#forgive the audio quality i was driving on my way home and my phone was in the cup holder.

[cyberdva]

Breaking Up With My Girlfriend Prank (GONE WRONG) - C.B. ☆

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

Summary: In the midst of the popular Prank War, Colby had the genius idea of pranking his newly announced girlfriend. A prank that would completely backfire on their relationship. Colby would go through thick and thin for his girlfriend, but even his dramatic acting messed something up. Can he fix it?

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

Main Masterlist

Colby Brock Masterlist 

Word Count: 2k

Date Uploaded:  4/7/20

Warnings: Mild Swearing and Mentions of Sex

A/N: I have so many Colby ideas lined up…. quarantine work is currently kicking my ass, so I apologize!

 ☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆ 

 ☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆ 

“Colby this is your worst idea yet.” Corey had merely walked through the door and was already pounded with chaos. The infamous prank war had been escalating further than planned. It had gotten progressively worse. The ideas these guys had were coming to a point of destruction. Not just the house, some of the pranks had begun to take effect on their relationships. Aaron was frequently locked in his room playing video games rather than hanging out with everyone.  People outside of the five core roommates had been dragged in. Anything for the views they say.

“Well I mean the fans have been requesting it. I’m one-hundred percent sure she won’t mind after I tell her where the cameras are hidden.” Emotions in the Trap House were only invisible barriers. So many times videos were filled with violence, purposely made for entertainment use.

“No wonder the fans wanted it… they all want a chance to date you…” Colby made his way to the staircase and paid no mind to the advice his friend was dealing him. Corey made note of the rabid fangirls that wanted nothing, but Colby for themselves. He was an unstoppable force and sometimes that led him to his own fall. Colby was back in his room, alone. It was oddly quiet. Perfect timing to begin filming..

“What’s up guys? It’s Colby Brock! Today I’m back with another prank. This one might not end too well,” His cheeky grin filled his face, on the inside anxiety ate away at every inch. “As you know, I have a wonderful girlfriend and the prank war is at its peak, so I’m breaking up with her.” A pause for dramatic effect, this needed views so he could win the war. “As a prank.” He extended his hands and put on a big smile. In his mind, Colby convinced himself that this was going to go smoothly.

“I’ve been dating Y/N for a couple months now and I felt it was time for her to get in on the action. I guess it’s an initiation…” Colby fiddled with his rings, he felt that everything around him was cloudy. “Sorry, I’m really nervous about this…” he giggled. His fingers found themselves running through his hair. With pupils wide, there was no denying this had to go horribly wrong. 

“She should be on her way over here in a few minutes. Flabby post-its thrashed their way around as the heading wind of the opened window left more than to be desired. The camera’s microphone crackled. Even the universe somehow knew how utterly stupid this idea had to be. It felt wrong. He could say he cheated on her? Why would he do that? 

‘Fuck.” Colby knew the audio files were now unusable. There was no energy left to redo this, he’s seen Corey and Sam do this so many times and their girlfriends were completely fine… after a while. He was being too hard on himself. His lungs filled with the cold, nightly air. He could do this. It’s just a prank. The window slammed shut as Y/N car slowly pulled into the long driveway. He could do this.

Colby had put too much effort into his emo-like inner monologue that reality even slipped away from himself. He made mere seconds to hide the camera and get into position. The video quality jumped even lower as Colby snatched a stray shirt on the scum-ridden floor. He tried his best to find a second angle, he fumbled with an extra camera and stuffed it on his dresser, underneath a towel. 

“Okay guys, she just got here. I have no idea what I’m going to say, but I hope she forgives me.” Another nervous laugh on cue. He was sweating like he had just come back from the gym. The large front door slammed shut. He received a text…

Y/N: I’m on my way up! I’ve been missing you all day!

“Shit.” The sound of feet hitting the trashed staircase filled his ears. He looked normal, a bit more jumpy than normal, that was all. She was right outside her door, her hands gripping the door handle. With one last look at the cameras Colby flashed his eyes to his window. The weather grew dark and grim. Rain threatened to spill at any given moment. The door was now wide open and closed with a short click.

“Hey Colb… how was your day? Anything eventful happen?” Colby made no emotion, it was not that hard to do. He gave no reply which Y/N thought was odd. She dropped a small bag filled with what would most likely be food. She looked up at him. The silence was sickening.

Her eyes skewered around for possibly a camera. It seemed scarily unusual for something like this to happen. “Are you oka-”

“We need to talk.” His voice was stern as ice. As stern as an icy pond found on a freezing December Sunday. Y/n’s pupils dilated, it wasn’t the friendly greeting she was expecting. Far from it likewise.

“What do you mean? Did I do something wrong…” she plopped down onto his sheer bed. The awkwardness was indescribable. It was the first time the pair were unable to converse. It seemed fake, like a problem that would never arise. Colby rose from the bed, fist clenched. Y/N fell backwards into the mattress.

“It’s not really you. It’s me.” That is the phrase bound to start some sort of trouble. No one really knew what was going on.

Y/N’s face contorted, “I’m sorry. Yesterday we were having sex and today there’s a problem?” She stared down at her sweaty palms, small portions of rage and sorrow were quickly brewing. “Sorry, that sounded really harsh.”

Colby smacked his hands together and a clapping noise echoed, “This is what I’m talking about.” He turned around to hide his smile. This was a situation where even he couldn’t keep his face straight.

Baffled, Y/N sat with a raging passion, “What the fuck do you mean?!” Seriously! I assumed everything was well.” She didn’t know what to do next, honestly. Where to do amongst all of this. 

“We need to break up.” Hell began again. This wasn’t what Y/N was expecting, tears fondled sporadically across her waterline and danced their way down her face like a drunken ABBA member. Her body jolted in a manner that was unthinkable. She left in a flustered hurry, Sam saw her waddling down the stairs and tried to make a headspace to connect the dots. He was interrupted by Colby stomping his way downstairs in sheer panic, equipped with a camera.

“It’s just a prank! Y/N! It was fake!” 

The grand door slammed shut.

++++

“Devyn, has Corey ever pulled this shit with you? Seriously. He seemed so convincing. Do you think he secretly meant it.”

“Knowing Colby, probably not. You’re acting like he’s a stranger. You’ve known him for how long now? Two years?”

“It really wasn’t so thoughtful of him.” The eerie ambience of the phone static paired with the pitch black

“It was a prank. They aren’t meant to be thoughtful Y/N… well semi-excluding Jake’s pizza prank.” She sighed into the phone, “Not wanting to over excite you or sound mean. You’re kind of overrea-” She hung up the phone, Y/N knew she was reacting unlawfully, she just wanted this to leave an impact. I guess it would be better for the video anyways...her phone vibrated. Four missed calls from Colby. 

The rickety door flung open and Y/N stepped outside. She convinced herself no one was watching. If Colby knew where she was he would most likely have a fit. The wind was the same  as it was, whispering secrets into the ears of anyone brave enough to listen. A branch cascaded to the asphalt that bounded the ground into one, swift motion. Y/n popped her heels onto the road. There was silence. A stray shopping bag floated past her ankles. Y/N Thought about how Colby was feeling. Did she really hurt him by leaving? Was he not kidding about what he said? Shit. She felt sad. Cried. If only she knew what was actually going on. Fuck this. Fuck Colby. Y/N stopped in her tracks, “No…” she thought. “Devyn was right. I’m going back” 

After a shitty teen-romcom reenaction Y/N made her way to the brooding boyfriend’s home. Colby sat in his room while Sam poked jokes at him, trying to cheer him up. He abandoned his phone on the stringy carpet and hoped she would get over it. She came back. 

“I hate you, you know?” Her small amount of makeup was splattered down, Colby’s spirits crushed deeper. 

“Just stay the night.. It’s the least I can do.” He begged. He pleaded. The last thing Colby needed was to lose her. 

“You actually think I would drive home after all of this happened, it’s like 12 in the morning.” She re-opened the bag from before and cracked open a soda.

“I’m so sorry. This got way out of hand and I didn’t mean any of it. I love yo-“

“Shut up Colby.”

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

Part 2? Y/N does a break up prank on Colby? Send me an ask to let me know!

[revengeisalwaysanoption]

FIC: Diglielo veramente

Despite the title, which comes from Lucio Dalla’s “Canzone” this fic is in English. Written for Martino’s birthday and featuring what I believe to be the true present Niccolò made for him.

A sweater. A fucking sweater. A tight-fitting, flimsy, piece of… fabric, that doesn't even look that bad on him - it surely makes his shoulders seem wider - but… it's just not his style, you know?

Sure you do. And so should Niccolò, after a year and a half they have spent together. 

He bets that he would have known what to buy Luai.

'Come on, don't go there.' Martino tells himself, while he picks on the sweater and stares at Nico. Who'd like to keep the party a secret - hence walking back to the car to call Gio - but hasn't taken Luchino into consideration. 'Yes, that's it. Focus on the party, instead. That's very sweet of him, don't you think? It's neither a grand gesture nor an especially creative way to celebrate you… but… Cut him some slack, Martino. You know he's ridiculously busy with Uni. Still terrified you might walk out again, the next time he screws up. Can you really blame him for not having the time and not being in the right frame of mind to come up with something unique?'

He can't, but he kind of does? And that's why he ends up making such a request as if he can really demand complete transparency between them from now on. As if his trust in Nico can truly be rebuilt on giving him third-degrees every time he's out with someone who isn't Marti.

He truly appreciates Nico's commitment to it, though. He doesn't shy away from giving him answers that he knows Martino won't like. Or that will ruin his carefully planned surprise.

He's still feeling kind of let down, however? And he does wish he wasn't an open book to Niccolò, because his own disappointment is getting to Nico as well… and the last thing he wants on his birthday is for his boyfriend to be sad? As though he had failed him, over something so trivial?

He's spent hours trying to fully enjoy his wonderful beach date with Nico, but he hasn't been able to. And not just because of that damned fisherman.

"Marti?" Niccolò snaps him out of it, as they drive away. "Can you put some music on, please?"

"You know these weird appendices I've got at the bottom of my arms, Ni? They're called hands. You've got two as well, so use them." Martino huffs, teasing, as he waits to be told which one he is supposed to pick.

"First of all: should I remind you that you are the one who doesn't like it when I'm driving and fiddling with the car stereo?"

True. He'd rather have Niccolò looking at the road, instead of rummaging a box to find that particular mixtape he had made… Couldn't he buy a regular phone, and have it on Spotify, instead?

"Secondly, I believe I've shown you how well I can use my hands plenty of times, haven't I?" He squeezes Marti’s thigh at that, running his fingers way too close to his crotch.

"Maybe you need to jog my memory a bit?" Marti asks, grinning and dragging Niccolò’s hand right where he wants it the most.

"Mhh… A tempting offer, but no.” Much to Martino’s disappointment, Nico breaks free of his hold and puts his hand back on the wheel. “We can't be late, not after I begged everyone to show up as early as they possibly could. You're gonna have to wait…"

"Mh, all right." He is so not pouting, no sir. Not at all.

"Oh, come on,” Niccolò adds, in a gentler tone. “It'll be worth it. And you'll get the exclusive on the newest addition to our drawer… "

Huh? So the sweater isn't the only present he is going to get from him, today? He wonders what it could be… and how he is going to use it on Nico.

Okay, not the wisest idea to think about that, when he's trying to keep his libido at bay… and he can't remember why exactly?

'Because you're never gonna hear the end of it, both from the boys and the girls, if you two get home needing a shower and a change of clothes.'

Right. Okay, then. Let's hear what Nico is in the mood for, during their journey back home. Knowing him, it can anything ranging from old school rock to dubstep. He's quite curious to find out what it will be, this time.

It's placed… Inside a handmade music box, painted in blue and red? 

It opens to, a melancholic - nonetheless soothing - melody. Nothing that Martino has ever heard before, so it must be either something really obscure or a song that Niccolò wrote for him. While they were apart, judging from the vibes it gives off.

“Cool, right? Can you believe I found how to make a music box on WikiHow? Internet is not just for porn, after all.” Nico keeps on talking since Marti has been left speechless. How many sleepless nights did it take, for him to make this? “Now, I don’t know if you’re too young to remember how to use a cassette deck, but you’ve got to insert that tape… Staring at it won’t-”

“Shut up.” He finally manages to say, slapping Nico’s nape. They both smile at his feigned yelp: he didn’t even hit him that hard. 

"I know, the audio quality isn't the best but I haven't given Miché - who is indeed the guy from Foggia, before you ask - enough to find some proper recording equipment… They will sound better live, I promise."

There’s the tune from the music box but played on a piano, at first. Followed by a silly ukulele ballad… and yeah, it sure is the same one Nico attempted to play for him back in October 2018. 

In true Niccolò Fares’ fashion, the mixtape itself is filled with the cheesiest songs he could find. Songs that make Martino groan, but that he can’t help but sing along to. And then… Then the mood abruptly changes, with the last three songs. All the silliness is gone, and each of those lyrics goes straight to his heart.

‘Perché non è facile... Forse nemmeno utile… Certe cose chiare dentro, poi non escono. Restano, restano.’

‘Le incomprensioni sono così strane, sarebbe meglio evitarle sempre, per non rischiare di aver ragione… Che la ragione non sempre serve.’

’Stammi più vicino ora che ho paura, perché in questa fretta tutto si consuma… Mai, non ti vorrei veder cambiare mai.’

“Stop the car. Now.” He says, turning off the radio. He can’t wait another minute to make it crystal clear to Niccolò that there is nothing left to forgive. That he regretted walking out on him the minute he did it, and that it’s never gonna happen again. 

Perhaps he hasn’t been straightforward enough, under the bed. They always tend to get a little sidetracked, on their reunions, after all. He’s not that good with words, though. So… A bone-crushing hug will do, for now?

And maybe later he can do better, be a lot more convincing. It’s what they both deserve, don’t they? *************************** A/N: I will include the links for the lyrics’ translations on AO3. Not here otherwise the post doesn’t show up in the tags.

[rt8815]

Mamihlapinatapai

This follows my Untitled: “Last Gasp” Inspired piece from last year, so it’s set in mid March-ish 2018. It also fills the “Mutual Pining” square on my CM Bingo card.

WC: Almost 1,900

Notes: Taylor and Jaime are two of McKinley’s bandmates. They will appear in an earlier set fic that I haven’t finished yet 😏

Mamihlapinatapai is a Yagan (of the Nyungar people) word which means, “the wordless, yet meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something but are both reluctant to start.”

—–

“Congrats, guys!” McKinley exclaimed, raising her glass. “The Dream Team is back together and Barnes has retreated to her office to lick her wounds. All is as it should be.”

“Cheers!” everyone toasted, laughing against their professional judgement.

JJ slid into the seat next to McKinley.

“It feels great to come back home,” Emily sighed, soaking in the sunset view from Rossi’s back yard.

McKinley sipped her Scotch, tapping the table suddenly when something occurred to her.

“Spencer, how ever will you tell your students you’ll no longer be teaching full-time?” Her hand flew to her heart. “Your fan club will be absolutely devastated, poor things,” she smirked, sounding anything but sympathetic.

Spencer almost choked on his wine. “Oh God, no,” he started, but just then Garcia joined them at the table.

“What’s this about fan club stuff? Are you planning costumes for a convention?” she asked.

Spencer buried his face in his hands and grumbled something that sounded like ‘piece of meat.’

McKinley stole a bit of Penelope’s Mai-tai before continuing. “No cons, Penny, unless you think dozens of shrieking harpies only there to drool over the male lead qualifies as a ‘convention.’”

Emily leaned around JJ. “Well, that piqued my interest. Go on.”

Spencer moaned, his voice muffled behind his palms.

“Nearly one hundred people came to his lecture this week,” McKinley stated. “They’ve become very popular…with the ladies.”

“Wow! Spence, that’s great,” JJ congratulated him, though she had a mischievous gleam in her eye.

“Yeah, Boy Wonder,” Penelope chimed in. “Why the bashfulness?” She’d had a few drinks and was a bit slow on the uptake.

McKinley rolled her eyes. “Penny, bubeleh, most of them weren’t there to learn,” she emphasized, staring pointedly at Spencer.

Penelope started to cotton on. “Oh,” she grinned. “You’re saying that they-”

“Got it baaad, got it baaad, got it baaad. They’re hot for teacher. Ow!”

Emily wolf-whistled as JJ stretched over the table to ruffle Spencer’s hair.

He finally reemerged, his face beet-red, though he appeared annoyed rather than angry.

“Ley, tell us more about these fangirls,” Garcia demanded, bouncing in anticipation. “Give us the deets.”

McKinley glanced at Spencer, who shrugged, apparently resigned to the good-natured ribbing.

“Do y’all remember The Bimbettes from Beauty and the Beast?” she asked, “and the “I Love You Eyelid Girl” from Raiders of the Lost Ark?”

Penelope giggled into her drink. “That bad, huh?”

“Ugh, worse,” groaned McKinley, now buzzed and losing her filter. “Both of those things cranked up to eleven.”

She rested her elbows on the table, imitating everything the students had done. “They weren’ listenin’ to a thang he said. They twirled their hair, got all doe-eyed and constantly ‘Ooohed’ and ‘Aaahed.’ Talk about flirtin’ up a storm. I swear a few of ‘em drooled.”

“You don’t say,” Emily snickered.

“It was disgusting. Those girls made such asses of themselves. I felt bad for ‘em really.”

“Uh-huh,” JJ chuckled, sounding unconvinced.

“No, honestly! They just would not back down. They stalked us through the hallway. I was worried they were gonna eat ‘im alive!” McKinley cried as she fluffed Spencer’s hair. “I had to keep Skindiana Jones here safe.”

“I uh, I don’t recall them stalking us,” Spencer interjected, “and I still don’t understand why women always-”

“Spence, read. the book. we gave you!”

“Seriously! This has happened on so. many. cases.”

“Yeah! Remember Lila Archer?”

McKinley whipped her head around. “Wait, what? Lila Archer the actress?”

“Yeah,” replied JJ. “Lila was a stalking victim 12 years ago. Spence stayed at her house. She pulled him into her pool and they made out.”

“Oh, she’s very pretty. I imagine that must’ve been quite something!”

“Don’t forget all the working ladies who hit on him,” Emily added.

“And the bartender who flirted with him,” slurred Penny.

Spencer shook his head. “Women go for guys like Morgan or Alvez, not me.”

McKinley frowned. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume that right there is false modesty. It’s not though, and that makes me sad.”

“I’m weird.”

“Weird should be a compliment,” McKinley countered.

“I ramble a lot-”

“Some find it endearing.”

“-about things nobody’s interested in.”

“I’m interested…”

But Spencer wasn’t paying attention.

“My hair’s too long…”

“It suits you, Spencer.”

“I dress like an eighty-year-old man.”

McKinley scrunched her face in amusement. “Yeah, like I said the other day, I’m fairly certain the whole tenured professor look is their kink. Face it, Pretty Boy: yer eye candy.”

Spencer grimaced and hoisted himself up from his chair.

“No, don’t go!” McKinley pleaded, loosely grabbing his forearms. “We’ll stop now, right guys?”

“Of course.”

“Sure.”

“Fine, I’ll zip my perfect, rosy lips.”

Spencer eyed them warily before lowering himself back down. As he drained his glass, McKinley resumed her elbows-on-table pose, feigning innocence.

“I do have one question for you though, Doctor.”

He arched an eyebrow. “What might that be?”

McKinley fiddled with his tie, unknotting it. “I’m worried about my grade in your class. T-t-t-teacher, can you see me after school?”

Spencer sputtered, blushing furiously, then jerked his tie out of her hand and stormed off as dignified as possible.

“I think of all the education that I missed,” she called after him, gesturing for the others to join her. They chorused, “But then my homework was never quite like this!”

They all dissolved into fits of laughter, although McKinley’s quickly dissipated.

“Shit, he’s my ride home. That’s gonna be awkward.”

Emily cleared her throat. “So, how long have you been in love with Reid?”

“I – what?” McKinley squeaked. “I’m not in love with Spencer! What gave you that idea?”

“That show you put on just now. Plus, I saw you two on my porch the other day. I have security cameras…with audio,” Emily admitted.

“Anyway, you’ve looked at each other differently for a while now. You act differently towards each other too. Maybe bringing up the lecture is your subconscious telling you that you two have evolved beyond friendship.”

McKinley shook her head. “Emily, we haven’t known each other long enough for that.”

“Granted, five months is fast,” said Tara, who’d slid into the table unnoticed, “but you’ve spent a lot of his sabbatical and regular time outside work together. Simply put? The quality of your and his friendship could well outweigh the length.”

“And the way you talked about those students?” JJ added. “You called them shrieking harpies and you sounded ready to rip them apart. I mean, I believe that they drooled over Spence, but you laid it on kind of thick. Was it all about keeping him safe, or was it also you telling them to back off?”

That had McKinley stumped. She remembered silently mocking the girls’ behavior, and how she smugly whispered, “It’s never gonna happen,” effectively saying Spencer was out of their league. What stood out the most was how she stared them down as she linked arms with him, deriving satisfaction from their…jealousy?

“Did I deliberately taunt them?” McKinley wondered to herself.

She recalled a sensation of hackles raising. There was no polite way to word it.

“I was marking my territory.”

McKinley had a sudden desire to take a shower.

Her feelings had undoubtedly shifted, but she had no frame of reference for them. And that frightened her.

She switched tactics. “Don’t forget that I’m aroace, guys. I don’t experience romantic or sexual attraction.”

Garcia popped up from her phone, where she’d been hunting down the ‘perfect first date venue.’ “You talk a lot about how sexy and pretty guys are, though. I’ve caught you staring at many a tuchus. What’s that about?” she winked.

McKinley cut eyes at her. “I’m asexual, Penny, not blind. I admired the Venus de Milo too, but I didn’t wanna hump it either.”

“Y’know, I used to identify as bi,” Penelope replied. “I was in my late twenties before I knew that I’m pan. It’s only for you to say but, it might be worth considering demi identities.”

That struck a chord with McKinley. It would require a lot of unpacking her emotions, but it was definitely worth considering.

…

Spencer stole glimpses at McKinley as he drove her home. She was drumming a beat on the armrest. He chuckled; she always did that while deep in thought.

Stopping at a light pulled her from her reverie. “Thank you for driving me home,” she said rather meekly.

“You’re welcome. Never take Uber or Lyft.” He coughed nervously. “You know, because it’s not the safest mode of transportation. Half of our cases start that way,” he joked.

McKinley grinned. “You’re an absolute prince for doing this, especially since I’m a rotten friend.”

Spencer’s jaw dropped. “No, you’re not! Is this about the lecture? Because it’s nothing the team hasn’t teased me about before.”

“Yeah, but I shoulda known they’d take the piss,” she whined, kicking her legs grumpily, “and I went too far with the song. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I forgive you,” he assured her as he stepped on the gas. “Although, I’d like to point out that I’ve never once brought up the men who hit on you at bars.”

“True,” McKinley breathed, playing with a loose thread on her blouse. “But that seems to have died down at O’Keeffe’s recently.”

Spencer pressed his lips together, eyes fixed on the road. She eyed him suspiciously.

“You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” she prodded him.

“Think fast.”

“It’s probably the team’s presence. Most of the regulars know who we are.”

Fortunately, she accepted his suggestion. “Yeah, that’s feasible.”

“Truth is I shoved my credentials in their faces once or twice,”he confessed silently.

“When that doesn’t work, I step between you and them while flashing my revolver, but I’m not owning up to any of that.”

Spencer parked in Taylor and Jaime’s driveway and walked McKinley to her tiny house in the backyard. Boogie bolted out to greet them, tail wagging vigorously.

At her door, she twisted around for a final goodnight, surprised to find Spencer standing so near. He raised his hand and combed his fingers through her hair.

“Cherry blossom,” he explained, showing the pale pink flower in his hand. Spencer reached up again, brushing hair out of her eyes, lingering this time.

McKinley found herself tilting her head into his hand.

“Please don’t stop playing with my hair. Is this what he feels when I play with his? Am I blushing? Is he blushing? What’s that look he’s giving me? Affection? Is that how I look at him? I wish he’d say something. I should say something, but I can’t speak. My heart’s pounding. What’s wrong with me? I never have trouble talking to Spencer. How can someone make me flustered and relaxed at the same time?”

Spencer moved even closer. “Ley, I was wondering -”

“Bork!”

They sprang apart, the spell broken, to see Boogie dancing impatiently. He jumped, placing his paws on Spencer’s thighs.

“Hey buddy, I’m not ignoring you,” he promised as he scratched the dog’s ears.

Satisfied, Boogie pushed open the door and stared expectantly at McKinley.

Spencer retreated down the stairs. “I should be going. Good night, Ley,” he said, the slightest note of disappointment in his voice.

“Night, Spencer. Text me when you get home?”

“Always,” he smiled up at her, stepping backwards towards the fence and through the gate.

—–

@illegalcerebral @dreatine @cynbx @cmbingo

Everyone else let me know if you’d like to be tagged in the future!

[rugeon]

Learning to butterfly the videogame chicken breast

New year new potential projects. For final year project 2018-2019. Might as well start with the new ‘ideation document.

Ideation Document

Contexts:

Systemic gameplay - systemic narrative, and otherwise

Gamefeel/ Player Satisfaction/ Juicing

Strong unusual sense of place and people

Unique methods of interactive media storytelling (NITW Text boxes)

Coziness in games

Non traditional methods of mechanical interaction ie. traditional control methods, with more unique player expression

Having an Interesting failure spectrum (Tom Francis thoughts on why MGSV is a fun stealth game, due to its wide array of failure states)

Analogue/varied means of  expression within one mechanic or activity (jumping in mario, building a snowman in NITW prologue game, Lost Constellation)

Ethos of messy fast prototyping iterartion and production (inspired by Jenny Jiao Hsia talk about prototyping)

Affecting audio  

Techniques 

Interaction Design

Branching Narratives + Dialogue

Games AI

Procedural Generation

Advanced Audio and Visual Processing

Inspiring Works 

Heat Signature - Suspicious Developments, Tom Francis

Roguelike, top down action/ stealth/ heist game where you play as different intergalactic heist/bounty hunter people that breaks into spaceships. Extremely systemic game that encourages players to find interesting solutions to problems by providing a wide variety of interesting sci-fi tools to the player. Systemic gameplay+ systemic player narratives as told through gameplay plans  being made and then changing/going awry as well as conditions constraining players to be creative.

Hotline Miami - Dennaton Games, Jonatan Söderström. Dennis Wedin

Surreal, hyperviolent top down action game about the trancelike sprees that a masked killer enacts, that strongly highlights the violent obsession of videogames and culture. Has several factors that contribute to a sense of good gamefeel, and making what should be a frustrating experience instead induce a flow state.

Sid Meier's Covert Action - MPS Labs, MicroProse

Interesting systemic narrative that the player experiencing by foiling and interacting with various agents and stages of a spy plot. Systemic narrative that is expressed by the gameplay systems. Feeling of the ai acting irrespective to the player. Narrative experience of player feels quite systemic.

Night in the Woods (NITW) - Infinite Fall, Scott Benson, Alec Holowka, Bethany Hockenberry + Finji Adam Saltsman, Rebekah Saltsman, Em Halberstadt

Anthropomorphic animal narrative, platforming, adventrue game that tells the story of a 20 year old that comes back to her home town and and friends after leaving college. Tells an emotive story unconventional by games standards in a very playful way that has some traditional gameplay elements (platforming) but also makes interactive more unusual verbs (a pizza eating section, and pretzel stealing microgame). Creates an extremely strong, cozy sense of place. Expressive within the limits of its digital medium+storytelling (wide variety of personality conveyed through text box animation).

Minit - Vlambeer, Jan Willem Nijman, Kitty Calis, Jukio Kallio, Dominik Johann

Small, short adventure game where you die and every minute and respawn at the same space, learning about the world, optimising your route and changing the world slightly with each successive run. Very polished game with superb gamefeel (all vlambeer games have great gamefeel+juice)

Kentucky Route Zero - Cardboard Computer- Jake Elliott, Tamas Kemenczy, Ben Babbitt

The great american novel in game form. A magical realist story about debt to the past. Extremely important and affective narrative game. ‘The Entertainment’ - Interlude, elucidates relationship and interplay between player and developers that creates the game experience. Creates a powerful atmosphere + utilises branching narrative

I also wrote down a bunch of other stuff I’ve been thinking about in a big jumbled list for help during ideation process. This is just junk floating around, mood board of my head.

Yakuza, Moby Dick, Dark Souls/Absolver, Atom Zombie Smasher+Brendon Chung, Papers Please+Return of Obra Dinn, FTL+Into The Breach, Hylics, High Hell, devolver, Hyper Light Drifter, Flinthook, Jalopy, Jet-Set Radio, Mark of the Ninja, MGS V, Luftrausers, Shadow of Mordor, The Norwood Suite, Small radios, big televisions, The Endless Express, Alan Wake+remedy games, Assassins Creed 1, Banner Saga, F.E.A.R. ,  Helldivers, invisible inc. , Monaco, Westerado,  spectacle fighters dmc, thomas was alone, reigns, evil dead, sorcerer, valhalla rising, a field in england, hard to be a god, stalker, man with a movie camera, bomb city, taking of pelham 123, assault on precinct 13,  escape from new york, fruitvale station, playtime, drive, thief, collateral, taxi driver, lost in translation, tekkonkinkreet, ki-ki delivery service+ghibli, REDLINE, cagliostro, 2049, che, motorcycle diaries, man with movie camera, koyaanisqatsi,VVitch,Sacco e Vanzeti, nocturnal animal, die hard, ghost in the shell, atlanta, twin peaks, fear and loathing,only god forgives,donnie darko, mad max, satoshi kon films, eyes wide shut, dog day afternoon, seventh seal, whiplash, brazil, t2 trainspotting, hellboy comic, fargo, rocky horror, gozu, juno, clerks, slacker, daria, almost famous, lady bird, frances ha, fury, wes anderson colour+ framing, NOIR + lighting, there will be blood, no country for old men, unforgiven, dollars trilogy, run lola run, phone booth, die hard, dr strangelove, apocalypse now/heart of darkness, the wire, adult swim+space ghost stuff, home movies+squigglevision, hannibal, bojack, flcl, true detective, desert punk, QOTSA, them crooked vultures, grunge, idles, talking heads, wu, green kingdom, lizard gizzard, acoustic wizard, tobacco, diiv, mbv, spooky+ over the garden wall, bowie, clash

Initial Ideas

A game where you play as a witch exploring a modern magical realist city at night. Should have an interesting traversal mechanic. All about traversal, dancing and screaming in a city at night, strong sense of place + atmosphere: inspired by films such as playtime, thief, drive, collateral, fruitvale station, lost in translation as well as games like NITW. Thought about more in this doc: one pager section on 2nd page: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O3NC8HqwmERq57Dcqqc2d2Ih34ZVO4-vEQPnVTKRyOk/edit?usp=sharing

Some kind of game themed around the desert/stoner rock music genre which includes acts like Red Fang, Kyuss and Sleep. Make use of AAVP to have a dynamic soundtrack responding to gameplay that impacts the visuals. The game’s mechanics should be directly inspired by the theming, and common features of the genre, could be action oriented, with rhythm game influences. One game that would probably be worth looking at in relation to this is the recently released Tetris Effect, while I would not be as interested in a game as abstracted as tetris, how they achieve a flow state, and have music and visuals informed by gameplay would be worth looking in to. I feel this game is more likely to involve rapid prototyping.

Create a languid game about chilling out on a ship with crew and passengers. Setting could be sci-fi or more historic - chatting on computer to far flung galactic friends and doing menial space jobs/ tasks aboard ship. The setting and experience of the place can draw from ideas about coziness in games + make use of Branching Narrative/Dialogue. Potentially also think about how procedural narrative could be a factor. Inspired by Moby Dick, NITW and Purgatory

Hotline Miami/Goap/Diehard - ‘Create a systemic top-down stealth action game where the player is asked to foil a developing plot/heist by a group of AI agents whose plan and activities respond to the players attempts to derail it. The focus should be on the player feeling like they are responding to the AI’s adaptations to the player interrupting their plot. Each level would be one plot/ situation the player is thrust into. The project is inspired by the evolving plots of covert action, the setting/circumstances of Die-Hard and the gameplay/perspective of hotline miami. This project will involve development of a complex AI system that could be implemented via a GOAP method.

Walkie talky/radio gameplay mechanic to solicit/disseminate information

Research into the effectiveness of procedural vs authored content in games, as large games increasingly find themselves trying to use procedural generation to meet the demands of growing content demand they are finding it difficult to reconcile this with a desire to create quality, curated content, narrative or otherwise. I propose research into the various ways procedural vs authored content has been divvied up in games, the amount of people working in each area, how much curated work is required for procedural work to be effective and the reception/perception of these two methods to create content for games. The means by which this could be investigated is perhaps by creating some data sets of very simple different possible mechanical games in Unity or more narrative ones in twine, that are sorted into different groups of procedural / authored games. We would then measure the level of player engagement over the course of their time with the games and within the context of how long it took to make the given games. Context + techniques: procedural generation + branching narratives

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Sony Mdr 7506 Eq Settings

Sony Mdr 7506 Best Buy

Sony Mdr 7506 Sale

Sony Mdr 7506 Review

The Sony MDR-7506 is an industry standard around the world. The SM58 of headphones, these are a perfect place to start your headphone journey.

KNOXVILLE, TN — Waves Audio, a leading provider of digital signal processing solutions and digital music production tools, announces an update to the Waves Nx Virtual Mix Room plugin – a new headphone EQ calibration feature. Added in response to popular demand, this new feature allows users to select a correction EQ curve for specific popular headphone models.

Nx Virtual Mix Room is a virtual monitoring plugin that recreates the three-dimensional acoustics of a professionally treated mix room on any set of headphones. This allows you to hear on headphones the same depth and panoramic stereo image you would hear from speakers in a physical room, enabling you to properly judge how your headphone mixes will translate to speakers.

The reference quality sound of the MDR 7506 makes them great for studio use or if you like sound that is on the more accurate side. The compact, closed back.

Sony Mdr 7506 Eq Settings Full Size Over; Testosterone levels hese earphones possess and carry on to be highly deemed among audio experts and theyre furthermore hugely popular with the typical consumer. And for good reason considering they carry out better than a great deal of various other headphones priced at almost twice as much.

Using Nx Virtual Mix Room with EQ calibration, users can now mix and monitor on headphones with greater confidence than ever, experiencing precise, reliable high-end sound in the studio, at home or on the road.

Based on precision headphone measurement data provided by www.headphone.com, the Nx plugin’s new EQ calibration curves are designed to balance out any extreme features in your headphone’s frequency response, correcting them toward a common frequency balance. This provides a more transparent starting point for monitoring and mixing.

The following headphone models are currently supported by Nx: Audeze EL-8 (Closed-Back) Audeze iSINE 20 Audeze SINE Audio-Technica ATH-M50x AKG K-702 Beyerdynamic DT-880 (250 ohm) Beyerdynamic DT-990 (250 ohm) Sennheiser HD-280 Pro Sennheiser HD-600 Sennheiser HD-800 Shure SRH-440 Sony MDR-7506

Using Nx Virtual Mix Room with EQ calibration, users can now mix and monitor on headphones with greater confidence than ever, experiencing precise, reliable high-end sound in the studio, at home or on the road.

Welcome today to my review on the Sony MDR-7506. These headphones have and continue to be highly regarded among audio professionals and they’re also hugely popular with the average consumer. And for good reason considering they perform better than a lot of other headphones costing almost twice as much. However, there are some situations where these may not be the best choice so I’ll talk more about that as I get into the sound quality comfort and features of these headphones.

Currently these headphones retail for around $80, but you can click here to check the current price and availability.

Sony Mdr 7506 Best Buy

FEATURES, ACCESSORIES AND DESIGN

So I’ll start off by walking you through the features and giving you a closer look at these headphones. Now these only weigh eight ounces, so they’re lighter than the average full size over ear headphone. They also fold up and a synthetic leather bag is included which makes these great for portable use. The bag is a basic synthetic leather bag, nothing fancy but it gets the job done.

You also get a coiled cable which stretches out to about 10 feet. This cable is not detachable so if you’re not a fan of coiled cables then that’s something to consider. The cable terminates in a 3.5 millimeter connector and it includes a 6.5mm screw on adapter.

The headphones have slide adjustments on the side which click into place. And these get plenty large so they should accommodate anyone no matter the shape or size of your head.

One thing I’m not a fan of is the way the wire is exposed as it comes down along the outside of the headband. It’s just something to be aware of and to be careful of. However, I know people who use these headphones for years and years and years without any problems so it’s not something I would be overly concerned about.

The headband is covered in a pleather material and has a small amount of cushion on the underside. The ear pads are racetrack shaped and are just barely large enough for my ears. So if you have larger ears you might find these hug the outside of your ears just a bit.

The padding is comfortable but not ultra comfortable and it does get warm after wearing these for a while. I found the padding isn’t as comfortable compared to some of the other comparable headphones in this price range such as the Sennheiser HD 559 or the Audio Technica ATH M30X (both of those have larger ear pads).

You can move them a little bit horizontally just enough to help find that perfect fit and there’s plenty of that up-and-down vertical movement. So again, this makes it really easy to find a comfortable fit with these headphones.

Now these Sony’s have 40 millimeter drivers and are 63 ohms which makes them a bit more difficult to drive (or power using just a smartphone). As a result, you may not get the volume or detail you’re after if you really like to turn these up and are just planning to use them with your phone.

So while they’re not ideal to use with portable devices like your phone, they sound incredible when they’re properly powered either through your computer, or decent headphone amp, etc.

COMFORT

Regarding the comfort and fit of these headphones, they’re not only durable but quite comfortable as well and they do a really nice job of accommodating everyone no matter the shape or size of your head.

However if your ears are larger than average, you might find they press against them just a little bit as these aren’t quite as accommodating compared to other larger over-ear style headphones.

That being said, they still surround my ears just fine and feel quite comfortable. They do get a little bit warm so I wouldn’t consider these cool wearing headphones by any stretch. And the longer you wear these you may notice heat and warmth around your ears will start to build up.

Clamping pressure against the head is moderate. They’re certainly not as overly compressive so as to cause any pain, but they still do a nice job of staying on your head without feeling too tight.

So overall, I’m very satisfied with the comfort of these, even for longer listening sessions.

NOISE ISOLATION

Noise isolation is particularly good with these headphones. Even at a moderate volume I found that the 7506 really does a great job of blocking out the surrounding noise around me. So I really have a hard time hearing what’s going on besides whatever I’m listening to.

SOUND QUALITY

Next I’ll discuss the sound quality which is absolutely astounding considering the price point of these headphones. As I said earlier, these sound better than other headphones costing almost twice as much. The tonal balance is almost perfect with no flaws and they’re excellent reference headphones which allow you to hear a lot of the nuances in your music in a way that many other competing headphones fail to do. But given how accurate these are, these may actually be too revealing and detailed for some situations or listening preferences which I’ll explain more below.

Starting with the bass though, the low-end is smooth and captivating as well as being detailed and tight. There’s a real nice punch to it. In my opinion, not many headphones in this price range are really able to deliver an accurate and non overwhelming bass response the way these do.

However, they do lack a little weight down below 55 Hertz. But below 80 Hertz and above 14 kilohertz human years are less sensitive which of course is why we love to boost those frequencies. But with a decent headphone (such as these) and a decent amp, you’ll be able to hear that nice tight bass even down to the lowest frequencies.

Now something to keep in mind is that when you first get these the bass can sound a bit boomy. This does improve the longer you listen to them, so don’t be discouraged if you find that to be the case.

Mid-range is very clean vocals are detailed and just wonderful sounding. They’re really pleasing to listen to because they’re not congested or covered up by muddy bass. To get better sounding vocals than these headphones you would really need to spend at least a hundred to two hundred dollars more because they’re that good.

And that’s one reason these headphones work so well for singers or anyone who wants to be able to hear how they truly sound. Because the presentation these headphones provide is so accurate.

The treble is also clean and not harsh whatsoever. Cymbal crashes sound impeccable and I don’t know of another headphone in this price range that does a better job.

From a sensitivity standpoint, I found these headphones to be incredibly sensitive to the mids and highs. The benefit from this is that you’ll hear all the detail in your music and/or your recordings which is why these headphones are so highly prized among audio professionals.

These headphones are perfect for detecting any imperfections in any of your recordings which other headphones tend to hide.

The downside to this level of perfection though, is that it typically causes less than stellar recordings to sound worse. Because if you’re listening to something with a lot of contamination in the recording or a lower quality recording, then these won’t be as forgiving as other headphones.

Realize that it’s not the headphones that sound bad but rather they’re just more accurately portraying what you’re listening to and revealing all the flaws of the particular piece of music you’re listening to.

But otherwise, these headphones do sound great with any genre of music, particularly music with vocals or anything with heavy beats. Jazz and classical also sound wonderful on these but the soundstage could be better especially compared to more open headphones like the Sennheiser HD 559.

HOW THESE COMPARE TO OTHER HEADPHONES

Now comparing the 7506 to the Sony MDR 10R. The 10R sound more muted and mellow in an unexciting way by comparison. Whereas the 7506 has more sparkle, energy and detail to it. It’s definitely the better sounding headphone between the two.

Then if you compare these to the Sony MDR V6, they look almost identical but the V6 has a more up-and-down (or V-shaped) frequency response compared to the 7506 which is much more smooth and even. So while the V6 has more bass, the highs and the low-mids are less detailed and slightly veiled compared to the 7506.

So for anyone who has a listening preference for more bass and is less concerned about an even frequency response, then the Sony MDR V6 would be the way to go.

But overall, the sound quality is truly remarkable with these headphones. Their biggest asset I think, is just being able to so faithfully and accurately reproduce music as it was recorded.

REASONS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER SOMETHING ELSE

Now as great as these headphones are, there are some reasons you may want to consider something else. Of course, one of those reasons being the cable as I mentioned earlier as the cable is coiled and not detachable. While this can be a real benefit in a studio or recording type environment, it otherwise may be a less than ideal choice.

Something else to consider for some, is that these headphones aren’t as mobile friendly (for using with your phone) compared to some of the other headphones out there right now. Though you could use these with your smartphone, they’re just not going to sound as good compared to being properly powered by your computer, decent amp, etc.

Next, if you prefer a low end that’s a little more forward or weighty in the bass department, then you may prefer something different like the Sony MDR V6 or the Audio Technica ATH M30X.

Also, if you listen to a lot of lower quality mp3’s (such as music downloaded off the internet) or music that’s poorly recorded then you may find these aren’t as enjoyable to listen to because they’ll keep highlighting all the flaws and as a result, just won’t sound as pleasing.

If you’re in this situation, it might be better to go with a headphone that isn’t quite as sharp in the detail department so those flaws won’t be as distracting. The M30X would again, be a better choice in this regard.

Then, if you’ll primarily be listening to a lot of classical or jazz music and if sound leakage isn’t an issue then the Grado SR80 or the Sennheiser HD 559 will give you a similar level of detail and overall sound quality as the MDR 7056, but with a more open sound stage.

But while the Grados are airy sparkly and very refreshing sounding, they do lack low-end bass compared to the MDR 7056. So if you enjoy that bump in your bass line, definitely stick with the Sony’s.

Finally, if price-wise these Sony headphones are a bit more than you’d like to spend but you still want something that can hold its own against these calibre of headphones then go for the Audio Technica ATH M30X. They have really nice ear pads which give your ears actually a little bit more room.

And of course they sound better than their little brother the M20X by being more refined. They have a nice base bump compared to the Sony’s. But they also have a tad too much high-end treble in the realm of the 3000 Hertz mark. So even though they’re not as smooth and refined as the MDR7056, they still hold their own and are a solid choice if price is a factor.

But, if you can spend the few extra bucks to get the Sony’s, it’s more than worth it. And the Sony’s I think are the better value overall

BOTTOM LINE

Sony Mdr 7506 Sale

What the Sony MDR-7056 really shines at is giving you a very accurate and smooth presentation of whatever it is you’re listening to. So if you’re looking for the most faithful reproduction of sound you can get at this price point, whether for professional or personal use, then these are the perfect headphones.

They have an even response across the entire frequency range. They have better sonic depth and dexterity than many headphones costing twice their price. And they’re also durable, comfortable, a true workhorse and very reliable.

Sony Mdr 7506 Review

Considering they cost less than a hundred dollars it makes these one of the best headphone values on the planet. It’s no coincidence that these Sony headphones have been a staple among audio professionals for a long time. So whether you’re looking for a headphone for professional use or if you’re at that place where you’re ready to be introduced to the world of high-end sound I think you’ll really love and enjoy these headphones.