#disembodied voice

[gothicseverance]

The fact that so many important communications in [Gothic television] are mediated through technological devices highlights two standard Gothic complaints — the difficulty of communication and the impossibility of ever really knowing another human being.

—Twin Peaks and the Television Gothic

[tenth-sentence]

It is not for them you do this, a voice answered him.

"DragonLance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight" - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

[pixel-mess]

if you vote please reblog!

[undersiblings]

Chara forced me to do this…

[cranberryspringart]

Wierd shit going on last night I guess?

[yellowballoonx]

[chevxxvs]

I decided to redraw Arthur and John because I hate how twink-ish I made Arthur look in the last drawing of em,,

[alicornze7]

Silly guys goin' on silly adventures:]

@rorydrawsandwrites's puppeteer au but the only difference is that jax gives consent

My contribution to this wonderful au has been long overdue:')

Rambling in tags ehe (cw: ribbun:p)

Well maybe it's not the only difference

[bridge-arsonist]

This has probably been talked about before, but I love how Cold doesn't represent logic.

Normally, when you see a cold, uncaring sort of character in media, someone who just doesn't care, they're associated with logic or power. The stoic detective, the ice queen, the snarky assistant, you know the deal.

But not The Voice of the Cold. You want a logical character? That's Skeptic! But Skeptic isn't cold by any means: he's, well, skeptical, of the things that people tell him. He has the goal of finding out as much information as possible about this situation, and getting out of the hostage situation the Narrator has set up. He's not super expressive or anything, but he's actually pretty approachable/friendly with anyone not named 'The 'Narrator'.

And it makes sense. Skeptic is the voice you get by taking the most logical course of action. Take the blade just in case, but hear the Princess out and ultimately realize she's as much of a victim in this as you are before freeing her, and doubling down when the Narrator tries to control you.

Cold, on the other hand, is about apathy. The closest things to a 'goal' he has are:

1. Don't be bored.

2. Get revenge on the Narrator somehow.

And so, he really can't be logical, at least, not 'logical' in the way we perceive it. Our goal is to get out as unharmed as possible, and many of his suggestions directly contradict this goal.

But the Cold doesn't care about death. After all, it's already been established it's already temporary. His sheer apathy towards any and all harm that comes towards him fundamentally contradicts conventional logic, because conventional logic dictates taking the course of action that minimizes harm.

Now, that's not to say Cold doesn't care about anything. In his own way, he genuinely is trying to look out for the other voices when he urges them to numb themselves to pain, because it's easier that way, isn't it? He's clearly frustrated when they can't do that, urging the Player to just ignore them and listen to him instead during Moment of Clarity.

But at the same time, because of Cold's apathy, his typical 'logic' is just "whatever seems interesting". He's fundamentally a very impulsive character, not in spite of his apathy, but because of it.

Honestly... It's more like Contrarian than anything. I mean, think about it. An impulsive character who does whatever seems interesting and strives to make the Narrator as miserable as they can? The difference is in how that apathy presents itself, which makes sense, because they pretty much manifested in opposite ways.

That aside, though... The Cold acts based on a bestie to feel. Specifically, a desire to feel entertained. And, it makes sense, considering he's what you get from killing yourself due to agonizing numbness and boredom. Of course he's going to be apathetic, uncaring of his wellbeing, and impulsive. That's what you manifested.

Apathy, taken to its logical conclusion, is very impulsive. And I love just how well Cold represents that.

[gothicseverance]

Gothic fiction is dominated by the uncanny mother of infancy, who will continue to haunt us as long as women remain on the one hand, the sole custodians of infantile identity, and on the other, on the margin of social power.

-Gothic Mirrors and Feminine Identity

[tenth-sentence]

"That's right, that's right," said the Chief Voice.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" - C. S. Lewis

[undersiblings]

So you think disembodied voices are hot?

Hmnnnmm.....

Bonus:

[dontdreamonme]

waiter!!! more of disembodied voices with sinister origins who have impeccable sexual aura please!!!!

[lowkeloki]

[grand-line-shenanigans]

Murderbot ART shared hacking brain space