#punishment island podcast

[arsnof]

Robert Evans as the Riddler.

It is 2019 and riots are breaking out all over Gotham. What started as peaceful protests over police violence, accountability, and the death of Joe Chill quickly escalate when the GCPD GCPDed. People are angry that the police managed to solve the Wayne family murder in under a week while thousands of existing cases are ignored.

Moreover, just as quick as elderly black man Joe Chill was implicated in the murder, he was also shot dead by police. The cops said they exchanged gunfire with Chill and he was struck while running away. The autopsy showed that he was beaten before being shot point blank in the back of the head. The cops were never even put on leave. Gotham exploded.

Enter journalist Ed Nigma. Nigma, a brash, 30 something thinkpiece writer has covered conflicts across the globe and even he has never seen violence on this level. He jumps into the streets, covering the inner-city war zone.

Police tanks parade down the street. Rows of armored police shoot tear gas and beanbags into teenagers with gas masks and cardboard signs.

Ed is interviewing first aid teams carrying milk jugs when he is caught in a kettle. Despite wearing a vest and helmet loudly declaring him as PRESS, he is beaten into a coma.

Six months later, the riots have been suppressed. A handful of cops have been suspended as a concession to the people. Tanks still roll in the streets. Ed disappears from his hospital bed.

Another year and the security theater has only grown. The police coffers swell and they are spending as quick as they receive. New transfer Jim Gordon doesn't get it. Drones and acoustic deterrents and crowd suppressants andAI facial recognition.. Jim's too old for that.

A beat cop from Chicago, Gordon keeps it clean. Descendant of militant abolitionists, Jim will do what's right, no matter the cost. His sense of justice led him to police work. His sense of morals led him into the path of his superiors, who punished him by sending him to the dirtiest precinct in the country.

His first assignment is reports of a strange podcast (what is that even? You have to what? What's an app?) that seems to be threatening local industrialist Derek Powers. Jim listens through the three available episodes. They cover Powers; his early life in South Africa and Venezuela. Inheriting his fortune. Claims of slavery and rape and murder. Each episode ends with a promise to kill Derek.

The episodes are listed as a four parter, with the last one streaming tonight. Jim tunes in with the help of his daughter, Barbara (that girl is smart!). Jim makes her leave as the host has a rather filthy mouth and is quite raunchy.

It starts normally enough. A list of social connections that reads like a terrorist watch list. Flights to isolated islands. Associations with the police. This last part catches Jim off guard, as it details Powers' involvement in the Joe Chill protests. The host alleges that Powers paid off commissioner Loeb to get extra protection around his building and giving them permission to get extra hands on if necessary.

"And that's it for ol' international pervert and expert trout seducer Derek Powers. Hey, Sophie, you know what- what really.. really.. uh, explodes? My office building? Aw, fuck, I fucked up that transition. Anywho, join us next week on the podcast whose name is literally just a question mark when we start a three parter on Ace Chemicals and the incredible world of crowd control!"

Gordon sits in silence for a minute. If what this.. 'Riddler' says is true.. Powers is a monster. A sick Bastard. A.. a.. His phone rings. It's Bullock. Jim thinks Harvey Bullock is only putting on the airs of a dirty cop. Somewhere under that trench coat and cigar is a decent guy trying to do good in a place that actively tries to beat you down. Bullock says to turn on the news. Powers Plaza has been bombed. Derek and six shareholders are dead.

His eyes move from the burning tower on the TV to the podcast app on his computer. The question mark logo purple on green. What the hell is going on in Gotham City?

[transman-badass]

Introduction: The King in Yellow

(A variation of the creation of Robert W. Chambers, from my WIP Through the Yellow Window)

Where to start with this guy

There's been as many interpretations of the King in Yellow (aka Hastur) as there have been people using the character. Not a creation of Lovecraft, he was inserted into the Cthulhu Mythos after the man's death... I'm not sure when but I think DnD is to blame.

I'm not a historian though.

People are probably most familiar with this guy thanks to the podcast Malevolent. My take on him is not like that.

Let me copy straight from my notes:

The King in Yellow just… is. He is a presence more than a body. Beneath his flowing, tattered robes, there is whatever he wills there to be. A human hand. Tentacles. Spider legs. His 'body' is a moving tear in reality. And he reaches through it. There is the feeling of enormity and throat drying horror in his presence (at least to [protagonist]). He breeds to spread his influence - little cracks in reality form in the presence of King spawn, growing deeper and deeper until he can seep through. He casts no shadow. They say he has a thousand Courts in a thousand worlds, and as many names in as many languages, all refractions of his might and malice. He seems to care not for the antics of the hive that surrounds him, and yet, he is always present in some form when they engage in the act of creation. A rippling curtain is his presence. A distorted whisper in the wind is his presence. A single insectoid hand emerging from the darkness is his presence. He does not need words or sound to speak.

He is a looming white masked figure, of yellow robes, of many tattered, empty sleeves swaying as he floats through existence. His spawn are often blonde regardless of human ancestry, and gifted in acting and public speech, and manipulation. His cult calls themselves the Royal Court, and he is adored by all those within it. The Duke of Carcosa is an especially favored cultist, while the Pawn is being punished for disloyalty.

He knows more about the protagonist of Yellow Window than anyone realizes, and even Azathoth could not dream of the plans he's crafting for his own amusement.

Psst - Follow for more posts like this! Through the Yellow Window will be published for free when it's released! Thank you again to @redacted-metallum and @actualblanketgremlin for letting me use their characters

@slenders1ckn3ss @jacquesfindswritingandadvice @redacted-metallum @actualblanketgremlin @higgs-space @phantomnations @mushabumi @assistantdirector--janson @aldhidbah @sabtael @yourheartonfireblog @jade-island-lives @arsenwormwood @cecuesta @darkhorse-javert @comicgoblinart @lizadomuch @minutiaewriter @angelsofprey @izzyspussy @passthebeat-blog-blog @dragonedged-if @andromedaexists @cyanide-latte @lillis-writes @suckerpunchfemale @late-to-the-fandom @eldritch-flower @cljordan-imperium @royal1asset-if @pineywitch @fragrant-stars @starry-voids @wubsbian @divine-anarchy @elbritch-kit @tousled-birdmad-girl @ajdoesthings @pen-for-sword @noightwitchers

[rhysintherain]

Huh, i think I forgot to post this when I did it, because it's still lurking in my drafts... Anyway, have it now.

Tag people to get to know them better. Tagged by @blackjackkent .

Tagging @invisible-goats , @sassyminnesotan , @solavillain , @fixomnia-scribble

Last Song: Angel's Punishment (XX version) by Lacuna Coil (because I'm back on teenage goth music, apparently)

Currently Watching: House MD. The chicken bet is now my favorite thing ever. Also re-listening to season 4(?) of the DnDnD podcast. Highly recommend.

3 Ships: Varric/Hawke form Dragon Age 2 (because chaos); Isobel/Aylin from BG3 (sure, bury your gays. Just make sure you dig them up again so they can live happily ever after); Jaheira/Rasaad from BG2 (@blackjackkent fine, you convinced me. You're not TOTALLY alone over there. Looking forward to the next chapter.)

Favorite Color: Orange. Also like dark blue (most of my gear) and dark or army green (most of my clothes).

Currently Consuming: DnDnD podcast, all things Baldur's Gate, The Magnus Protocol (which I'm behind on).

First Ship: y'all want me to remember that? It was a Long Time Ago. Melissa/Rex from Scott Westerfeld's Midnighters? Cloud/Tifa from Final Fantasy 7?

Place of Birth: Vancouver Island

Current Location: Northern British Columbia

Relationship Status: Single. Not opposed to the concept of dating, but I'm a) picky and b) not good at thinking or forming sentences around the handful of people I'm actually interested in.

Last Movie: Movies aren't my thing. They're usually too long for my attention to hold for a whole one, and hard to convince myself to go back to when I know there's only like 20 minutes left. Probably a very bad streaming service monster movie (wait, probably the latest Jeepers Creepers. Like I said, Bad.)

Currently Working On: theoretically Saints and Zealots, but I haven't done much on that lately. Some character writing for Skye (my half-elf druid) in BG3. And more practically painting and some renos on my house because it's spring and I live in a construction site.

[mischas]

i was always so put off by stephanie savage calling taylor townsend (a character i do actually like) “sex positive” in the oral history and i think i’m finally figuring out why. the first sexual relationship of taylor’s that we’re introduced to is with the dean, a relationship that never gets the criticism it deserves within the narrative. no one properly addresses it as predatory - the dean is of course called “the dirty dean” but no one actually sees taylor as a victim. sandy, for all his morality, doesn’t even think of reporting him but instead only leverages this information to get ryan back in school (which is so awful i don’t even know where to start.) i think it’s the definition of cop out to pat themselves on the back for making a “sex-positive character” (please be serious) with the way they treated mischa, a teenage girl who was also in a predatory relationship that no one on set addressed as such, who was punished for leaving that relationship, who failed to be protected by the adults around her. that’s not very sex positive of you stephanie savage! marissa’s depression in s3 being referred to as a “slut spiral” by her BEST FRIEND is not very sex positive either! the oc was not sex positive, behind or in front of the camera, in any way!

Whenever Ms. Savage opens her mouth I just know some bullshit is about to come out so I plan accordingly. You bringing this up reminds me of the podcast early on saying all the female characters on the show are strong except Marissa. And it's like... we're still saying shit like this in the 2020s?

But to your point, yes exactly that's a nasty way of framing a teenage girl such as Taylor as sex positive. What a disgusting arc and resolution that was. As if s1 Sandy, or even s2 Sandy, would only give a shit about a relationship between an adult and a student in their high school so long as his son is readmitted to said school. Horrendous.

And for a character they label as sex positive to be having race-based threesomes later on in the same season is just... yikes. That 100% does not erase the dean arc (!!) but like... how is this also forgotten. Like I'm gonna forget the shit about a "Korean barbecue"?

What does sex positive even mean to these people? That a character has sex without being slut shamed? They have always acted like these characters are corporeal beings and that these same mfs weren't writing them down. Christ. Marissa has meaningless sex with Luke/DJ/Volchok and that's still not what they want in order to categorize her or... whatever else they still do to denigrate her.

ETA: Also like sorry Marissa was SA'ed so she couldn't be perky and light re: sex?? except for the unicorn of an episode that was 303

The more they open their mouths the more people realize that place was a shitshow and at least I have that. For years and years that set was a mystery and we were all like "guess we'll never really know what went down, oh well" 🤷‍♀️

I love Mischa on CHD alluding to being the island they said she was by s2 and she's basically like "Hmm, I wonder why that was...." queen shit. She alludes to so many book things without mentioning it once, god bless.

[guy-lindley]

It had been days since Guy retrieved the footage of his wife’s assault. Days or weeks, rather. He couldn’t tell anymore. The hours, the minutes, the seconds – they all bled together. 

The officers of the Boston P.D. had refused to give a copy of the footage to him, but in his line of work he always had a contact who knew someone, who knew someone else, who owed them a favor. Before long, there was an email in his inbox with the footage attached and he was spending hours each night pouring over the details. 

The footage was jarring. The first time he’d watched it alone, he’d slammed the laptop shut so fiercely he’d shattered the screen and had to make up a story about how he’d destroyed it to get Rian to give hers up for him to use. “I tripped over the fucking cat and I have an assignment due.” He’d lied as she’d whined about missing an episode of couples finding love on an island somewhere. In the end she’d given it up, after he’d promised to replace it with the newest model with every accessory known to man.

At first, his focus was solely on her. He replayed each part of the attack over a dozen times each. The first shove to the ground. Replay. The kick to the ribs. Replay. Blow to the stomach. Replay. The fist to her face. Replay. Over and over and over again. Guy swore he could feel the crunch of bones and the splattering of blood with each blow and in some ways he deserved to feel it, even if it was just his imagination. It was retribution. His punishment for not being home – for not being there for her when she needed him. Because she wouldn’t have been there if it hadn’t been for him.

When Guy finally allowed himself to focus on the attacker, to zoom in on the footage, the recognition was almost instantaneous. Rian’s description had been too vague for him. Tall, white. Dark hair. Shaved. Early to mid thirties. Standard build, but toned. Strong. Details were missed, ones she never would have been able to focus on at that moment. Guy couldn’t blame her. No amount of true crime podcasts or documentaries could have prepared her for it. But he could see them now. 

A deep scar lined the side of his head. A tattoo was visibly peeking through the collar around his neck. The attacker had looked directly at the camera and Guy could see the way the left side of his face subtly drooped, the way the socket of his eye depressed inward as if it'd suffered a (not so) recent blow and it clicked because Guy had been the one to deliver it. 

There’d always been a vault in his head. One housing the details of every criminal he’d ever located and put back behind bars. He could always sift through the information easily on a whim. Paper files or digital records were unnecessary because he never forgot anything and this time was no different. It all came together. 

There were dozens of arrests. A rap sheet a mile long filled with varying degrees of offense and the system was so fucked that he always got out on bail. Guy had to find him each and every time. It was a continuous game of cat and mouse and their last round had ended with Guy using excessive force and it made sense. It explained why the attacker hadn’t bothered to hide his face, why nothing of Rian’s had been taken. He was far from home, but he’d found them. Found her. Targeted her and he’d looked directly toward the camera as if to taunt Guy.

And Guy had to admit it was his fault.

The sun had just begun to rise when he emerged from his office. With the laptop in hand, he walked into their bedroom. Rian was sleeping soundly and he could see the steady rise and fall of her chest. Guy knelt beside the bed. He’d set the laptop atop the mattress and he grabbed her hand between both his palms. 

She’d been begging for days for him to let her see it, to let her watch the footage and now he couldn’t deny her.

“Rian,” Guy uttered softly to wake her. He watched as her eyes slowly fluttered open and he pelt the pang of guilt strike in his chest when she smiled at him and he fought hard not to outwardly wince. “It’s my fault,” He began, and his voice was thick with exhaustion and devastation over the news he had to deliver. He could see the worry and confusion morph along her face but he forced himself to continue. “I’ll explain everything after you see the footage, because you deserve to see it, but I did this. It’s my fault.”

[mariamagdalenaposting]

I NEED people to hear about this

Two german marxist niche media personalities best known for their economy podcast just published a children's book and I can't stop laughing. I bring you the translation of the cover text:

Ole Nymoen and Wolfgang M. Schmidt:

The Little Wood Thieves and the Mystery of the Juggernaut

The siblings Karl and Rosa are leading a simple life on the island of Feudalia. They help their parents on their farm, play in the woods and collect the urgently needed firewood for the family on the side. But one morning, a sign appears in the woods: "Collection of firewood prohibited. Wood thieves will be punished!" This prohibition is but the start of a great transformation that flips the life of the siblings head to toe. Soon, the family is driven off their farm. In the city, their parents, like most of the islanders, have to work in factories, that were established by affluent gentlemen from the neighbouring island of Capitalia. While mum and dad have to work harder and longer hours than ever, there is barely enough money to pay for rent and food. The people of Feudalia were promised prosperity for all*, but this promise is not being fulfilled. But does it have to be this way?

Why do workers not participate in the prosperity they generate? Why is wealth distributed so uneavenly? In search for answers, Karl and Rosa face a conundrum - until they have a brilliant idea. A combative tale about solidarity and the courage to change things together.

Take a look at the announcement (in German):

*prosperity for all: This is probably the hardest to translate. Prosperity for All ("Wohlstand für Alle") is a well-recognized slogan in Germany because it was the slogan of Ludwig Erhard, the architect of the "Wirtschaftswunder", the economic boom in post-Nazi west-Germany. It is also the (ironic) title of the aforementioned podcast. While Erhard promised prosperity for all through his flavor of ordoliberalism, they turn it around to resemble the marxist slogan "From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs"

[punishmentisland-blog]

A hospital cemetery worker meets a couple in a graveyard.

Episode 2 - "Night Dancer" also called "Omusezi" is out now. 

It's on radiopublic, itunes, google podcasts, spotify, pod-africa, stitcher and all other podcatchers.

If you liked the episode/show, please rate and write a review wherever you listen from.

Episode 3 will be out on January 28th.

Thank you for listening!

[workingclasshistory]

On this day, 3 April 1948, a left-wing uprising began on the Korean island of Jeju. Jeju had been largely self-governing following the end of World War II, when North and South Koreas were divided up between the USSR and USA following the defeat of Japan. However, Jeju islanders were angry with violent US-backed police and feared that planned elections organised by the UN in South Korea alone would reinforce the division between North and South. They attacked police stations and right-wing paramilitaries, in particular targeting those who collaborated with the Japanese imperialists. The US military government sent troops to the island, and the US-backed South Korean authorities brutally suppressed the rebellion, massacring many thousands including women and children. When the uprising was finally crushed the following year up to 10% of the island's population were dead, and 70% of villages destroyed. Subsequent US-backed dictatorships in South Korea banned any mention of the Jeju uprising, and speaking of it was punishable by beatings, torture and lengthy prison sentences. * Learn more about this period of South Korean history in our podcast episode 51, about the South Korean labour movement: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e51-jeon-tae-il-and-lee-so-sun/ Pictured: people arrested during the uprising https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1956181501233657/?type=3

[mars-space]

Backing away from WWDitS household and focus on Marwa story:

1. Marwa got away from Nandor. Good. Get her to start healing. Figuring out the modern world.

2. She goes to the one person she now knows best: Freddie. Hopefully over time (and distance from Nandor) she can tell Freddie what happened. "I've been cursed by a vampire-villain-asshole-of-a-husband and need to go on a quest to find a djinn or at least kill the guy. Freddie somehow is able to break from the Nandor hypnosis (We know Nandor is the weakest with this ability) and agrees to help Marwa. Break the Freddie image over her. They are able to create a system to help define what Marwa actually likes versus what Nandor has forced her to like. The beginning of Best -Friends and sibling energy. (This is based on the scene we get at the end of 4.09)

3. New Mosquito Squad (NMS) formed. Along the way Marwa and Freddie make friends with others who have been wronged by the Staten Island Vampires. Marwa learns about the power she has now as a woman and how woman have been fighting for rights for a while. Some playing around and vampire hunting lessons.

4. Get the Djinn. After breaking into the house the first time, the NMS almost doesn't make it out because Guillermo. He's still defending and hasn't moved on. Freddie tries to get him to leave with them but it doesn't work. Nandor sees Marwa and tries to get her to stay. Luckily she's able to stand herself with the knowledge of "Oh crap this is going bad" (Lazlo and Nadja are off doing Story A this episode). Marwa is able to get to the Djinn but he tells her he's still bound to Nandor because he has two wishes left. The gift that keeps the Djinn trapped. Nandor and Guillermo are close to hurting NMS and the Djinn is able to get them away.

5. Marwa has to trick Nandor to use the last two wishes. Then can she finally get away. But how? Someone suggests using her connection to what Nandor likes. Marwa refuses, she already gave enough of herself to someone who wouldn't care. Making her realize there is someone that Nandor does care about: Guillermo. Freddie knows about Guillermo's weaknesses. Freddie sends a message to Guillermo for help and hoping Nandor will follow.

6. Marwa and Freddie are able to get Guillermo to meet at the planetarium (Give Marwa the advantage, specifically The Hayden Planetarium in NYC). Asking him to help with getting Nandor to wish for other items. Guillermo got Nandor to wish for stuff before and can do it again. Good news, Nandor did follow Guillermo and believes Guillermo betrayed him. Final fight. Guillermo will prove he is the better fighter. Marwa and Freddie will use Nandor's self-esteem and the planetarium to out do him. The final blow will come from Guillermo saving Freddie from a deadly attack. Nandor will wish for Guillermo to come back as a human and be protected from all harm (Djinn trickery allowed here).

7. Marwa gets the Djinn. Nandor is defeated. Marwa wishes to reverse all of Nandor's wishes that have been placed on her. Then turns to Nandor for his punishment. Justice must come with a lesson. She wishes Nandor to be human again. Marwa will tell Guillermo that he can keep being responsible for Nandor, move on or learn to rediscover humanity together. Marwa and Freddie leave back to London.

8. End credits. Marwa is traveling and face timing Freddie. Turns out Freddie found someone part of the NMS and they're in love. Djinn is with Marwa traveling together and having a good time. Plus once in a while Marwa might take down a vampire. It's nice that she was able to wish for Van Helsing powers.

Note: This is not to the genre or mood of the show but a side story idea to help with how Marwa can take back her identity and set herself up in the modern world she is now in. As Harvey has said on the podcast, a lot is not defined on the show but pieced together based on stuff that happens off camera. If you will, this is off-camera show belief

[deathbydyingpod]

Here are just some of the incredible fiction podcasts from creators of color, in the US and beyond. Listen, read, promote, learn from them, and support them in any way that you can ❤️ Check them out!!!

Flyest Fables:

A hopepunk anthology of fairytales about Black kids having fantastical adventures, written, produced, and acted by the infinitely talented Morgan Givens.

Twitter: @FlyestFables, @Optimus_Mo

Insta: @flyestfables

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FlyestFables

Harlem Queen:

Based on the life of "Numbers Queen" Madame Stephanie St. Clair, this historical audio drama is full of sharp writing, bold characters, and gangsters during the Harlem Renaissance.

Twitter: @AudioHarlem

Insta: @harlemqueenaudiodrama

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/harlemqueen

Punishment Island:

A curious girl explores the dark, paranormal phenomena that live in the shadows of Kampala, Uganda, with an absolutely incredible, haunting narration. Captivating, eerie, and beyond beautiful.

Twitter: @punishmntisland

Insta: @punishmentisland

Vega: A Sci-Fi Adventure Podcast:

A futuristic fantasy action adventure that is wickedly smart, grippingly funny, with a charismatic narrator who will have you hanging on every last word.

Twitter: @vegapodcast, @IvuomaOkoro

Insta: @vegapodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ivuomaokoro

Centered:

A yoga-themed audio drama centered (😉) around a recent college grad who's supposed to take over her mother's business, but begins dreaming of new possibilities for her life.

Twitter: @CenteredPodcast, @beandreadotcom

Insta: @centeredpodcast

Creator's Website: julywrites.contently.com

CARAVAN:

I think my heart is still beating a million miles an hour because of this steamy supernatural western. The creator, Tau Zaman, is unflinching, hilarious, and masterful.

Twitter: @CARAVANradio, @TauZaman

Insta: @caravanradio

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/caravanradio

Janus Descending:

Jordan Cobb is a prolific and powerful force of nature. This sci-fi horror about a malevolent presence beneath an alien planet will leave you gasping for air. Make sure to keep an eye out for her upcoming Primordial Deep 👀

Twitter: @JanusDescending, @inkphemeral, @PrimordialDeep

Insta: @nosuchthingradio

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nosuchthingproductions

Null/Void:

Multi-talented creator Cole Burkhardt brings you a sci-fi audio drama about a sinister tech company and the bold friends who dare to foil their malicious plans.

Twitter: @NullandVoidPod, @KingColeMiner

Cole's insightful podcast reviews: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEB6QeGc5uQOGqKjsbu7byw

Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/kingcole

Boom: A Serial Drama:

Riveting, intense – this drama about love lost will rock you to your core, with a dauntless story and stellar performances.

Twitter: @ObserverPix, @fbeemcee

Insta: @observerpix

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ObserverPix

NIGHTLIGHT: A Horror Fiction Podcast:

This horror anthology series is written by Black writers and performed by Black actors. The writing will creep deep into your soul – these stories are perfectly crafted and addicting to listen to.

Twitter: @NightlightPod

Insta: nightlightpod

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nightlightpod

This is, of course, only scratching the surface – I encourage everyone to add more in the comments! Keep following, supporting, and amplifying the powerful voices of Black creators and artists.

[holylulusworld]

Dangerous Dance (1)

Summary: Bucky is head over heels for you.

Pairing: Mobster!Bucky x Shy!Reader

Warnings: angst, language, mentions of mobster business (barely), love-struck Bucky, fluff, shy reader, tension, cuddling & snuggling, mentions of cheating (not Bucky)

Word Count: 2298

Square Filled: Mafia AU for @marvelfluffbingo​ (marvelfluffbingo2021) & @star-spangled-bingo​ (SSB2021)

Marvel Fluff Bingo 2021

Star Spangled Bingo 2021

Your nose buried in yet another book, you tap your foot to the classic song they play at the podcast you are listening to. 

“Miss, did you hear what I said?” taking out your earphones you look up from your table, giving the young man talking to you an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, but this is my lunch break. The library is closed until 1 pm,” you point toward the sign on your desk. “If you want to look around it’s fine, but don’t tell my boss.”

A deep chuckle makes you flinch; you didn’t even see another man stepped toward the table you occupy to read your book in silence. “It’s alright, doll,” he smoothly purrs; eyes roaming your body.

The man smiles, offering his hand to you. “Peter and I will return after your break, pretty girl,” you giggle when the man presses a chaste kiss to your knuckles. “You’re worth the wait.”

“You can have a look around, I don’t mind, Sir,” the man lifts his eyebrows, gaze never wavering. He looks you straight in the eyes, waiting for you to say something, but the way he looks at you makes your heart race. “Just don’t tell my boss, she doesn’t like to see I let people check on the books during my break.”

“I won’t tell anyone, doll,” you watch the younger man out of the corner of your eye. He walks toward the shelves with Russian authors, smiling as he takes one book out of the shelf. “How about we talk a little while my friend looks for the book he wants?”

“Sir, not so loud,” you shush, pointing toward another sign on the wall opposite your table. “Rules. No yelling at a library.”

“Oh, you like rules, huh?” you feel a shiver run down your spine when the man sits on the table, grasping for your hand to slide his index finger over the palm of your hand. “I could read your future from your hand, doll.”

“I don’t believe in fortune-telling, Sir,” he hums, still, the man won’t let go of your hand. “What do you want to talk about?” mesmerized by his gaze you can’t look away.

“What’s your favorite book?” you whip your head, wondering why this attractive man in his expensive suit, and shoes costing more than your car, wants to talk to you. “Doll?”

You blink a few times, looking up at the man with doe eyes as he grazes his thumb over your hand. “If I must choose one to take with me to a deserted island, it’ll be ‘Crime and punishment’, Dostoevsky is one of my favorites.”

“Crime and punishment,” smirking he leans closer to brush his nose over your cheek. “Interesting choice, doll. I thought you would say something like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ or any other story from Jane Austen,” he mumbles. “How about dinner?”

“Dinner?” you choke out. “I don’t think I can go out with you, Sir. I’m not-“ sighing you watch the man lean back, he watches you, a frown on his handsome features. You know men like him. Confident, rich, attractive, not caring about other peoples’ feelings.

“Whoa, this must be a first,” his features change and for a moment, you fear he’ll get mad but there is a smile on his lips when you lean back in your chair. “No girl ever said no to James Buchanan Barnes.”

“Look, you’re a handsome man, Mr. Barnes,” you test his name on your tongue, smiling a little when Bucky smirks at your words. “But when I look at your shoes I know, we don’t really match. I wear shoes costing ten bucks; my pants are three-years-old. My hair is in a messy bun as I didn’t have the money to visit a hairdresser. You look like a male model jumping out of a magazine.”

“You reject me because I’m not poor?” you jump up, scraping the chair over the floor on your way. 

“I’m not poor,” you growl. “Only as I got two jobs to pay for everything doesn’t mean people like you got the right to judge me. Get out of the library or come back when my colleague takes over his shift.”

“Boss,” Peter shakes his head when you storm out of the library to hide in the small office in the back. “That was-“ Bucky tuts his protégé, smirking as you left your phone on the table. “You shouldn’t…”

“Peter, you should learn one thing,” Bucky smirks, patting Peter’s cheek with his gloved hand. “Guys like me do what the good boys dream about. I’ll get that sweet girl into my clutches, no matter what I must do…”

“Hello, doll,” lazily leaning against the wall Bucky smirks when you frown deeply. “You didn’t think you shooed me away, didn’t you?”

“I thought you got the message,” grumbling you wipe the last table. “Listen, I got that your alpha instinct tells you to hunt me as I’m the first girl refusing to go out with you, but I got no time for this.”

“Darling, I came here to apologize, not sink my teeth in your flesh,” Bucky huffs when you make a beeline around him. “I’m sorry, doll. I didn’t want to offend or hurt you, sweet girl.”

“We don’t match, Sir. I don’t know why you asked me out,” he pushes off the wall, strolls toward you with long steps. “Mr. Barnes.”

“Bucky to you, doll,” he gives you a soft smile. “And I asked you out as I like you, Y/N. My friend, the young man you met at the library wanted me to read a few books, this way my eyes landed on you.”

“Did you just admit that you stalked me?” snickering Bucky cups your face with his ungloved hand. “Mr. Barnes,” he leans closer to press a soft kiss to your temple and you shiver, feeling your heart begins to race again. “Why me?”

“You helped a little girl find a book and she begged her mom to read it to her,” he cups your cheek, gently running his thumb over your skin. “The mother was busy playing with her phone and ignored her daughter but you, you just sat on one of the chairs and started to read the book to her.”

“I remember that day. She asked me to read her a book as her mom was too busy to chat with men on her phone,” you whisper. “That was months ago, Mr. B– I mean Bucky.” Looking up at the, as you know now, dangerous mobster you suck your lower lip in, chewing on it. “Why would you stick around for that long?”

“I told you that I like you, no-“ he knits his brows together, tries to find the right words. “It’s more than that, doll. When I watched you at the library, talk to a child I imagined it’s our child. One day I saw you sit in a corner, alone and sad, you cried, and I wanted to bring you in my arms to soothe you, Y/N.”

You know, you should be scared. This foreign man, the mobster right in front of you just admitted he watched you for months but oddly, you lean in his touch. His warm hand on your cheek pulls a sigh from your lips and you pray he didn’t hear it. 

His gaze mesmerizes you and for a moment, you forget you are still at the restaurant, in your waitress uniform. “B-Bucky,” his lips meet yours in a soft kiss, take your breath away with only a soft press. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Please, one dinner. Go out with me, doll. I promise that I’ll not hurt you, Y/N,” he murmurs against your lips. “I can drive you home and tomorrow, you’ll go out with me.”

“I got more time over the weekend,” you whisper. “How about Saturday? I got to work at the library tomorrow and my mom needs my help at the restaurant too.”

“Saturday sounds good to me,” Bucky’s eyes light up and he smiles like he won the lottery or something when you silently nod. “Where do you want to go? Do you have a favorite restaurant?”

“I don’t know,” unsure you look at Bucky, nervously playing with your fingers. “Nothing too expensive. I got no clothes to wear at a fancy restaurant.”

“Oh, doll,” he smirks now, cupping your face with both hands. “I knew you are one in the million. Any other girl would’ve asked me to buy her a dress.”

“Why would I do something like this?” dumbfounded you to try to make sense out of Bucky’s words while you look up at him. “Girls ask you to buy them clothes to wear at your dates?”

“My sweet girl,” purring the words Bucky looks at you. His blue eyes search your face, try to find a lie behind your innocent façade. “You’re my shy little kitten.”

“He just asked you out after knowing you like five minutes?” your mother asks, watching you sigh dreamily. “You know about his reputation – right? He has a new girl on his arm every week, sweetheart. You should know better, Y/N.”

“Bucky is nice,” you mutter, hating your mother made you doubt your decision. 

“Bucky it is already?” sighing your mother tries to make you crumble. “I’m worried, is all, Y/N. After the breakup with Stuart, I thought-“ you sniff, shaking your head at the memory of your high school sweetheart in another girl’s arms. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought him up.”

“James is not like Stuart. I just want to go out with him,” you cry. “For once I want to believe a handsome man like James Buchanan Barnes can be interested in me. He’s nice and I want to go out with him. If he makes fun of me, you can tell me you told me so afterward.”

“Y/N, you are beautiful, smart, caring and any man should be happy to get your attention. If that man hurts you, I’ll find and castrate him,” your mother threatens. “Now let me find a nice dress for you to wear.”

“This is too expensive, Bucky,” whispering the words you look around the restaurant. “They all look like they jumped out of a fashion magazine.”

“Doll, you look beautiful,” Bucky pulls your chair, ignoring you try to tell him your dress is out of style for years. “It’s a nice dress, Y/N.” you want to believe Bucky and his charming smile, but the way the other women at the restaurant look at you tells another story.

“It’s not nice,” you look down at your plain sundress, the one your mother bought you for your birthday. “My mom bought it but it’s not the right choice for a restaurant like this.” 

“Nonsense,” grasping for your hand Bucky presses a soft kiss to your knuckles. “Nothing is too expensive for my girl,” you feel your cheeks heat up when Bucky moves closer with his chair to kiss your neck. “I’m going to make you my queen, doll.”

“I’m no queen, Bucky,” looking around the restaurant you feel out of place. All the other girls seem to enjoy the men by their side pay for everything. “Why should I want you to pay for everything?”

“You’re so fucking cute,” Bucky pecks your cheek, smiling when you shyly grasp for his hand. “Sorry, I shouldn’t curse at our first date, Y/N. I can be a better man for you. What did your mom say?”

“She said you’ve got a bad reputation but, I wanted to go on this date with you,” Bucky holds your hand. He looks at you, smiling softly when you tell him you wanted to get to know him better. 

“Doll, I will not lie to you,” he presses your hand to his heart, still that content smile on his lips, “I’m a dangerous man and our relationship will be a dangerous dance as there are people out there wanting to kill me, and you are not used to my lifestyle.”

“I see,” you choke the words out, afraid Bucky changed his mind. “Maybe I’m not the right girl.”

“No, doll. I meant my life is not the one you are used to. My friends wear guns and sometimes we choose our fists to solve problems. But if you want to become my girl, I promise to always protect you, Y/N…”

Bucky holds your hand the whole way from his car to his house, or rather the fortress he calls his home. While you look at the huge mansion with wide eyes Bucky watches you nervously shuffle from one foot to the other, smiling as you squeeze his hand. 

He can’t explain it, but there is something about you making him feel less dark, less broken. 

“Do you want to go out with me again?” your question makes the mobster smile. He cups your face gently before you can blink, lips brushing yours softly. “Bucky?”

“I will make you my girl if you let me, doll,” kissing Bucky back you wrap your arms around his neck. “How about I show you my house and we can watch the movie you told me about?”

Nestled on the couch, wrapped in Bucky’s arms you try to follow the movie, but your eyes flutter shut. Bucky settled behind you. He just holds you to his warm chest, sighs deeply when you turn around to rest your head against his chest.

“I’ll protect you, doll. No one will ever hurt you or take you away from me.”

“Promised?” looking up at the mobster you slide your fingers through his hair. 

“Promised,” Bucky whispers. He kisses you softly, taking his time to explore your mouth. “My girl will always be safe with me…”

>> Part 2

Tags in reblog.

Divider by @firefly-graphics​

[junesquibb]

im always so proud of myself after emerging from a social interaction where someone tells me that they like that My Favorite Murder podcast and I resist the urge to respond that i think they should be exiled to an island without wifi as punishment for their SINS

[chemicallywrit]

🎥🏝 🌸🕹

Yayyyy thank you elf!

🎥: favorite genre

Any genre done well is my favorite, with the exception of horror, although heck, I listen to Hi Nay and Punishment Island, so no rules just right i guess

🏝: three podcasts to download if you were going to be stuck on a desert island for a month

Let’s seeee……definitely stuff that’s long, that holds up to a relisten, and that’s transportive because after a while i will be BORED

So the Once and Future Nerd, ars paradoxica, and Kane and Feels. Maybe I’ll finally figure out what all is going on!

🌸: favorite soft wholesome show

Sidequesting, all day every day, although Love and Luck is a CLOSE second

🕹: what else do you do while listening to podcasts?

Mostly I listen at work, but tbh anytime i’m alone I have one on in the background. They’re nice on drives and walks too.

[lobotomycas]

OKAY podcast recs. i haven’t checked if these have already been recommended but i’m going to say unwell (life in rural ohio with ghosts and queer people), punishment island (ugandan lesbian shares her and others’ spooky encounters), the underwood collection (independently done american spinoff of tma), aaaand mabel (i need to relisten to/finish this one but as i rmbr it’s like a romantic thriller with a human x entity main lesbian relationship)

THANK YOU LEGEND

[hooklineandpodcast]

Hey! If you're looking for queer podcasts from black creators - a great place to start is Tandon productions. Marissa Tandon is a black woman who's made a bunch of shows - in particular Super Ordinary, which I'm pretty sure has a couple of queer characters. Also check out Jordan Cobb's work - she's a black woman who made Here Be Dragons, which has a bunch of queer characters. (1/2)

sOther audio dramas made by black people and featuring majority black casts include Fan Wars by Shenee Howard, Sumeria by Mark Luckie, Vega by Ivuoma Okoro, Deadbeats Inc by Aisha Casey, Bronzeville and Harlem Queen - though I'm not sure about queer rep. Shows made by mixed crews with black queer characters include Unwell (Lily is a queer black woman), Forest 404, The Lavender Ladies podcast, Kalila Stormfire and Masala Jones (2/2 - but sorry, there's more)

Punishment Island is made in Uganda and stars a queer black woman. The Van is engineered by Rye Dorsey, who is a black person, and features a bunch of queer characters. When Angels Visit Armadillo is made by a mixed crew and features a black lesbian character. Ok, I think that's everything I know!! Radio Elusia also has a mixed crew and black director, but I don't know if it'll feature queer characters (3/3)

Thanks so much! This is a great bunch to look at. Fan Wars can confirm no queer rep but it’s a very fun story. If you’re Star Wars Fan and have spent time in fanspheres it’s really worth a listen.

@mistah-aluminum and @cactusjuicepod also suggested the list put out by the folks at Death By Dying which isn’t exclusively queer but has some really good ones and overlaps with @lesetoilesfous suggestions. Find that here.

@bi-blue suggested Caravan, which has a creator of colour as the lead writer/director/producer and a whole cast of indigenous, black, people of colour working on the project. I love Caravan it’s a really fun story. A queer Western meets Dante’s inferno.

In a reblog on the original post @chekhovs-harpoon​ had some really good suggestions too I’m gonna add here as well: 

Have you heard of the RedWing Audio Drama? I can best describe it as queer black batman. Main character is a queer black man, by day he’s an uber rich philantropist, by night he’s a masked superhero. This podcast is fun cuz it’s got all the wish fulfillment/power fantasy tropes that’s usually aimed at a white cishet able bodied men, but this one’s aimed at the more marginalized people, queer people of color especially.

I can also recommend the Fuck Humans Podcast. Which is about a post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy world where humans and monsters live, and any relations between them are forbidden by law. And the story is about how love overcomes hatred and prejudice (and also hot monster fucker porn with plot and  feelings. be aware that this is an erotica podcast so the sex scenes are very graphic and that’s the selling point)

I also really love The Glass Appeal. It’s the future but many people are dying from diseases we’ve already cured because of capitalism. So a rogue group of cyberneticists are going around trying to start the solarpunk revolution by teaching people how to take care of themselves. but they’ve been framed by the big companies for bioterrorism and our main character was sent to jail and it’s up to his husband to prove his innocence. Despite the harsh conditions, this show feels really hopeful and the married couple dynamic of the main characters is the sweetest thing

Those are the shows i’d recommend at the top my head, but i’ve got more i just can’t remember them rn cuz i’m subscribed to literally 300 shows at this point. my dms are always open for talking about and recommending podcasts!”

Thank you so much to everyone who made suggestions. All over these sound so cool. I hope that helps out @marvel-magnet1! I know I have a whole lot of new stuff on my own to listen list. 

[langblrwhy]

New year's goals

December

This month I created a goal that if I do some stuffs AND do 100% of this list, I would give me the opportunity of getting high or drunk. Shit happened and I gave up on this lol but I made 100% this month :)

Also I was depressed for a week, so I study watching a lot of documentaries (instead with proper online class).

I basically made everything I wanted to do this year, except writing in french and in esperanto (I did a bit of the last one, but not enough), I also still don't know the basic russian lol

I watched around 48 movies, ate 35 new food, read 7 books, etc etc, it was a good year.

1 Try 2 new foods every month (food, beverage, recipe) + no meat for 2 days)

I went 2 days of no meat

1 Vegetable quiche

2 Cipura paludosa (it's a brazilian condiment and I don't know the name in english, it's a type of garlic)

3 Corn nuggets (I don't like corn, but this recipe was delicious)

2 Be fluent in esperanto and active in the community

I'm active on BEJO. I am fluent, I can chat about basically everything in a natural way, I can read, listen and write, it's still uncomfortable, but I do can.

3 Practice having conversations via audio and video

I do this every now and then, I still don't like doing it (but actually I don't even like to have conversations period)

-Bonus: Write a 10k fiction in french and publish it on Wattpad

Nope

4 Try to study russian again and focus on the basic

I did, not enough, but I did.

5 Watch a movie every week and put them on doesthedogdie .com/ (at least the less popular movies)

1 MILF (France and Belgium, 2018)

2 Sorgoi Prakov, my eropean dream (France, 2013)

3 Hannah Arendt (Germany, Luxembourg, France, 2012)

4 The reality of basic sanition on the country (Brazil, 2016)

5 Isle of Flowers (Brazil, 1989)

6 Chernobyl (USA, 2004)

7 Socrate (Italy, 1971)

8 O veneno está na mesa (Brazil, 2011)

Series:

1 The Wilds (USA, 2020)

2 Brazil Wars.doc (Brazil, 2019)

6 Read 5 books

I finished Crime and Punishment and Muddy Strawberries this month.

1 Misery

2 The Bell Jar

3 Man, love and island

4 Steal like an artist

5 The non-designer's design book

6 Crime and punishment

7 Muddy Strawberries

7 Finalize 1 art every month (it doesn’t have to be good, just finished)

It's on my routine, finishing at least everyweek

8 Doing some exercise every week

I've been walking kilometers on the streets every week again.

9 Try to make listening podcasts an habit

Yeah! It's almost an habit when I'm drawing.

-Bonus: Learn toki pona

Nope.

10 Write a fiction in esperanto

I wrote around 600 words lol

11 Try 1 new thing per month

I started using a drawing book to learn anatomy, I never used a drawing book before.

12 Be more proactice and publish my stuff somewhere online (draw, fiction, whatever)

I post some stuff on instagram, reddit, twitter AND I post one chapter of my fiction on wattpad.

13 Sketch every week

I did, and I started using a book to learn anatomy.

14 Study spanish, focusing on writing, listening and speaking

Yo participé de algunas llamadas con amigos en español, yo asísti una série llamada La Cuna de Lobos con subtitulos en español. Yo también escribi algunas cositas en español jaja

15 Study french

I watched MILF, a french movie with french subtitles, also some of the other movies I watched was with french subtitles (becase I didn't find english subtitles and I need them even when I'm watching some brazilian portuguese movie lol)

16 Study whatever theories (such as astronomy, lingustics, ecology, whatever)

I'm studying for vestibular and I read a couple pages of the communist manifesto (I'm SOOOO slow at reading lol)

17 Study for vestibular (mathematics, physics, geography, philosophy, sociology, biology, chemistry, history, english, portuguese, brazilian literature and essay).

I made 1 test, wrote essays, studied a lot.

17/17 = 100%