#but was FLAWLESS with the inflections)

[wawawawawawawawawawawawawa]

i might for funsies do some drr redubs for practice heehee (i'm a voice actor but just as a hobby rn) cuz my voice droppes because of the T so i need to practice- i dont JUST use my normal speaking voice (i lowkey NEVER do lmfao) but i totally change my voice, so i need to practice doing that with my larynx as different as it is

[stevenssacrab]

In Secret

⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ✧ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ*

Summary: For six months, you and Steve have hidden your relationship from everyone, but what happens when you come face to face with death?

Rating: 17+

Warnings: Sneaking around, hostage situation, kissing, reader has a near death experience

Word Count: 1.6k

a/n: love a good ol’ Steve fic, never misses, I hope everyone enjoys this one, have a happy new year!!

⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ✧ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ*

Being Captain America’s significant other comes with an absurd amount of pressure; you have to be flawless, never make a single mistake, be a good role model for kids, and be just as if not more heroic, which is precisely why you’ve chosen to hide your relationship from everyone, fellow Avengers included. It wasn’t an easy decision, but you and Steve both decided that it would be for the best; you were new to the Avenger team and didn't want the added pressure of being with Steve; you and Steve somehow managed to have kept it hidden for six months, it didn’t come without its hardships though, Steve needed to keep up the appearance of a fearless leader, so he couldn’t be sweet on you when it came to training and performance evaluations; and you couldn't defend Steve when others complained about his methods, less they suspect anything between you two, much to your dismay Steve seemed to always have women after him, leading to a few disagreements about how Steve should handle the situation, you wanted Steve to be harsher when he turned them down, but Steve has a reputation to uphold, and being rude and dismissive was not a part of it.

"Okay, you leave first, and I'll join 5 minutes later," Steve said reassuringly, rubbing your arm gently and giving your hand a light squeeze.

"Okay, see you out there, Cap," you say playfully with a wink; you walk out of your room and down the hall into the conference room filled with fellow Avengers; your eyes scan for an empty seat.

"Y/N! Over here!" Wanda calls, waving her hand and patting the open spot between her and Natasha; you smile and briskly walk over.

"Did we start yet?" you asked, knowing the meeting can't start without Steve.

"No, just waiting for Steve," Natasha says matter of factly, doodling absentmindedly on a piece of paper.

"So, Natasha and I want to see that new movie that just came out. Do you wanna come?" Wanda asked, but you've already seen that movie with Steve earlier this week.

"I've already seen it," you said disheartened.

"HOW!? It's been out for two days?!" Wanda astonished. "It's honestly impressive how fast you watch these movies as they come out; who are you even seeing them with?" Wanda asked, peering at you suspiciously.

"Uh, my mom?" you voice with a rising inflection.

"Okay, this week's mission!" Steve calls out loudly, walking into the room before Wanda can question you further, "Our sources tell us Hydra is working on a new super soldier serum for a division of soldiers. Our mission is to stop them in their tracks." Steve says firmly, eyes landing on yours fleetingly.

"We'll go in groups of 3: Wanda, Clint, and Y/N in group one, group two is Me, Peter, and Scott, and the third and final group is Bucky, Sam, and Natasha.”

"We gotta hightail it; this is of great significance, so we move tonight, meet at the quin in an hour, we’ll discuss our plans of attack on the way," he says with a nod, marching out the room.

“Everyone’s here?” Steve asks, scanning the quin, ensuring everyone is accounted for, “Okay, as we fly over, group one will land on the south side of the building, my group will land east, group three lands west, and the quin will land in the north, the goal is to push toward the center where intel tells us the serums are located and try to catch anyone who may be running off with the serum, once secured everyone evacuate immediately and meet at the jet. Everyone clear?” He asks strictly, looking toward the teams, and they nod affirmatively.

“Okay, move out!” he shouts, rushing for his shield and jumping out of the plane; you land quietly outside the building, shed the parachute off, and get into position.

“Okay, on my mark, go!” Clint whispers harshly; the three of you move as a unit, sweeping every corner, taking quiet steps, instincts on high alert; as you move through the building, you can’t help this nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach; something doesn’t feel right, you’re halfway through the building, and not a single enemy has been spotted.

“Guys, I don’t like this,” you say lowly over comms, hairs on the back of your neck standing straight.

“Let’s just keep moving so we can get out of here,” Clint says, readjusting his grip on his pistol while Wanda grows increasingly worried, palms becoming sweaty, the tension hanging in the air.

“Cap, you guys got anything on your end?” Clint asked over comms, his eyes scanning the suspiciously empty room.

“Nothing over here; keep your eyes peeled; everything about this feels wrong,” Captain uttered, uneasy hanging off every word; you signal you are going to have a look around at the team and break right; you creep into a dark room littered with papers, it looks like everyone just got up at left, you spot a computer playing footage on a loop, you walk up and watch, it’s your team landing outside.

“It's a trap! They know we're here!” You screamed over comms; you reached for your gun but felt something hard press against your back.

“Don't even think about it,” a deep voice said coldly as they pulled you against them roughly; you kept your hands in the air, your heart beating out of your chest; they ran their hands over your body, removing any possible weapon.

“What’s the plan now?” You ask coyly, looking over your shoulder slightly.

“Turn around!” He boomed, patience wearing thin; he pushed the gun against your head, “Walk,” he said, shoving you with the weapon, and you walked carefully toward the exit.

“Y/N, where are you?” Steve asks, trying not to sound as concerned as he is; you trudge toward the exit and swing it open

“Hiya, Captain,” you call, looking at him with pleading eyes. Steve’s face breaks your heart; it’s as if you told him the worst news of his life. The assailant grips you by your neck and pulls you close, holding the gun to your temple.

“What’s wrong, Captain? Cat got your tongue?” He said smugly. Steve said nothing, his eyes remaining planted on you as panic started to work its way across your chest, your hands clawing at the arm tightening around your neck, the assailant laughing at the way you struggle to breathe.

“I'll keep it brief and tell you what I want: a trade, the soldier for your newest recruit," he said arrogantly, walking you both closer to Steve

"Don't do it!" you say anxiously, looking at the team with all their weapons drawn and pointed in your direction; you shift your weight uncomfortably, trying to think of any possibility that doesn't end with you injured or dead, Steve looks back at the rest of the team and then back at you, time moves slow, your skin stings with the bite of the cold winter air, and you hear your blood rushing through your ears like crashing waves, when the assailant jerks suddenly, he fires a shot in the air.

"It's now or never, Captain!" He yells, shoving the gun aggressively into your temple; you close your eyes, accepting your demise, and you open your mouth to say something, but the sound of a gunshot cuts you off; your body tenses, and you wait for the pain, but it never comes, you finally open your eyes when you feel Steve's arms wrap around you, Steve's face is filled with concern, you see his mouth moving, but you don't hear anything, Steve grabs your arms and shakes you lightly, your hearing fades in.

"Y/N! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Oh my god," he blubbers, tears welling in his eyes; he pulls you in for a fiery kiss, holding you as you'd slip through his fingers; he pulls back slowly and looks deeply into your eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asks, panic having left his body; he glides his hands down your arms and holds your hands, interlacing your fingers.

"Yeah, I'm okay, just shaken up," you say reassuringly, pulling him into a hug. You close your eyes, inhaling his scent, losing yourself in the comforting aura that is Steve, and then you hear someone clear their throat; your eyes shoot open, landing on the whole team just staring at you and Steve; you jump back and hit Steve playfully on the chest.

"Steve, they saw us!" You whisper harshly and turn him around, hiding behind his big frame; he clears his throat and speaks

"Uh..." he mutters; he suddenly reaches behind himself and grabs your hand, pulling you next to him and wrapping his arm around your waist.

"We are dating." He said confidently, chin high; there was a long pause as the team looked around at each other, and then you heard a squeal; it was Wanda squealing with happiness, running towards you with a broad smile and open arms, she practically tackled you to the ground, squeezing the life out of you.

"Oh, Wanda, I can't breathe," you choke out, gently smacking her arms.

"Since when?" Sam asks, walking up to Steve and patting him proudly on the back.

"6 months ago," Steve says brightly with a smile, pulling you against him.

"I've known for four months," Natasha says cooly

"How?!" You and Steve say in unison, looking at each other. Natasha smirked and walked closer to you both, placing one hand on each of your shoulders.

"You guys should probably not fall asleep in each other's arms if you don't want anyone to find out." She says matter-of-factly, walking away and leaving you both stunned. "Congrats," she shouted back as she walked into the quinjet.

"Let's move out, team!" He shouts, grabbing your hand gently and walking you both onto the quinjet.

[yourplayersaidwhat]

I pick one up, and I put it into my bag... And I pick up another one, and I put it in my bag. And I pick up another one, and I put it in my bag. And I pick up another one, and I put it in my bag. And I pick up another one, and I put it in my bag. And I pick up another one, and I put it in my bag.

Dragon cleric, upon finding a room full of large, flawless gems while suffering the effects of some kind of cognitohazardous greed. This bit went on for about 2-5 minutes with the exact same cadence and inflection. 

[ominouspuff]

Last Line Challenge

Rules: In a new post, show your latest line (artwork or written), and tag as many people as there are words (or as many as you feel like)!

Tagged by @rooksunday (well you know what this one is going to be)

This time you caught me writing a fic snippet for the RepGA AU to feel out characterization. I’m sharing the whole snippet though for fun, not just one line.

———————————

“Everything is normal.

It is grating against his skin and lighting up his veins in red-hot acid. He is choked by it, throat clotted and breath thin. Betrayal stings in his chest — directionless and worthless and misguided, because he cannot truly fault his shaking legs when he doesn’t know what’s wrong with them.

It is weakness, and it is getting worse.

“Yes, Senator,” He manages, and is grimly relieved that the man does not look askance at Fox — does not seem to notice the tremor in his voice at all. The words come mechanically, his inflection seven levels from perfection, which is six too many to forgive.

“Make sure they are your best,” The Senator is saying, not unkindly but blindly, focus tighter than a pinprick, for which Fox is grateful. “We cannot tolerate abuse on the delegation, not even a whisper of it. I have tried to reason with them, but the students are young and their professors passionate — they are so set on fighting to be heard, with an unfortunate emphasis on the physicality of that action…”

Fox nods. “Well,” He says, as if perturbed and accepting all at once — but can afford no more. He might be sick if he opens his mouth too far.

“Well, indeed.” The man nods, wrinkles scrunching, eyes fogged by inward thought. He sucks his sharp teeth. “Well. I must regroup with Senator Organa I fear, I expect your units will be timely?”

“Yes.” Fox confirms and denies all at once — because his ‘units’ are always timely, even when they’re bleeding, and having those expectations is no business of the Senator’s. It is a Guard matter.

There are many Guard matters. One of them is Thorn, lost in the seventh level as of fifteen minutes before Fox inclined his helmet to a Senator, answering the summon. Thorn, with his two faithful CTs and orders from a sectorial mayor. Thorn, who looked at Fox before he left and did not point out his shaking fingers, only nodded with sharp eyes and a tight mouth and trust bleeding out of him in streams.

“It’s normal, Fox. Don’t stress it.”

The Senator leaves, satisfied and indulging his perturbation over the youth, as is typical of the man lately. Fox stiffly reverses his direction, marching to the nearest service stairwell. He wrenches it open, but does not let the door bang. It takes excruciating effort to close it still more gently behind him, to step without staggering or tightening his aching fists.

He runs, already flipping on his comm. Voices answer, their pitch perfect, their diction flawless, their sound near identical, and Fox’s pride is a balm against the cold that perpetually tightens his chest and throws his stride off beat.

He uses numbers, not their names — never their names, on the comm. Directives come quick, but not smooth. There is a breath of hesitation that betrays how far he has fallen, that they notice even here, before all chorus affirmatives and sign off. A ping comes from Thire, inquisitive and absurd. Fox pings back once, raising the urgency, and Thire duly does not repeat himself.

They cannot afford to discuss that Fox can barely breathe — and Thire would do worse, asking why.

By the time he reaches his office, he is in agony. Thire is waiting there, according to his orders. He knows better than to speak — not here, not now — but his eyes are glittering wetly with concern and uncertainty, and Fox is a shriveled, rotting thing that cannot open his ironbound teeth in the face of it. They strip to blacks, swapping armor with the seamless efficiency of frequent practice. Once Fox has put on every piece of Thire’s armor, he puts on the rest — Thire’s loose hands, Thire’s tilting head, Thire’s light steps. It takes too long. It comes like bits of flesh slotted into gaping holes, alien and painful.

Thire is already standing like a rigid statue by the time Fox has finished, head tilted down slightly, every inch of him looking like Fox’s mirror does.

“8 hours. Meet me back here.” Fox repeats from their talk over comms., shoulders sliding back, and Thire nods solemnly.

Fox leaves the office, stride ever so slightly trembling with the new bounce in his step. He heads for the elevators, the exits, the city outside, the underground that leads down and down and down. His pistol sits heavy on his belt, and Fox’s loose fingers twitch with something feverish that’s settled in his very bones.

Everything is normal, and Fox refuses to let it kill him.”

—————————

Tagging: Reverse-uno, @rooksunday , and anyone else who wants to! (@frostbitebakery and @chiliger , I simply must.)

[occudo]

I JUST DISCOVERED YOU FROM A MUTUAL AND READ YOUR AU COMIC AND GOOD LORD I HAVE NO WORDS

The story of it and how you write the characters is actually flawless, their speech / inflection sound ON POINT to how they speak or their reputation in tma.

Dont even get me started on the artwork of it!!! Actually incredible, you're amazingly talented and I can see the work you've put into making the best possible things you can!!

Also a sincere thank you for feeding my need for Gerry and Agnes content

Do you have somewhere like a Kofi or something?? Somewhere I can contribute to your artwork and projects anyways

Thank you so much! It's really nice to see when people like what I do! (Especially the characters' speech- I'm not always sure I get them right, but I try.)

I do have a kofi ! I also take commissions there

[phlurrii]

I see voice claim discussion, and I must contribute. Many a lightly accented and ancient sounding voice in the marvelous game, Hades! [ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuZ2Q31OPTUAhg_WgUFf97f5rvSp7Yk2f&si=5i-Hv5btZJL3pNWb ]

Everyone has this air of mystery and regality around them since, well, they're gods. I can see Achilles for Missingno, or Chaos for something more foreboding and spooky, all the overlapping voices- maybe him in "glitch" form! Persephone for Meau- motherly and kind, but capable of rage. Thanatos or Zagreus for a young adult Ody, could see the high energy smart talking Hermes for Flurry, Circe.. not sure- maybe Artemis? Not all are the best fits, but they each have their charm. Honorable mention to Eurydice and Orpheus as a duo, simply for the lovely duet between them. [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e05ClTDW9F4 ]

….yep. Yep. Okay, the search is over, Achilles is PERFECT for Missingno. no cap, absolutely flawless. I’d change the slightest inflection for him if I had my way, but that’s the damn closest I think I’m ever gonna get. Thank you XD

Persephone is good, but Meau has a bit of a stronger, more authoritative sound. She’s not nearly as soft as Persephone is! Her voice commands attention and respect!

Zagreus actually sounds like just, an adult Odysseus, instead of a young adult. It’s pretty close to what I have in mind, but I think the accent would be a lot less noticeable. Influences by hearing Noe talk, but not nearly as strong type of deal! Overall, very close, going in my favourites!!

Hermes is also in the right direction, but not quite for Flurry, he’s definitely more energetic and chaotic and sounds a bit younger.

Overall, 7/10, very good voices in there and Noe’s is still perfect, I am off to raid his voice lines to make a few animatics too XD

[rhetoricandlogic]

Projections - S.E. Porter

3.58* average at the time of this posting. Seriously? Are all you 1* and "too long" reviewers o.k. out there?

This book is phenomenal and here's why:

Excellent prose. Flawless and consistent and precise. Even Rothfuss might take note of this. Consider this: Catherine writes in that ~1850 AD style until the very end while Gus's whole dialogues age a little and always keep with time in unworld. The Angus change with the number of their appearance and the last is contemporary. This is true master-level skill at work here.

Genre-nonconformity between fantasy, horror, magical realism and historical fiction without drifting off into fixation on technicalities like magical systems or Lovecraftian details. Porter uses historical fiction to highlight her topics, e.g. the Spiritualist movement as an example to female-led movements (and derided by men, same as the feminist movement) and the magic at its most concentrated is just a currency inviting a magical capitalism (led by men). Which brings me to

Characters: Gus is the embodiment of male toxicity rising to an extent where his delusions are clear symptoms of a severe mental illness and yet - if we look around today amongst our politicians and industry giants and their behaviours; the similarities are depressing. Gus, the character might be dealt with in the book, but all the Gusses out there continue to thrive. Catherine starts out as an atypical female of her time, interested in science, knowledge, beauty and deep analyses of her thoughts/surroundings and cause/effect studies. She's everything that humans as species can and should be, flaws included. Angus, the 2.5th character in all his iterations symbolizes that change without previous inflection and deeper understanding is just cosmetics. All these characters are exquisitely developed. None of them "grow" which is precisely one of the points this novel tries to make.

The worldbuilding is so, so poetic. We get descriptions of the unworld that emphasize the beauty we so often neglect to see, particularly the beauty in small things and other humans. Nautilus is a world full of whimsy and sorcerers living their fantasies to the utmost by being/designing fantastical creatures and structures of nacre, lapislazuli and living fish.

The topics of this book are many and some of them are deeply developed, most prominently feminism - the many horrors created by the patriarchy and male dominance throughout history (and still ongoing) and the women's rage at being mistreated or overlooked springs lividly from the page - or rather: Catherine's pencil and swoops the reader along without being patronizing or condescending.

TL;DR this book is a masterpiece, go read it.

[zorilleerrant]

I really think that while they were back on Earth, Chidi should've suddenly had a different accent. He'd still be speaking English, of course! He definitely knows English. It's just that he wouldn't sound American the way the Americans do.

My proposed accents for him, from most to least likely:

learned English from an Academie French speaker, and so speaks like an extremely upperclass Frenchman

learned English from a British teacher of a similar kind, and so speaks flawless RP (or a slightly more relaxed but still upperclass accent from London)

learned from members of his neighborhood/community and speaks Senegalese French-inflected English

learned from his extended family (presumably during long term visits) and speaks Nigerian English

learned from a traveling American with an incredibly strong and highly recognizable regional accent he mostly still uses, making people assume Chidi is American. this is especially good if it's Florida because Jason can say "I didn't know you were from Florida" when they get their memories back

didn't learn English until he got to Australia or retrained himself to an Australian accent, and now sounds extremely Australian. possibly with an extremely rare accent from a specific member of staff who took the time to teach him. or else he sounds exactly the same as Simone

Anyway then he goes back to talking the way he always does as soon as they get back, and no one mentions it again.

[cbk1000]

Since health issues have kept me from updates, here's at least a preview of the next chapter of Book of Merthur. If you are not caught up and do not want to be spoiled, I recommend skipping this. There is a spoiler right out of the gate for something that happened in the last chapter.

It was not one of those banshee winds at least, which find every empty corner of the earth, and populate it with ghosts; but it did delay a journey already belated, so that he was too late not only to stop Gwen marrying Arthur, but to save her from having to oppose some incredibly ugly yellow hose. She was fighting alone, because January, aside from keeping Lancelot from her, had also sealed up the moat surrounding the citadel, and brought knights and citizens alike to its shores with their bone-skates. Anyone useful, anyone with bravery enough to look the hosen in the eye, and tell their lovely but misguided advocate they were unfit for him or any living human, was down on the moat, checking one another with their bodies in play, or throwing about handfuls of wet snow. She could hear Gwaine, and Percival, and Elyan’s voices amidst that joyful choir, which floated up to her through the open shutters, because Arthur felt it was too unmasculine to be one of those normal people who keep their windows barred in winter. 

“I’m just not sure it’s right for you,” Gwen said.

Arthur frowned at the hose. “Why not? The colour complements my hair.”

What it did, against his hair, was to show that broad spectrum of yellows which ranges from sunlight to horse piss. Arthur’s genetics had gifted him hair that was made of the former; and by contrast showed the hose like one of those miserable little puddles which can be found under drunk men with their vomit. Gwaine would have ended the bad taste with a single blow, by telling Arthur exactly what it looked like; but Gwen felt that most people of Arthur’s post-Merlin temperament responded slightly better to something other than, ‘What the hell is wrong with your eyes?’ It was a valid question; but that did not mean she needed to say it with anything other than her own eyes.

“Well, but you don’t really want it to be the same colour. You want something that brings out, you know, certain aspects of your colouring. Like a nice blue for your eyes.”

“But blue’s the same colour as my eyes,” Arthur argued.

Yes, Gwen said tiredly where she could be honest, but blue isn’t the colour of something you leave in your chamberpot. 

He lowered the hose, which he had been holding up in front of his face, and frowning upon, and now frowned upon her. “You think they’re hideous.” 

Women are always being accused of those hypersensitive gripings which the tired male must respond to with that flawless confluence of timing and inflection which assures her she is not, has never been, and never will look fat in anything whatsoever; but here was one of the lofty creatures doing exactly the same thing. The sordid truth is that men are never accused often enough of being overly sensitive bitches, though they are exactly, if not even moreso, as hysterical as any woman whose arse has advanced one centimetre on her seamstress. He was trying to hide it, but he was in a strop because she had not even stated, but rather merely, gently, maybe insinuated that his trousers were possibly a little grotesque. He was as offended as if he had made them, rather than simply attempted to misguidedly wear them.

[u-ntitled-s-eries]

Subway Bosses with a Ditto-Hybrid HCs

Emmet

He is constantly asking for your help with pranks and jokes around the Gear Station. These range from harmless tricks against the Depot Agents during their breaks, to spreading confusion among the commuters as they watch three Subway Bosses board the train. You have to be the one to draw the line and stop Emmet from going off the rails, otherwise you’ll both get a stern talking-to from Ingo and quite possibly the police.

When not abusing your powers for evil, Emmet is curious to see the extent of your abilities. What are you consistently good at, compared to what do you struggle with? If you let him, he’d be more than happy to help hone your skills. He’ll give honest critique of your transformations and point out what needs to improve. But don’t be afraid to let him know if he’s being too brash; he’ll immediately apologize and be more mindful of his words.

Maybe it’s because Emmet’s so quick to notice the inaccuracies, but he’s never once been fooled by even your most flawless disguise. The closest you’ve ever gotten was a ten second long silence as he scanned you up and down before he pinched your cheek and told you to transform back into your original self.

He doesn’t mind if you prefer to stay transformed for long periods of time, but he’s gotten very good at noticing when you’re doing it to hide your true form. And every time he will make it crystal clear that he loves your true self and doesn’t want you to feel the need to hide it away. He’ll try to ease you back into reverting, but even if you refuse to, he will stay by your side.

Emmet won’t say it out loud, but there are moments where he wants nothing more than to be held in big strong arms or feels the need to curl around a smaller, softer embrace. Transform for him in these moments and you will have a grown man clinging to you for the rest of the day. Shapeshifting is second nature for Ditto hybrids, but the fact that you would physically change yourself for him has his heart full to the point of bursting.

Ingo

While he’s not opposed to a harmless trick here and there, he’d prefer if you keep them confined to people you know won’t be upset or as likely to fall for it. Being a Subway Boss is stressful enough; the last thing he needs is rumors and hordes of mass delusion. However, he’s not opposed to you showing off your abilities to people as a form of entertainment. The Gear Station gets the occasional musicians and performers panhandling, so he sees it as a similar thing.

Even though your intentions might make Ingo wary, he’s always amazed when you transform and applauds your efforts even if you can't get it quite right. Because you can shapeshift your anatomy, this also includes changing your voice as well. Ingo’s unsurprisingly quite good at picking up on how people speak, so he’ll help you get the inflections just right. It’s only when he sees you doing a spot-on impression of Depot Agent Furze in the bathroom that he realizes he may have created a monster.

Ingo hates to admit it, but there have been several times where he’s fallen for your disguises. He’ll be talking to someone and then a few minutes later they have no recollection of the conversation. Or he’ll do a double-take when he sees someone walk by even though he just saw them wave hello earlier. Please come back and let him know it was you, otherwise it’s going to be on his mind all day.

Like Emmet, Ingo has made it abundantly clear how much he loves your true self and will remind you as many times as he needs to. If you feel like experimenting with your looks, he will support you without hesitation. But when it feels like you’ve been hiding for too long, he will sit you down, coax you into dropping the disguise, and tell you how much he loves you just as you are.

Whenever you use your shapeshifting abilities to make your body more comforting for Ingo, he can’t help but feel a little guilty. You shouldn’t have to change yourself just to make him feel better, and he shouldn’t ask you to in the first place. Even when you assure him that you enjoy indulging him and that he deserves to be spoiled, he just pouts and nuzzles further into you.

Bonus

Elesa absolutely ADORES your shapeshifting abilities, both from an artistic and practical point of view. She’s come to you several times with modeling gigs and offers to collaborate on a new line of clothing. As a model, she’s offered you helpful advice and techniques for psyching yourself up before transforming and how to keep a cool head while staying transformed for extended periods of time.

She is endlessly amused by your impressions of other people, but especially loves it when you shift just your voice. Seeing people’s reaction to hearing the voice of a 50 year old smoker coming out of your body never fails to get a laugh from her.

[nontoxic-writes]

Seven Sentence Sunday Monday

oops, i totally lost track of my sunday. thanks to @welcometololaland for the tag! 💕

“Was it as bad as it seems?” Rooster asks over dinner.

“Was what as bad as it seems?”

“Baby on Board,” he clarifies, swallowing his mouthful of chicken and risotto, speaking with his mouth full like the caveman he is, and Jake is regrettably charmed. “Not the show, the whole… ‘I’m Jake Seresin, and you’re watching Disney Channel’ thing.” He does a perfect imitation of Jake’s bumper, his inflection flawless, and Jake groans.

“Why did you watch that?

Rooster shrugs. “I thought it was cute. The floppy 2000’s hair, the long sleeve t-shirt under the short sleeve t-shirt under the vest, the tie for some reason, the bedazzled jeans…”

“Okay, they weren’t bedazzled, they were embellished. And it was trendy at the time.”

im not tagging anyone expecting yall to post today because we’re all working now but @lilythesilly @swiftlythebest @blackandwhiteandrose and @stereopticons, yall are up next week lol

[illarian-rambling]

Thanks for the tag @kaylinalexanderbooks!

Friday (1am counts, ok?) Kiss Tag

Rules: post a scene with a kiss - from a quick peck to a make out - platonic, familial, romantic, or otherwise, it does not matter

Lordy, do I even have a kiss scene? Maybe Oyanna and Azhur? Astra and Mashal ain't there yet lol

“Azhur?” Denafra spoke, her inflection tremulous. The old woman looked as if she were cornering a ghost and speaking too loud would scare it back into the mist.

Oyanna held no such compunctions.

“Azhur!” Her face red, the small woman stormed up to the massive figure, swatting his hands down with one practiced gesture. She trembled, though Sepo couldn’t tell what emotion was coursing through her veins. If he had to guess, Oyanna wasn’t sure either.

“You lock yourself in that demiplane for ten years, leave me to scrape your finances out of the dirt, leave me to grieve our son by myself!”

She stammered, too many words building in her throat. Tears began to stream down the woman’s face and Denafra placed a tentative hand on her shoulder.

“Oyanna,” the old sorcerer whispered, “Remember your empathy. It wasn’t his fault.”

“I know that!” Oyanna spat, eyes red with grief and anger and all the emotions in-between. “But I fucking wish it was! That way I could blame someone, at least.” Her voice broke as she turned away from Denafra. “Someone other than my fool self.”

“You blame yourself?”

Azhur’s voice was loud, louder than it should have been for such a quiet space. Sepo could see the man glancing wildly about, taking in his former lab space with bewildered terror. But now, for the first time, he looked down at the woman who’d been his wife a decade ago. Who maybe still was.

Oyanna barked out a gallows laugh. “We argued. You ran away. I chased you into that place and then you were trapped. If that’s not my fault, then I don’t know what is.”

“Oh, Oyanna, Oyanna, dear….” Azhur sighed. His fingers jumped and skipped across his arms; however, he calmed them for long enough to offer his hands to the rapidly blinking woman. “I missed you terribly.”

There was a pause, a beat of breathless silence. Then the pair crashed into each other, Oyanna seeming to sweep the big man off his feet even though she couldn’t have been half his size. Silk and leather, grime and kohl; their disparate parts mixed and swirled until they became something whole again. Azhur’s head rested atop Oyanna’s with puzzle-piece perfection and Sepo could see tears cutting their way through the dirt caked over the man’s face, tears making riverbeds through his wife’s once-flawless makeup.

Ok, so not a kiss, but close enough. They're cute. It's whatever

I'll do an open tag cause I need to go to bed!

[definitionsfading]

I’m a dumb american so I guess my opinion here doesn’t amount to much but walking into bullet train I’d never actually heard aaron or brian act in anything before, which sounds nuts but is entirely true because I don’t generally WATCH movies more than once or twice a year, and when they were first speaking I deadass thought brian was british. in fact, if you’d have asked me which of the two was the american if I had to pick one, I would’ve assumed it was aaron because tangerine’s dialogue and overall inflection is so much more pronounced and hammy whereas lemon’s is more subtle.

but then you look at the comments on youtube and every asshole and his mom is like “kudos to brian tyree henry for the world’s worst british accent” okay so you come over here to the states and give me a flawless southern drawl or a midwestern accent. go ahead. oh, you’re not on par with daniel craig’s benoit blanc? that’s what I thought lol. brian did amazing given his prior lack of experience with the accent and he sure as shit fooled me

[thisworldisablackhole]

Top 25 Albums of 2023

These are not reviews, simply blurbs of my thoughts on each release. Some have more effort put into them than others. So without further ado...

25. Cursetheknife - There’s A Place I Can Rest

SOUNDS LIKE: HEAVY SOFT ALT ROCK FOR STARGAZING ENTHUSIASTS / LISTEN

Oklahoma rock group cursetheknife caught me by surprise with this release. This was one of those unplanned listens that I checked on a whim because I was intrigued by their 2000s emo "no spaces allowed" type band name paired with a black and white still life painting of an urn and some... cubes? I like it. This record is really great at being loud and quiet. Acoustic guitars and hushed, tired vocals are interrupted by a massive wall of crunchy guitars coloured by pretty harmonics and sustained tremolo bends. Reminds me of both the earth shattering gaze of Hum and the moody depressive folk of Pygmy Lush. A combo I never expected to hear but one that won me over without hesitation.

24. Militarie Gun - Life Under the Gun

SOUNDS LIKE: MELODIC POST-HARDCORE FOR GROOVERS / LISTEN

I wasn't a huge fan of the mix on Militarie Gun's earlier EP's. I liked what they were trying to do musically, but it sounded dry and flat, and vocalist Ian Shelton's strained pleas for love hardly changed their inflection enough to keep me waiting on stand by. My first impressions of this band were completely turned on their head and booted into outer space when I saw them live. Everything made sense. The mix from stage was loud and dynamic, with just enough room verb to slick up their sound. The songs were tight, catchy, and had enough punch to shake you to your core. Their performance that night left me awed, and I’m happy to say that version of the band I saw on the big stage is much better portrayed on this LP. What we get is 12 songs of 90s influenced, groove laden post hardcore that would make any fan of Fugazi, Lungfish or Self Defence Family happy.

23. PinkPantheress - Heaven Knows

SOUNDS LIKE: DRUM & BASS WITH SOUR KEY POP HOOKS / LISTEN

Where are you feat. WILLOW was the first song to draw me into the downtempo bubble gum world of PinkPantheress. Downtempo and bubble gum might sound like distant, thrice removed descriptions, but melancholic piano leads, ambient backing vocals and breakbeat drum samples are combined with PinkPantheress’ signature high pitched, sweet vocal delivery and highschool journal-esque lyrics in a way that hasn’t been done before. Things are generally more upbeat on this album, and it’s good that way. I actually think her style works better when the energy is high and the drums are quick. This album is almost flawless with the exception songs like Bury me, Internet baby and Feelings where the bass lines slow down into a warp, the drums become more sparse, and the lyrics become more repetitive. It’s these moments where the energy and charm are lacking and the result is just meh. Trim the fat, take out a few of these songs, and the album would be a 5/5.

22. Year of the Knife - No Love Lost

SOUNDS LIKE: HEAVY HARDCORE WITH LONG HAIR SENSIBILITIES / LISTEN

Woof, not only does this band have the grit and claws to survive and face real life tragedy, but their tough as nails resolve as individuals is fully apparent through the music they create as well. This album is punishing, frantically violent, but measured and controlled. This band absolutely smokes through powerviolence blast beats and nasty death metal riffage with a cool head, creating a record that teeters on the edge of deathcore at times without ever giving in to the cornball theatrics (which I love btw).

21. END - The Sin of Human Frailty

SOUNDS LIKE: CHAOS, PANIC, CAUSTIC BURNS, METALCORE / LISTEN

Face melting, pummeling madness, blah blah name your adjective, this band has it. Dissonant and chaotic metalcore that will make you feel like you’re being buried alive - face down in the dirt fighting for your life. The production on this thing is DENSE and begs to be played loudly. The layers of noise are packed together in a tight weave that really adds to the oppressive, suffocating nature of their music. Yet it all begins to break apart and show it’s intricate colours the more volume you pump into the speakers. If you’re not a fan by the time Hollow Urn hits you with that cinematic, theatre rumbling bass drop that sounds like a war horn from hell, then I don’t know what to tell you.

20. Panopticon - The Rime of Memory

SOUNDS LIKE: UR LAST MOMENTS BEFORE YOU DIE IN THE WOODS ALONE LOL, ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL / LISTEN

This is it, this is gonna be the album that finally reignites my love for black metal. Beautiful, atmospheric, sad. The opening two tracks are full of gothic folk passages packed with orchestral strings, acoustic guitars and even a softly blown flute. By the time the blasting drums, guitars and tortured howls kick in 8 minutes into Winter’s Ghost, it feels like you just got snapped thru a speed run flash back of someone’s personal grief simulation. Your heart will sink through the fucking floor, but from that pain will rise immense beauty and the courage to trudge thru the brutal, frozen wasteland soundscapes of The Rime of Memory.

19. Silent Planet - SUPERBLOOM

SOUNDS LIKE: THE SOFTWARE CHIP IN YOUR BRAIN IS MALFUNCTIONING, METALCORE / LISTEN

I’ve been watching Silent Planet from the sidelines for a couple years now, first being introduced to them through their 2021 effort Iridescent, and then dabbling in some of their older catalog which oddly made me think of an alternate timeline where La Dispute was a metalcore band. I wasn’t a huge fan of hearing melodramatic slam poetry before my breakdowns, but they had a knack for songwriting which made them hard to discredit. Their earlier work just seemed like something I would have had to be there for on release to fully appreciate. Now was my chance. When singles started dropping for SUPERBLOOM, I was excited to finally be on board the hype train for one of their records. This record ended up showcasing a heavier, more modern and electronic influenced side of the band than we’ve seen before. Anecdotally, when this was released I was in the midst of a Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough, and found it to be a very fitting soundtrack to the game. Colourful and archaic. There are a lot of fun and creative ideas on this LP, some of which aren’t given ample room to breathe, but are nonetheless present. I found some of the tracks a little unmemorable at first but it honestly sounds better the more time I give it between listens. Only time will tell how it continues to age.

18. Polaris - Fatalism

SOUNDS LIKE: THE BOUNCY CASTLE AT UR PARTY IS DEFLATING, METALCORE / LISTEN

Polaris are good at what they do. Maybe too good. They are at the pinnacle of modern progressive metalcore alongside bands like Erra and Northlane, but whereas Erra excels in technical proficiency, and Northlane excels in synth pop metal integration, Polaris just brings down the emotional hammer. This band excels in the art of mixing heavy progressive riffs with soaring, passionate, radio ready choruses that just tug at your heart strings. I think Fatalism is overall heavier than their 2020 album The Death of Me, but they have doubled down on all the parts of their formula which make their songwriting so effective at simultaneously jerking tears and making your fists swing in a rage.

17. Night Verses - Every Sound Has A Color in the Valley of Night…

SOUNDS LIKE: SWIRLING, INTOXICATING INSTRUMENTAL PROG METAL / LISTEN

I was pretty adamantly opposed to instrumental music outside of electronic and ambient for a long time until I recently started reading books again. I wanted to see if I could get two birds stoned at once and listen to some tunes that I would usually avoid while I absorb words. I ended up enjoying this release so much that I started listening to it even when I wasn't reading books, but it does make every page you read play out like an intense action scene, so I'm inclined to continue listening in that fashion. Night Verses are an instrumental metal band, but don't go into this expecting full gas technical wankery. Night Verses are pro's at utilizing restraint and softer textures to weave a narrative with their instruments. Never have I encountered a band so skilled at telling a story without words.

16. Termina - Soul Elegy

SOUNDS LIKE: EMO ROBOTS FROM NEPTUNE DISCOVER TECHY DEATHCORE / LISTEN

I was first introduced to this outfit through their single Parasocial and was immediately sold. Sharp, twisting angular guitar leads over over deathcore inspired instruments and vocals. At one point the instruments drop out into an evil bass heavy hip hop beat with pitch shifted demon vocals before launching straight back into full auditory assault. It was just straight up one of the coolest switch ups I've heard in a metal song before and I was really hyped to hear what else they had in store. Ultimately I didn't enjoy the other singles on first listen as much as Parasocial, but the rest of the album really delivered upon release. There are points during this record where I feel like it was written by an AI; algorithmically engineered to release the right amounts of dopamine in my brain at specific intervals to keep me engaged. I don't mean that as an insult, as the result is a highly addicting LP that hits all the hallmarks of modern metal while still feeling innovative and fun.

15. Dying Wish - Symptoms of Survival

SOUNDS LIKE: THAT SHIT UR 40 YEAR OLD METALHEAD HOMIE PUTS ON THE AUX, TURN OF THE CENTURY MELODIC METALCORE / LISTEN

I was exposed to this band when they were on tour with Counterparts. The bill that night was supposed to be Counterparts, Dying Wish, Foreign Hands and SeeYouSpaceCowboy, but unfortunately Foreign Hands had their vehicle broken into in Washington and couldn't cross the border. I was still treated to a ménage à trois of metalcore excellence that night, but was especially blown away by Dying Wish as they were the only band on the bill I wasn't familiar with. My expectations were low and they spin kicked me in the teeth with their oldschool melodeath inspired riffs. From that moment on I was eagerly awaiting this album. The singles they drip fed us showed a marked improvement in their songwriting and especially in Emma's performance as a vocalist. The full album proved to be a worthy contender, bringing back a solid nostalgic sound to an arena packed to the brim of tiresome modernity. I still can't get the sound of those crash laden breakdowns out of my head.

14. fromjoy - fromjoy

SOUNDS LIKE: CHAOTIC GRINDIN MATHCORE MADE BY DEPRESSED ZOOMERS WHO PROBS GREW UP ON 4CHAN / LISTEN

This is a very recent addition to this list, but one that has swiftly earned it's place. There have been plenty of bands this year that have done this kind of chaotic, math influenced metalcore, but none that have blended the sound with electronic breakbeats and haunting choruses the same way fromjoy has. I can get kind of tired of albums that are just 100% speed and brutality front to back, but fromjoy have injected enough elements of other genres here to offer moments of respite from their brain melting, hellish soundscapes. Songs like of the shapes of hearts and humans, or the saxophone vaporwave of Helios, are much like a bench atop a canyon vista. A moment to regroup and recover before you continue pushing that boulder up hill.

13. Invent Animate - Heavener

SOUNDS LIKE: U JUST PISSED OFF SOME ANGELS BRUH, METALCORE / LISTEN

Invent Animate are a progressive, atmospheric metalcore band. Sounds pretty fuckin cool to me, but I have a strange relationship with this album. It's an album that I've always liked, but have really struggled to connect with on an individual track basis. It took months of casual listening before I could really differentiate one track from another. It all sort of blurred together, which is on one hand a testament to the atmosphere they have created with this record, but on the other hand it created a challenge to find specific moments to draw me back in. Despite that I still really enjoyed the general sound of what I was hearing; heavy polyrhythmic riffs backed by icy reverberated synthesizers which melted into breakdown ASMR in my headphones. It wasn't really a hard decision to continue giving it a chance to grow on me, and I'm glad I did.

12. TesseracT - War of Being

SOUNDS LIKE: IF DREAM THEATER WAS GOOD LOL, PROGRESSIVE METAL / LISTEN

I was a huge fan of TesseracT's album One back in the early 2010's. I decided to revisit that album earlier this year just out of curiosity to see if I would still enjoy that kind of music, and I was pleased to find that the album still sounded just as good to my 28 year old brain as it did to my 16 year old brain. It's always a nice feeling to realize that your younger self didn't have terrible taste in music. During this time of re-listening to One I had no idea that they were on the verge of releasing a new album. When the single War of Being dropped in July I was absolutely floored to find out that not only did their old material still hold up, but their newest material was absolutely on par with it. The groove, the heaviness, the atmosphere, Daniel Tompkins sultry sweet vocals and crushing screams. It was clear to me that TesseracT hadn't missed a single step in their newest endeavor. It was a full package that made the 16 year old in me gleam from ear to ear.

11. Mental Cruelty - Zwielicht

SOUNDS LIKE: LEGOLAS FUCKED UP AND TOSSED GIMLI STRAIGHT INTO THE ORCS, SYMPHONIC DEATHCORE / LISTEN

I didn't even really know what deathcore was until I saw Lorna Shore's Pain Remains plastered all over the front page of sputnikmusic and the users top albums of 2022 lists. I decided to give it a try out of morbid curiosity and discovered that I actually really loved the combination of heavy as fuck instrumentation, twisted pig squeal vocals and symphonic, fantasy soundtrack-esque passages. It was like nothing I had ever heard before and I loved the total absurdity of it. Discovering Mental Cruelty just cemented my newfound love for this genre. Zwielicht is epic, grandoise, brutal, disgusting and beautiful all at the same time. The symphonic breakdown on Pest makes me feel like I'm listening to a metal record while witnessing firsthand the battle of Helm's Deep in Peter Jackson's adaptation of Tolkein's The Two Towers. Dark and dramatic, this album perfectly conjoins my love for both extreme metal and fantasy.

10. The Republic of Wolves - Why Would Anyone Want To Live This Long?

SOUNDS LIKE: YOU JUST GAVE THE INDIE KID A NOOGIE, LOUD ALT ROCK / LISTEN

The Republic of Wolves completely blindsided us with a surprise EP in December, just two weeks before Christmas. I had listened to this band very briefly back in 2011 when they released The Cartographer, but it wouldn't be until discovering Shrine a couple years ago that I really fell head over heels for them. Their moody, dim lit and introspective brand of post hardcore tinged indie rock felt like it was tailor made for my tastes. To put it simply, this new EP is fantastic, but it comes with a caveat; the mix. It is raw and unpolished. Maybe a little thin and tinny sounding when compared to Shrine. This release is kind of like a haphazard demo tape thrown together just to remind the world that they still have the chops, and boy do they ever. Hidden below the rough edges of this recording is some of their most adventurous and rewarding song writing. Beautiful moments reveal themselves like treasure chests on the high seas, and the closer you get the more they glisten.

9. Koyo - Would You Miss It?

SOUNDS LIKE: I DONT HAVE ANYTHING FUNNY FOR THIS ONE, SAD POP PUNK IS ALREADY A JOKE / LISTEN

Pop punk! A genre that I always thought was kinda corny and lame until I started listening to The Story So Far and realized that it can actually be incredibly potent, emotionally charged and energetic form of catharsis. Koyo really fit the bill when I was searching for more bands that would satisfy my TSSF cravings. Although I'm not a huge fan of "gruff bearded IPA guy" vocals in punk music, Koyo's songs were so catchy and impactful that even the singer eventually won me over, and this record found itself in constant rotation.

8. Maruja - Knocknarea

SOUNDS LIKE: HARDCORE KIDS STARTED LISTENING TO JAZZ AND NICK CAVE, POST PUNK / LISTEN

My friend randomly sent me a song from this, saying that it auto played for him on spotify and he thought I would like it. I was enthralled by it immediately and it ended up being the best thing he has ever recommended to me. I am a huuge sucker for saxophone and firmly stand behind the opinion that horns can improve almost any genre of music, especially when that genre is moody post punk blasting straight out of the smoky stairwell exit of an underground english club. Maruja's use of the saxophone is much more than just a garnish though, it is woven into the structure of each song the same way a guitar would be. When paired with the anguished croons of vocalist Harry Wilkinson, the result is an atmosphere almost oppressive with it's heavy yet deeply moving temperament. This will undoubtedly be a band to pay close close attention to in the coming years.

7. Johnny Booth - Moments Elsewhere

SOUNDS LIKE: BOTCH TAPE IS IN THE STEREO AND UR BRAKES JUST STOPPED WORKING, METALCORE / LISTEN

I had never heard of this band before this album dropped, and I only checked it out because their name sounded weird as hell to me. I thought we left name-names like Billy Talent in the dust years ago. What I wasn't prepared for was the scourge of angry-fun math infused metalcore behind it's surreal cover art. One thing that made this album stand out to me was the pure variety of sounds and influences available. Everything from Botch worship, dreamy alt rock reminiscent of the softer cuts on Loathe's 2020 mammoth ILIIAITE, and Blood Brothers inspired "four on the floor" dance punk. This album portrays itself like a psych-ward colouring book, and the result is an album that never feels boring or out of touch.

6. Spiritbox - The Fear of Fear

SOUNDS LIKE: NEW AGE, EASY LISTENING, ALTERNATIVE METALCORE / LISTEN

Spiritbox have been a controversial band in the metal community, mainly criticized for their streamlined, "sterile" (not my words) take on pop infused metalcore. I for one love the fact that they are creating heavy music that is still accessible, smooth, and packs enough heart to caress the unwrinkled surface of my brain. This EP is extremely succinct, all killer no filler, and just a really great example of all the strong suits this band has to offer. Songs like Cellar Door and Angel Eyes are just heavy and intense, purely utilizing harsh vocals to convey the feeling of anxiety that comes with grappling your sense of self. Nothing has resonated with me this year more than Courtney screaming "I can't live in this world while I breathe in another one" right before the heaviest fucking breakdown. Too Close / Too Late, The Void, and Ultraviolet are all shimmering and beautiful alt-metal tracks with no harsh vocals present at all. Jaded sits firmly in between, open arms firmly grasping from all corners of Spiritbox's repertoire to create a perfect balance of screaming, frost bitten metallic riffs and a chorus so catchy it could rival some of the biggest pop R&B artists on the radio today.

5. Nothing,nowhere. - Void Eternal

SOUNDS LIKE: THE PICTURES IN YOUR HIGHSCHOOL LOCKER, NU METAL, METALCORE / LISTEN

Given the fact that this album features Pete Wentz, Shane Told, Buddy Nielsen, Underoath vocalists Spencer and Aaron, as well as some more contemporary artists such as Will Ramos, Connie Sgarbossa and Olli Appleyard, it confuses me to see how little it is talked about. I don't know if this album completely flew under the radar of post hardcore and metalcore fans, or if it was just written off as over produced studio nostalgia bait. Naysayers be damned as there are some seriously catchy, well written songs here. Even when the album ventures into Linkin Park nu-metal rap territory, Joe Mulherin is just such a talented vocalist and song writer that he always brings the songs back to earth with a bangin chorus or death defying breakdown.

4. Wednesday - Rat Saw God

SOUNDS LIKE: IF MBV WAS A COUNTRY BAND, TWANGY ALT ROCK / LISTEN

Kind of the oddball addition to this list, but god damn I love this album so much. Even though I come off as a metalcore fan first, a lot of my favourite artists are actually 90s indie rock bands of the slacker variety, and adjacent americana influenced singer songwriters. Wedneday checks all the boxes that I love about 90s alternative music. Rough around the edges but infectious with it's melody. Reminiscent of both the untuned honesty of David Berman and the super charged, off kilter charm of Swirlies.

3. Hail The Sun - Divine Inner Tension

SOUNDS LIKE: AN EDGIER, COOLER MARS VOLTA, PROGRESSIVE POST-HARDCORE / LISTEN

This was my most anticipated album of the year, and one that I made the unfortunate mistake of burning myself the fuck out on it's singles. I listened to Maladapted, Under the Floor, Chunker, and Mind Reader so many times in a row that when the full album was released, it just sounded WEIRD to me. Obviously I didn't let that get in the way of my enjoyment, but my brain had been wired to expect certain songs to be preceded by and followed by certain songs. Ya know what I mean. It threw me through a loop and it took a long time for the other songs to really click into place. Divine Inner Tension is one of Hail the Sun's strongest and most fun albums to date. These tracks are smart and witty, dazzling with it's technicality and playfulness. Math rock guitar harmonies, funky bass lines and spastic drum fills phase in and out of battle stances before breaking free into powerful choruses and descending back down their stairwell of madness. Vocalist Donovan Melero can be a bit of an acquired taste, but fans of The Mars Volta will feel right at home listening to the dramatic flair in the ceiling shattering range of his voice. Despite the fact that he can sometimes hold me back from recommending this band to people in my inner circle, I couldn't imagine a more perfect vocalist for the band. He knows how to command a room, and sometimes (if you close your eyes) the instruments feel like an extension of his voice, spreading from his open mouth like tendrils to do his bidding. Admittedly I still feel a stronger emotional connection to New Age Filth and Wake, but this band doesn't miss and I'm sure my emotional attachment to Divine Inner Tension will grow the more it marinates and the singles that I burnt myself on begin to simmer down into a stew on low boil.

2. Aviations - Luminara

SOUNDS LIKE: BEING EMBRACED BY THE SWEET WARMTH OF THE COSMOS, PROGRESSIVE ROCK, METAL / LISTEN

Beautiful melodies, progressive signatures, intricate harmonies, bright pianos and sweet, soaring vocals. This album engulfed me in it's gorgeous fiery glow and there was no looking back. Despite technically being a metal band, pure heaviness is merely a fork in the road on Aviations journey, a stormy mountain passage per se. In fact, I think one of the most impressive aspects of this band is their ability to utilize downtuned guitars and hard hitting polyrhythms in the softest way possible. Screams are sprinkled here and there on different tracks for emotional emphasis, but fourth track Legend is the only song on the album where the band goes all in on the heavy. They offer us a brief, deafening glimpse into their realm of madness before switching gears with La Jolla back into a band that sounds suspiciously like a modern church worship group, almost as if Legend was just an accidental slip of the mask that you were definitely not supposed to see. Watch your back. It doesn't matter which mask this band wears though, as everything they do is just beautiful and unique in it's ability to sound like a sunrise in motion. Adam Benjamin's vocals are just icing on top of an already sickingly sweet cake. His ability to dance between delicate falsetto and smooth, passionate wails makes me believe he has cherry blossoms and bleeding hearts in place of vocal chords. Luminara is a testament to what can be achieved when six technically proficient musicians come together with a central vision to create a a metal album that moves mountains with it's tenderness. The artistically explorative and emotionally impactful music they have laid down here make it an easy pick for second place.

1. Currents - The Death We Seek

SOUNDS LIKE: JUMPING IN THE BATH WITH A TOASTER OVEN, STICKING A FORK IN AN OUTLET, METALCORE / LISTEN

See below or click here for my full thoughts on the undisputed AOTY of 2023.

[sheepishvagabond-shinigamijack]

how do you do these L voiceovers? is that your own voice?

Yes and no! I use AI and samples of my own voice (for speed and inflection) and L's voice (for tone and rumble) I write the scripts and they're narrated back to me in short sentences and then I go through and stick it all together /run some filters over it to adjust the pitch. It isn't flawless but it works.

[neon-pink-leitner]

How would you rank the main male voice actors for Cyberpunk? Vic, Johnny, Kerry, River, Jackie and Smasher?

I'm sorry this took me forever to get to but I promise I didn't forgot about you

Ranking wise I honestly don't think I can do because the voice acting in this game is damn near flawless but I can talk about my thought on them.

Despite the fact that I will reblog thrist stuff for Vic I see his voice as perfect for a father like figure. You can tell from his voice that the dude has prolly seem some shit but has managed to get away from it and now is happy and content with the life he has.

Keanu did a great fucking job with Johnny. Its not uncommon for people with PTSD and trauma to speak in a flat, monotone voice and we get that from Johnny. Its a subtle way to hint at his mental state. He still shows emotions with his tone and his inflections but manages to keep this monotone draw.

Kerry has just the touch of an accent that I love. A small bit of gravel that shows he's smoked for a long time but not overly so much that it makes it hard to understand him(I have auditory processing issues thanks to ADHD). Fun fact about Kerry, the voice actor did voices for some the Raiders in Fallout 4 so if you ever wanna hear Kerry threaten your life, go play Fallout 4 and keep your ears open.

I don't really have strong thoughts on River's voice. I like his character and that side quest of his is....well...it sure fucking is. But I just don't have strong thoughts him really. I've only romanced him once and while I like him, he's just not a character that takes up alot of space in my head.

Back again with the accents with Jackie and he's another one that I listen to talk for hours. Jackie is so goal driven that shows when he speaks. He gets excited and he's not scared to show that! In the last scene with him, even though he's dying there's still hope in his voice. You can hear that he believes in V no matter what and its tragic beauty.

Listen, if you'd ask me about Smasher six months ago I'd have a different answer but there's something real sexy about voice that I cannot explain even a bit. I always liked Borg from Star Trek even before I admitted to myself that I'm a monsterfucker and he's got Borg vibes. His voice has a mech tone to it, because, well duh, with pretty much all humanity gone. Its interesting.

Looking over everything if I had to rank them I think Johnny and Kerry probably have my favorite voices. If I had to pick a least fave I'd say River just because I'm not as attached to the character. Everyone else just falls some where in the middle. Jackie being on the higher end of that middle with Vic and Smasher prolly on the lower end of the middle.