minor legal snag and ended up having to scrub any overt references to the Fromsoftware game entirely, leading to its rebranding into the much more original “Nightmare Kart”. But what is Nightmare Kart? And why should you play it? In this article/review I’d like to go over my personal favourite elements as well as some not-so polished ones that all in all make Nightmare Kart an easy sell to anyone looking to have some new fun in an old school way.

Some Background:

If you’ve read my article on Bloodborne PSX you know that I’m a massive fan of LW Media’s previous work. BBPSX was a masterwork in bringing old fashioned clunk to a modern game and letting it thrive on the atmosphere and gameplay quirks that come with something like that. Nightmare Kart is no different. According to Lilith via our previous interview work on Nightmare Kart began not too long after BBPSX released, owing its existence largely to a popular meme used to tease a new Bloodborne game being announced at major gaming shows. Ever since the game’s inception Lilith was hard at work trying to make a kart racer that captured not only the feeling of Bloodborne’s visceral world and combat, but those old school racers we all know and love. I personally am a big fan of Mario Kart 64, and when I got to ask her questions about Nightmare Kart’s development I was delighted to hear that she was taking inspiration from the title. My previous article is linked here as well as Lilith’s tumblr blog and youtube channel where you can see more of the development process in action leading up to the debut of the game.

Nightmare Kart:

So, back to that question I asked before, what is Nightmare Kart? Inspired by kart racer classics like Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, and Crash Team Racing, alongside some rather exciting action picks like Halo, Nightmare Kart is a combination kart racer/battler. In the game you take on the role of “The good hunter”, a mysterious person who awakens in a strange world known as the Pocket Dream before taking to the streets of Miralodia, a gothic styled city beset by all sorts of creatures of the night. The game takes you through a brief singleplayer campaign consisting of several races, battle mode matches, and even boss fights showing off an impressive array of gameplay and animated cutscenes. The base gameplay of the racer is closest to those kart racers I mentioned before, with drifting and boosting being a core part of the racing experience. It does however put some unique souls-like spins on a few things, as well as introducing a brake-slide mechanic which allows you to turn on a dime at the cost of your momentum. A true feast for the senses, consisting of graphics and music to rival Bloodborne PSX in their quality, and a truly impressive feat of development prowess. The game, much like its predecessor, feels so at home in its old school roots that I could almost hear the disc whirring in the drive of my non-existent PlayStation as I played through its campaign and tore through some multiplayer battles.

Gameplay:

Let’s talk more about that gameplay for a bit. As mentioned before Nightmare Kart does a superb job at nailing the feeling of an old school kart racer with a modern twist. A large part of that is its more battle-focused gameplay, as the powerups and controls are much more suited for aggression and duking it out at high speed than just simply racing. The first mechanic to show this off is the Blood Droplets system. As you race a number of enemies will spawn on the track and wander around, some will even try to attack racers as they speed past. Running over one of these enemies or destroying them with one of the several weapons on offer nets an amount of “blood droplets”. These function identically to both Blood Echoes in Bloodborne as well as coins in the Mario Kart series. The more droplets you collect, the higher your maximum speed will increase (as indicated by a red sword shaped arrow on your in-game speedometer). There is, however, a limited number of these enemies on a given track. Once they’re all killed you’ll have to turn to alternative means to collect those speed-granting droplets. Most notably, the destruction of your fellow racers. With a small array of weapons at your disposal granted via small powerup sparks scattered throughout the tracks you’ll be able to cut, smash, shoot, or even call down the stars themselves upon your competition to take their droplets as your own. This feature is most important during races, where speed is much more of a focus, but during the battle modes is where the fighting truly shines.

Deathmatch, elimination, capture the flag, and a score mode based around having the most droplets for your team all serve as the real way to show off Nightmare Kart’s strengths. The brake-slide mentioned before serves as your way to stop and aim ranged weapons like the hunter’s pistol and lever action shotgun, or to reposition yourself for a lunging strike with one of the several melee weapons you’re able to slot in to your melee powerup slot. My personal favourite of these were the gatling gun, which straps a four-barreled monster of a gun to the front of a vehicle of your choice allowing for 40 shots of continuous rapid fire destruction, and the spark-cage, a stand in for the Bloodborne Tonitrus which sends you leaping forward in your kart to smash an electrified mace into your opponents. All of this is headed by a health and stamina system much akin to the game’s former namesake. Health dictates damage done and sustained, while stamina is used by dashing. Also consumed by dashing are “Aether Viles”, viles of blue liquid used in groups of 5 to send you careening forward with a burst of speed. Performing tricks off of jumps by tapping the jump button or simple picking them up from a powerup grants you a number of these viles which you can use to bash into enemies or get ahead in the race standings. With everything I’ve talked about here I hope it’s apparent just how fun Nightmare Kart is to play. I had such an amazing time trashing enemies in deathmatch battles and roaring my way through city streets and forbidden forests.

Graphics/Design:

Nightmare Kart boasts a sense of style rivaled only by the game that came before it. Iterating on the already delightfully dated look that BBPSX had, Nightmare Kart takes it to the next level with original characters and environments that give it that trademark PSX feel. Coming with a built in (and customizeable) CRT filter along with a slew of graphical options ranging from texture warp to pixel distortion the game has quite literally never looked better. My entire time with the game was spent marveling at the track design and style that bleeds from every low-poly crease and jittering texture. Twelve vehicles and a variety of playable characters show off the gothic horror inspirations from Bloodborne and otherwise in perfect pixelated glory. Just as with BBPSX the game shows a mastery of the concept of a “demake”, but being built from the ground up as an original concept the game shows off iconic themes and locations leftover from its Bloodborne origins now with a lovingly crafted layer of originality. Fans of PSX horror and modern retro-makes in general will find nothing but some of the best graphical styling from this game’s blood soaked streets and haunted clock towers.

The real star at the center of well crafted textures and wonderfully low-detail models is the track design. Even if it isn’t legally allowed be Bloodborne Kart, its very apparent that the tracks on offer are nothing less than love letters to a wacky concept contained within a genuine respect for the inspirations. The game’s first few tracks do a top notch job at showing off the sort of homage you’d come to expect from a game inspired by Fromsoft’s gothic masterpiece, but soon descend into the depths of creative (and sometimes seemingly sadistic) level design that sets a kart racer apart from its peers. The Forbidden Forest, for example, features a split path laden with traps and lurking enemies that culminates in an upward clime via jump pads that sends you up the decaying innards of a windmill tower. Delving further into the madness sees you drifting your way through a library maze and making daring jumps to catch up with Nicholas, one of the game’s bosses to put him down for good. The inspiration for this game shines through even the mandatory layer of original art, enhancing into a viscerally wild ride from the first look at the endless void of the Pocket Dream to the cramped quarters of the Outsider’s Mansion.

Sound design/Soundtrack:

At last we arrive at what I consider to be the true highlight of Nightmare Kart. Continuing from BBPSX’s beautifully bitcrushed audio design Nightmare Kart wastes absolutely no time showing off just how much work was put into making the nightmare sound as good as it looks. One thing in particular that stuck with me was the animated cutscenes seen throughout the singleplayer campaign. Fully voice acted and entirely animated the voices in the scenes remind me of the best of the best PlayStation VA work. Extending a massive amount of congratulations to the entire voice cast, which the game’s developer Lilith Walther also provided a performance for. Those sweet filtered voices are only the beginning though, as Nightmare Kart’s soundtrack explodes into a symphony of haunted house jams and retro bangers right from the first screen. I find myself left without a whole lot to say other than just how good the soundtrack is. Composer Evalyn Lark destroyed any doubts I could have had about the game’s soundtrack not living up to the hype that the concept drummed up. The full soundtrack is available on youtube as well as other streaming services and will also be linked in this article for your listening pleasure. A short but sweet section for a set of tunes that I truly feel need to speak for themselves.

Full soundtrack

A sweet nightmare, and everything that comes with it

This section is a bit different from what I usually do in reviews like this. As I don’t have a second interview with Ms. Walther and I want this to be just as much a discussion about the game as well as a glowing review, I’d like to go over the less than stellar things I experienced while I sped my way through the horrors and bloodsoaked nightmare visions. I’d like to start off this section with this: This article/review is a work of opinion, not objective fact. Everything I put here is based on my own experience with the game. I also understand that in the modern video game landscape we exist in a time where games can receive updates and patches to repair and alter things that might be grinding or frustrating to players. I say all of this out of profuse respect for Ms. Walther and all of those who worked on Nightmare Kart, so that my words cannot be taken as damning evidence that this game is anything other than fun.

Nightmare Kart is above all else, an indie game in the purest meaning of the phrase. Developed by a small team on a small (by video game standards) budget and released entirely for free for anyone to enjoy. Because of this it does suffer from some standard if not frustrating bugs and glitches that made my experience with it nearly perfect, but not quite. Every game (especially today) has it’s rough edges. And with one trying to have so many on purpose (visually anyway) it was bound to have something in it that didn’t function one hundred percent of the time, or something out of place at random intervals.

Common glitches I encountered while playing:

- Hitting walls and ending up underneath the map (this has a minor fix already in the game in the form of a respawn option)

- Controls not being recognized after being hit by an enemy weapon, requiring me to either repress buttons or restart the match/race

- Powerups not actually firing off but being consumed anyway

Please keep in mind that these three things are glitches and do have the potential to be patched out. However, even if they weren’t, I think they added to the charm of the game either way. What was also a part of the charm and became somewhat grating as the game went on were some things I feel work against the games sense of flow and speed that the races would have you want to achieve. These notes are not comprehensive, and come from a place of constructive criticism only. The first frustrating element came in the form of the game’s strict adherence to a retro draw distance. Most of the tracks in the game are enveloped in a dark fog after a certain point, and the track becomes revealed to you as you ride or drive. This works wonders for the atmosphere, but tended to work against me when I was gaining speed and using my aether boosts, only to run face first into a wall because I couldn’t see the turn coming. Moving on from that but in the same vein, running into things can lead into some frustrating moments as well. Some objects and even enemies have hitboxes a fair bit larger than what it would appear. There were several times I tried to skirt past a crucified beast or stack of unbreakable boxes only for a seemingly small part of my cart to clip it, causing the entirety of my speed and momentum to be lost along with my placement. Getting stuck on one of these objects is a different beast entirely, as sometimes the objects invisible hitbox stops you from turning or accelerating altogether until you physically use the reverse button and reorient yourself. On top of all of this, and I’ve certainly seen people state this in far less kind ways, I do feel like the game’s campaign is a bit too easy. Now please keep in mind I did not go into Nightmare Kart expecting a high skill ceiling challenge that would test my mettle at every turn. I also didn’t expect to essentially go on a joyride through the nightmare’s scenic vistas and town squares while a host of NPC drivers waged war with each other far behind me, occasionally sending a volley of stars my way which did very little to actually slow me down. Combined with the fact that enemies didn’t seem to respawn once killed, I found myself with shockingly little to do other than just drive and go for style points on the jumps as I stayed well ahead of the pack. This issue, I will add, was exclusive to the campaign’s races. I found the AI was much more suited for battling it out in the boss battles and other versus modes, the elimination match at the end of the game being a particular highlight of an absolute brawl. None of these issues stand to ruin any part of Nightmare Kart’s fun. Video games are hard to make, and not a single one of them can ever claim to be perfect. These just stand as notes from a personal perspective, meant to offer a bit of a look at what someone jumping into the game and playing it start to finish might experience.

Closing Thoughts:

If you’re looking for something fun to play this summer I can’t recommend Nightmare Kart enough. It really does echo the days of playing head to head with friends in wacky kart racers and deathmatch games, going as far as to combine the two into easily one of the most fun kart games I’ve ever played. If you liked what you read here or would otherwise like to support LW Media’s endeavors, I’ve linked the official itch.io page and steam page for Nightmare Kart below, along with the LW Media patreon and (yet another) link to my previous article on Bloodborne PSX. Thank you so much for reading, now go shred those radical streets.

Links:

Nightmare Kart

Steam

itch.io

LWMedia Patreon

Bloodborne PSX Article

[auggiegoftrik]

Introductions & Schedule!

Hi there! I'm Auggie, an artist who likes to teach people things through stories.

For a few years now, I've been interested in the idea of educational fiction: stories that teach people new topics. Part of this is because I entered the working world and couldn't spend as much mental energy learning new things anymore. Another part is because I've always enjoyed reading manga and watching shows that had real life information in them.

One thing you should know about me is that I have a deep passion for webcomics, manga, manhwa, etc--anything that tells stories through art. I'd love to make a full webcomic someday (and I may have some plans in the works! 🤫) For now, I'm focusing on improving my skills in art while sharing a short story every 2 months! I'll save the story for how I ended up using Adobe Illustrator for art (instead of something normal like Clip Studio Paint) for another day.

Speaking of the "2 months" thing, I've set up a system for myself where you'll get a fresh story, themed art, and also new products in my Etsy and Kofi stores every 2 months. I'm even planning to change the way my accounts look to match the theme! (You'll come to learn that I'm very detail-oriented like that. 😂) During each theme, you'll see me posting on Kofi/Patreon, on TikTok, on YouTube, and here! I hope you'll consider following me if that sounds interesting.

This month's theme is "Green Thumb", and if you follow me on my on here, you'll hear the story of Amita, who is a college-aged woman trying to learn both how to deal with a tough social situation and also how to care for house plants. If you'd like to see more of the art process for this theme, check out my YouTube channel. Don't love the theme? Check back in March for a completely new set of characters along with a new aesthetic, genre, and storyline.

[notsocheezy]

Brain Curd #283

Brain Curds are lightly edited daily writing - usually flash fiction and sometimes terrible on purpose.

Thanks for letting us be frank with you. Read the rest of The Frank Program here on Tumblr!

“Welcome back to The Frank Program. I'm your host, Daryl, and today we're going to be frank with you. We’ve got Big Mike handling all the sliders and knobs…”

A heavily compressed, gravelly voice interrupted. “I would have thought you were the one handling ‘knobs’, son! Ha ha ha!”

“... and we have Frank here calling in from California. How’s the weather?”

“Colder than I’d’a expected. I’m bundled up here in my room.”

“That’s great. We’ve also got today’s guest. Would you like to introduce yourself to the audience?”

“Hm…” The guest pondered. “No.”

“That’s fine, I’ll be happy to. Mike, can you up the gain on his input?”

“Sure thing,” Mike replied. “I wouldn’t want to get on your bad side…”

“Thanks. Today’s guest is a longtime favorite of mine. You know him as the host of both Backstab Pantry and Stainless Steal, but to me he’ll always be the face of Chemistry Kitchen. Welcome to the show, Mr. Adam Braun!”

“Thank you, thank you,” Braun bowed. “I just hate to toot my own horn. Much better if you do it.”

“Ha!” Frank chuckled. “He loves tooting horns!”

Mike frowned. “Frankie, can you shut the hell up?”

Daryl’s face remained as still as stone. “Mr. Braun -”

“Call me Adam.”

“Adam, today’s episode is going to release on Christmas day, so I’d like to get the obvious question out of the way first: What tips do you have for our listeners at home who put on this podcast while they prepare dinner?”

“I’d probably tell your listeners that if they want to hear my opinion, they should try watching any number of Christmas themed episodes of Chemistry Kitchen or reading one of the companion cookbooks. However, when the question of safety is at hand, I’m happy to give away free advice to anyone who asks: have a fire extinguisher handy always. Not just for your bird, or roast, or hunk of porky goodness - God forbid - but also all those gosh-darn cheap lights strewn about the house. Electrical fires are no joke. Overcooked poultry is no picnic, but a house fire is a tragedy.”

“Yeesh.” Frank yawned. “This guy sounds like he wears a bowtie.”

Daryl reached around to the mixing board and muted Frank. “Sorry about him.”

“Is that the original host of this show?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ve heard rumors that he was a real piece of work. I guess they were right.”

“Hey,” Mike chimed in. “You know, Frank might not be the best host of all time or anything, but he built this podcast up from nothing. You gotta hand it to him for that. People like hearing what he’s got to say.”

“Mike,” Daryl glared at him. “Let’s not argue with our guest.”

“It’s Christmas, Daryl. You’re not gonna defend your dad?”

“There’s nothing to defend. Anyway, Adam, your fans all know you got your start in the production side of things, working behind the camera rather than in front of it. How much behind the scenes work did you continue doing as the series grew into itself?”

“That’s a good question. At first, it was a real rinky-dink operation. Just me and a couple other guys filming in our producer’s home kitchen. Back then, I developed all the recipes myself. But as the scale of our little show - including its budget and marketing - grew past my own limits, I started putting together a team. I’d say it was seventy-thirty how much I did per episode by then, much like the muscle-to-fat ratio of a good burger - and I was the fat. By the end of the show, the final season, I was so busy with other responsibilities that I was mostly just a host. But the team was solid. Their work was unmatched in quality.”

“Any chance of a comeback?”

“I’ll never say never, but I’m getting old. I come up with little ideas and put them out on my YouTube channel now and then, but you can consider me happily retired.”

“Psst… hey…” Mike tapped Daryl’s shoulder. “Your dad is pissed that you muted him.”

“Too bad.”

“He said it’s his show and he can kick you out if he’s not happy.”

“Ugh. Fine. Unmute him, then.”

Mike clicked the button and Frank’s voice began piping into everyone’s headphones again.

“... and another thing, where does this boy get off tellin’ m​e to shut my mouth? I wouldn’t even be here if he knew how to mind his damn business! ‘Merry Christmas!’ Whole lotta Merry Christmas around here, in the damn institution y’all threw me in! I don’t like lookin’ out at the ocean! It’s too damn big! And I…” Frank continued talking, rambling, complaining - whatever you want to call it.

Daryl covered his face.

Adam adjusted his bowtie. “I think I should get going.”

“Yeah, I can understand that.” Daryl leaned on his elbow, little life left in his eyes.

Frank’s diatribe was in one ear and out the other, but it banged pots and pans on the way through.

“This has been The Frank Program…”

“... ending the darn show while I’m talking! Who do you think you are?!? You little…”

“Thanks for letting us be frank with you. Merry Christmas.”

Please comment, reblog, like, and follow if you enjoyed - I'd love to know what you think! See you again tomorrow.

[cartoon-buffoon]

Recently I was watching one of my favorite Sonictubers playing Alex Kidd, a different Sega game. Anyways I deeply love this YouTuber's content, I'm a regular in their stream and my first ever piece of proper digital art was fanart for them (oh god this drawing sucks but looking at this you can tell I HAVE improved!)

Anyways shitty fanart of their character getting robbed by Fang The Sniper aside, in the Alex Kidd playthrough they call me out by name? Obviously it's in a joking manner and their shout-out to me is just a brief gag but they do say "shout out to Toon Buffoon" (high-key check out this channel, it does good Sonic reviews and the characters have lore within the reviews). But yeah, watch the video for yourself and see, THEY DO SHOUT ME OUT! Upon hearing this the first time I was shocked and as you can see by my comment I'm beyond flattered and it was this that made me realize I've made an impact on at least a few people?

Like I owe a lot to SpinyNorman and his YouTube channel. That fanart I made above was something I did with my fingers whilst waiting to receive meds yet I decided to share it with him, he complimented it, and that inspired me to draw more and actually have fun with it. I don't just wanna strictly talk about my favorite YouTuber though and getting back to what I said: my support of this FAIRLY SMALL CREATOR and their great content (seriously go watch their vids if you like Sonic) made me go "people register I exist...". Like, this may sound I'm fucking with you but I genuinely cannot fathom the idea people are aware of me and my dumbass existence. From my name being shouted out, to the new followers here on Tumblr, to a few comments over on my AO3 it makes me genuinely happy. When I started posting stuff I was an socially anxious wreck, now while I still am I can't help but be thankful for all the people I may have left an impression on to the point they register me as somebody. Whether this be my uhh, fanfics, or maybe it's just me cheering someone up, or something else I did that left an impression, some people DO see my name and or pfp and think "oh it's that one fella" and that makes me happy. I'm thankful I can be of entertainment and or camaraderie, if you're a person I met on here I can't thank you enough for whatever interactions we may have had (its mainly two people, Mr-Pgeon and SkitSwap, shout out to them), still I have interacted with others.

Sorry if this is nonsensical because my ADHD and emotions are working in unison to make a lot of this rant detached, but my point is: THANKS! I can't fathom the idea people like me and honestly when I made this Tumblr it was during a time when I was genuinely contemplating killing myself (I still contemplate it, just less now). Now of course my IRL friends have gotten me through rough times, shout out to my betas Z and Quartz, however the people I've met online have also helped me. Knowing what I do has left an impact, a positive one at that, makes me happy. Whether it be cheering somebody's art on, having them enjoy one of my fics, or perhaps talking, I'm glad to not have ended myself and I really do wish to keep on going and keep creating so I can hopefully make more people's days in the future. Sorry if this sentimental, I'll probably go back to talking about how I want a variety of cartoon rabbits to bang me soon, but I still just wanna say thanks ❤️.