#like they made it radio friendly but at what cost

[chickeee8]

The concept of “clean” danger days is so funny to me. Like, “yeah we’ll make a radio-friendly version of the album. But we’re keeping the DESTROYA moaning”

[thef1diary]

Hatred | C. Sainz

Summary: You and Carlos are teammates but cannot stand each other. But things take a turn when a championship is costed and you two finally sort out your differences.

Warnings: 18+, bratty reader, enemies to enemies with benefits, choking, coarse language, hate sex, spanking, unprotected sex, no use of y/n

Word Count: 3k

Pairing: carlos x fem!reader

"Both Ferrari drivers are racing each other, can you believe it" the race commentator stated in disbelief. Your best friend was watching the race, watching you race wheel to wheel with your teammate. At first she wanted you to win, but now with the way things were looking, she just hoped that you safely finished the race.

You were fighting for the World Driver's Championship with no other than Max Verstappen. You, a female driver in a Ferrari, are so close tasting the victory of a championship. It was the second last race of the season, and you needed to finish second with the fastest lap to still be in the championship fight.

At the moment, you were third, behind your teammate and Max. Five laps to go.

Truth is, you and Carlos weren't very friendly this season. It was your second year and due to your phenomenal results in a car that shouldn't give constant P5 and P6 like it did, the Ferrari team principal was quite interested in your talent.

Despite the PR teams trying to get you and Carlos to film videos for challenges like he did with Charles, it never worked. On his end. You tried to be very friendly and since you were the only female driver on the grid, you wanted your teammates support. You didn't expect him to hate you from the moment he met you.

So when he listened to the team orders to let you pass through, you thought that he'd finally play the good sportsmanship card. But what you didn't expect was that after passing him, he was still on your tail using the drag reduction system to try and pass you again. Instead of complaining on the radio, you figured you would race him and show him who the better one of the two drivers truly is.

Even though you smiled and laughed with other drivers, Carlos was one you could not even have a normal conversation with without feeling the need to rip your hair out. So, racing with him when you had an almost killer instinct was much needed.

If he wasn't playing friendly, you weren't either. And to be honest, you were glad that he was putting up a fight, at least you'll be able to prove your worth instead being told that you only had a chance of winning because of your teammate.

Turning into a tight, high-speed corner, you took the inside line, braking late and hoping to turn out in the front. The seconds went by really slow when you heard the impact before you felt it. His Ferrari had hit the rear end of yours, causing debris to fall from your car and a puncture which made your car spin out of control. You held your breath and tried to control the car as best as you could until the car came to a stop which was when it crashed into the barriers.

Some parts of the barrier had landed on top of the front of your car, making it harder to get out. You immediately turned off the car but stayed for a few moments. Trying to wrap your head around the events that happened.

Not even one minute ago, you were fighting for the championship and now, you were out of it.

You hit your hand on the steering wheel multiple times before hearing the voice of your race engineer asking you if you were okay. You responded "fine" in a monotone voice which sounded completely different than your usual tone.

You were told to step out of the car just in case there was a leak which was undetermined at the moment. You sighed, taking off the steering wheel and climbing out of the car. After getting out, you noticed that your teammate's car was no where to be seen which only meant one thing, his car wasn't as damaged as yours which meant he could still race.

One of the marshals led you away from the track and car so you could safely begin your journey to walk to the pits which wasn't too far. You could feel the stares of the fans as you were walking by but didn't have the strength to wave to them. You also felt two cameramen following you. You knew one was for the live broadcast of the race but the other was Netflix.

You hung your head low, not even wanting to take off your helmet yet but you were fuming from anger. You didn't want people to see that.

By the time you got back to the pits, the race was over which was expected as there were only a few laps left. You looked at the board and saw Max was still first, as expected. His teammate was second now because he moved up two spots after the crash. Lewis came in third. Carlos had fell further down the grid, a few places out of the points. The podium celebrations were about to happen soon but you were far from being in a celebratory mood.

Once you got to the garage, you had to weigh yourself with your helmet in hand then you saw your teammate talking to the team principal. You felt your anger take over you and you stalked towards him, pointing a finger right in his face. "You. You're an asshole, an idiot, what did I ever do to you! What did you get out of this huh? A championship?" You scoffed, placing both of your palms on his shoulders and pushing him slightly.

"Fuck off!" He responded which only added fuel to the fire. Instead of accepting his mistake, he chose to tell you off. "don't you dare" you felt someone holding you back and your team principal decided to interfere by saying "it was just a mistake, cool off. Away from each other"

Unbelievable. He would always point out your mistakes even if they were very small.

"Just a mistake? It cost me the fucking championship!" You yelled which silenced everyone in the garage. You slowly looked around and no one dared to make eye contact with you at the moment. Not even Carlos.

Your PR manager placed a hand on your shoulder to lead you towards your drivers room but you brushed it off and left the garage.

Not even ten minutes later, your PR manager stopped by to inform you about the post race interviews which were necessary to attend. You didn't change out of your race suit, just tied the sleeves together on your waist. On the way, she told you about the things you shouldn't answer and to "play nice".

You were hit with so many questions during the interviews and at the moment, you were probably even more popular than Max who won the race. Not in a good way though.

"How do you feel losing a championship because of your teammate?", "do you think the situation could be sorted out differently?", "we heard the team orders given to Carlos, do you think he is a good teammate?", "is this your last year with Ferrari?", "how many years does your contract last?", "do you think you'd be treated differently by both your team and teammate if you weren't a woman?"

All those questions made your head spin but you tried to answer them as best as you could. You were exhausted both physically and mentally. Thinking back to the moments you had to compromise to get better results later, the team orders you had to follow, and the strategies you thought would be better but no one listened. One questioned loomed in your mind "is this your last year with Ferrari?" Since this was your first year with Ferrari, you had initially signed a three year long contract which meant you had two more years to go.

You met up with your friend as she was waiting for you in your drivers room. As soon as you saw her, you broke down into tears and embraced her. You didn't have to tell her what happened in the garage since she witnessed it. She wiped your tears, and made a plan to drown yourselves in alcohol and snacks in your hotel room.

You parted ways for now but she will be joining you later tonight. As soon as you got to your hotel room, you immediately took a shower to freshen up. You checked your phone which was bombarded with many texts from your family and friends who watched the race live. You also received some messages from fans, some hateful, some supporting you. As usual.

You also received messages from Lewis, Daniel, and Sebastian. The three drivers who have made it their mission to ensure you're comfortable in the male dominated sport.

You heard a knock on the door and you expected it to be your best friend, but when you opened it, it was your teammate. "I'm really not in the mood to talk to you"

"Then just listen?" He raised his eyebrows in expectation. You opened the door further and let him in. What was the worst that could happen? Another fight? This time you could punch him in the face if he said something stupid and no one can stop you.

"I'm sorry" Carlos started and you nodded, urging him on. "I know you were fighting for the championship and I ruined that"

"Yes, you did" you responded. "Is that all you're saying?" he asked which confused you. "What do you want me to say?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe accept my apology?" He stated in an oblivious tone. And there it was, Carlos could not be nice for a single conversation.

"There's no point. You'll do something like this again and we'll be in this situation again"

"Technically you could prevent it"

"Me? What about you? See this is why we're never getting along" you pointed at him.

Carlos stepped closer to you and held your chin between his thumb and first finger. "You're such a brat"

You scoffed and rolled your eyes "and what are you gonna do about it?"

"I'm gonna fuck that attitude out of you" he stated before placing his lips on yours, harshly.

You did not expect that but you weren't complaining either. Reciprocating the kiss with the same intensity, you wrapped your arms around his neck, one hand playing and pulling on his hair. He groaned in your mouth, wanting to regain control which made him pick you up effortlessly.

He had changed out of his race suit, wearing just a tee shirt and sweatpants. Dropping you on the bed once you two ran out of breath, he looked at you with a specific look in his eyes. It wasn't love, no, far from it. It was hate. You held yourself up by your elbows, spreading your legs a bit because you expected him to join you.

"Strip for me" he commanded. You stayed still, trying to process his words but he was rather impatient. "Did you not hear me? I said strip. Now" he took advantage of your spread legs and slapped the inside of your thigh.

That movement made you jerk and you started to take off your clothes. First your pants, then your shirt. He was quite surprised to see that you weren't wearing anything under your shirt. You had just taken a shower and were planning on chilling in your room anyways, there was no point of a bra.

You pointed at him and urged him to come closer which he listened to. He slid his body in between your spread legs and started kissing your neck. Kiss wouldn't be the right word, Carlos was sucking on it til marks were made. He wasn't being nice. And you were loving every bit of it.

You bit your lip to suppress the moans he was trying to get out of you. Playing with the hem of his shirt, you pulled it over his head. Your hands roamed around his tanned chest and back. You tried to flip your position, but he held you underneath him. "Brats don't get what they want" he muttered in your ear before his hand roamed near your panties.

His fingers played with the waistband, pulling it out and letting it snap on your waist making you groan due to the pleasurable pain. His fingers then went down to slide over your covered clit, rubbing it at the same time as he took your nipple in your mouth.

You didn't know where to focus since you could feel the pleasure everywhere. His teeth grazed your nipple making you arch your back then he sucked on it hard. You knew you were very wet by now, but he also knew since his fingers were slick as they played with your pussy over your panties.

"Carlos" you moaned his name. "What do you want?" He asked once he left your breast alone, after scattering marks on it. "You"

"You have me" he chuckled once he saw you trying to focus on reaching your edge with the way he was barely touching you. "I need more. Please touch me"

His fingers moved your panties to the side and slowly spread your fold which were embarrassingly slick. "Do our fights make you wet? Is that why you like arguing with me?" He asked as he lightly hit your pussy with his palm, making you jerk in response. "Tell me" his other hand held your jaw, making direct eye contact with you. He slid his fingers inside you, two of them. Watching as your mouth opened in a silent moan.

You shook your head, answering his question. He didn't like that. "No, so you don't look for any dumb reason to fight with me? Just to get yourself off? You've touched yourself thinking about me right?"

You were about to speak up but he interrupted "don't lie. I've heard you" you didn't have a response to that. Because it was true.

"Are you going to keep talking or do something Sainz?" You countered.

He clenched his jaw and pulled his fingers out of you. "On your hands and knees" he instructed. You smiled, finally getting a rise out of him. You turned over, looking back at him with a smirk that he was so eager to wipe off your face.

He took off his sweatpants and boxers, and you almost drooled at the sight of him stroking his cock. He leaned on the bed and lined himself up, sliding his cock in-between your folds. You groaned and muttered his name, trying to get him to do something. "So desperate for my cock" he brought his palm down on your ass harshly which made you move forward. You nodded desperately "yes" you whined.

He slowly pushed his cock in you, hearing your sweet moans. "Fuck. You feel so good"

You started moving your hips according to his slow but harsh thrusts. He placed open-mouthed kisses down your back, occasionally biting you.

He trailed his hand up your body and wrapped it around your neck from the front. Carlos felt you tighten around his cock and from the increasing amount of moans you released, he figured that your liked being choked. He was already planning on teasing you with this information.

His other hand played with your clit, rubbing it in small but agressive circles that made you squirm in his grasp. You chanted his name like a prayer, not even realizing how loud you were because the feeling of pleasure consumed you.

You could feel yourself on edge but you just needed something more. You begged him for more and he listened. His thrusts became faster but also sloppier, indicating that he was close to his orgasm as well. The hand that was choking you, came down to slap your ass again which you didn't expect at all. Since he wasn't holding you up anymore, you pressed your face against the mattress. Bunching the sheets up in your palm, you went over the edge.

Carlos didn't stop as he was chasing his own release but it also built towards your second orgasm. He quickly pulled out and turned you over to face him. Entering you again, he pressed his lips against you to swallow both yours and his moans.

One of your hands were up in his hair, pulling at the strands while the other was trailing down his back. His hand was still at your clit, rubbing circles on it. You reached your second orgasm as soon as you felt his release.

He was holding himself up by both his forearms and looking down at you. "I still hate you" you stated.

"I know. I hate you too" he replied and pressed a kiss against your lips.

Pulling out, he rolled over beside you. You laid there for a moment before he got up and you thought that he would get dressed and leave. Instead, he went to the bathroom and brought a cloth to clean you up. You didn't know why you felt that moment of sadness when you thought he'd leave. This was nothing but a hate fuck. Right?

He tossed the cloth somewhere else and laid down beside you again. This time, he pulled you into him and was dozing off. You were too, after all the sun had set many hours ago. You didn't check your phone to see the time either. Well, even if you wanted to, you couldn't because Carlos wrapped his arm around you, making you the little spoon.

You could hear him lightly snore and you thought that would irritate you, but instead it lulled you to sleep.

Teammates who hated each other, who still claim to hate each other, are sleeping peacefully in one bed. Naked.

[catskets]

A more in-depth guide for creating visual novels, especially in the horror, horror-romance, etc circles

Some of you have seen my previous, smaller post on crafting visual novels, especially in this little space of Tumblr that a lot of us have found themselves in. Since that post took off, I've wanted to create a longer guide to help touch on some points I've thought about for the past few months.

In case you've never heard of me, I'm Kat, also known as catsket. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Design. I've been making games for nearly 5 years, and I've been doing visual novels more "professionally" for 2. You may know me for Art Without Blood, 10:16, God is in the Radio, or Fatal Focus. I'm here to help you make your first visual novel.

Please note that my advice does not fit everyone, and you may disagree with what I say. That's okay! It doesn't work for all. That's why there's thousands of resources out there.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER MADE A GAME

So, you have an idea for a huge visual novel. Horror, a shady and obsessive love interest, a little bit of woo-hooing. 100k words. Maybe a million. What is this, the 07th Expansion?

I notice a lot of people getting into visual novels are artists first. That's okay! I wanted to do art for games before I realized how much I enjoyed writing. And even less of you have probably touched Visual Studio. Again, perfectly okay. We all start somewhere.

My number one piece of advice? Make shitty games.

What does that mean?! My recommendation to those who have never done games is to make a bunch of shitty ones. Think of a theme, or hell, even join a game jam, where you make a game that fits a theme in a short amount of time. Spend about a week on your game. Focus on making something polished. Polish your mechanics. Polish your output.

I recommend, if you can, to make at least 4-6, if not more, kind of shitty games before hopping into longer projects. Making a game is a skill, just like art, just like writing. And game development is combining ALL of these together into one big soup being stirred by a skeleton hand puppet. You'll get into the rhythm and see what works for you.

It also helps you learn, perhaps, the second most important thing here: do you even like making games? There are cases out there where people have created video games (not saying visual novels) just for clout. That's no fun for you, that's no fun for your players. And you might go through this process and find that you don't like making games. That's completely okay! It's not for everyone.

Also, you can use these shittier games to gather an audience. I've built my audience because, for the past few years, I've been releasing games that slowly give me growing fields of eyes every day. A success story overnight is a rare one. It takes time. It's like building a brand, but you aren't a brand, you're an artist.

REV UP YOUR ENGINES!

Ren'py is the number one engine you will be recommended. It is very beginner-friendly, with lots of tutorials, assets on itch.io to use and download, and support. The engine comes with a few tutorials in the form of games, whose code you can freely browse. This is the engine I use most often. Most visual novels you see are made in this engine.

Twine is a text-based engine that most people use for interactive fiction. You can add images and audio, though, if you don't mind messing with HTML. I use Twine for text games and for outlining for my larger games. Ever played Degrees of Lewdity? Yeah, I know you have. Don't ask why. That game was made in Twine.

RPG Maker has multiple versions and has been used for exclusively VNs if you don't mind fucking around with plugins. It can definitely give your game a super unique feel. I recommend RPG Maker MV, since it has the most resources. This line of engines usually costs money, but it often goes on sale for under $5-$15.

People will recommend TyranoBuilder, but as a user and player, the lack of options and the format the games often come in is just...not fun to navigate. It advertises itself as little to no code, but it's often evident in the final results. Some good games have been made in it, though, so if you want to use it for prototyping/practice, you can. I'm not a fan, but that doesn't mean that fans don't exist! This engine costs money.

Not an engine, but check out Ink! Super useful scripting language that's used for more professional projects.

DEMOS, DEMOS, DEMOS

You've got an idea for a long-term project, and now you want to show it to the world! But wait, wait, don't do that yet!

When should I start advertising my game? This is a personal opinion, but I say that you should not start advertising your game until 50-60% of your demo is complete. Why? As I've discussed with some fans of indie VNs, they can name quite a few projects that have been in the "working on the demo" age for 1-2+ years. I've been in the Kickstarter MMO circles. If you, making a single-player experience with little mechanics to balance and polish (aka a visual novel), are taking that long on a demo, I am going to assume the game is not coming out. There are some games I have seen out here that have been in "working on the demo" phase where I haven't seen a single ounce of what the project will look like.

What should I put in my demo? The purpose of a demo is to showcase the mechanics and the vibes and the mechanics of your game. It's a demonstration. In my last post, I pointed to the Dead Space 2 demo that was showcased at E3 (RIP), that takes place about 2 hours into the story and shows how enemies are defeated, some animations, bits of the story, etc. Usually, because it's less about mechanics and more about vibes, visual novel demos showcase a certain percentage of the full thing (5-10%.) Can you showcase the vibe of the game here and what players should expect? If not, show off another portion.

How long should I work on my demo? Before, I said 3-4 months. That can be true, that can also not be true. Think about how long the demo takes you in proportion to how long the actual game should take you. Don't put too much effort. The demo is to showcase the vibe. It's to see how much the public and fans may enjoy the game.

My game is 18+, what should I do? Make a splash screen when the game is downloaded to let players know your game is 18+. If it's going to contain sexual content, you can hide it with itch.io's adult content filter. Write it on the page itself that your game is for adults only. Don't put your demo behind a paywall. This is genuinely ridiculous. The purpose of a demo is to showcase what a game is like before a player purchases it. That defeats the point of a demo. I've seen this happen, and it discourages players from approaching, especially because most demos never make it past the demo phase. So...I'm paying you $10 for 2-3k words of a game that may never come out?

Should I make a social media for my game? YES! Go for it. These anchors are how people will find your game. Make a Tumblr and open that ask box. Make a Twitter. Go to BluSky. Advertising is not bad. Some YouTubers even take e-mail suggestions from developers. Feel free to shoot your shot. The worst they can do is not respond.

HOW TO SET UP YOUR ITCH.IO PAGE:

Getting your itch.io to a presentable state can be very challenging! There's many ways to do it. I highly recommend using this page image guide for learning how to size your images to make your page pop!

Itch.io themselves has suggested to not publish a page until the game or demo is released. You can make the page and keep it as a draft, but do not publish it until you're ready!

Your cover image is the image that will appear in the search of the website, on any front pages, in collections, and on your profile. What have I seen that works? Key art of one of the characters up close and the title of the game! If you can make it a .GIF, do it! Bitches love .GIFs!

Itch.io recommends 3-5 screenshots on your page. I recommend 1 of these 5 be a .GIF that shows how gameplay feels. This is effective, even for visual novels!

Write a 3-5 sentence summary about your game for the description. What is your story about? What is the draw?

DO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO IS GOING TO SAY "This is not like other visual novels. It doesn't have that cheesy this or that or-" No one cares. Genuinely. You're putting down other games in your genre and elevating yourself to the pompous level.

TAG YOUR GAME! itch.io gives you a list of tags to choose from when you go to tag. DON'T USE THIS! Try to go for more specific tags. Arimia has a very good guide on how to use itch.io's tagging system to your advantage.

GENERAL GAME MAKING ADVICE

SCOPE KNIFE IS SUPER USEFUL! Everyone makes games that are way over their workload. It's okay to cut out features and add them later. Prioritize making a finished game before hitting those stretch goals.

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! Writing outlines is super helpful. I use Twine for my outlines, because you can connect your passages together and make really well-thought webs.

IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP! Whether it's from friends, professionals, or anything in-between. They can help with assets, editing, etc.

HONE YOUR SKILLS OUTSIDE OF GAMES! Write some poetry. Do some sketches everyday. Improve on your craft to improve your games

MUSIC IS HARD. THERE ARE RESOURCES. Most of us aren't musicians. That's okay. Make sure the music you get for your game is allowed to be used. You can use anything non-commercial if your game will not cost money or donations. I try to do songs in the public domain or free to use overall with credit if I don't have a musician. Consult the Creative Commons website if you're unsure how you're supposed to use a certain piece of music. If you don't use the right stuff, not only can it put you in legal trouble, but it can put streamers in hot water if they play your game and they can't upload the video because music is copyrighted.

PLEASE, DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR UI. Wanna know an easy way to get your game to look more professional? Edit the damn UI for your game. Make a new textbox, even if it's just a black box. Change the font. Eventually, players recognize the defaults and patterns of games made in certain engines and may attribute a lack of UI changes to a developer being lazy. It doesn't take very long to change the colors around and move text! Please do it to add a little pop to your game.

DEADLINES ARE AWESOME. Not everyone works well under pressure, but if you give yourself an infinite amount of time to make something, it'll never get done. Set goals for yourself for how much you can work on something.

IF YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP, GIVE UP. Making things is hard, especially long-term. Emergencies happen, jobs happen, life happens. Let your fans know that a project isn't happening anymore. Don't leave them in the dark. You don't need to tell strangers your medical history or anything, but transparency + honesty are really hot traits. You should use those in your creative work. This is one reason why I advocate for not publishing or advertising things until you know it's stable.

SHOWCASING YOUR CONTENT

People love to see WIPs for games! This is what the devlog is good for! A devlog is a post where a developer talks about and showcases some things happening in the game? What can you add to your dev log?

PERCENTAGES! How much of the artwork is done? How much of this character's route is done?

SNEAK PEEKS AT ARTWORK AND SPRITES!

GIFS! GIRLS LOVE GIFS!

Anything else to showcase your game's content! Posting consistent updates retains and even gains a fan's attention for your work.

RUNNING YOUR TUMBLR

You've joined us, and you've made a Tumblr for your blog! Link it on the itch.io page, so people can come find you after playing your awesome demo!

Do I have to respond to every ask? No. It's your blog. Delete whatever asks you want.

I got a hate comment! What do I do? Delete it and move on. I have a more detailed section on hate below.

I want to interact with [blog]! How do I do that? Reach out to the devs for silly little collabs. If you come onto a developer slightly headstrong, they might feel you are being abrasive or using them for content.

If people make fan content, interact with it! Encourage it! Reblog it. Show your love.

OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS

PROFESSIONALISM IS KEY. These may be pet projects, but you want to appear some level of professional on your actual itch.io page.

Being dismissive of player and fan complaints or criticisms will make you appear childish.

If your game is broken, fix it. I have been told by some amateur developers to ignore game-breaking bugs. It does not make me, a player, want to engage with your content. It seems messy and unfinished.

With the above point, it's 100% okay to have bugs and errors upon release. Every developer and their brood mother has. To decrease these issues, get playtesters. Friends can play your games, spot any errors, and help you point out things that can be improved upon. I recommend having playtesters at every stage of development.

Make sure your game runs before you publish it. Please.

You can still be silly and giddy! There's no reason to not be, especially when you get positive comments! The point of this is to not be outright rude to potential players and fans.

IGNORE HATE COMMENTS. In this case, a hate comment is a statement that contains no constructive criticism and are only here to be insulting or malicious. People are going to leave you with actual piles of dog shit in your ask box. They are trying to provoke you. Giving hate comments any attention, even if you're there to "clap back" proves that they got to you, even if you don't take the hate to heart. They will continue to pester you. Delete any hate comments and ignore them completely. Laugh about them with friends in a private setting, sure.

THINK BEFORE YOU REFERENCE! I know one big thing in this community is adding references to other games in yours, such as plushies of other characters or putting them on posters. The best thing you can do it ask the developer before adding this. How would you feel if some random person you've never met put your character in a video game? Most of us would feel weird and potentially violated. Open communication with devs is awesome. I am usually okay with it as long as someone asks for permission.

As a complete aside, I prefer more tasteful references to other games as opposed to 523482346 plushies and posters. These have been slightly overdone. Why not theme a candy after another game's character? Maybe your characters know each other.

OTHER RESOURCES I RECOMMEND

Devtalk is a server dedicated to independent visual novel creators. You can find jobs, resources, advice, talks, and, like, everything there! Devtalk is super useful. Everyone in there is so cool. They have a really great and comprehensive list of resources that I could not even begin to cover.

Visual Novel Design is a great YouTuber. No other words, check the guy out!

Ren'py and whatever other engine you're using has documentation that's super useful to follow.

Arimia not only has amazing VN resources, especially for marketing, but she also just has? Amazing games that you should check out?

And for a shameless self plug, I'm the lead of Sacred Veins, a collective of devs creating narrative games, whether it be horror, humor, romance, or everything in-between. Come hang out with us!

[lucifers-rubber-duck]

𖤓 How much would the Hazbin Characters enjoy physical contact 𖤓

Characters: Charlie, Vaggie, Alastor, Husker, Angel, Niffty, Sir Pentious & Lucifer.

Warnings: Wrote this as friendly (especially Alastor's one) but can be read as romantic as well.

A/N: I've been recently thinking too much on how much a few of the characters would enjoy affection I had to write it.

10/10. This girl would absolutely love any kind of physical contact.

• She would absolutely cry if you started hugging her.

• She will say she's very proud of you for being comfortable enough to hug her.

• If you start being clingy she wouldn't mind at all.

• I belive she wouldn't mind you holding her hand, leaning into her, etc. She will start doing the same if you permit her.

• There would be a point were you two would simply start hugging each other as a way to say hi.

• Be ready because she will definitely look for you when she's feeling sad or burned out, you'll be the one she'll cry on the shoulder and hug until she feels better again.

6/10. She's not against it but that doesn't mean she will be 100% okay about it.

• She doesn't enjoy physical contact that much, especially not the long during ones.

• If you hug her will give nervous taps on your back and in less than a few seconds will be pushing you away.

• It doesn't mean she hates you, she just isn't familiar with that.

• I feel like you you pick her up in your arms she'll start to panic.

• Will let you brush her hair sometimes because she trusts you won't try anything funny like pulling it.

• If you're feeling really tired she will let you put your head on her shoulder and rest or will just straight up pick you up and bring you to your room.

4/10. This man does not like physical contact at all and will avoid it at all costs.

• He doesn't trust many people, and trusts even less people touching him. He only let's Rosie and Niffty touch him for a reason.

• If you somehow are able to earn his trust like them, he'll let you give him quick hugs at best.

• Now, you not being able to touch him doesn't mean he won't touch you, on the contrary, messing up with you is his favorite passtime.

• He will spin you around, invade your personal space, boop your nose, give pats on your head, anything that may annoy you really.

• Sometimes, he'll pull you to dance with him when he hears music from the radio, but only when he's in a very good mood.

• Doesn't like being touched but will be very touchy sometimes.

5/10. He doesn't like it, he avoids it as much as he can, but maybe he can make a exception for you.

• His job is to stay behind the bar's counter and serve drinks, anything beyond that is out of his catalogue.

• He hates when you try to touch his tail or his wings, they're way too sensitive for him to trust anyone touching.

• Doesn't like hugs, he's so grumpy about them and everytime you ask for one he will deny it.

• Now, if you're actually in a very bad mood or something happened to you that made you feel like shit, he won't hesitate to try and comfort you.

• He will put a arm around your shoulder, put his wings around you and try his best to make you a little better and open up to what happened.

• And if you got too drunk at his bar? He will put your arm around his shoulders and help you walk to your room.

• He's a man of words, not actions, but he's trying his best.

8/10. He's used to being touched, that's his job but he has almost no experience being touched in such a innocent way.

• When you first started being clingy to him he for sure thought you had second intentions and would constantly flirt with you.

• But when he saw you were being genuine he panicked for a quite long amount of time, he just wasn't used to it.

• He would try to avoid you at all costs at the start, he just couldn't help feel his heart hurt everytime you were so nice and sweet with him.

• After a while he would just start to give in and be extremely clingy with you. One of his four arms around your waist, holding your hand, hugging you by the shoulder, he would just take everything from you he could.

• He would 100% let you cuddle with him and put you face on his fluffy chest and brag about how much you seemed to enjoy it.

• He wouldn't stop being flrity with you but this time he would try to make sure you're comfortable with it and make it clear it's all friendly, he doesn't want to lose to one good thing he has.

10/10. She just doesn't mind, she likes climbing people at random moments and for sure doesn't mind physical contact.

• She doesn't know what personal space is to being with, she already was very touchy with you, she would just turn extra clingy.

• She wouldn't mind being hugged but you should be carefull, she very tiny and you could easily hurt her, but tbh she probably enjoys pain.

• Be ready to turn into her favorite climbing spot, she would climb and sit in your shoulder ar any given opportunity.

• You would basically have to babysit her to make sure she won't be running around with sharp objects trying to kill anyone, wich is kinda hard since she's faster than you.

• Still, besides everything, she would be really thankfull for you to be around her, a lot of people find her crazy and having someone being so nice to her is something she will forever appreciate.

• She's going to give you a bunch of gifts made of dead bugs she killed to show how much she cares for you, so be nice.

9/10. This poor man is so awkward when it comes to physical affection but would absolutely adore it.

• Absolutely freaks out about it, first he things is you trying to make him let his guard down to attack him, but will start blushing and sttutering the moment he realizes it's genuine.

• He doesn't mind being hugged, holding hands, being close to each other and all that stuff, just tell him first so he can mentally prepare.

• Not a lot of people are nice to him, most think he's just a loser who can't do anything right so he will look up to you a lot and try a lot to be reciprocate.

• He will make you gifts and gadgets as a way to say thanks for your kindness and will order his Egg Bois to follow and help you in everything you need.

• Something tells me that he would love to cuddle up with you, he's cold blooded and he thinks you're warm, can't blame him for that.

10/10. Bro is touch starved, the moment you're sweet to him he will melt.

• Now, this man, this man would fall to tears the moment you showed any kind of affection towards him.

• He's been isolated since his wife left him, maybe even before that, he never thought someone could care for him again.

• If you hug him, he will hug you back. If you hold his hand, he will smile at you. If you decide to just sit by his side and talk he'll be more than eager to hear you, doesn't matter the subject you're talking about.

• He's very clingy and will want to make sure you're feeling okay 24/7. He'll send you text messages, give your a few of his rubber ducks (one of them even looks like you!) and hold you close with his wings to show a new thing he created!

• It takes a while for him to hug you back normally without tearing up or being extremely awkward about it, but it will come a moment were he just does it naturally. He just appreciates you so much, he doesn't want to ruin anything.

• I personally belive he enjoys cooking so he will either ask you to cook with him or bring you food he made himself. Enjoy your meals from the best cooker ever!

[rosinkreutz]

PLEEAAASEEEE elaborate on ur thoughts abt RK and R# that’s so fascinating. if u feel up to it ofc

This made me go back and look at Asuka's arcade mode transcript, which made me notice something interesting with the writing but I'll get back to it later. Also, for the record, R# is in fact the only clone. All the people RK fights in the arcade mode are a simulations created by R#, including the final boss. So, in typical Asuka fashion, RK does not tell R# why he made him, and R# naturally wonders the meaning for his existence. He comes up with a few ideas. RK says it's because he wanted to see if he could make a perfect lifeform after seeing ABA and the Valentine sisters (what about Jackie...?). R# figures it's because RK was lonely after not seeing another living person for months. Both of these aren't wrong, but they don't get to the bottom of it. This leads R# to the following: His hypotheses. R# never says directly what they are, but does they involve the facts that R# likes himself and RK does not. These are both the true reasons for R#'s existence. RK wants to commit suicide, but feels like he can't because he has a duty to the world. So, he makes R#, a "better" version of himself to be his replacement. On the first point, if you're looking for any proof, see the following: 1.) Most obviously, this line from R#: "But at least tell me you'll keep walking. Even if you lose your way. As long as one person out there cares about you… It's worth it just to try to keep them happy." 2.) RK literally has to fight for his life against himself at the end of the arcade mode. 3.) R# is wearing the color scheme that has been synonymous with RK throughout the entirety of Guilty Gear, because RK intends for R# to be the "new" Asuka. But the point of Asuka's arcade mode isn't just R# trying to save RK, it's R# trying to show RK that he can't just rip out the parts of himself that he doesn't like. It harkons back to one of GG's big themes of self-actualization and one's sense of self. RK deliberately makes R# to be chatty, friendly, and to like himself, but goes on to be continuously surprised throughout the arcade mode that R# acts like a different person and not just "me but better". Because RK doesn't want to face himself, he doesn't want to self-reflect and comes to terms with who he is, he just wants to tear it apart and be done with everything. The point R# is trying to make is that there is no "me but better". It's just him. If he's going to keep living, RK needs to accept all parts of himself, no matter how horrible he thinks they are. Which isn't to say that RK can't change, it just means he can't deny that parts of himself exist. After all, RK has spent pretty much 90% of his entire 200 or so years of life playing the role of a monster. He says in story mode that he's pretty much never done anything for himself. There's things that he likes and dislikes, but beyond that, he has no idea who he actually is. (In regards to the interesting thing I noticed- It's R# that uses the words "ethically bankrupt monster". RK just says "pathetic ineffectual nerd" to describe himself. Which feels like it should be the opposite in terms of severity. It might just go back to RK's rejection of himself, but it's not like RK isn't acutely aware of the first thing, and he obviously knows very well that it's the reason he wants to die and not the nerd thing. My theory is that he just thinks that he still has the mindset of the ends justifying the means, no matter the cost. He still feels like he needs to take care of the world, but just doesn't see a way that can always be done with a moral lens. Hence R# not having morals. Yeah he's doing it from a distance now with his radio show, but if a large Universal Will-level threat were to show up again, I highly doubt he'd just sit there. So, he wanted R# to have an easier time making the necessary decisions and not being tormented with them later.)

[sotwk]

Me when I saw Bucky Barnes was one of the Special Guest Blorbos:

Bucky Barnes for Summertime Drabbles pleeeaassee 😁

Thank you for the request, @morethantheycansay! <3 If I go full-on Bucky Barnes stan, I will have you to blame thank! XD Your constant support of my writing means the world and helps a lot!

Content/Genre: Marvel; Gen fluffy summer romance

To Read on Ao3: LINK

PRICELESS

Bucky Barnes x Reader

“They’re just scams, all of them,” Bucky grumbled, dragging his feet as you tugged him in the direction of the county fair midway. A wide alley of garishly colored and brightly lit stalls competed for the attention of passers-by, with hawkers yelling out invitations to play amid the clamor of electronic bells and blaring buzzers.

You pointed at a toddler rolling by in a parent-drawn Radio Flyer, jubilantly hugging an oversized Spiderman plush toy. “If people are still somehow able to win, then they can’t entirely be scams.” You linked your arm with his and snuggled up close, which softened his resistance to being led through the noisy crowd. “They’re just made to be, um, challenging!” He snorted at your assessment, and your retort of jabbing an elbow into his ribs went barely noticed. 

“Oooh! I want to try this one!” You broke away abruptly to dash toward a quieter, less ostentatiously decorated booth, where aluminum milk bottles were stacked up on a line of pedestals. The attendant, a ruddy-faced, heavyset fellow, beamed at your arrival. 

“Three throws for ten credits,” he announced, holding up a pair of softballs. 

“Huh?” Bucky froze with his hand in the back pocket of his jeans, in the middle of digging out his wallet for cash payment.  

“No worries, I’ve got it.” You held out the neon green band around your wrist, and the attendant promptly scanned the barcode. Grasping the first ball, you turned to smile at Bucky, only to find him sporting that brooding scowl he promised he was still learning to keep out of your dates. 

“Ten bucks for three chances, you gotta be joking,” he muttered, having figured out what the pre-loaded credits you discreetly purchased cost.

“It’s fine, really. For the priceless memories, remember?” You hoped this wouldn’t trigger another overdrawn tirade about how it was criminal to charge so much for family-friendly entertainment, and how county fair admission cost next to nothing back in his day. (“Back in 1939?” you gently reminded him of his last fair experience.) 

He stared at you, at the little pout puppy-dog-eyes combo you put up for his benefit, and finally cracked a smile. “Right. Show off that arm, then.”

You stepped up to the line marker and drew back your arm for the first throw. Thunk. Too low. You struck the platform base solidly, but noticed that the little pyramid of bottles didn't even wiggle.

In your second throw, the ball caught the top bottle and knocked it off the stack.  You threw up your hands with a triumphant hoot, but the attendant was quick to remind you that you needed to knock over all three bottles for the big win.

Feeling a little more pressure (and admittedly pessimistic), you reached for the last ball. Bucky's gloved hand snatched it up first. 

“May I?”

You couldn't even remember if you nodded or said anything to indicate consent. You would only remember the sharp gleam in his eyes and the hard line of his clenched jaw. 

The rocket force of Bucky's throw blew all three bottles clear off the pedestal and smacked into the back of the booth with a crack, leaving a souvenir on the wooden paneling.

You walked off still mildly dazed with a giant Bluey stuffie clutched to your chest. 

“I’m sorry,” Bucky finally blurted out. “I should have let you take the last shot, I know you like doing these things for yourself. But it was torture watching that guy take you for a ride. I had to either throw the ball or slap that smirk off his face.”

He sighed and rubbed a hand over his hair and looked at you again, his excuses trailing off. “Aw hell, let’s face it. In the end I really just wanted to win you that ridiculously large teddy bear.”

“It’s a dog, actually. An Australian Cattle Dog.”

“It would need its own plane ticket.” He sighed. “Whatever. Again, I'm sorry.”

“Quit apologizing.” You reached out to give his hand a squeeze. “Did you have fun doing it?”

Bucky shrugged. “Gotta admit, it was a lot more satisfying than my last time at a fair.” Drawing you slowly into his arms, he gave a low chuckle. “In 1939.”

“Sounds like a great new memory.” You smiled and slid a hand around the back of his neck. “Mission accomplished, Sergeant,” you murmured before pressing your lips to his, in a kiss that he returned with twice the enthusiasm. 

“Let me win you every damn prize in this carnival,” he said, still slightly breathless after he broke off, that spine-tingling gleam reinvigorated in his piercing eyes. “Turn these fixed games around and con the swindlers right back.”

You bit your lip, the eager tone in his voice giving you pause. Would it be ethical to unleash a hungry White Wolf with a tireless metal arm on these game hawkers? 

“I do have that toy drive at work coming up in a few months.”

“My girl.” Bucky grinned and looped an arm around your waist to drop a sloppy kiss on your temple that made you squeal. “Point me to the next sucker.”

Steve: You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck? Bucky: Was that the time you used our train money to buy hotdogs? Steve: You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

This limited edition Marvel fic is a gift written as part of SotWK's Summer Campfire Sleepover 2024.

[hom3landr]

Icarus Falling

Chapter One: Flight Risk

Homelander X OC

When Vought decides to shut down a failing experimental program, a little winged loose end is left. Years later, a bitter young woman named Dove lives in isolation under Vought’s close watch. Not quite human but not quite a supe, Dove must use her wits to survive when Stan Edgar appoints her to The Seven for unknown reasons.

Dove’s tongue peeks out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrates on making her brush strokes as even as possible. The sudden garish swipes of polish scratch something in her brain. Her hands are steady now. She no longer leaves a mess all over her fingers from hands shaky with uncertainty. Instead, the ritual has become a balm to her constantly racing mind. The patience to achieve perfection is one of the few things that bring her peace. She prefers bright gaudy colors that irritate the eye. It makes her think of poison frogs and she envies their ability to maim simply by a touch. She wishes she could have had that mutation if she was destined to be a freak. She contemplates whether she’d like to try some nail art today. She isn’t good but that’s not the point. It’s not like anyone will see them anyway. No one ever sees her.

She neatly finishes her nail, happy with the final result. A bright neon green, her nails seem to shine in the beige bleakness of her Vought sponsored house. She supposes that she could make the place homier but she refuses. It feels wrong to make peace with what scraps Vought throws her. She refuses to take comfort in their blood money. Her body may bear signs of their interference but it’s still hers. Her body will have to be her home as it is the only thing she can trust.

Her feathers flutter gently as the oscillating fan blows lukewarm air on her. The sticky summer air lingers and her bare skin is damp with sweat. Her curls are pulled up away from her neck in hopes of some relief from the muggy air. Of course Vought didn’t feel like springing for working air conditioning for her. She guesses it’s because it’s not “cost-effective”

She stretches out her wings behind her, wincing slightly at the way her shoulder blades ache. They may be part of her but the human body isn’t made to have wings. Her muscles are forced to shift and pull in unnatural ways to account for the unfamiliar DNA. She’s no different than a poorly bred dog, too many elements being blended together and spit out without thought to nature’s elegance. The weight of them makes her constantly sore, even with the harness for support. It’s nothing fancy but the leather contraption helps take some of the strain off her back. Her wings are another reason she doesn’t decorate. Furniture tends to be a hassle more often than not when it comes to accommodating her. Couches and any chair with a back is a solid no-go, unless she wants a wing cramp. She’s currently sitting on her unfolded futon she uses as a makeshift wing-friendly couch.

She happily observes her nails as they dry, so used to boredom that watching the slick wet polish turn tacky is a decent passtime. She whistles a jaunty little tune along with the music playing softly on the radio. She decides that she will try some nail art. She could use a little cheetah print.

Alas, her relatively good mood instantly sours when a sleek black car pulls into her driveway. Her stomach turns. The only people who ever come to visit are Vought cronies, usually doing the bare minimum to make sure she’s still alive. Her house that was supposed to be her refuge becomes just another lab. She angrily screws back on the cap to her polish and sluggishly rises with a groan. She didn’t realize she’s due for another checkup so soon. She contemplates grabbing a shirt but decides they don’t deserve the privilege of decorum. She doesn’t feel like putting in the effort of trying to wrestle her wings into one. She never bothers when she’s alone.

Something still feels off and there is a prickle on the back of her neck as she watches the car park. She double takes when she sees the figure getting out of the car. It’s not some nameless lab tech. It’s not some suit here to chastise her for flying high enough to be seen. It’s Stan Edgar, the man whose machinations led to her fate but who never found her important enough to speak to directly. He’s almost a mythical figure to her and her throat tightens. She doubts this is another quick checkup to endure. This is something big.

Once more she wonders if she should grab a shirt. But again, she decides against it. Maybe she’ll get lucky and the shock of her nudity will give the old fucker a heart attack. Her shoulders pop as she shifts. Clad only in a pair of ratty denim cutoffs, she opens the door to stare brazenly at the leader of Vought with her hand placed impudently on her hip.

“It’s rude to show up without calling”

Much to her dismay, Edgar doesn’t even flinch at her exposure. Although the same certainly can’t be said for the two bodyguards flanking him. Even with their sunglasses, the tilt of their heads is an obvious indicator of just where their eyes are focused. She rolls her eyes internally despite never breaking eye contact with Edgar. She’ll die before she’s the one who blinks first.

“I thought a visit might be pleasant considering your…isolation.” He smiles emptily at her. She grits her teeth and fights the urge to spit on his fancy suit.

“I think our definitions of what “pleasant” means may differ. I consider it pleasant to have some privacy, Sir.” She cocks her head at him. Her wings fluff up with displeasure. She should probably use her manners in front of a man as powerful as him; especially one who technically owns her. There’s a tiny voice inside begging her to practice some self preservation. But then she looks at him and she remembers. He wasn’t in the lab with her but whatever tortures she had to endure were committed with his full knowledge and approval. As far as she’s concerned, he might as well have been holding the scalpel himself.

He seems as unfazed by her remark as he did at the sight of her bare chest. She clenches her fist as he looks at her like a bored parent waiting out their child’s tantrums while in time-out.

“Allow me to introduce mysel…” His polite greeting is abruptly cut off by Dove’s scoff.

Settle down. The voice inside her implores but she brushes it from her mind like flicking a flea.

“You’re Stan Edgar, Head of Vought. I know.” She replies, hackles raised at his infuriating calm. “You’re the one who dumped me here.”

He smiles.

Bastard

“A decision that was made with your wellbeing in mind. But if that is your grievance with me then allow me to supply you with some good news. May I come in so we can discuss it?” He asks as though she has a choice in the matter. They both know she doesn’t, not really.

She pauses, two sides of her viciously battling it out in her brain. One side wants to fight and push just to see how far he’ll let her go before his facade finally cracks. The other side just wants peace. She grits her teeth. If she wants him to leave, she’ll just have to endure his visit so she sighs and steps to the side. He nods and enters, flanked by his leering entourage. She does roll as her eyes at their stares this time and grabs a scarf she spies draped over the edge of a nearby table. She follows them over to the futon, threading it through her harness and tying it into a makeshift top.

She plops down on the futon, crosses her legs and looks up at him blankly. She doesn’t offer him a seat. Of course, there really isn’t a place for him to sit even if she did feel like being polite. The living area of her tiny one bedroom house is bare except her futon, a small table with the fan still whirring away and her radio, and a short cabinet that she mainly uses to store her collection of polishes and a few dvds gathering dust. The walls are blank and cold.

“You should let Vought know you are in need of some furniture.” Edgar remarks as he looks around at the sad state of her place.

“I’ll get right on that.” Dove says wryly. She has no intention to ask for anything from Vought.

“Actually, I wouldn’t bother just yet. That's one of the things I wish to speak with you about.” Edgar replies. Dove regrets sitting because now she has him looming over her. The power play was fun at the moment but she’s quickly realizing that Edgar has a way of making them feel pointless and immature.

“I didn’t realize you cared this much about my interior design.” Dove can’t help but retort.

“It does seem pointless to furnish this place considering you will be moving in the near future. I’m sure you’ll enjoy a place with a little more class.” He’s smug, clearly trying to lead her somewhere. He says it like he’s expecting her to jump up like her team just won the superbowl. There is always the undertone of condescension and superiority that makes Dove bristle. She’s known this man for all of ten minutes but that’s all she needs. She doesn’t even register the meaning of his words. She’s too angry and it clouds her judgment. She doesn’t immediately register that he’s offering her an out.

“Vought has class?” She bites out, her joking tone too harsh to be taken lightly. The hurt behind it is open and raw. Edgar’s smile drops. She should feel smug that she finally got the mask to drop. She doesn’t.

“I’m sure you think that your comments are cute but I came here expecting to talk to an adult, not a petulant child.” His voice sharpens but the pitch never changes.

Dove’s mouth snaps shut and she bites her tongue till she tastes iron. Her feathers fluff out involuntarily as she seethes. She’s tempted to snap back but she begrudgingly realizes that the sooner they can get through this conversation, the sooner he’ll be out of her hair. She frowns when she notices one of her still tacky nails has smudged.

Fucking great

“Fine, just tell me then.” She crosses her arms before promptly relaxing them, not wanting to let him know how much she’s pouting.

The corner of his mouth curls up but his eyes stay as empty as ever.

“How would you feel about finally putting your skills to good use?” He asks.

Dove double takes and stutters out a bemused laugh. Not once since they threw her out with the bathwater had they ever indicated she had any use besides what failed experiment they had been planning. She is baffled as to what they could possibly want with her.

“I think my current situation shows what Vought thinks of my skills. Can’t you get one of your precious little supes to do it?” She replies with sheer disdain.

Psh…Supes

Oh, she despises supes. Spoiled little brats. Spoiled pampered little brats. Vought’s golden children. They’re genetic freaks too but they get freedom and fame. They have lives and families. They only have to endure a little shot of go-go juice as a baby and the world is handed to them on a golden fucking platter. Meanwhile here she is, weak, hidden, abandoned. She had to endure endless tortures and for what?

“We need someone with your unique composition.” His face gives nothing away.

That doesn’t sound good.

“…Oh.” She shifts nervously. A sick feeling starts to brew in her gut. She becomes viscerally aware of the prickle of sweat under her arms and running down her spine “I’m not…going back, am I? You all promised me I wouldn’t have to go back there anymore.”

Edgar laughs. He fucking laughs.

“Yes and no, but don’t worry, we won’t have any need for that. I think you’ll enjoy what we have planned.” He replies with false peasantry. Dove inhales tightly. Her hackles are raised at the constant dancing around the question. She highly doubts enjoyment is on the table. When has enjoyment ever been on the table for her?

“Well, are you gonna tell me what it is?” She retorts sharply. The constant whirring of the fan grates on her strained nerves and in this moment she wants nothing more than to chuck it across the room.

Edgar nods at one of the bodyguards who steps forward to hand her a fancy embossed letter. She resists the urge to snatch it rudely from his hand. She minds her manners though, being careful not to rip the fancy paper. Edgar stares her down as she opens it. Luckily her nails are dry enough now to not stick.

Her heart stops dead as she reads.

WHAT THE FUCK

Her hands start to shake.

This is a joke

This is a joke

This is a joke.

This is a fucking joke.

What she is holding is a genuine, bonafide, official invitation to join The Seven.

Dove drops the letter like it’s a scalding hot coal. A furious stinging longing like nothing she has ever known throbs hot in her chest.

Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? For your pain to mean something?

“No.” She replies shakily. “No, I don’t want it.”

She does. She wants it so bad.

“No.”

She knows what she is. She’s not a supe. She will never be a supe. That had been quite clear to her with every broken bone, every bruise, every slice of the scalpel. She was deemed unworthy with every scribble of a scientist's pen. Her only claim to fame is not dropping dead from her inhuman slurry of mismatched genes like the rest.

Whatever worth she has, it’s definitely not as one of Vought’s shiniest gems. She doesn’t have the luxury of hope.

“No? I assumed you’d be glad for the opportunity. Especially considering your…situation.” He nods at her wings and she draws them closer to her body.

“I’m…not one of them. I’m all but human. What need could you possibly have for me in The Seven. I’m…” She cuts herself off.

Weak

That’s the whole point of her existence really. Vought wanted to create a new breed of supes that weren’t supes. People with abilities but without the pesky super strength that makes things hard to manage. They wanted to corner the labor market. Who wouldn’t want to hire a worker capable of more than a human could ever be while still being easy to control? So, they turned to animal DNA, to see if they could generate specific traits based on carefully selected genes. It failed, the constant deaths of the subjects deemed it too cost ineffective to keep trying. When they shut it down, all they had to worry about was one winged little loose end.

“You let us worry about all that. You’ll just need to follow instructions and smile pretty for the camera.” He reaches out to take a shaky hand in his, his demeanor unnervingly parental in this moment. He pats it soothingly. She fights the urge to flinch away at the touch of skin. She’s painfully unused to human contact that doesn’t involve harm.

“What kind of instructions?” She’s wary.

“I told you, let us worry about that. I promise it won’t be anything you can’t handle.” His voice has warmed considerably as he tries to gain her consent without having to resort to more unpleasant means. After all, no isn’t really an option. Vought owns her. The invitation is merely a polite formality.

“No,” Dove repeats more firmly, a steely resolve in her eye

“No?” Stan Edgar raises an eyebrow.

Dove doesn’t want to hear anymore. What they’re giving her is not an out but a golden cage. She’s Snow White being handed the poison apple. She won’t be a victim of Vought’s plans again. She won’t be that stupid.

“What makes you think I want to do anything to help Vought out? What makes you think a bit of fame is enough to make me forget the shit you put me through?” Dove stands, staring Edgar down. She clenches her fists and the body language of his guards changes immediately. “If you try to set my ass in front of a camera I’ll spill everything. All I want is to be left alone.”

Edgar remains unphased by her outburst. He’d expected as much. The reports from her check-ups had informed him of her temperament. He has one more card up his sleeve before things have to get nasty.

“I understand that you’re disgruntled by your previous treatment. As an apology and as incentive for joining The Seven, Vought would like to reunite you with your mother. Remain as a member for one year and fulfill all your necessary duties, and we’ll get you in contact with her.”

His voice fades out into a droning buzz.

I have a mother.

Dove’s head swims.

She tries to speak but the words catch in her throat. She makes a strangled noise at the revelation. What can she even say to that? How is she supposed to respond to her whole world getting flipped on its head? Unwanted tears prickle in her eyes as her knees give out and she drops back on to the futon.

She’s always been so alone but all this time…

All this time…

“How come you never said anything? How come I didn’t…” Her voice trails off. “You’re lying.”

A photo enters her field of vision and she takes it shakily. There is a young woman in the picture, with curly hair and dark familiar eyes, Dove’s eyes. She doesn’t look much older than nineteen but the resemblance is unmistakable. She's wearing an all too familiar medical gown and her hand rests on the subtle swell of her stomach. Her expression is solemn. Dove chokes down a sob as she softly strokes the woman’s face.

“She signed a contract saying that she did not want any contact with the child post-birth. In recent years, she seems to have changed her mind. She’s expressed a desire to reconnect. If you agree to our terms, we can facilitate a reunion.” Edgar explains.

Dove can’t take her eyes off the photo.

Her mom abandoned her. She abandoned her to Vought’s heartless clutches. She’d walked away without a care. Dove should rip the picture up and tell Edgar to stuff it. She shouldn’t feel anything towards this woman…her mother.

Dove had never known where she came from. Vought had never specified. Now she has a chance to know. What is her mother like? Is she happy now? Why did she leave her alone? Why does she want her now? Did her mom ever love her?

Dove is furious at herself for feeling conflicted even as questions fill her head. She has so many questions she can get the answer to.

“I…” Dove flounders. She doesn’t want it. She doesn’t want anything else. She hates this mystery woman who left her in Vought’s clutches. She needs more than anything to be held in her arms, this woman with the dark sad eyes.

Don’t you fucking dare! Something inside her pleads. You’re going to regret it. You will never be free from them

Dove swallows thickly and with the finality of an executioner's swing, she gives Stan Edgar her answer.

“I’ll do it.”

[umbralundertaker]

gg characters ranked based on how insufferable they would be during a 6 hour drive with you

Goldlewis: IDEAL. He drives the whole way, hes a good driver, he has the whole route planned out including stops, pays for the gas and snacks, he has good taste in music, hes quiet if I want quiet and hes chatty when I want to chat. He would keep his coffin in the trunk but his UMA gets lonely so it chills in the backseat, giving us our snacks (half eaten) or pulling my hair occasionally

Sol: quiet mostly but gets road rage when theres traffic. Insists on driving the entire time. Plays Queen loud as fuck the whole way. Gets grumpy when he has to stop so I can use the bathroom. Still A tier.

Dizzy: We take turns. She offers to drive the whole way but i say no because I dont want to put that on her. She is calming and extremely easy to talk to and makes the time fly by. Will be annoying when she wants to play I Spy or sing a stupid sing along sonc but I'll do it anyway to make her happy.

May: Cant drive but is entertaining enough to make up for it. She buys a whole shelf's worth of chips with Johnnys money. We chat the whole time and shes alright for the most part but when she gets really annoying i turn the radio on and we sing to whatever song that comes on.

Ramlethal: quiet at first but asks a lot of questions about what she sees outside as we drive along. Generally nice and cordial. Also cant drive.

Sin: cant drive but again his silliness makes up for it. At the gas stations he buys as much as May but he makes me pay for it so hes lower on the list.

Potemkin: Would want to drive the whole way but cant drive without breaking the wheel or pedals. Asks how work/school is going and its SUPER awkward at first but he imparts some life lessons and its generally a good time.

Anji: Would switch off with me. Really good driver and makes great time. Pays for my gas and snacks. Gets annoying and flirty the longer the trip goes on to the point where im a little uncomfortable.

Millia: Would drive the whole time. Quiet but nice when she does speak. I feel like she would have shit taste in music though.

Bridget: Usually nice and fun but shes actually quiet here. Has her headphones on and is looking out the window most of the time. Doesnt drive. Roger gets us kicked out of any gas stations we go to.

Faust: Also looking out the window the whole time. Tries to chat at first but quickly runs out of energy. Offers to take turns driving but i decline because of safety concerns. Summons snacks so i dont have to buy them and we feast the whole ride.

Elphelt: Would be pretty annoying at first but she has great taste in music and we talk about metal the whole time. Cant drive but offers to anyway.

Bedman?: I put him in the trunk and he deactivates for 6 hours

Nagoriyuki: Makes small talk and tries to be friendly but nothing lands. Cant drive but silently judges my driving skills anyways. Tries to pay for my gas but doesnt end up doing it because no gas station takes his 600 year old coins.

Chipp: We take turns driving. Only plays anime intros and gets upset if I change it. Will pay for snacks if they have pocky but not for gas. I let him tell me about anime the whole time but im white-knuckling the wheel.

Testament: Will pay for gas and snacks. They can drive (they even have a CDL) but gently ask me to drive because they dont really like to. I do it but I dont let them know how annoyed I am. Prefers no music in the car and asks bizarrely invasive questions the whole time. Generally nice just hard for me to talk to.

Johnny: I made him drive and he does so without question but thats about the only good part

Slayer: Makes me drive and gives me 'critique' the whole time. Doesnt pay for gas, but not out of rudeness, only because he forgets it costs money. Will backhandedly compliment me on how humble I am for driving such a shitty car. If Sharon comes with us he lets her sit in the passenger seat.

Giovanna: Makes me drive and complains the whole time. The WHOLE time.

ABA: Will want to stop every ten minutes to look at stores or attractions or a cow or a cool plant. I try to say no but she grabs the steering wheel out of my hands because she doesnt really understand how cars work yet. Sits in the backseat with Paracelsus on her lap. Accidentally smashes one of my windows when she tries to take him out.

Zato-1: Zato is completely and utterly silent. Eddie is opening and closing the car doors like Five Nights at Freddy's. I get most of the way there before Eddie possesses the driver in car next to me and we crash and die.

Leo: Im having a headache just thinking about this one sorry

Baiken: Cant drive but does anyway. HORRIBLE road rage and is a little tipsy as well. We get there in one piece but I will be arrested later for reckless driving.

I-No: Would leave me and fly away on her broom thing

Happy Chaos: Happy Chaos

[jammechanics]

Jam Mechanics Episode 7 baybeeee

Episode 7 finds Matt and Bug writing some 4-chord pop songs and talking hedgehogs, Aliens, and Dr. Who. Bug disappoints Reginald Kenneth Dwight in a big way.

Jam Mechanics is a podcast hosted by Matt (The Narcissist Cookbook) and Bug (Bug Hunter) where we challenge each other to write a song demo from scratch every episode.

If you'd like downloadable files for this episode (and the demos we showed off), ⁠⁠you can go to our Bandcamp: website: https://www.jammechanics.com/ to pay-what-you-want to support us!

Our Music:⁠⁠ The Narcissist Cookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bug Hunter

-- SPOILERS FOR THIS EPISODE BELOW --

BUG'S SONG Matt's Challenge: BNE SZN (piano only!!) Title: Season Your Beanie Lyrics: I’ll eat my hat if you make it I’m not mad I’m just candid and someone just had to say it there’s no path where you’re headed and you can act all offended I’m a realist and I feel its best you never pretended that there’s a chance in a million you can be handsome or brilliant but you’ll crash like all the others so you can call me the villain one day we’ll look back and laugh, I’ll get a pat on the back but if you make it with your music I will eat my hat

Would like a salad on the side? we can sub it out for fries? We got a dad hat meal plan for 10.99 you can order a fedora that you’ll just adore we got a chef hat special, call it hat du jour Cuz I’ve got 30 milion reasons that can prove you wrong and 200 fans in london singing every damn song I’m rubbin salt in the wounds, just admit you’re defeated you can season your beanie, but you still gotta eat it

you’d eat your hat if I made it so I snapback with a menu when you throw all that shade if you took a bite of brim and didn’t like how it tasted you should’ve sampled the plastic long before you beret-ed

and hey, yeah, maybe you’re right a bit more often than not but you could choose to say nothing, it has no sticker or cost rubbin salt in the wounds to admit you’re defeated you can season your beanie but you still gotta eat it you can season your beanie but you still gotta eat it you can season your beanie but you still gotta eat it

MATT'S SONG Bug's Challenge: Cthulu (Radio-Friendly) Title: Get Deep Fried Lyrics: let's stay in bed all day we'll get away from here tomorrow if the monsters allow what did people ever talk about the television doesn't work right now sit with me beneath the nothing where the stars all used to be before they all went out

they're in the hallway at our door they're in the walls they're in the floor looks like it's all gonna end right as we begin

who called this son of a bitch half mile tall, man looks like a fish the deep one will swallow us all he can swallow my balls who spoke the summoning rite who's up for fresh calimari tonight the deep one? eat my ass more like get deep fried am i right

hentai tentacles gonna kick him right in the genitals he's gonna be like "this is terrible" i'm gonna be like "you look edible" elder god from the ocean floor I bet you wish you could sleep some more i'm your paralysis demon got hooked and you can't stop screamin

they're in the hallway at our door they're in the walls they're in the floor looks like their party's gonna end right as it begins

[rivertigo]

Gimme the tea on music gatekeeping OR restrictions on clothes when it comes to musically-inspired lifestyles and outfits 👀

hmm well. I think there is a lot to talk about when it comes to this and I’m assuming you’re talking about music based subcultures so that’s what I’ll be rolling with.

music based subcultures historically had a physical space: clubs, skate parks, house shows, college campuses, neighborhoods, malls, etc. Rising costs has made this almost impossible depending on where you live due to many factors. The majority of these communities developed amongst younger peoples so i’ll be talking about things that most relate to younger people.

The increase in parental anxiety over the safety of their children has made it hard for people to go to places where a music subculture would flourish regularly. In many places (mainly the US) public transport doesn’t exist in a meaningful way for people to reach farther away places, so that means you have to drive. so you have to get someone to take you and that means gas money, which is more expensive along with everything else so everyone has to work more.

you work so much to have money to scrape by so you don’t have any free time or as much extra cash to afford going to shows and support local acts. being a musician takes too much time away from work or school and when everything costs so much that is time you can’t afford to practice and play if there isn’t reasonable money in it. musicians don’t make sales in records or get local radio play (radio is a monopoly so small local stations can’t survive) anymore due to streaming so when you’re a very small act you’re making dirt.

so the subcultures are on a sort of life support, due to the poor economy. more budget friendly shows are in small amount due to more regulation around neighborhood noise rules and lack of parking (because everyone has to drive to the show) makes house venues very sparing. bars used to close and open and pop up all the time, but due to the increasing costs of running a business and laws around alcohol sales and minors, bars don’t have a lot of spare money for hiring music acts, and there aren’t as many to play in.

so this means music culture has to be online, and online there is a disconnect between aesthetics and the music because there is no real life location to experience the culture. In a goth club you dress up goth because it’s a social experience you want to participate in and you go out and listen to goth music, surrounded by people of all walks of life. An old guy in black skinny jeans and a ramones shirt can be goth because he is at a goth bar listening to goth music and participating in the subculture.

online, everything is image. It’s all about presentation and looks. you can be a poser because you aren’t going to shows. you can buy something labeled goth or punk on shein because you like the way it looks and not have to understand any history behind what participating in the subculture means. you don’t have people to learn from because you are isolated from older people who aren’t online to tell you about why buying fast fashion alternative clothing is stupid as fuck. you go on your merry way calling yourself a goth who’s favorite artist is polluter and billionaire t*ylor swift. you get people who’ve never learned a bit of history of the very real punk music subculture using the word to make posts saying ‘what punk is actually about is being soft and hugging friends’

I think the ‘problem’ of posers of subcultures is mainly from music becoming something in your phone rather than something to experience in a community 🤷 but of course this is just my opinion on rock based subcultures in mainly the United States because that’s the music I listen to and where I live so I can’t speak for literally anything else. and I’m always learning new things too so my opinions are ever changing as well

[dearweirdme]

They’re going all out for JK’s single, and I’m so happy for him, but I can’t help buy worry for Tae. I feel like hybe wont give him the support that jimin and jk got. For JK’s marketing, it’s understandable coz his type of music is really the marketable type. They even sent it to radio stations and will impact stations on the release time itself, but for Tae, his music is unconventional. I’m worried that it may not be gp-friendly. Jimin got all hybe producers’ support while JK got Scooter’s company support, but with Tae, though he has a huge fanbase, his fans can only do so much.

However, Tae said he’s not really after any chart placements or anything and just wants his fans to enjoy his music, but I want Tae to have that kind of success, too. 🫤

HYBE doesn’t support his projects much, so I’m really worried for him. I feel like HYBE just relies on his fans for support. HYBE producers are not even helping him with his music.

Hi anon!

I’m not worried too much, but I know many are of the same thoughts as you. I think you are right in thinking they will handle Tae’s release different than Jk’s, but they’ve handled every member’s release differently. It does depend on how marketable something is. They’ll have made estimates about which audiences to target (which is part of the reason why I think Tae went on Jinny’s Kitchen, older audience) and they will target those audiences specifically. Tae knows this as well. He knows his music is possibly not for the gp. I also think it doesn’t matter to him. He has already had that great succes. What he wants now is to be understood I think. For people to know him. He cares about his music reaching the right people and not the masses.

I do however think the Taennie situation has been set up to broaden his audience a bit. And think it’s possibly something he had to settle for to be able to do what he wants musically. I think Tae chose the producers he works with, and I don’t think it’s that Hybe doesn’t want their producers to work with him. They have no interest in making him fail, it will cost them money.

Overall, I don’t feel like Tae has been given a bad deal. He’s been doing great projects that have been keeping him in the eye of the public. Jinny’s Kitchen (which many see as a separate project, but I see as a sort of promo) has made him available to a broader public, who also got to know him a bit through it.. that is great promo! Same goes for his brand deals. I know fandom expects Hybe to shine light at these things, but the thing is that it’s the other way around… these things shine light on Tae, and that is promo. Tae is doing fine, great even.

[mtreebeardiles]

Chasing Storms, pt 11

Full chapter over on AO3!

He figured he'd fall asleep quickly, given how late they wound up leaving. Had been yawning even when V playfully herded him towards the Beast and took his suitcase from him, loading it into the back. Had stared blearily until V laughed and guided him to the front passenger seat, handing him a pillow. 

Had been all set to just pick up where he'd left off when he'd passed out on their made-up bed after some last-minute packing, but the second the engine started and they pulled clear of their building's parking garage, he was wide awake. 

The radio was low, V undoubtedly thinking he was still trying to sleep, and for the moment Kerry was content to let him go on believing it. Took that time to settle in, arms wrapped around the pillow with his chin resting on top as he gazed out the window, watching the neon lights of familiar streets whiz on by. Took the time to watch V, too, his partner relaxed as ever behind the wheel, fingers drumming along to the song, and the quiet was one Kerry didn't know how to break -- if it was one he wanted to break at all. It wasn't an awkward one, or a tense one, but a strange, almost liminal thing, reminding him of those early days when he'd been nothing and no one, loaded up in some crappy old jalopy and praying it would make it to their next gig. Johnny'd been behind the wheel, then, and it was the closest Kerry had ever seen him relax, too. Always a tense spot between his brows but even that would ease a little along with the tightness around his eyes, more peaceful than he'd ever managed in sleep or on the stage when energy was running high for different if related reasons. 

Kerry hadn't liked breaking the quiet then, either. 

For him and Johnny, that quiet had been companionable, friendly, a moment to remember that they'd been on the same path -- back then, at least, before everything had gone to shit. May not have returned Kerry's affections, may have liked to cut Kerry down with his rejections, only to encourage them all over again like the narcissistic bastard he was but in those moments, those quiet, special moments on the road, Kerry could forget that the language Johnny knew best was one of manipulation. Could forget that he liked to string him along, liked to find ways to keep him right where he wanted him, liked to know that he could keep him on the hook as a matter of course, draw him back and back and back no matter how far away he seemed to get. 

Could remember instead that there was a friend under all those thorns, one who understood him and his music better than anyone ever had and ever would. 

"Are you sure it's even love? He kinda treats you like shit, Ker."

Concerns, valid, and he hadn't been able to explain it then and wasn't sure he could now, either. That sometimes love didn't care if the object of its affections was poison, caustic and cruel, not when there was something else, something deeper, something that Kerry had just… never felt with anyone else before. Something beyond Johnny's natural charisma, his magnetism, something you could only catch if you were listening for it -- or if he was willing to let you hear it, let you in even that little bit, baring himself in the only way he knew how. 

But fuck if it didn't come at a cost.

"You really wanna go off, go solo on me? Sign on with some fucking corpo label, sell yourself out? Fuck you, Ker. You're supposed to be better than that."

Supposed to be. Supposed to be content, supposed to play second fiddle to the legend in the making, supposed to prop him up, make him better, support his sound so the message could get out there. Message of contempt, of hate, of fire that burned so fucking hot it was no wonder it fizzled out the way it had, in the end. 

Supposed to happily comply to Silverhand, and Silverhand alone.

What's that old saying? Go so far, so hard, and become the thing you hate?

[carwreckersydney]

How Car Wreckers Turn Old Cars into Cash and Affordable Spare Parts in Sydney

When your car reaches the end of its lifespan, you might assume it’s worthless. However, car wreckers Sydney see value in every vehicle, no matter its condition. They specialize in transforming old, damaged, or non-functional cars into two essential resources: cash for car owners and affordable spare parts for others. This dual benefit has made car wreckers an integral part of Sydney's automotive ecosystem, offering financial, environmental, and practical advantages.

Here’s how car wreckers work their magic to turn old cars into valuable assets.

Step 1: From Clunker to Cash

The first step in the process is purchasing old cars from owners looking to sell. Sydney car wreckers buy vehicles in any condition—whether they’re roadworthy, damaged, or completely totaled. This is how it works:

Free Car Valuation Car owners contact a wrecker and provide basic details about their vehicle, such as the make, model, year, and condition. Wreckers assess the car's value based on these details and offer a cash quote.

Instant Cash Payment Once the offer is accepted, car wreckers pay cash on the spot. This eliminates the hassle of negotiating with private buyers or dealers. Many wreckers in Sydney also provide free towing services, ensuring a seamless process for the seller.

No Hidden Costs Unlike trade-ins or dealership sales, car wreckers don’t deduct fees or charges. What they quote is what you receive.

For car owners, this means turning an unused or unwanted vehicle into instant cash, regardless of its state.

Step 2: Salvaging Usable Parts

After acquiring a car, the wreckers’ next step is to assess and dismantle it to extract usable components. Even vehicles that are no longer roadworthy often have parts in good condition. These include:

Engines and Transmissions Key components like the engine and transmission are carefully removed and inspected. If functional, they are reconditioned for resale.

Electronics and Accessories Alternators, starters, radios, and navigation systems are extracted and tested for quality.

Interior and Exterior Parts Items such as seats, mirrors, doors, and lights are salvaged, cleaned, and prepared for reuse.

Tires and Wheels Good-condition tires and alloy wheels are another common find, providing a low-cost option for drivers looking for replacements.

These parts are then sold at affordable prices, offering car owners and repair shops a cost-effective alternative to buying brand-new components.

Step 3: Recycling Materials

Once all reusable parts are salvaged, car wreckers focus on recycling the remaining materials, such as metal, glass, and plastic. Here’s how they do it:

Metal Recycling The car's frame, typically made of steel or aluminum, is crushed and sent to recycling facilities where it is melted down and repurposed for manufacturing.

Plastic Components Plastics from the dashboard, trim, and other non-mechanical parts are sorted and recycled into raw materials.

Glass Windows and windshields are removed, cleaned, and often reused in other applications.

By recycling these materials, car wreckers significantly reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of vehicle disposal.

Step 4: Selling Affordable Spare Parts

Salvaged parts are a lifeline for car owners, mechanics, and enthusiasts who need quality replacements without paying a premium. Here’s why Sydney’s car wreckers are a popular choice for spare parts:

Cost Savings Recycled parts are often sold at a fraction of the cost of new ones, making them a budget-friendly option for repairs and upgrades.

Availability of Rare and Discontinued Parts For older vehicles or discontinued models, finding replacement parts can be a challenge. Car wreckers often stock hard-to-find components, ensuring continued use of vintage or unique cars.

Quality Assurance Reputable car wreckers in Sydney thoroughly inspect and test salvaged parts to ensure they meet safety and performance standards. Many even offer warranties on their products.

Immediate Availability Unlike waiting for new parts to be shipped, parts from car wreckers are usually ready for purchase on-site or for immediate delivery.

Step 5: Supporting a Circular Economy

The process of dismantling and recycling vehicles contributes to a circular economy, where resources are reused instead of discarded. This approach has numerous benefits:

Reduces Demand for New Manufacturing: Reusing parts and metals conserves raw materials and energy.

Minimizes Waste: Fewer car components end up in landfills, reducing environmental pollution.

Lowers Repair Costs: Affordable spare parts make car repairs accessible to more people.

By selling to or buying from Sydney’s car wreckers, individuals are actively participating in a system that benefits both the economy and the environment.

Why Choose Sydney Car Wreckers?

Sydney’s car wreckers are known for their efficiency, professionalism, and commitment to sustainability. Here’s why they stand out:

Instant Cash Offers: Quick valuations and cash payments eliminate the hassle of traditional selling methods.

Eco-Friendly Disposal: Safe handling of hazardous materials and comprehensive recycling ensure minimal environmental impact.

Affordable Parts: A wide inventory of parts for all makes and models at unbeatable prices.

Free Services: Many wreckers offer free car removal, saving sellers time and money.

Conclusion

Car wreckers in Sydney play a vital role in transforming old vehicles into valuable resources. For car owners, this means turning an unwanted car into instant cash. For the broader community, it means access to affordable spare parts and a greener, more sustainable approach to automotive waste. Whether you’re looking to sell an old car or buy cost-effective replacements, Sydney’s car wreckers provide a win-win solution for everyone involved.

[lawenforcementtalkradioshow]

The Evolution of Police Car Colors: Are Black and White Cruisers Really the Norm?

When you think of a police car, what image comes to mind? For many of us, it's the iconic black and white patrol vehicle, a symbol of law enforcement that's become deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness. But have you ever wondered how this distinctive color scheme came to be, or whether it's as universal as we might think? Let's take a journey through the fascinating history of police car colors and explore how they've evolved over time.

The Early Days: Function Over Form

At the dawn of the automotive age, police departments faced a challenge: how to make their vehicles stand out from the sea of black cars on the roads. You see, most early 20th-century cars were painted with cheap "Japan black" paint, famously used on Henry Ford's Model T. Cash-strapped police agencies had to get creative.

Their solution? Add white paint to certain parts of their black vehicles. This cost-effective approach made police cars more recognizable without breaking the bank. However, there was no national standard, leading to a variety of color combinations across different regions.

The Rise of the Black and White

As police departments began to standardize their fleets, the black-and-white color scheme gained popularity across North America. This simple yet effective combination made police cars highly visible and easily recognizable.

But practicality played a role too. Many departments initially had single-color vehicles and added the contrasting color later. It was a budget-friendly way to create a distinct look without splurging on entirely new paint jobs.

A Colorful Detour

While black and white became iconic, not all departments stuck with this scheme. Over the years, many experimented with different colors to create unique identities. Blue, gray, silver, and solid black became popular alternatives.

For instance, the New York Police Department (NYPD) originally had blue patrol cars before switching to their current white with blue accents. The Chicago Police Department has used white cars with blue accents since the early 1960s.

The Return to Tradition

In recent years, many police departments have circled back to the classic black-and-white look. Why? Two main reasons: visibility and cost.

The black-and-white scheme creates a perception of "omnipresence" - people tend to think there are more police around when they see these distinctive vehicles. As for cost, many departments now buy all-black vehicles and add white decals or wraps, a more budget-friendly approach than custom paint jobs.

A Global Perspective

While black and white dominate in North America, other countries have taken different approaches. In Europe, for example, many police agencies favor high-visibility designs like the "Battenberg" pattern - alternating blocks of fluorescent green or yellow and blue.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, the choice of police vehicle colors will continue to be shaped by a blend of history, economics, and practicality. Whether it's a classic black-and-white cruiser or a brightly colored high-visibility patrol car, one thing's for sure: police vehicle designs will keep evolving to meet the changing needs of the communities they serve.

So, the next time you spot a police car, take a moment to appreciate its colors. There's more history and thought behind that paint job than you might have realized!

John Jay Wiley is a retired Police Sergeant and the host of the nationally syndicated Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast, you can listen to podcast episodes for free on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or most major podcast platforms. You can stay updated about his story and many others simply by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and most all social media platforms.

Attributions

Road and Track

Government Fleet

Wikipedia

Police Car photo is a free picture from Picryl.

[trapangeles]

Elon Musk Unveils Futuristic Tech at We Robot Event in Hollywood

Last night, Elon Musk shut down Hollywood with his highly anticipated We Robot event, where he previewed groundbreaking new technology that has the world buzzing. Held in the heart of L.A., this futuristic showcase unveiled the Optimus Robot, RoboVan, and RoboTaxi, pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible in tech.

The Optimus Robot – A New Era in Robotics

The Optimus Robot was one of the major highlights of the night. Standing tall as Musk’s latest innovation in humanoid robotics, Optimus is designed to help with manual labor and household tasks, representing the next evolution in AI-powered assistance. The robot is capable of walking, talking, and interacting with its environment, making it a game changer for industries and homes alike. This tech could shift how we think about work and automation.

The RoboVan – Redefining Transportation

Elon Musk also introduced the RoboVan, a futuristic, self-driving van that could change the way we think about urban transportation. The RoboVan is designed for efficiency, offering autonomous rides for groups and deliveries, with the potential to revolutionize logistics, ride-sharing, and daily commutes. The sleek design and cutting-edge AI systems make it one of the most advanced vehicles in development today.

The RoboTaxi – The Future of Ride-Sharing

Musk’s vision didn’t stop there. He also previewed the RoboTaxi, an autonomous taxi that will navigate city streets without the need for a human driver. Set to disrupt the ride-sharing industry, the RoboTaxi promises to reduce costs, improve safety, and offer an eco-friendly solution to urban transportation. Imagine calling a ride with no driver, just an AI system handling everything from navigation to traffic safety.

Tech Takeover or Sci-Fi Reality?

Elon Musk’s We Robot event has sparked plenty of conversation. Are we ready for a world run by robots, autonomous vehicles, and AI? While some are excited about the possibilities, others are cautious about what this means for the future of human jobs and privacy.

At trapLA, we’re keeping our eyes on this tech takeover. From the Optimus Robot to the RoboVan and RoboTaxi, Musk is proving that the future of AI technology is here, and it’s happening faster than we thought.

The Future of Hollywood and Tech

Musk’s decision to host the We Robot event in Hollywood is a sign that the tech and entertainment industries are becoming increasingly intertwined. As AI continues to advance, we may see a future where robots are not only in our homes and streets but on the big screen too.

What do you think about Elon Musk’s latest tech? Are you ready for robots in everyday life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to trapLA for more updates on the latest tech and culture news.

Have you been spending all your money and time on making music and shooting videos, but still not getting any exposure? Tired of just spinning your wheels? You know to get exposure you need to get featured on blogs, radio stations, playlist, and get your music e-mail blasted out to the masses. Need help getting all that done? Then check out the Package we’ve made available for you below!

Like & Listen To Our Spotify Playlist

trapLAXradio On The Air Now!

The Latest Music, Videos, News, Entertainment……

[my-music-1460]

Achieve Studio-Quality Sound with AI Mastering: The Deliver My Tune Advantage

For many independent artists, one of the most challenging and costly aspects of music production is mastering. A polished, professional track is essential for success, whether you're aiming for a viral hit or seeking to build a sustainable music career. Traditionally, achieving this level of quality required working with seasoned mastering engineers, who often charge a premium for their services. However, with the advent of technology, AI mastering has made high-quality audio mastering more accessible to all artists.

So, what is AI mastering, and how does Deliver My Tune utilize it to help artists achieve studio-quality sound without the hefty price tag? AI mastering is a cutting-edge technology that replicates the work of a human mastering engineer by using machine learning algorithms to enhance and polish audio tracks. Deliver My Tune, a leading music distribution platform, has integrated this revolutionary technology into its services, giving independent musicians an affordable and efficient way to master their tracks and get them ready for global distribution. In this article, we’ll explore how AI mastering works, why it’s a game-changer for musicians, and how Deliver My Tune is empowering artists to elevate their music.

Main Body:

What is AI Mastering?

At its core, AI mastering involves utilizing artificial intelligence to automatically enhance and refine audio tracks. The AI algorithms analyze the audio to identify areas that require adjustments, such as equalization, compression, stereo enhancement, and limiting. The goal of mastering is to ensure that the track is sonically balanced and optimized for playback on different devices and platforms, such as streaming services, radio, or physical formats like CDs.

AI mastering simulates the expertise of a professional mastering engineer, applying the right amount of processing based on the track's genre, frequency range, and overall loudness. This technology is particularly beneficial for independent artists who may not have access to expensive mastering services but still need their music to meet industry standards.

The Benefits of AI Mastering for Independent Musicians

AI mastering offers numerous advantages to independent musicians, making it an attractive option for anyone looking to produce high-quality tracks. Some of the key benefits include:

Affordability: Traditional mastering can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per track, which can be prohibitive for indie artists on a tight budget. AI mastering, by contrast, is significantly more affordable, allowing artists to invest in other areas of their music production.

Time-Saving: AI mastering is incredibly fast. While human mastering engineers might take days or weeks to complete a project, AI can master a track in just a few minutes. This quick turnaround time enables musicians to release new material faster and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced music industry.

Consistency: One of the challenges of traditional mastering is ensuring that all tracks on an album or EP maintain a consistent sound. AI mastering provides uniform results across multiple tracks, ensuring that every song meets the same high standard of audio quality.

Accessibility: AI mastering is easy to use, even for artists with little to no technical knowledge. Artists simply upload their track to the platform, and the AI takes care of the rest. This makes it an ideal solution for musicians who want to focus on their creative work rather than spending time mastering technical skills.

How Deliver My Tune Uses AI Mastering

Deliver My Tune is at the forefront of utilizing AI mastering technology to empower artists. The platform offers an integrated AI mastering tool that allows musicians to upload their tracks and have them mastered automatically. This tool is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, enabling artists to achieve professional-quality sound without needing any prior mastering experience.

The process of mastering on Deliver My Tune is straightforward:

Track Upload: Artists upload their unmastered track to the platform.

AI Analysis: The AI algorithm analyzes the track’s dynamics, frequencies, and overall loudness to identify areas for improvement.

Enhancement: Based on its analysis, the AI applies equalization, compression, and stereo adjustments to optimize the track for professional sound quality.

Final Master: Within minutes, the artist receives the mastered track, ready for distribution across various platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more.

By streamlining the mastering process, Deliver My Tune saves artists both time and money, while still providing them with a polished product that meets industry standards.

The Importance of AI Mastering for Streaming and Digital Distribution

In today’s digital music landscape, where streaming is the dominant form of music consumption, sound quality is more important than ever. Streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal have strict guidelines for loudness and dynamic range to ensure that tracks sound consistent across different devices. AI mastering ensures that your music meets these requirements, preventing issues like distortion, clipping, or inconsistent volume levels.

Additionally, as the music industry becomes increasingly competitive, having professionally mastered tracks can make a significant difference in attracting listeners and securing playlist placements. High-quality tracks stand out on streaming platforms, improving your chances of getting noticed by curators and audiences alike.

Artists’ Perspective: Royalties and Lifetime Earnings

While AI mastering provides a technical advantage, it’s also crucial to consider the financial benefits of platforms like Deliver My Tune. After your track is mastered, Deliver My Tune distributes it to over 150 streaming platforms worldwide, giving you the opportunity to reach a global audience and earn royalties from your streams.

One of the standout features of Deliver My Tune is that your tracks remain live indefinitely, meaning you can continue earning royalties for as long as your music is being streamed. This creates a long-term income stream for independent artists who rely on music sales and streaming royalties as a primary source of revenue. With AI mastering ensuring the quality of your tracks, you can confidently release music that not only sounds professional but also has the potential for long-term financial success.

Deliver My Tune also offers artists valuable insights and analytics into how their tracks are performing across different platforms, helping musicians make data-driven decisions to boost their career.

Conclusion:

So, what is AI mastering, and how does Deliver My Tune utilize it to empower independent artists? AI mastering is a groundbreaking technology that allows musicians to achieve professional sound quality without the cost or complexity of traditional mastering methods. Deliver My Tune has integrated this innovative tool into its platform, providing a seamless and affordable way for artists to refine their tracks and prepare them for global distribution.

In a competitive music industry, where quality and consistency matter, AI mastering ensures that your tracks meet the highest standards, making it easier to attract listeners and earn royalties. Deliver My Tune’s combination of AI mastering and comprehensive digital distribution means that independent artists can release music with confidence, knowing their sound is polished and ready for the world.