#and the genesis playlist was meant to be

[ace-disaster-weeb]

Here's that Angeal playlist I was foreshadowing! Heads up, in case you couldn't already tell by the title, this one is depressing AF, like I actually cried listening to it. And once again, huge thank you to @rottenpumpkin13 for song recs!

BEST ENJOYED WITHOUT SHUFFLE

[rottenpumpkin13]

How do ASGZC react to rain? Like, gtting caught in it etc. Or thunder? Do they like its sound? To watch the lightning? Are they scared of it? (Do they comfort each other if the other is scared)

Angeal, the "I LOVE EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING" type: He thrives in the rain. He's moisturized, happy and flourishing. You will catch him enjoying what mother nature has offered by standing out in the rain, feeling it on his skin, washing his face, and enjoying the weather.

Genesis, the "I HATE EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING" type: The man is not opposed to the comfort of reading indoors while it's raining and thundering outside. But getting caught in it? A nightmare. He didn't bring an umbrella, so now his coat is wet, and his hair is ruined, and he won't photograph well, and HE'S COLD. An utter nightmare.

Zack, the "PUDDLES ARE MEANT TO BE JUMPED IN" type: The only thing he hates about being caught in the rain is the damage done to his hair, because other than that, he loves it. You'll catch him jumping in muddy puddles, kicking water at his friends, and trying to get everyone to play rain tag. The downside is that if it rains for longer than a day, Zack's mood starts to spiral.

Cloud, the "Eh, could be worse" type: Unbothered by the rain. It's just some wet weather, and he's already used to the cold, though he prefers staying inside. Nothing against getting caught in the rain, it's just that he hates how his hair looks when it's wet. That being said, he will slap Zack's hand if he tries to pull his hood off.

Sephiroth, the " :) This is fine" type: Loves the rain and actually enjoys being caught in it. Feeling the droplets on his skin reminds him that there’s so much more to the planet than Midgar’s dreadful, dry weather. When it does rain in Midgar, he likes to go on walks, but he’s very cautious about lightning and ensures his friends are being safe during storms, like forcing Genesis out of the shower and having Zack unplug all his devices. He’s just not a fan of thunder. While all of them have sharp ears, Sephiroth is particularly sensitive to it, which makes him uneasy. He prefers to stay indoors during thunderstorms, using headphones to block out the noise or finding other distractions to keep his mind off it.

★ Genesis already knows the drill. He's curled up in his own apartment when it's raining and thundering outside—a book in one hand and fingers gently carding through Sephiroth's hair with the other. Sephiroth is wearing headphones because Genesis makes him listen to his entire playlist just to keep his mind occupied.

Sephiroth also has a notepad with songs written down next to the amount of starts he gives them.

Genesis looks up from his book briefly as Sephiroth furiously jots something down.

Genesis: You gave the opening song of the latest Loveless musical three stars?

*Sephiroth nods*

Genesis: You do know I helped compose that one, right?

Sephiroth: Forgive me.

*Sephiroth writes something down*

Genesis: TWO STARS?

[rustbeltjessie]

Melissa Kirsch, from “A Playlist to Remember”

[text ID: “I am putting the finishing touches on my Summer 2024 playlist. This isn’t a collection of the summer’s hottest hits, although Chappell Roan and Charli XCX did make it on there. It’s a mix of the songs that I’ve been listening to this summer, regardless of when they came out — more Barack Obama than Billboard.

I’ve been curating this playlist all summer, adding to it whenever I notice there’s a song or an album that I’ve been listening to again and again such that it’s becoming part of my life soundtrack. My Summer 2024 playlist is not meant to be listened to during the Summer of 2024. It’s for the Winter of 2024, or some far-off day in 2035, when I want to evoke this period of time. This period of time when I rediscovered Genesis and became convinced that their 1983 song “That’s All” might be the best song ever written. When I spent an entire month listening to only “Worth It” by Raye and “You’ll Accomp’ny Me” by Bob Seger until I knew every lyric and drumbeat and guitar riff by heart.

When I hear these songs in the future, they’ll trigger memories from this summer. I’ll be back by the lake where a duck walked right out of the water and stood by my beach chair. I’ll be sitting on the screened-in porch drinking iced coffee while the rain blows in. By making a playlist of the season, I’m delineating a chapter of my life. I’m engineering a mechanism to induce nostalgia in the future.

This dividing of life into chapters is something I’ve become more deliberate about doing as I’ve gotten older. I don’t want one season to just bleed into the next, the days losing their distinctness, vivid experiences fading as they recede into memory. Anything that can create order out of the accumulation of life lived seems useful. Sometimes I’ll just go around and take photos of my apartment so that I’ll have a record of how it looked in this moment in time: the plants and the bedsheets and the clothes piled on the chair. They’re not photos I want to look at now, but 20 years from now when I’ve forgotten about these details that are mundane but so essential to my daily life.”]

[stvlti]

love is the knife in your hand | a Dune fanmix

I finally put all my songs for FeydPaul (derogatory) onto a playlist. This started out as a shitpost which may explain some of the wack song choices. All bangers though, promise

► TRACKS

01. Gimme What I Want - Miley Cyrus /// 02. SIMP - Full Tac, Lil Mariko & Rico Nasty /// 03. Dictator - REI AMI /// 04. I Can See You - Taylor Swift /// 05. Hardcore Romance - Beach Weather /// 06. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode /// 07. Burn the Witch - PVRIS, Tommy Genesis & Alice Longyu Gao /// 08. House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls - The Weeknd /// 09. ecstacy - SUICIDAL-IDOL /// 10. Tennessee - Kevin Abstract & Lil Nas X /// 11. Beggin' (cover) - Måneskin /// 12. Kiss With A Fist - Florence + The Machine /// 13. Matador - Luvcat /// 14. I Come With Knives (Acoustic) - IAMX /// 15. Bells in Santa Fe - Halsey /// 16. Blood in the Cut - K.Flay /// 17. Trouble (Stripped) - Halsey /// 18. Ultraviolence - Lana Del Rey.

Tracklist last updated on 14 Nov 2024.

► META

I wasn't going to add a write-up to this one – it was supposed to be an ironic playlist – but then I couldn't resist coming back to add better and better song choices to the tracklist. It deserves a short explanation now, at the very least.

The tl;dr of it is that I was inspired by this fic and this fic and this fic. The different interpretations and dynamics of Feyd/Paul's relationship shown in those fics form the cornerstones for the relationships portrayed in these songs.

Some of these dynamics may seem contradictory to each other. That is by design. Many of the songs in this playlist are meant to go both ways: depending on your interpretation of Feyd's character and your specific flavour of canon divergence (which lbr is where 90% of FeydPaul scenarios play out), you could justifiably swap the dominant / submissive voices in the song lyrics between Feyd and Paul. Take "Dictator" by REI AMI for example:

The front part of the song is dominated by, well, a dominant persona:

I am not your queen, I'm your dictator

Bend the fucking knee, yeah bitch that was an order

Whatcha say to me? Huh? Bitch speak louder

You know I reign supreme, nah, you can't imitate her

The song takes a 180° turn in the back half, switching up the beat, the tempo, the instrumentation, the cadence; going from rap verses to singing; and going from braggadocio to a vulnerable confession in its lyrics. This forms, for all intents and purposes, a second distinct "voice":

You're so mean I'm scared to say "I wanna leave"

Cause every time I try, I get a tighter leash

You never know

Everything I do when I'm feeling low

Always about you, that's the way it goes

The way it goes, just the way it goes

Cold, why you gotta treat me so cold?

You say you love me but I don't know, don't know

The original song intends for both voices to reflect 2 sides of the same speaker, which could also work in the case of Paul (the first voice being the strongman leader he presents himself as in front of his followers, but also the dom persona he takes on to exploit Feyd's vulnerabilities in the bedroom; the second voice being the insecurities he has in his feelings for Feyd, which he can admit only to himself). But these 2 voices also work well as a dialogue between Paul and Feyd: Paul as the dominant voice and Feyd as the submissive, plaintive one, in a Feyd Lives AU / any AU where Paul holds all the bargaining chips; or Feyd as the dominant voice and Paul as the submissive, confessional one, in a Feyd wins the duel / Paul is captured by the Harkonnens AU. Ymmv.

There are a few songs where it only fits a specific interpretation of the dynamic though. The more fics I read, the more I think about the political positioning either of the boys take up in canon, the more obvious it is that any way you slice it, Feyd is at a disadvantage. He doesn't have Paul's prescience or the Voice, among other Bene Gesserit training, to say nothing about his Mentat abilities. (This is excluding the AUs that assume Feyd, being another prospect for the Kwisatz Haderach bloodline, has some level of prescient abilities akin to Paul's.) This is true even before Paul consumed the Water of Life and gained full access to his ancestral memories, and once he unlocked the Other Memory, Feyd is simply no match for him. So tracks like "Matador" and "Bells in Santa Fe" work better if you think of them as speaking from Feyd's POV:

Your cape is crimson

And you're waving it, snarling

The air is full of danger

I only wanted to put on a little skirt, a little show for you

...

I came crawling in on all fours

Knocking at your door, knocking at your door

I don't wanna bleed anymore

I just wanted love, but you wanted gore

You're my matador

While Feyd is the gladiator with a number of wins in the Geidi Prime arena under his belt, Paul is named after his grandfather who fought bulls for fun. Feyd is a Harkonnen, which is etymologically related to the "härka", Finnish for the bull. When they meet each other blade for blade, Paul is the metaphorical matador to Feyd's bull, not the other way around.

I'm also a fan of simp!Feyd, which is how we ended up with Lil Mariko & Rico Nasty on the track list (lol). But on a more serious note, I like my Feyd softer and besotted with Paul, with or without the context of Paul as Emperor ordering Feyd around. In that light, it's obvious who would be the one to come crawling, begging for love from the other man.

Leaving through the door without a word

You won't even notice, little bird

Better off dead so I reckon I'm headed to hell instead

So don't wait for me, don't wait for me, wait

It's not a happy ending

...

But, Jesus, you've got better lips than Judas

I could keep your bed warm, otherwise I'm useless

I don't really mean it, 'cause who the fuck would choose this?

Self loathing hours with Feyd lmao. I don't believe Feyd is capable of shame, but he bested Rabban in currying favours with the Baron and securing the na-Baron title. He must have a mind for politicking, and in a Feyd Lives AU, he would know full well that he is only useful to Paul's empire insofar as he amuses him and keeps his bed warm. It also really only makes sense for Feyd to call Paul "little bird" and not the other way around, seeing as Paul is the one who brings the Atreides hawk symbol to their union.

Speaking of union, I went back and forth on the inclusion of the Lana Del Rey track until I remembered that she wears a wedding dress in the music video. I've never paired "Ultraviolence" with my ships, not even for my most fucked up faves, for mainly 2 reasons: (1) I don't like to romanticise the domestic abuse detailed in the original context of that lyric. I prefer a dynamic where both parties retain a degree of control and reciprocity in the fucked up shit they do to each other. But in the case of FeydPaul the pain kinks just write themselves, and they would be fully reciprocal. I can see Feyd being the masochist to Paul's more violent tendencies as much as I can see Feyd enacting his learned sadism onto Paul. They would both enjoy it. Also, as every shipper knows, in another life these two would've been betrothed to each other according to the Bene Gesserits' breeding programme.

Heaven is on earth

I will do anything for you, babe

Blessed is this union

Crying tears of gold, like lemonade

It's literally a wedding song!

(2) I never included "Ultraviolence" in my ship playlists before because the lyrics are kinda cringe. "tears of gold like lemonade"? really? But then again, FeydPaul is largely a Romeo & Juliet type of pairing - they're star-crossed, they're madly in love, and they're teenagers! They would be the type to make cringey promises to each other.

[minkshame]

I did want to reshare the SPARE CHANGES PLAYLIST complete with tracklist and key lyrics... under the cut

SECTION 1 (TORD):

Half a World Away (R.E.M.) - My hand's tired, my heart aches / I'm half a world away

Leaving New York (R.E.M.) - You might have laughed if I told you (it's pulling me apart)

Dirty Imbecile (The Happy Fits) - When my heart starts beating, lungs stop breathing / All my fibers say to run away

Don't be Seen with Me (Oppenheimer Analysis) - I kept things under strict control / Resisted all diversion

How to Disappear Completely (Radiohead) - That there, that's not me

You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (The Beatles) - I can see them laugh at me, and I hear them say / Hey, you've got to hide your love away

Heart in a Cage (The Strokes) - See I'm stuck in a city, but I belong in a field

Back to the Old House (The Smiths) - Cause I never even told you / Oh and I meant to

Promise (Laufey) - And I should get a cigarette / For how much restraint

No Time to Explain (Good Kid) - It's been a while I've been out on my own / I'm in denial about living life alone

SECTION 2 (EDD):

I Guess He'd Rather be in Colorado (John Denver) - I guess he'd rather work / Out where the only thing you earn is what you spend

Give you My Lovin (Mazzy Star) - Cause you see, rain reminds me of you / And everything has turned to you

Hopelessly Devoted to You (Olivia Newton-John) - I know I'm just a fool who's willing / To sit around and wait for you

I Don't Wanna Be Okay Without You (Charlie Burg) - And I can hear so clearly all the words I wish I'd said / You're stuck in my head

Mamma Mia (Austin Weber) - Yeah, I've been brokenhearted / Blue since the day we parted / Why why did I ever let you go?

Livin' With a Heartache (The Beach Boys) - I'm no good alone, you know-a everyone sees / That you left me alone with nothin' but a heartache

Oh Love (Delaney Bailey) - And I don't want to turn back time anymore / But I do miss when I thought that I was loved

Duvet (bôa) - But you know that it means so much / And you don't even feel a thing

I want you (Mitski) - We're starting over / And I love you darling

SECTION 3 (GENERAL):

The Less I Know The Better (Tame Impala) - I was doing fine without ya / til I saw your eyes turn away from mine

Pork Soda (Glass Animals) - Why can’t we laugh now like we did then? / How come I see you and ache instead?

Spare Hearts (Exit Mouse) - I know you’re afraid / Of making a big mistake / But you’re just what I need / Spare me the fear

Les maudits mots d'amour (Le rouge et le Noir) - Mais dans l'ivresse de tes bras / Tout le reste vole en éclat, / Vole en éclat.

SECTION 4 (LOW POINT):

If I can't be yours (Loren & Mash) - I realize / We're not the same / And it's making me sad / Cause we can't fulfill our dreams in this life

Memento Mori (Red Vox) - Could it be, the presence of memory / Is all we are, all we'll ever be?

I Know It’s Over (The Smiths) - And it never really began / But in my heart it was so real

Sparks (Coldplay) - My Heart is yours / It's you that I hold on to

Turtles All The Way Down (Sammy Copley)- And I’m aware / That it’s not fair / To bring you here then send you on your way / You had so much to say / And to ask

Door (I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME) - If I'm out of line / Just show me the door / I promise you I / Won't come here no more

SECTION 5 (HAPPY ENDING):

Scary Love (The Neighborhood) - No one has ever cared for me / as much a you do

It's Been a Long Long Time (Harry James) - You'll never know how many dreams I've dreamed about you / Or how empty they all seemed without you

Those Eyes (New West) - I close my eyes and all I see is you / And the small things you do

Heart to Heart (Mac Demarco) - To all the days we were together / To all the time we played apart / In each other's lives

Another Believer (Rufus Wainwright) - And give me just one more chance, one more glance

Home (Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros) - Man oh man you're my best friend / I scream it to the nothingness

Genesis (Jourma Kaukonen) - And there I found myself with you / When breathing felt like something new, new / Along with you

[sol-draws-sometimes]

shuffle your favorite playlist and post the first five songs that come up. then copy/paste this ask to your favorite mutuals <3

Me: Why don’t people send me asks

Also me: Takes weeks to respond cause I can’t answer a question normally

Okay here’s the thing, I don’t really listen to playlists and the only one I do is a shuffle playlist I have(tho I’m pretty proud of it). What I normally do is pick a song and go to radio, or go to my likes and press one of the genere thingys

However I think I’ll do 2 things, show off my shuffle playlist(since I actually do use it a lot), and then shuffle my liked songs NOT w/out any categories for full chaos. Actually I also have a shuffle playlist I did for Spanish music, but that one’s more recent and hasn’t gotten that much use so I won’t do the shuffle thingy.

Anyway this my oldies shuffle playlist:

It’s over a day’s worth of music, cause it’s meant to be shuffled(full disclosure started adding a shit ton of songs before the shuffle because I wanted to make sure it was accurate to my taste and there was a lot of music I added to my likes before making the playlist so they were missing(big chunks of abba,Fleetwood mac,queens, EWF, ELO, etc.) While the playlist is inspired by dad, and so is my taste in oldies music(actually a mix of him and my older sis), there’s stuff on there that I like that he doesn’t( stuff like Simon and Garfunkle and Elton John). It’s mostly 70s, but I’d say it’s 60s-80s. Also it’s English music, so no city pop or older hispanic music like Jeanette(most of my older spanish music is 90s anyway).

Anway these were the first 5 songs

1. At The Rainbows End- The Osmonds

2. Unercover Angel- Alan O’Day

3. Lady in Red- Chris Burgh

4. That’s All- Genesis

5. Wouldn’t it be Nice- Beach Boys

Also screenshotted 5 more and I think these are more indicative of my tastes in oldies(it’s missing a bit of my classic rock but it’s not like that’s what I listen to the most)

6. Roxanne- The Police

7. Oh Daddy- Fleetwood Mac

8. I’m Gonna Be(500 miles)- The Proclaimers (ngl got jumpscared with this one)

9. Wild Word- Ysuf/Cat Stevens

10. Fernando- Abba

Fun fact: Most of Rumors is on the playlist and the whole Xanadu Soundtrack is on there! I’d say may fav artists from the 70s would be ELO and ABBA, tho EWF was my fav band as a kid so that’s still nostalgic to me. Also Doobie Brothers are pretty good! Oh and Hall and Oats! On the more rock rock side of things, I’d say Aerosmith is the one know the most. Or Kansas, I think I like them more idk. I mostly listen to soft rock.

OKAY TIME FOR CHAOS SHUFFLE TIME

1. Sex w/ a Ghost—Teddy Hyde(I think this is more of my sister song?, tho it’s not bad song)

2. Esto les Digo— Kiney Lange, performed by Messiah College Concert Choir (yes this is a choir song)

3. Rata De Dos Patas—Paquita La Del Barrio

4. マイ・ボーイ(My Boy)- Lisa Ono (The title is Japanese but the song is in English)

5. Shun-ran— John (THIS IS IN JAPANESE, specifically vocaloid)

Bonus 6 incase 1 wasn’t me

6. L-O-V-E—Nat King Cole

Honestly, this is actually a good mix of the music I listen to, indie/soft, spanish, and j-pop, and oldies it’s just missing musical theater(also I listen to more early 2000s latino music). Also I don’t really listen to choir/classical music all the time but I do LOVE singing it so sometimes I will try to find new choir songs. Tbh, most playlist on Spotify lowkey suck and have very same-y repertoire, the best playlists I’ve found are Choir Classic-Spotify(a bit same-y but it is the classics™), Choir music that makes me crumb(great variety! I recommend this one the most), and I think Choir songs me that give me chills is also pretty good and it has more musical theater on it (THOUGH IT’S MISSING NORTE DAME).

Okay, I’m done yapping

[sanders1665]

Mama.

The study was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of a cell phone on the desk. He sat alone, slumped in his chair, his fingers running through his hair. The air felt heavy, and so did he, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. His mood was foul, simmering without direction, a quiet storm threatening to break. Random songs cycled on his playlist, filling the silence but doing little to soothe the restless tension in his chest.

Then Mama by Genesis began to play.

The opening beats crept into the room, tugging at something buried deep within him. He froze, staring into the dark as the memory rose unbidden: his mother, standing in the kitchen, drying her hands on a dishcloth, humming along to this very song. She had glanced over her shoulder and said, almost casually, “I like this one.”

His chest tightened. He hadn’t thought of that moment in years, hadn’t allowed himself to linger on the small, fleeting joys his mother had stolen for herself amid a life of sacrifice. The tears came before he could stop them, hot and heavy, spilling down his face in the stillness of the room.

The memory dragged him further back, unearthing pieces of a past he had spent decades trying to understand. His mother had been everything in his early years—his protector, his guide, his entire world. For the first eight years of his life, it had been just the three of them: his mother, his younger brother Tommy, and himself. She had told him his father had died in a tragic accident when he was a baby. Her younger brother, Uncle Eddie, had lived with them for a time, helping where he could, until she remarried in 1973.

She had worked tirelessly to keep them safe, fed, and clothed. Life was simple—just the basics—but he hadn’t cared. He never asked for more, content with what they had. She had been firm but loving, teaching him to rely on his mind and not his fists. “Keep yer wits about yer,” she would say, tapping her temple. “Don’t ever use sticks and stones to fight—use this.” And sometimes, in quieter moments, she would mutter, almost to herself, “Don’t be like him.”

He hadn’t understood then. When he asked who she meant, she would deflect, telling him to go play outside. It wasn’t until he was fifteen that the pieces started to fall into place.

They were shopping for groceries one morning, a routine errand, when she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. Her face went pale, her hands trembling. “It’s him,” she whispered, the words barely audible.

“Who?” he had asked, confused.

“Your father,” she said, her voice cracking before she dropped the shopping bags and fled.

He had found her at home, sitting at the kitchen table, her face buried in her hands. When he asked what was going on, she finally told him the truth—a truth that would change how he saw her, and himself, forever.

His biological father wasn’t dead. He had been in prison for murder. Years ago, in a drunken street fight, he had stabbed his best friend to death. He had been violent, cruel, and abusive, both physically and verbally. When he was a newborn, his father had threatened to kill him, accusing his mother of infidelity because his blond hair didn’t match his father’s jet-black locks.

It all made sense then: the constant moving, the endless redecorating, the new hairstyles. Every couple of years, they would pack up and start over, his mother doing everything she could to keep them safe and untraceable. She had been running from him all her life, living in fear of a man who had once sworn to destroy her and her children.

And yet, in her darkest moments, she had told him, “If you hadn’t been born, I could’ve joined the Army and traveled the world.” Those words had haunted him for decades. As a child, he hadn’t understood the depth of her sacrifices, only the weight of the resentment he assumed they carried. He had blamed himself for robbing her of a life she could have had, and that guilt had shaped him, hardened him, for years.

Now, sitting alone in the dark, he saw it differently. He saw a woman who had endured unimaginable fear and hardship but had never let it break her. She had given up everything to protect him and his brother, teaching them strength and resilience even as she quietly bore the burden of her past.

The tears flowed freely now as the song played on, its haunting rhythm wrapping around his memories. “I’m sorry, Mum,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “I didn’t know. I didn’t understand.”

The guilt he carried now was different. It wasn’t the guilt of resentment or misunderstanding but the guilt of love left unspoken, of gratitude too late expressed. But it was a guilt he could live with—a reminder of her sacrifices, her strength, and the fierce, unrelenting love she had given them both.

As the final notes of Mama faded into silence, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. The room was still, but the heaviness had lifted, replaced by a bittersweet ache. He closed his eyes and saw her smile, heard her voice. And for the first time in years, he let himself feel it all.

[artwithoutblood]

i did publish a thing for patreon [that i dont use anymore] that was supposed to be a sex game about dorian and erebus at a christmas party but they just went to erebus's office and chatted because i cant write sex

I thought it’d be more like Dorian reeling around obnoxiously hitting on the few colleagues he doesn’t dislike and trying to dance on things not meant for the purpose. Trying to swing around the poles of the floor lamps.

His hat is gone. Erebus is chasing him and growing increasingly agitated because Dorian has stolen Erebus’ collar chain and is wearing it around his head

He basically would. Maybe not the pole part but the rest I could see.

I'm using this below to paste the thing I wrote. It wasn't finished.

a few familiar faces. a few faces that blend in with one another. erebus is one of them, and he certainly doesn't want to be there. but it's rude to live with two demons who are organizing a party and not join in on the festivities.

aeron doesn't like to host parties. at their own events, they sit in a corner, legs crossed with a cold glass of water in one hand. their eyes gaze emptily into the crowds, consciousness scanning faces and bodies that are a million miles away.

genesis always has to beg them. dissonance loves the lights, the music, the celebration. he's grown to love christmas because of his time with his children over the years. "people in the human world get together and have holiday parties! they drink n' dance n' wear stupid outfits! they even do it at work! ain't that crazy, aeron? we've gotta host one. please? we can do it in the gallery!"

delusion agrees, as long as it's far away from any of the breakable art. they settle on a banquet hall, used often for receptions or special exhibits. aeron decorates with colorful lights and decorative pine needles. genesis caters food and puts together the perfect playlist of classical piano and ambient drones.

erebus never liked fancy suits. sure, his usual attire was regal, elegant, fit for an archivist who spent centuries combing through books. but the suit that scarlet had crafted for him was far beyond his usual dress.

"i had made this for your predicessor," she had explained to him when he begrudgedly came to pick it up, "but since he's…gone, i thought i'd modify this for you. to fit you better, y'know."

delirium always hated being compared to dreams. he just had to swallow it.

the suit was beautiful, emblazened with appliques of snakes, ancient words, and images of the sun. the brooches on each collar were handcrafted from celestial silver, meant for the demon of dreams and repurposed for erebus's small stature. beautiful shades of green and black and gray, matched against silver jewelry.

familiar faces pass by erebus as he stood near a row of paintings, away from the drink tables and towards a corner's emptiness. diana handed erebus a glass of water and told him to call her over if he needed anything. graves staring with empty eyes, empty words, and a small platter of cake in his hand. aeron runs their fingers through his hair and thanks him for coming. xinyue talks him down from his anxiety by filling his head with thoughts of the next few days and what work erebus can do once the party is over. that puts his mind at ease.

he treats himself to small, strawberry tarts, seated in his own corner. most attendees ignore him. and that's just how he likes it, sitting as quiet as one of the corpse statues that line some of the halls outside of this cheerful place.

erebus has always been used to eyes on him. he assumes aeron is always spying, even if delusion isn't doing it actively.

but tonight is different. erebus looks up, finds aeron in the crowd, and breathes a sigh of confusion when he realizes the painter has their full attention on a man that erebus has never seen before.

who's looking at him then? he scans the area over and over, puts down his dish and stands up to do so. sweat drips delicately down his forehead. erebus never thought he'd miss the prying eyes of delusion, replaced by something foreign to him.

all erebus had to do was look right in front of him. across the long hall is another man, adorned in similar glasses and a muzzle over his face, leaning against a bookshelf and swirling a fruity drink in his hand. he presses the straw through the bars of his muzzle and to his lips, stealing another glance at erebus.

he has met dorian a few times in the past. librarians of different fields come to know each other, share their knowledge. dorian just barely leaves his domain, deep in the circles. he occasionally visits the gallery to admire aeron's newest handiwork. the two of them exchange art for knowledge, sometimes vice versa. dorian has joined them for dinner before, but all that heresy does is sit patiently, drinking tea and listening patiently to whatever comes from delusion's mouth.

they lock eyes for a few moments before dorian breaks it, closing them to indulge himself deeper in his tea. what does heresy want? erebus isn't sure.

but he sighs. he knows he has to do the hard work of reaching out.

erebus stands in front of dorian, arms crossed, foot tapping gently against the floor. dorian doesn't notice him - on purpose, of course - waiting for delirium to speak for himself. erebus sighs, defeated.

"are you going to explain yourself?" he asks, his brows furrowed.

dorian pushes the bridge of his glasses further up his nose. "hm, explain what?"

"you've been staring at me from across the room for at least five minutes now. is there something on my face?"

"besides your pretty eyes, no."

erebus hasn't been able to blush in centuries, but he knew his ears would be burning red at that if he could.

dorian just laughs. "i'm teasing you, erebus. i've just been debating on whether or not i move to talk to you, but i was too absorbed in this drink…"

"that you were too lazy to move and walk over to me?"

"that's right."

but why talk to me?" erebus doesn't seem to understand why anyone would care for his presence at this party other than his own coworkers.

"a few reasons," dorian places his drink on a nearby table. "first, you're the only person here who looks just about as lonely as i."

"you don't have people to talk to, dorian? you're important. you're one of the most important people here, i'd say."

"you know i'd say the same about you, head archivist."

"erebus. just call me by my name." he clasps his hands together, gently squeezing his palms together.

"erebus." his name is heavy on dorian's lips, slow, said with a soft taste of pine in his voice.

"…you aren't pitying me right now, are you?" it's what erebus hates most.

"no…" dorian shakes his head. he eyes the exit next to him, where the lights grow dim and the music would dissolve into silence. "i can talk to anyone here whenever i'd like. but you are a rarity. even at archives receptions, you are holed up in your office or pretending to be busy so no one approaches you."

"you of all people should know how important our work is," erebus is frustrated, eyes darting away from dorian, hoping that someone will grab him by the arm and whisk him away from this obligation.

"i do. of course i do," dorian nods, "but…"

"but what?"

"is it wrong that i've wanted to get to know you? know you past the formalities of work?"

"heresy is a liar, you know. why should i believe you?"

"i'd like you to use my name too."

erebus swallows. his eyes land on aeron, who is in the middle of putting on a haphazard theatric performance of some horrible story that happened to them recently. aeron notices immediately and locks eyes, smiling, waving their left hand.

god, sometimes his roommate is so innocent.

"why, erebus, are you acting like i want to hurt you?" dorian is serious. he may have been teasing earlier, but his eyes are dark, lips now neutral as opposed to curled upright in his default smile. "is it because everyone else you've ever met has wanted to hurt you? or, at least, that's what you think is happening?"

erebus swallows hard. he looks through dorian, rather than at him.

"because…i'm not here to do that," dorian shakes his head. "especially not here, surrounded by people. in fact, i rather admire you and your commitment to your work. but even so…"

erebus can't bother to look at him right now.

"i can tell you want to talk about other kinds of things. you love your books, but you love other things. but you don't feel like you're worth it past what you're good at. i'm right, aren't i?"

delirium falls silent, his head to the floor, inhaling deep breaths despite no longer needing to use his fragile lungs. dorian does not break the silence between them. he waits for erebus to speak.

and erebus does. "but why does that matter to you? why do you care?"

"do i need to have a reason?"

erebus rubs the dark circles under his eyes.

dorian makes his intentions clear. "i'm asking if the two of us can exit this loud, crowded room. i want to sit down with you, alone, and i want to hear erebus talk. not the archivist, not delirium, but erebus."

erebus looks back up, locks eyes with dorian. "you want me alone?"

"so i can focus on all of you, yes."

delirium will admit he would much prefer to be pulled away from the loud noise and the heat of other bodies. erebus can already feel the weight lifting off his chest, only to be replaced with nearly equal weight, all from one person: dorian.

erebus gives in. "fine."

dorian smiles.

erebus leads dorian down the hall, and the music that encapsulated them starts to fade. he knocks every so often against the wood finishings of corners, of the frames of old paintings. dorian cocks his head in confusion.

"i have a door somewhere between here and my office," erebus explains. doors are like small portals. genesis hides dozens of them in their shared space, all so he can steal trinkets and food from the other two members. he steals erebus's teabags and areon's sewing supplies, but he gives nothing back in return.

eventually, an old painting of a boat, ravaged by a stubborn sea, glows blue with absolute light. a small door opens, and erebus bows, inviting dorian inside.

"can i get you something new to drink?" erebus asks, "i know you just had…what were you drinking?"

"a shirley temple," dorian responds. erebus's office is small, ornately decorated yet humble all in the same visage. it was much like erebus was, strung with books on every wall, with globes and keys and small vials of ink leaving the place in its own orderly disarray. erebus pulls the chair from behind the desk to the front, allowing dorian and erebus to sit on equal footing. "i'm alright. thank you."

erebus nods, makes himself a cup of green tea with jasmine, and sits down.

it takes a few minutes, a few spits of reassurance from dorian for erebus to talk. sometimes, his eyes never leave the swirling liquid inside his teacup. eventually, erebus unravels. he talks about his greenhouse and all the plants he's been growing inside. he talks about his collection of antiques from before his own demonhood, all related to the stars above. he talks about some novels he's read, not novels he's written.

erebus has never been very good at reading emotions.he checks dorian's eyes, his mouth (or what he can of it due to the muzzle), but dorian does not break eye contact once. he sits with full attention on erebus, only moving to settle deeper into his chair. there seem to be stars in his eyes, admiration circling those irises of his. erebus swallows, adjusts his glasses, continues.

does dorian like it? is this just a ploy to collect information on him? erebus didn't really care; his mouth were running faster than his brain was.

but the intense staring, mind swimming…it makes erebus anxious, after an hour or so of infodumping all over this man who was barely more than a stranger.

"am i…bothering you? you look disappointed in me."

dorian refuses to break eye contact (erebus's worst nightmare) as he reaches two of his fingers up to his face. they slide between the bars of his muzzle and swipe gently over his own black lips. "i'm not disappointed in you, erebus. not at all. i'm disappointed in myself."

"why is that?"

heresy stands, his intricately-embroidered coat unfurling with him, revealing shimmering spider lilies and camellias. he gently pushes his glasses further up his nose. erebus is cautious and takes a stand as well, moving his body away from the chair.

"dorian? is everything alright?" erebus asks, but he fears his question will fall on deaf ears.

erebus has always been shorter than dorian, but as dorian approaches him, those silver-plated high heels on his feet, erebus realizes the size difference much clearer. it doesn't take long for erebus to find his back to a wall, with dorian placing one arm next to erebus's head, preventing any escape.

"i'm just disappointed that…" dorian breathes a heavy sigh. any twinge of shame lies behind that muzzle and refuses to leak out. "…i can't kiss you right now."

erebus's eyes go wide. "i'm sorry…?"

in most situations, erebus would have fished a pair of scissors from his pocket and driven them straight into dorian's chest. two problems arose:

one: he doesn't have his scissors, because this wasn't his usual outfit. he must have left them in the pocket of his uniform.

two: he doesn't really…want to, no matter how much his voice swims in confusion.

they sit in silience, whose pressure never bursts or dwindles, and dorian stares with those stars still in his eyes.

erebus is the first to break the silence. "why?"

dorian does not answer at first. that makes erebus anxious.

"…please let me go."

dorian responds immediately. "i'm trying to find a way to explain this that would help you understand. if i tell you that i have no reason, you'll panic. if i tell you it's because you're beautiful, alluring even in your mystery, you'll deny it. if i sit in silence, contemplating an answer, your hands will shake, as they do now."

he locks his fingers with one of erebus's hands. delirium's limbs make small tremors. dorian remedies this by pressing his forehead against delirium's. erebus's eyes light up, confusion being sprinkled with…wonder? relief? he wasn't sure. all erebus knows is that someone is using his name, is holding him and singing him sweet praises that he's never heard in his life (this isn't true, erebus just was not receptive, but that barely matters when heresy pins you against a wall in your own office).

dorian's hand slides back to erebus's face, gently cupping his cheek, thumb running along his jawline. "if you're so anxious, i can stop, we can return to our conversation, and we can pretend this never happened."

erebus does not respond for a long, long while. his mind was swimming, trying to drown his own complex. dorian was, without a doubt, beautiful; something about his mismatched eyes, his black lips, his off-white skin, it was all beautiful. dorian makes himself irresistable just by his existence, and erebus was still trying to wrap his head around why dorian was interested in someone as boring, mean, and hard to obtain as erebus.

maybe the last part was it. it didn't matter now. the bird has caught the snake, right on his own grounds.

erebus raises a hand up to one of the long pieces of dorian's hair. the rest had been tied into a delicate bun and secured with silver hair accessories, save for two sections that trailed down to his chest. his eyes focused on the variations in colors of dorian's hair. peach, off-white cream, gray, strawberry blonde.

"is…everything alright, erebus?"

"pretty."

"what?"

"your hair is pretty."

dorian laughs. "you really think so?"

"yes."

"it used to be curly," dorian explains, "but i suppose the first death and the ash somehow flattened it. thankfully, it's still soft.

"i like it like this," and erebus brings the hair to his nose, inhaling the scent. dorian smells like patchouli and rose with a hint of vanilla.

heresy's ears light up with red, making the silver jewelry glow even brighter.

"for someone so touch-averse, i'm surprised you had the nerve to…sniff my hair?"

"i like nice-smelling things. it puts me at ease." erebus opens his eyes and looks back up at dorian, and the anxiety flushes back in.

"you're a little weird, don't you know that?"

"i…i'm sorry." erebus looks embarrassed.

"no, that's a good thing. i like that."

[audiofictionuk]

New Fiction Podcasts - 3rd February

Coastal Magic Audio Book Elves, Fairies and Dragons... at the beach! Every week, you'll hear a new short story set in the world of Coastal Magic, where monsters and magical creatures live side-by-side with humans in the little tourist town of Seaside. Sometimes, everybody gets along. Sometimes, somebody gets eaten. When that happens, they call the friendly folks at Coastal Magic Solutions - the only fairykind agency in the US that protects humans from magical monsters. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240106-02 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2284175.rss

The Nightmare Realm Audio Book Cross over into The Nightmare Realm and experience tales of terror and the supernatural that will haunt your dreams. The Nightmare Realm is an anthology horror series of narrated audio dramas. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240104-04 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f0101634/podcast/rss

Ravens Vail Coven Podcast Audio Book Welcome to the Ravens Vail Coven. The Coven features short, independent stories with themes ranging from dark horror and fantasy to any other disturbing fiction. The Coven contains stories written outside the ongoing storyline of the Ravens Vasil universe. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240101-15 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/ravensvailcoven/feed.xml

Fear Sound Audio Drama A horror audio drama show for people who like a good scare. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231229-06 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2294731.rss

Chance Die Audio RPG Temptation, Oklahoma offers many opportunities for folks to indulge in their darkest vices. Quinten, James, Atlas, and Dorothy have all arrived for their own reasons... but will they find what they desire? A live play podcast based on World of Darkness. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231229-07 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/ece28dc0/podcast/rss

The Adventures of Lilly and Oxe - A family DND experience Audio RPG One dad who is brand new to D&D and podcasting, attempts to make a DND podcast with his two kids. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20231230-01 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/efcb5378/podcast/rss

Legends of Khampiohn: The Genesis Era Audio Drama Legends of Khampiohn: The Genesis Era is a non-profit DnD fan- based audio drama written by Brad J Taylor and D T Prater. It's inspired by the unpublished works of Ruechelle Hill, who poured love and details into her world. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240104-05 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/efe03270/podcast/rss

Consumed Audio Drama When struggling journalist Sarah Simmons finds herself stranded in an idyllic New Hampshire town, her unexpected visit turns into a nightmare. Steeped in history and filled with legends, the residents of Danville soon learn that the past is not always meant to be forgotten. Their lives will be forever changed, while the hope of a future without terror rests on the shoulders of a stranger who may hold the keys to the past. This is Consumed, a brand new story set in the same universe as the award-winning hit fiction podcast, Bridgewater. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240131-01 RSS: https://www.omnycontent.com/d/playlist/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/c800d851-9bcf-443d-bad1-b0dc010dc0b2/9bdb6573-a2c0-497b-9c06-b0dc010f4a85/podcast.rss

The Sprouting Audio RPG An actual play Call of Cthulhu podcast, The Sprouting explores the eldritch horror of a plant apocalypse. In The Cradle, our humans attempt to survive in a world where mystical plants have taken over, eldritch bargains twist the fabric of reality and each has a goal they must see through to the end. Do you trust your senses, or do you trust each other? I guess you're about to find out. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240131-02 RSS: https://feeds.megaphone.fm/SBP6970569886

A Prophecy Of Incense And Snow Audio Drama Spellbound Fantasies presents A PROPHECY OF INCENSE AND SNOW: a fantasy romance about Atla–a young sorceress raised in seclusion in order to fulfill a prophecy that will save her realm–is visited by an ancient warlock. He tells her that her entire life has been a lie. The man she is destined to marry: evil. The man who might actually save her realm: complicated. And sexy. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240130-01 RSS: https://feeds.simplecast.com/1q1tiSan

ROAR för Eon! Audio RPG Välkommen till Rollspel Och Annat Roligt (ROAR) i Pod format! Detta är ROARs första Pod och det är en actual play podcast där ROAR Master Emil ska spelleda en liten grupp spelare genom Helmgast skapade Mundana och regelsystemet Eon IV! Vi ska ta oss an den tappra utmaningen att spela igenom äventyret: Sylfens Vrede, ett MASSIVT äventyr också av Helmgast! Det är en lättsam Pod som spelar ett väldigt avancerat system. Vi är inga skådespelare eller liknande, utan bara ett gäng vänner som vill spela rollspel och bjuda på en intressant och spännande resa genom världen Mundana. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240128-01 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f165c2f4/podcast/rss

Empire on the Edge Audio Book In tonight's feature, we delve into the gripping tale of Ning Xi, a young heiress caught in a whirlwind of family tragedy and corporate intrigue. As she faces the daunting task of saving her family's empire from the brink of collapse, Ning Xi turns to Jiang Lü, a former high school acquaintance and now a formidable Wall Street tycoon. With her father's life hanging in the balance and her brother wrongfully imprisoned, Ning Xi's desperate bid for Jiang's assistance unfolds into a saga of betrayal, old flames, and high-stakes negotiation. Join us as we unravel this compelling story of resilience, manipulation, and the lengths one will go to protect their legacy. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240130-02 RSS: https://media.rss.com/empire-on-the-edge/feed.xml

Le meilleur pour la fin Audio Drama La mort au théâtre, étrange affaire, non? Qu’est ce qui pousse les grands auteurs, eux même souvent morts depuis des lustres, à tuer leurs personnages sur les planches? Et qu’est ce qui nous pousse nous spectateurs à assister à ce genre de représentation morbide? Une compagnie théâtrale tente de répondre à ces questions en montant la pièce “Le meilleur pour la fin” un florilège de toutes les façons de mourir au théâtre. Nous sommes au théâtre Henri Jeanson et nous écoutons une répétition… https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240130-03 RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/le-meilleur-pour-la-fin

Awakening Audio Book Embark on a suspenseful journey in "The Awakening" series as Amelia awakens in an underground nightmare, surrounded by uncertainty and fear. Join Amelia and her fellow captives as they uncover the secrets of their captors, harness their psychic abilities, and plot their daring escape from a labyrinth of horrors. Experience the growing camaraderie, the weight of captivity, and the flicker of hope that fuels their determination to defy the odds and regain their freedom. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240130-04 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f1806618/podcast/rss

The Susie House Audio Drama A full-cast, Southern Gothic ghost story set in 1936. After falling on hard times, Honor, James, and their young son move into a rural town full of secrets -- many of them about her new home, The Susie House. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240127-01 RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/thesusiehouse

[gummybugg]

hello! i really like character making and character design :]

i'm wondering if there's anything in particular that inspires you. and who/what jumpstarted you into creating your own characters and stories

-🌈

(This one's gonna be a bit all over the place, sorry about that I got a bit excited)

So hi! I really love character creation, it's one of my favorite things to do :')

i'm wondering if there's anything in particular that inspires you

Music like the Beatles, ELO, Queen, Will Wood, indie, punk rock, and really whatever I get when I hit an interesting recommendation (I'm eclectic)

Video games: Persona series, Fallout, Hypnospace Outlaw, Undertale, Sally Face, umm also indie horror games are generally where it's at for me

Jojo's bizarre adventure, one punch man, neon genesis

I was a theater kid at some point and am inspired by Chicago, Cabaret, Cats, Rock of Ages, and Rocky Horror for their wackiness/vibes

Webtoons/comics: Paperteeth!, After Dark, I'm the Grim Reaper, Lovebot, Space Boy, Solid State, The Prince of Southland, Yuna and Kawachan, Electric Bones...

Besides media, I am inspired by people I interact with (which can help me build character relationships) and qualities I pull from the inside. Also, I have had a strong interest in psychology for a long time, so my stories are very character-centered. I also like throwing in a funny edge to most things I create because I don't like being serious 100% of the time. I like to experiment with irony a lot, as you do.

I'm inspired by ideas I wish people talked more about, what'd I liked to have seen as a child, untraditionally beautiful characters, wacky characters, and characters flaunting who they are because they're proud to be themselves. I love unfixable characters who learn to find worth, characters who are overly complex, characters who fall from grace, blah blah blah. Or sometimes I just write characters for fun and with no real motive, who gain a purpose later on by chance. But not all stories need lessons or purposes or morals or whatever. Some things are more fun when they're just existing because they can. I feel like my wip Crater City is like somewhere in between having a purpose and having none at all.

Other things that help inspire oc: drawing them with random art generators, scrapbooking their very own page, filling out oc interviews, participating in writeblr events/games, spending a whole day listening to their playlist, forcing myself to write one scene with them in it, pinterest-ing, creating a blog/journal/site about them, etc.

who/what jumpstarted you into creating your own characters and stories

I started writing as a small child and would create illustrated "stories" based on real events that happened in my life but lowkey exaggerate them because I was like 6, hehe. Or play with barbies or legos or whatever and that's its own thing right there. Then I moved on to big boy things like writing in notebooks about girls with horribly made up names that mysteriously resembled Disney princesses' names because I'm bad at naming things (see: my webkinz pet named "the blue whale").

I'm not sure what jumpstarted character creation for me, I guess it was always this ✨️💕thing inside me all along 💕✨️. I think it was because I was a quiet child and kept to myself, which meant a few friends and a lot of introspection at a young age. But I was/am inspired by things all around me. Things that make me feel nostalgic, bittersweet, or whatever other emotion that's hard for me to explain because emotions are weird for me.

As a child, I created ocs based on who I wanted to be more like. Ex: an outgoing hero with bold hair, a strong anti-hero with a bit of edge, an adventurous hero who easily befriends others, etc, etc.

As a teen, I created ocs fueled by spite ("I can make better ocs than half of you seasoned authors even if I'm just a kid") and also my knowledge of the dsm-5. I think I was inspired most by my trauma, so yeah, that'll do it to you. I still dig deep down for some inspo from my Deep Dark Past™, which has helped me understand myself and ocs better, who would have guessed? But this doesn't exempt me from research.

As an adult I am motivated to write because of the impending doom that we all die some day so I better wrap it up before something happens to me and I lose my ability to write by some chance I'm out of college and I have my whole life ahead of me and have no more boring essays tying me down :'DD

[unforestalledreturn-a]

💖 - What’s something you like about your muse?

🎼 - What’s your favorite song?

|| Questions for the mun! Status: Accepting!

💖 - What’s something you like about your muse?

// If we are speaking strict canon, I actually find the character of Genesis to be a little lacking. Especially prominent in the English translation, it felt to me that the writers heavily flip-flopped around the concept of whether he was meant to be an unapologetic villain (like Voldemort from the Harry Potter series) or a sympathetic villain (like Itachi from Naruto). Either could be incredibly compelling characters, but I feel the indecision really watered down his potential. Funny enough, it is that same potential that I like most about Genesis. Because he has incredibly contradicting narratives, I have the freedom to carve what I think makes most sense. I feel that by in large, Crisis Core as a game was meant to hype up the original characters like Cloud and Sephiroth, and did well to make Zack a relevant part of the story. But I feel some shortcuts were made in this hype to where characters like Angeal, Genesis, and Lazard were less fleshed out and more reactionary to whatever the plot needed to create this hype. All that said, I really and thoroughly enjoy marrying a canon that most fans come to dislike Genesis and present a narrative that does not take away from the original, but gives context and meaning that can make him more fleshed out and even likable (whether it be in the sense of 'love to hate' or 'love to love')

🎼 - What’s your favorite song?

// So, to make this very brief, I had quite the stifled upbringing. It was very religious, very limited to what was approved and what was not. So anything with rock, metal, swear words, crass themes, etc., were not allowed. If the music video had any sort of 'immodesty', kissing, or even implied sexual acts, drugs, or 'gay' activity, it was banned. And while most things were not explicitly banned, it was more of a whitelist situation rather than a blacklist, although the blacklist was as mentioned above. The whitelist were gospel hymns, so of them, sure I had 'favorites'. But I would never say gospel music was even remotely close to a favorite genre or a song. But since I left that religion some years ago, my music world has definitely opened up, although you could say I am always 'behind' the current trends. So, rather than a favorite song, I'll share my small but growing playlist of songs I just like. :) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL300TsF82GTKGaW30Z-qIodZgwlyT_sgu&si=ka0HhO6_fNc-Up2m You will find it.. eclectic, some angst, some soft, and a bit all over the place. A lot of vocaloid tbh because I was a simp for one of them when I was a wee lass XD (yes I broke the rules to listen to them ono)

[rottenpumpkin13]

I'M SCREAMING and CRYING

"overgrown garden" by beetlebug to cc and post cc Genesis??

"I wonder if you'll leave me behind someday, among the wildflowers and the lilies sleeping by the way, but it's okay because I would do anything for you" as the chorus

describing how they're slowing drifting apart an not paying attention to him

"the thorns grew tighter everyday, round your ankles dripping red. you placed a crown of marigolds on my head and then you said as you tried to pull your bloody hands away: I'm never gonna leave you behind someday...because I love you and I would do anything, I would do anything, anything at all"

ending with "I wonder when you left me behind that day, sleeping beneath the willow withering away, if you were okay because I would do anything, I would do anything"

AAAAAAAAAAAAAA-

Dude this made me cry for real ;-; I'm adding it to my playlist!

Ok ok ok so song for song.

Mama by My Chemical Romance as a song for Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal and the Jenova project as a whole.

Mama, we're all full of lies

Mama, we're meant for the flies

And right now they're building a coffin your size

Mama, we're all full of lies

Well mother look what the war did to my legs and to my tongue.

You should have raised a baby girl

I should've been a better son

If you could coddle the infection

They can amputate at once

You should've been

I could have been a better son

And when we go don't blame us, yeah

We'll let the fires just bathe us, yeah

You made us oh so famous;

We'll never let you go

She said, "You ain't no son of mine!"

For what you've done they're

Gonna find a place for you

And just you mind your manners when you go.

[raeloganthesonic06fangirl]

Sonic Ask: 💥

Metal Overlord has such a special place in my heart.

"Sonic Heroes" was my introduction into the 3D era of Sonic, having just had the original Genesis games, Knuckles Chaotix, and Creativity Studio up until that point. It would be my introduction to Shadow, Rouge, Omega, Cream and Big, and it left such an impression on me as a young teen as to what I liked as a good structure for a Sonic game as well.

Metal Sonic being revealed as the true mastermind, my first taste of a Crush 40 song, and the fact that I had spent literally three weeks trying to find out what "Play Last Story" meant, so I kept playing the four main stories on repeat trying to find a secret entry point before one of my besties told me that I needed to just scroll to the right on the menu and holy heck, I was stoked. 🤩

The full song of the fight is also why I have an actual physical Sonic OST copy for this game and not just some rip download or streaming playlist.

I absolutely love the concept, the design and gameplay of this fight. Metal's banter and the fast paced attacks makes this one of the best in the series and after playing SA1 and SA2 after this game eventually, I could see where the groundwork was set.

Also, I absolutely love Metal Sonic.

Of course, there's something to be said about Biolizard and the fun mechanics of Egg Dealer

If we're including the retro games, then Stardust Speedway too

[stingslikeabee]

With every bit of attention that Melissa gave to the amulet she wore, it meant that Genesis could continually gain more power and exist further away from the amulet. Which was beneficial to both of them -- it meant that he could travel further out and help her secure all those acting roles and classes that would fuel her continued rise to stardom.

But it came with a downside, and one that he hadn't anticipated.

He'd just returned from securing another potential role for his protégé when the sudden throb of pain in his left shoulder caught him off guard. Fortunately he'd already returned to Melissa's apartment, and so he could just focus on riding the waves of pain out. It wasn't an unusual pain, the dull ache was one he was familiar with, but he hadn't anticipated the sudden flare up.

He didn't even know if Melissa was here or not, or even if she was asleep or not, but he just needed to get to the bathroom and try to focus on getting through the pain. It was that bad that he couldn't even maintain his low-level glamour, and as he finally made it to the bathroom and peeled off the robe he'd been wearing, he was running the water of the bathtub in an attempt to muffle his pained sounds, pressing his fings over deeply cracked and scarred skin that looked very much like kintsugi.

Eventually he couldn't seem to take the pain any longer and he finally called out. "M-Melissa? Are you there, honey...?"

unscripted asks . always accepting

It had been a minor case of bad luck: the sound of the washing machine had muffled Genesis' return and his quick steps inside had failed to draw Melissa's attention. The girl was distracted with her usual chores, starting laundry and getting the dishes done while singing a random tune from her current playlist of earworms - it wasn't until the voice of her mentor and protector got louder that she realized he was back.

Melissa did not run towards him - Genesis' tone did not indicate he was under any particular kind of distress (possibly because he found the strength to call out in-between the waves of pain), but the brunette immediately screamed in surprise and dropped to her knees at the sight of the beloved creature experiencing something awful. Her first instinct had been to cover his body with hers - to embrace the battered flesh and bruises found there, without any question or comment relating to their origin.

The actress held him tightly at the side of the tub, murmuring sweet nothings into his ear and stroking the auburn locks of hair. With that proximity, the amulet around her neck also flashed brighter - although that went unnoticed between the two of them, it did work as some sort of stabilizer. Within the proximity of the one thing that had been nothing but a prison to Genesis, the spasms of pain seemed to grow further apart, giving him a breather and a chance to regain his speech.

The man's naked state was of no importance - by the time that the deity moved away from his protégé's grasp to look at her, Melissa's soft gasp was not of horror or revulsion, but compassion. Genesis did not say anything - and neither did the actress ask for an explanation. All she did was to move a hand to touch him, starting with the edge of his visage and where the marks were more evident, traveling south towards the neck and shoulder, fingertips brushing over the scars and looking at him for evidence that the gestures could be considered unpleasant.

But nothing happened - Genesis made no move to push her away or cover himself; and although that moment had been unplanned by either of them, Melissa seemed to understand that something serious had happened. The amulet was hotter against her skin, as if it had done something to restore the man to his usual self - but it didn't take the girl too long to put two and two together, realizing that his appearance had been altered through magical means before.

He was, after all, inhuman - his influence and power over others had made it clear, and Melissa had witnessed many cases that testified to his magnificence. For him to stand the trial of her gaze and not offer any apology or restore the glamor that had been in place before could only mean that he was either too tired or trusted his mistress with that information.

Melissa really, really hoped it was the latter.

It seemed as if the two of them were suspended from time and space - and that it would be a shame to break the spell with something as mundane as words. Inhaling sharply, Melissa moved on her knees to get closer to him again, holding his face with tenderness (albeit firmly) - her honeyed eyes looked deep into his brilliant ones, thumbs brushing the moisture found there (either tears or droplets of sweat caused by his physical exertion) and kissed him on the lips.

But that wasn't Melissa's goal - the press was quick and sweet, but just a prelude to the ones she then placed over his jaw, neck and shoulder. Whenever there was a scar, cruising through milky skin and leaving a golden trail in place, her lips brushed over that patch of bruised flesh as if it could absolve the man of his prior sins. It was ironic - Melissa lacked very important information in relation to the motive for such terrible treatment that was no doubt punishment for something; and yet, her acts were of pure acceptance and healing.

It didn't matter what he had done before - to the aspiring actress, all that was worthy of note was his effort where she was concerned, the companionship provided and the vulnerability displayed. Melissa had sold her soul to him, rather willingly, too - she never expected to get a bit of his in return.

"I'm here now," she said at length, but only when all the visible patches of mauled flesh had been given some token of affection. Looking up with expectant eyes, the brunette caressed the piece of jewelry around her neck and smiled at Genesis with the absolute certainty that she loved him. "I will leave if you are feeling better and wish to bathe - but I can stay if you want me to."

[bibaybe]

Teen Wolf OC Masterlist

Teen Wolf

Grayson Bishop

age: 17

character type: side character

appearances: season 5 (minor), season 6 (main)

gender and pronouns: cis man, he/him

sexuality: bisexual

love interest: josh diaz, theo raeken

faceclaim: anthony turpel

series: running with the wolves

summary: part of the moonwood pack, led by sullivan lahey. younger brother of sullivan's girlfriend(tba). only human allowed with the pack due to his sister's influence. turned into a chimera in season 5 and later resurrected by theo raeken.

links: playlist / tag

James Lahey

age: 41

character type: side character

appearances: season 4 (minor), season 5 (main)

gender and pronouns: cis man, he/him

sexuality: straight

love interest: genesis bishop

faceclaim: tom hardy

series: running with the wolves

summary:n/a

links: playlist / tag

Jayda Barlowe

age: 16-18

character type: side character

appearances: season 2-6 (minor)

gender and pronouns: cis woman, she/her

sexuality: straight

love interest: n/a

faceclaim: skai jackson

series: running with the wolves

summary: tba

links: playlist / tag/ fic- runaway

Jian Zhao

age: 16

character type: side character

appearances: season 2 (minor), season 3 (main), season 4 (main), season 5 (minor), season 6 (minor)

gender and pronouns: cis man, he/him

sexuality: gay

love interest: isaac lahey

faceclaim: wang zi yi

series: running with the wolves

summary: Jian had grown up on stories of special people with abilities far beyond normal humans. People who could run faster than Olympians, who were more agile than gymnasts, who were clairvoyant, though he wouldn’t know what that meant until he was older. The Zouyu had been his heroes since he was young, but they were nothing but daydreams to him, no matter how much his grandmother said that they were real. That is, until the day he looked at Scott McCall in the hallway and all he was red, screaming in his head.  The moment shook him. But when Scott came to school the next day, suddenly ripped and amazing at lacrosse, Jian shook it off. Obviously, Scott was fine, right? Whatever he saw, it must have been his imagination. Over time though, these moments began to happen more and more, and soon enough he came to realize that his grandmother was right - the Zouyu were real. And his family were part of them.  Suddenly able to relate to his grandmother on another level, he began working with her to understand his visions. His sister may not have gotten the gift of clairvoyance, but she was certainly agile and fast enough that they could spar against each other evenly matched. And things were fine, for a while. Suddenly being known as the weird kid who likes to pop his nose into others’ business with annoyingly good advice is certainly a plus. That is, until Jian’s at a lacrosse game and looks at new girl, Willow Lahey, and sees her chained to the floor, red tinting the vision. And suddenly, his gift is no longer something fun but something that can effect real life.

links: tag / fic - runaway

Lisha Zhao

age: 15

character type: side character

appearances: season 3 (minor), season 4 (main), season 5 (minor), season 6 (main)

gender and pronouns: cis woman, she/her

sexuality: lesbian

love interest: willow lahey, hayden romero

faceclaim: peyton elizabeth lee

series: running with the wolves

summary: N/A

links: playlist / tag

Willow Lahey

age: 16

character type: main character

appearances: season 2-6 (main)

gender and pronouns: cis woman, she/her

sexuality: bisexual

love interest: lisha zhao, stiles stilinski

faceclaim: kiernan shipka

series: running with the wolves

summary:Abandoned by her father to the foster care system, Willow has spent her life dreaming for a family who would love her for who she is. The next twelve years are hell. That is, until she sneaks into her social worker’s office and discovers that, after all this time, she’s had family just a bus ride away. Determined to get out of the precarious situation she’s in, Willow runs away to Beacon Hills, eager to convince her uncle to take her in. Instead, she discovers her uncle has just been murdered and her cousin, Isaac, is the prime suspect. Now the police are asking questions, two boys who claim to be Isaac’s friend are hovering around her, and weird things are happening all around her. It doesn’t help that her social worker is livid and determined to take her back to the orphanage, leaving Willow fighting to stay in Beacon Hills while also trying to discover the truth behind her cousin’s mysterious disappearance.

links: playlist / tag / fic - runaway

Yùméi Zhao

age: 51

character type: side character

appearances: season 3-6 (minor)

gender and pronouns: cis woman, she/her

sexuality: lesbian

love interest: n/a

faceclaim: ming-na wen

series: running with the wolves

summary: Lisha and Jian's grandmother. A zouyu. Runs an antiques shop and employs Willow in later seasons.

links: playlist / tag

[jzontheazarian]

The Story Behind gab’s Breathtaking New Single ‘LINGER’

gab is an emerging R&B sensation, drawing inspiration from both contemporary artists like Victoria Monet and legends like Whitney Houston. Her soulful voice and captivating tunes have garnered our interest and we believe you should take notice too. She has a distinctive style that fuses her heritage and influences, producing music that appeals to listeners across genres and generations. We had the privilege to converse with the gifted singer about her background, her virtual music journey, the genesis of her song ‘Rear View Mirror’ and her latest single ‘Linger.’ Read on to discover more about this remarkable artist and her music.

Jzon Azari: We came across you thanks to your previous song ‘Rear View Mirror.’ What can you share with us about how the song came to be? gab: ‘REAR VIEW MIRROR’ started with a voice memo. I was trying to find nice chord progressions and when I found the one RVM uses, the verse melody came almost automatically. As for the lyrics, I was heavily inspired by the warning message on the side mirrors of cars — the one that says “Objects in mirrors are closer than they appear.” Something about that phrase sounded ominous and sounded like good inspiration.

What inspired you to pursue a career in R&B music? Growing up I have unknowingly been exposed to R&B. My mom loved listening to Whitney Houston, radio stations in the Philippines always played Mariah Carey, and I grew up at the time when Rihanna’s and Beyoncé’s music videos were always played on MTV. I think part of me was just naturally drawn to the instrumentation and raw, feelings-forward nature of R&B. It allowed me to explore the extent of my creativity and express my thoughts and ideas freely.

How would you describe your musical style and influences? Diverse. I used to describe my taste as messy because my playlists would often just be a mix of everything. Shuffling my liked songs can go from Tyler, the Creator to NIKI to ITZY.

I don’t think there is a singular way to describe my influences except that I listen to good music, and good music to me is often just honest songwriting and vocal expression (and a good bassline). Finding good songs inspires me to continue creating and cultivating my own, unique sound.

How does your Filipino background influence your musical identity and expression?In every way, shape, and form possible. Ever since I was a kid there would always be singing competitions of some sort on TV, even on live radio. I also grew up like every typical Filipino kid — there was a karaoke machine at almost every party and family gathering meant performing for my aunts and uncles in exchange for a crispy 20-peso bill, sometimes two. In a way, you were “forced” to find a talent you can share at some point when you’re Filipino.

The exposure to music was and is constantly there so I guess you can say the pursuit of a creative career felt like second nature.

How do you incorporate elements of your culture and heritage into your songs? I have quite a lot of unreleased songs written in our national language, Filipino. There are no certain release dates yet but I hope to share them soon.

I’ve also made sure to work with at least one local creative, whether it be with the song art or any other assets that I release with the song. Supporting fellow Filipino creatives is very important to me and I hope I can continue to do so as more and more people find my music. What are some of the challenges and opportunities you face as a female R&B singer in the industry? Being a female in the industry is already inherently difficult. We have to work twice as hard to “prove” that we are talented enough for the job. However, I am very thankful to be pursuing this career at a time when there is a community ready to provide very positive support for female Asian acts. This is a privilege I acknowledge and am grateful for as it makes it easier for artists like me to release music continuously. What are some of the challenges and benefits of being a Filipino R&B singer in the US market? My ethnicity is 100% my boon and my bane. I’m very proud to be a Filipino trying to take up space in the western R&B space but it is also very challenging to compete with those that have long been in the space.

Since a lot of my work and collaborations are also done virtually, it is much harder for me to come across opportunities that I would otherwise have more access to. Working through video calls and messages has been very good for me but I would love to get the opportunity to see my long-time collaborators in person someday. That being said though, I am very proud of the things I have achieved with my friends given our limitations and I’m excited to see where this journey takes us.

How do you connect with your Filipino fans and community through your music? It took a while for me to find my Filipino community because I worked on targeting the US market for a while, but when REAR VIEW MIRROR gained some traction on TikTok, I finally had the opportunity to connect with more listeners in the Philippines. I currently have a Discord and an Instagram group chat where we talk about basically anything and everything. They’re all very cool people and I appreciate all the love that they’ve been showing me. How do you deal with stereotypes and expectations as a Filipino female artist? Being a female Filipino artist, people often expect me to belt and sing with a very whole, rounded voice since it is the stereotype and the narrative the media has pushed for a while now. As someone with a voice on the softer side, I used to be very insecure about the way I sing. This is why I’m thankful for the likes of Reese Lansangan and Clara Benin — both Filipino artists — for breaking the diva stereotype attached to Filipino female artists. What are some of the themes and messages you want to convey through your songs? Almost all my songs are diary entries. I started writing when I was 15 and it was my creative outlet and self-expression. Many of the things I write are the typical musings of a young adult trying to navigate life. Not knowing what the next move is, the burdens of pursuing your passions, and the ups and downs of love and friendship. In a way my songs are my letters to those who find themselves in what I write, to remind them that they’re not alone. What are some of the social and political issues that you care about and address in your music? As an Asian woman, specifically a Filipina, I need to use my platform to champion the messages that benefit us as a whole. While I haven’t had the chance to address these things directly in my songs yet, I make an effort to talk about these issues and share relevant information through my social media accounts. How do you balance your personal and professional life as a singer? It’s difficult, quite frankly. I am currently studying architecture (and getting my degree next year!) which is a very time-consuming major. A lot of the work we do takes a lot of time before they are fully finished so balancing my time as a student and artist is a struggle. I’ve considered putting music on hold many times but it is one of the few things that keep me sane, which is quite ironic, so here I am. It’s all gonna pay off someday. I know it.

What are some of the goals and dreams you have for your future as an artist? Right now my goal is to find my place in the local music scene. I would love to do live performances and gigs whenever possible and collaborate with more local talents. As for long-term, bigger goals, there’s quite a lot. I want to create my own merch line, start a collective that will help independent artists and creatives, and go on tour. It would also be a dream come true to work with artists I look up to and be recognized by them in a way. A spot in the top 10 of major music charts would also be nice and of course, a Grammy. Big dreams but nothing is impossible. Who are some of the R&B singers you admire and look up to? I have so much respect for artists that play a huge part in the creation of their songs and the overall creative direction of their brands. As someone who writes all of her songs, I know firsthand how it can be such a process sometimes and I admire all the artists that seem to hit the mark every single time.

Victoria Monét and Kehlani are the ones I look up to a lot. As for local acts, I already mentioned them before but Reese Lansangan and Clara Benin have inspired me a lot.

How do you celebrate and honor your Filipino roots and traditions through your music? I am such a fan of local talent. There are so many talented and amazing creatives — graphic designers, illustrators, calligraphers, producers, audio engineers, social media creatives, the list goes on and on. Every time I release a song I try to work with at least one. I believe that there are enough opportunities for all of us and using your reach to help a fellow artist does not take away anything from you at all. After months of anticipation, fans can finally enjoy your new single ‘LINGER.’ How would you describe the sound and the message of this song? What inspired you to create this musical masterpiece? Before this song, all my releases have been a little angsty and a little sad. LINGER is definitely on the lover-girl side. Xoe, my producer, sent me the beat for this song back in 2021. In fact, he was ready to throw the beat away saying he’s sent it to multiple artists already, but nobody got back to him about it.

Well, this is where we ended up around two years later, with a song that’s quite the anthem for lovers and an equally good song to help you manifest your ideal relationship. As always, this song is a mixture of my experiences, book plots, and movie scenes.

I’d also like to give a quick shoutout to Brenno for completing the song with his guitar and bass, and to Canvos for being the best mentor slash consultant, constantly pushing me and wanting me to be at the top of my game. And of course, last but not least, thank you to Peter for making the most intricate, beautiful pieces of art that accompany my songs.

And to everyone who listens, like all my songs, I hope LINGER soundtracks the good moments of your life and gives you comfort when things feel a little heavy. Thank you for being here.