#but there were a couple of extra ones I totally forgot about because I hadn't tracked yet oops

[fridayyy-13th]

for the honesty hour, what got u into tma?

okay okay SO. sort of a long story, buckle up. this tale actually technically starts a couple years before i even listened to the podcast; it's not really a necessary part of the story but i think it gives some neat extra context.

so back in 2018, i was getting into horror for the first time, particularly psychological horror (i still can't really deal with slashers or gore or anything, so psychological horror is my spooks of choice lol). and in the art class i was taking, one of my desk neighbors would give me recommendations. they had recommended Doki Doki Literature Club to me, and i'd loved it! so when they recommended me a podcast called The Magnus Archives, i went home and checked it out...by poking around on the wiki for a little bit to suss out the kinds of spooks it entailed. poking it with a long stick to see if it would bite me, as it were. i read through the wiki synopsis for a random episode (which was MAG 034 - Anatomy Class), decided it was too scary for me, didn't listen to it, and subsequently completely forgot about the entire thing.

jump forward to 2021, i once again had a vague awareness of Magnus due to following some artists for fandoms like Hermitcraft and YTTD who also made art for TMA. at this point it was kinda just in my periphery? i hadn't really given listening a second thought yet.

...and then in December i got covid for the first time, totally smacking down all plans of going out to do stuff or visiting friends.

so like, i had absolutely nothing to do for the holidays. i mean, i'd started playing Deltarune chapter 2, so i had that going for me, but that was it. i was bored outta my mind. and then one evening, i was scrolling aimlessly through tumblr at like 12 in the morning when a piece of jmart fanart caught my eye. i wound up searching the TMA tag, and after watching @/faerie--kei's fantastic Home PMV, i was Deeply Intrigued and Very Curious. the next morning i decided to start listening, and the subsequent two weeks absolutely rewired my brain.

and yknow how i mentioned that back in 2018 i had been told about this podcast, but didn't pick it up til three years later? the entire first thirty-three episodes felt strangely familiar, and then i listened to MAG 034 and went "OH HEY WAIT I READ ABOUT THIS ONCE DIDN'T I." and then it became my favorite episode!! so it came full-circle; the episode that initially scared me off became one of the ones i love the most.

i actually think i finished MAG 200 on the evening of Christmas Day? so that was a nice little gift to end my holiday, lol. i remember sitting on my bed after 199 like "wow. this is it. and i know how it ends." (due to aforementioned PMV.) "but maybe it won't actually end that way??? One Can Only Hope :)" and then i listened to 200 and yeah. ouch. i have been insane about this podcast ever since.

so uh the short answer is "the throes of boredom caused by sickness." i'm actually re-listening to it currently, much more slowly, since it's been a couple years. it's just as good as the first time, maybe even moreso because now i don't just have a vague idea of where everything goes, i know exactly when and how things go downhill. fun times :D

[lightcreators]

Day he might sleep again during couple of hours during a night … was still awaited. He didn't know if such moment would even coming back inside his existence again. He didn't know if someday he would have occassion to pulled inside well-merited rest he depriving himself. Only, during that particular night, there had no obscure conversation with Potter in the darkness, where with his friends, they were discussing about their future next moves --- He decided to let Potter having sweet dreams and having an wonderful headache to pull he-stopped-counting elements around circumstances, same with mental struggle he might have to put together every possibility of an move for a result. Some nights, he was sooooooooooo tired of his inability to do an single gesture. Some nights, he cannot handle how his sloweness was something so tiring he would have to remind positions of the pieces inside the chessboard, how much circumstances changed, how much margin they had … On his own part, he was dealing with it every day. Every day, he had to transforming moves inside the chessboard, and sometimes anticipating might could happens next. Every day, he was searching to bring coincidence inside an controlled notion over his hands. If there was whispering about how he wasn't present once sleeping time born, he didn't noticing them anymore. Inside the common room, he found an pleasant little room for himself, where, regardless if it's was so small compared to his bedroom of his manor --- where he could complain at this point the common room was TOO SMALL in general --- at least he had an spot where he was tranquil. At this current time of hours, he would have preparing himself to sleep actually. Within these three hours, he would need another one for taking care of himself --- even though he anticipated enough for doing that once he finished eat for passing all the night having mission to get his mind distracted --- and the surviving hour would serve as mental preparation for rest. Hoping sleeping inside that last one hour, before classes starts, would be totally useless considering his body will refuse.

Nevertheless, interest germed amusingly within his features as he explained himself. Study, at this time of hour, three hours before classes ? It looked like an wonderful excuse. For an couple of seconds, he almost believed that kind of explanation --- as himself won't tell he had sleeping troubles for bring all bullshit defense he could find, where sometimes it was half truths for not having another other choice on the matter. Though, playfully, as he wanted having fun with such bet, he was going to believe him. ❝ Oh, you're really doing it at the last minute if you forgot homework from the day before~ Revisions at this time are terrible, they destroy your brain so much that you barely understand~ ❞ Considering he hadn't turned an expert to keep himself awake at night, of course, he tried that before. He tried to doing his homework at this time of hours, as a test --- because he came so bored, because he thought he might remember something … It had inscreased his boredom. It had inscreased his tiredness. He cannot even read a book without sighing ! ❝ It's brave of you~ ❞ Whatever if it's was the truth or a lie, he didn't care --- it was funny to actually pondering how real such sentence was, because, hey hey hey, it was his beloved Illusions domain ! For the following question, he almost admitted the truth. He didn't usually night walks at that time of hour but … did night walks during the night. So much catching offguard by his own amusement, he had been so ready to confessing himself out of the blue. Something … that cannot be known. Something that really shouldn't be known. ❝ I like to give myself extra hours outside of lessons. ❞ He responded with a disinterested shrug. ❝ I do my homework in advance, I revise in advance and since I'm a curious boy, I document myself. ❞ The last part was an way to say : I'm actually visting the entire castle of Hogwarts, wish I could made food on the kitchen, and oh, for fun, I search secrete doors because must be some. Of course, bonus hidden part of I'm currently talking with my rival-somepart-ally about how make circumstancese easier because within appareances I'm too much a asshole towards Potter it's impossible to take back that lie I have to befriend him in middle of the night, which giving me more reasons to insult him in daylight cannot been expressed. Inside his tone, he reflected how that hard-working stuff wasn't that much a big deal. Though, he cannot help to laugh a lot over his reassurance. ❝ Unless when you are a Malfoy~ ❞ Understanding he would have to be more specific, he added. ❝ If my father found out that I was tarnishing my family name by falling asleep at eight o'clock in the morning at first class, I would be greeted magnificently by a Howler furiously telling me that I would be a disgrace to my family … and oh, I can hope for a surprise visit from my father~ ❞ It was expressed amusingly as he confessed even more playfully. ❝ Who would lecture me more intensely that if, unfortunately, my grades weren't up to his desired requirements~ ❞

               ˜”*°•.     It  was  difficult  -  balancing  restless  nights  side  by  side  with  classes  and   homework .  He’d  wanted  to  think  it  was  controllable  -  rest  optional ,  a  luxury  he  could  live  without .  Yet ,  concentration  had  begun  to  grow�� scarcer  and  scarcer  while  nights ?  Longer ,  so  much  more  torturous .  At  least ,  he  was  not  alone  that  night .  Something  he  wasn’t  sure  whether  he  should  be  happy  about  or  not  -  what  kind  of  demons  haunted  the  other’s  mind  ?  what  kind  of  predicament  had  robbed  him  of  a  good  night’s  sleep ?    Most  students  roaming  the  school  that late   could  either  have   much  on  their  mind  or  the  suicidal  desire  to  sneak  into  the  forbidden  forest, after all .  Idea ,  which  he’d  once  had  himself ,  yet  idea  he’d  so  far  resisted .  And  so ,  a  negligible  shrug  was  offered  upon  the  other’s  words .   ❝  I  am .  Only  because  I  need  to  study,  though . ❞  The  lie  slipped  out  smooth  and  easy  -  a  casual  façade  accompanying  words  of  a  similarly  innocent  nature .  No .  He  was  there  because  he  was  haunted  by  nightmares .  He  was  there  because  he’d  grown  tired  of  waking  up  in  terror .  And  maybe  he  could’ve  turned  his  lie  believable  by  carrying  some  random  book ;  he’d  been  too  tired  to  even  think  about  it,  though .

❝  So ,  what  about  you ?  Didn’t  know  you  were  fond  of  night  walks . ❞  He  teased  -  words  aiming  to  mostly  extract  information ,  some  decent  gossipy .  He  was  just  as  bored  as  the  other ,  anyway .  Clock  ticking  too  slow ,  while  mind ?  Racing  with  unforeseeable  speeds,  generating  the  most   incomprehensible  of  thoughts .  A  one-hour-nap  before  classes  started  -  plan  that  sounded  appealing ,  however  would  it  work  ?  The  risk  of  waking  up  even  more  exhausted  than  before   pushing  him  towards  spending  the  whole  day  awake .  Maybe  he’d  fall  asleep  easier  the  following  night .  Maybe  he’d  be  too  tired  to  dream .  ❝ I  doubt  professor  will  say  anything  interesting  at  eight  in  the  morning.  You  might  as  well  sleep  during  the  lesson .  ❞ 

[jimjamthehorrorman]

"Texas Hold Em'"

(PART TWO of the "Unconditional Love" fic. In this AU, the boys are all alive, modern setting and not cannibals. Just a bunch of eccentric boys with secrets. Hope you enjoy!)

Early morning, a tinge of blue coats the walls like thick paint. You forgot to close the curtains, but this isn't your house, so how would you remember so easily? You wonder if your dog is having a good time lazying up the house with your friend who came to pupsit. But you have other things to worry about, she's in good hands.

The guest room at the boys farm was empty other than an uncomfortable old futon, some strange bone art (as you know, Nubbins and Bubba are quite the taxidermy artists) and the subtle smell of a "cinnamon clove" candle on the dresser that really ties it all together.

The sound of a rooster crowing next to the window reminds you..

"The boys are up already. Today I finally get to meet the notorious 'Chop Top'" you thought to yourself, struggling to get the heavy flannel sheets off so you can get dressed. "first day as a farmhand, that's a step up from gas station attendant."

When Drayton saw how easily you got along with the boys, he realized that you could be a good addition to the farm. Obviously you wouldn't live there full time. You've got your own home and your own life seperate from them, but something draws you there when you have free time. Actually, someone.

Stomping down the hall, you hear boots already mud clodden. Speak of the devil, he knocks at the door frame with a gentle thud. He groans in a way that almost sounds like "are you up?" You see his eye barely peak through the gap in the door.

"I'm getting dressed, Bubba!" You shout, grasping at the sheets to cover yourself. You hear the sound of his heels turning and a slight jog that turns into some thudding and stomping again. He must have been embarrassed because he turned heel, ran, stumbled and hit the lamp in the hall on his way out.

"BUBBA YOU FOOL, YOU DAMNED NEAR BROKE GRANDMA'S GOOD LAMP!"

Drayton's up.

"GODDAMNIT BOY, GO ON OUT AND GET THE TRACTOR STARTED!"

You hope to yourself he isn't like that with you. Poor Bubba.

"You about ready in there Y/N? We've got to get some work done and then we'll get breakfast made." He took a totally different tone with you. It's almost sickening that he can be so nice to you and so mean to his brothers, but you can't complain because he'll do his best to hold his tongue with you around.

"I'll be out in just a few, Drayton! I'm putting my boots on now!"

He chuckled on his way down the hall.

"Chop Top's back from the VA Hospital, so be prepared. He's crazier than any of us." You can't tell if he's joking or dead serious.

You meet Nubbins at the door.

"Hey! Hey Y/N! Bubba wants you to meet the animals and his favorite are the birds! They're so nice, really good tempered! The ducks are his favorite but I think the chickens are mine!"

"Alright! We'll go check them out together, they have to be fed anyways right?"

"Oh yeah! And they eat real good too! Hungry little things!"

He prances down the lane towards a little crooked shack, Bubba's standing outside the door putting buckets of water and feed out for the birds. He just can't stop wearing that pretty mask and suit. He knows how much you like it and you haven't seen the other mask since the day you met. He's dressed to impress and he's going to get his dress boots dirty, you just KNOW it.

The sun's come up as you were coming down the lane and Nubbins, running in his standard silly formation, makes it to the door and slams it open, letting out all the chickens to Bubba's dismay. He hadn't finished putting everything down and now he has to get his shoes muddy to get back to the other side.

He looks to Nubbins and groans loudly, putting his hand up to his masked face. Shaking his head, he walks around the muddy nasty pen and finishes his job. As soon as he sees you he perks up, running out the pen and nearly ripping his good coat on the wire fence.

"Good morning big guy! Thanks for the privacy this morning!" You laugh as you watch his cheeks redden from under the mask. "It's alright you didn't know I was changing. Anything exciting planned for this afternoon?"

He points toward the gate at the end of the midpoint in the driveway, a truck is making it's way out toward the road and you see Drayton, his mouth running like he's cursing his whole way out. His window is closed but you feel for the poor soul on the other end of the phone.

Nubbins runs up and grabs you by the shoulder. "He's going to get Chop Top from the bus station in town! They finally got him out, he's going to get him and we'll have a great time, a hell of a time!"

You've heard wild stories about this guy, and you weren't sure how to feel about him but certainly he would come to be as close to you as the other boys.

Bubba and Nubbins finish doing their jobs while you get some Alfalfa treats for the cattle out back. Who knew these hefty old things were like big dogs themselves? The one with the biggest horns you knew to be "Dolly" the longhorn named by Drayton and his favorite. You give her a couple extra treats for good measure.

It's only been about fifteen minutes since Drayton left, and based on Nubbins' watch, he wouldn't be back for another 45. Now's your chance to get even closer to Bubba. He doesn't talk much but there's a spark and he for sure likes you.

More of an action than words guy, that boy.

"Hubba Bubba, look at you all fancy!" You smile at him, he's got his sleeves rolled up to the elbow, his pant legs rolled to the knee and he's slinging a 50 lb bag of cracked corn into the feeder. He looks down at you, giving you a once over before wiping corn dust off of his tie and jacket. "I'm done with my jobs if you want to go on a walk!"

Bubba giggles to himself before putting the burlap sack on the pile and walking up to you, excited to spend time with you, knowing soon you two can have a snack at the barn.

"So, do you like living on the farm?"

He nods, he loves it here with all the animals, you can tell. He scratches his chin under the mask. He must get hot wearing those all the time and shaves quite often so it must get itchy.

Walking down a hill toward the barn you pass a beaten up old shed. Getting too close to the door he grabs your hand and snags you in close to him. He's shaking his head no.

"What's wrong with the shed, Bub?"

He looks uncomfortable and points to the barn.

"Okay okay, we'll keep moving." You give him a pat on the lower back and keep walking before giving one hesitant glance back at the shed. What's in there and why is he not letting you in? Weird.

Halfway to the barn you realize you're still holding Bubba's hand. He's tangled his fingers up in yours and you feel him gently trailing his thumb around on your hand. He looks down at you every once in a while just to be sure you're comfortable. He's nervous and it's easy to tell.

You try your best to reassure him by doing the same and smiling back each time. He lets out a relieved sigh as you make it to the barn. A decrepit old metal barn from the 50s filled to the top on one side with square bales of hay and the other side a little table with five chairs and a couple of empty stalls sit. The barn is open on both sides other than the back, a torn up old screen sways back and forth in the wind, like a piece of paper held on with tape. Bubba retracts from your hand to pull down some bales with ease, stacking them into something roughly resembling a couch.

He flops down on them with only a slight rustle of the hay, obviously more comfortable than the little rusty metal ones at the table. He sits up and pats the bale beside him. You walk over and flop next to him, looking around to see that Nubbins is nowhere close by, you wrap your hand around his and lean into him. Between the heavy overalls you have on guarding you from the itchy hay and this space heater of a man, you're warm and comfy. Bubba gazes down at you and envelops you in his arms. He too is very comfortable.

---

"I think they're in the house, I couldn't really tell you!"

You hear Nubbins in the distance, it sounds like he's yelling to Drayton and Chop Top but you can't be sure.

They can't possibly be back yet unless...

Bubba's asleep. You were asleep. How long have you been out? How long have they been home? Is Nubbins covering for you?

"Well tell them if you see them before us that Chop Top and I are making lunch and they'll be too late if they don't get themselves up here!" Drayton sounded like he was content for the moment but if you didn't get to the house soon you'd be in big trouble. Footsteps trail around the back of the barn, Nubbins peaks in and whispers loudly to the both of you.

"Get yourselves together love birds! Drayton's gonna whoop my ass if you two don't get in this house soon. It'll be real bad! So hurry on up!" He blows a raspberry at the now awake Bubba who groans at the thought. You look up to see the bottom of his mask has rolled up to reveal a normal looking chin and mouth, a freshly shaven face is hidden by the mask every day and you don't get to see it so this is a glance you didn't expect. As he starts to roll down his mask, you grab his hand. He looks at you scared and worried.

"I'm not going to take it off" you smile at him and he calms, holding onto your hands. "I just want to try something and you have to tell me if you're uncomfortable okay? I won't ever try to make you uncomfortable."

Bubba nods at you, his left hand trailing up your arm, resting on the nape of your neck where he can run his fingers along your hairline. As you lean in for a kiss, he closes the gap. Your lips touch and he pulls you in closer, holding you in his arms.

Bliss. You may have been kissed before, but he was a whole other ballgame. He had never kissed before and there was a level of touch starvation that he was trying to cope with upon this embrace. He was holding you and being held by you at the same time and he was beyond happiness.

Bubba's depraved lips were soft as silk and cherry flavored as they grazed over yours, his cologne thick but not overpowering smelt of burning oak wood in a crackling fireplace. The only fire here is one of desire and soon you would both be burning. His hands crept up and down your back and hips, trailing over your hands and back to your hair. Soon enough you felt smooth shaven skin and soft pillowy lips crawling down your chin and neck, circling your shoulder. You were completely and utterly surrendered and victim to his tender embrace.

*horribly obnoxious phone ringing*

Bubba breathed hard letting you go, a sigh escaping his lips as he pulled his mask down again. You reach into your pocket and pick up the phone. Of course, Drayton was getting finicky.

"Where are you kids? Your jobs couldn't have taken that long!"

"Sorry Drayton we'll be right there!" He hung up and you could see the dissapointment in Bubba's eyes. You were dissapointed too but relieved because you weren't sure how far that could have gone. "Sorry Bubba, Drayton wants us at the house."

He grunted as he stood up, helping you up after him. He held your hand as you walked back to the house. You didn't get a snack, instead you got a whole lot of a hot take.

---

The birds squawked and cooed softly as you passed by, echoing the same calmness that filled the breeze. In that breeze came the smell of lunch: a mixture of fried eggs, bacon, fried apples, little crunchy potatoes and fresh squeezed orange juice. The taste of cherry carmex chap stick still lay thick on your lips as Bubba walked beside you.

It was going to be the best job you could ever have dreamed of.

[thecxmmissioner]

The vague sense of panic when you realize you have drafts that never got entered into your thread tracker.

[aguineapigcouldntdothis]

ok this all started about 10 months ago when my 4 roommates and I moved in together. we got 3 keys from the post office for our shared mailbox. my roommate technically owned these keys yet she put them where everyone could use them so it was no issue. one day she stopped putting the keys in an accessible area where everyone could use them because someone was not putting them back. I cant confirm or deny this because I know I wasnt doing this. there is one roommate (now moved out) who would possibly do something like this. I dont agree with that if she did thats not super relevant to the story tho.

anyway many months get by of having to ask my roommate to borrow her keys every time I needed to get the mail. she had 3 keys, mind you, and wouldn't even put one out for all of us to use. the mail would pile up so much that there would be weeks and weeks worth of it shoved into our mailbox and packages sitting in the parcel lockers for just as long. she clearly wasn't even getting the mail herself on a regular basis. also it feels super demeaning to have to ask your roommate for the keys to your own mailbox.

I tried to stay calm and civil with her because even though I am not afraid to be confrontational I also don't like dealing with shit like this. what set me off was getting a notice for my blood test bill being almost late (paid it on time thank g-d) because the mail hadn't been brought in for weeks.

possibly important context is that towns in the southwest USA with decent amenities like doctors offices and whatnot are typically 45min-1hr apart by car. theres smaller villages in between and those usually don't have much more than a gas station and small store if even that. the closest blood testing office that all medical offices generally accept is about an hour away. if I didnt pay my bill in time I would likely no longer be allowed to get blood work done there and I may have to drive 2-3 hours instead of 1.

I ended up confronting her about this and I didn't yell but I sure as fuck wasn't calm and patient. I told her that either she needed to let me make copies of the mail keys or get the mail herself on a regular basis. there were 3 other people living there besides her and if she was gonna hoard the only 3 keys it was her responsibility to get the mail. she kept saying "its not my responsibility" and all that sort of bs.

anyway I decided to go to USPS on my own and asked if they made mail keys because afaik you only get 3. I figured that remained the same but I asked just in case something changed. eventually my roommate decided that we should both go to usps together so she could ask about the mail keys which I was silently pissed off abt bc I felt like she didn't trust me just to ask questions about keys. we still went though and she asked the questions when the very kind employee said they only provide 3 keys and she said "oh I didn't know that!"

I used to tell white lies a lot and its a habit I've done very well to grow out of. I said that that was completely new information even though it wasn't . I am not proud of this, yet I did it because if I said anything else I would have decked her. I didnt wanna bother the very nice employee. I had been to this post office days earlier and was told to my face that there were only 3 keys and they didn't make copies. she either forgot this over the course of a few days or was totally bullshitting this. whichever it was i wasn't happy.

anyway she eventually allowed me to take one of her keys and copy it. it took literally 15 minutes including the drive and now we have a few extra keys (a couple I keep on my keyring). there are plenty for everyone to have at least 2 and if we ever need more ill gladly make them. also I get the mail on a regular basis. im definitely not a saint however im sure as fuck not letting packages bake in the heat for weeks and weeks and everyone deserves regular access to their mail when they need it.

what rlly pisses me off in a way thats unrelated to this story is my roommate's superiority complex. she does act very nice on the outside and I dont believe that's fake I think she's really just outwardly very nice. which is amazing! (its still not the type of personality I vibe with and that's my problem, not hers. not her issue that get weirded out when people are too happy-go-lucky). what truly bothers me is her actions show she puts so little faith in the people around her and believes she is the only one who can do things right. although my other two roommates weren't perfect bc no one is (both moved out now) they were good, kind, smart, reasonable people who never deserved to be treated like they're lesser and I didnt deserve that either. we also didn't deserve dozens of envelopes in the mailbox at a time

am I pissed off that even though my roommate and I have mail keys im literally the only one who gets the mail? yeah kinda. I dont mind getting the mail its more about the fact that she could but never does.

also if u want more context pls ask bc there is a story behind all this. I dont like her very much shes perfectly nice I just can't stand her