#singers-auto writes

[halfricanloveyou]

i actually hate the unedited version of this song because it sucks shit. this version is better because it is funny and it reminds me of this post. and it’s more fun to sing.

[hrtbeomi]

⋆ ˒ 💭 ۫  ּ ROMANCE IS NOT DEAD IF YOU KEEP IT JUST YOURS !

pairing: actor!gojo x singer!reader wc: 0,3k            warnings: not proofread ‼️, reader's album is basically reputation by miss tswift 🙈

a/n: i've had this in my drafts for a while now,, hope you like it >< i just looove actor!gojo and if you'd like to see more of him leave a comment!

WIRED AUTOCOMPLETE INTERVIEW WITH GOJO SATORU AND Y/N

3. 2. 1. ACTION !

As the camera clicked on, you sensed the beginning of another recording session. Satoru, next to you, shifted in his seat about before the start of the video.

"Hey there, it's l/n y/n," you chimed in with a grin, "and i'm Gojo Satoru," the white-haired male beside you smoothly finished, "and this is our Wired auto-complete interview!" both of you beamed as the staff handed over boards containing the internet's most searched questions.

Satoru held your board while you held his, diving into the depths of what the online people wanted to know about you.

Q. "Who's y/n l/n's 'gorgeous' about?"

With a smirk, you retorted, "sorry to burst your bubble, person-who-searched-that but 'gorgeous' is about your mom," you answered, eliciting laughter from Satoru and the crew.

"Lame! Just tell them the truth" Satoru teased, well aware of the implications behind his words.

"That's the only truth," you replied, feigning innocence before swiftly moving on.

Q. "Is y/n l/n's song 'call it what you want' about Gojo Satoru?"

Your cheeks flushed with embarrassment as you stuttered, "That's... quite the assumption," failing miserably at masking your nerves.

The crew chuckled, mentioning how your fandom had already orchestrated a fictional relationship between you two.

"We know, next they'll claim we're expecting a baby or something!" Satoru quipped, earning a horrified look from you, "Alright, my turn now."

Q. "Who's Gojo Satoru's favorite actor?"

"I'd say my good ol' friend, Geto Suguru! He's a top-notch," Satoru replied, reminiscing about the movies and series they did together.

"True, i'm a big fan of his work" you confessed, prompting a playful pout from Satoru.

"Maybe he's not that great anymore," he mumbled in mock jealousy.

"You're good too!" you reassured him amidst laughter.

Q. "Is Gojo Satoru married to y/n l/n?"

"Spiritually i am" Satoru quipped, earning a playful jab from you.

"Don't encourage them, Satoru!" you scolded him.

"Sorry, couldn't resist," he replied unrepentantly.

Q. "Is Gojo Satoru in a relationship?"

"I am. . .not! i'm a lone wolf" Satoru declared with a hint of melancholy, though everyone in the room knew the truth but as you looked at him, his convincing lie almost had you fooled, if it weren't for the fact that you, his actual girlfriend, stood right beside him.

"Alright, alpha boy, next question!" you exclaimed before the tables turned.

Q. "What's the name of y/n l/n's next album?"

"I've just released 'reputation' can't I catch a break?" you exclaimed, playfully collapsing out of your chair.

"How dramatic," Satoru chuckled before suggesting, "You should write a song about me though."

CUT !

[BONUS] [CLIP THAT WAS CUT FROM THE VIDEO]

"Sure, it'll be called 'gorgeous,'" you teased, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"The greatest song ever! Although 'So It Goes' is my personal favorite," Satoru grinned mischievously, almost revealing too much of your relationship before you intervened.

"Too much information!" you laughed, covering his mouth to keep him from saying more.

© 2024 HRTBEOMI

[httpiastri]

🍈 "heart pounding when the other does so much as to hold onto their wrist while guiding them through a crowd" with paul!! i just saw your opposites attract trope thought with paul, and i can just imagine him being a lil blushy when this happens hehe

🍈 – send me a driver and a prompt from this list of hugging prompts, these touch starved prompts, or these kiss prompts, and i will write a short blurb for you!!

author's note: idk if im satisfied with how this one turned out, but i loooved this request !!! it felt very very opposites attract!paul 🥺 hopw u enjoy !!

3k celly !!

paul aron x reader

"paul! we're finally here!" you exclaim the second you pass through the gates, not able to hold back your excitement at all. the blonde man just chuckles at the sight of you actually bouncing up and down, a gentle smile splayed across his features. "can you believe it?"

"i can't, actually."

you scoff at his lack of enthusiasm, grabbing a festival programme from a table nearby. you see straight through his act, though; the fact that his smile isn't disappearing, combined with the look in his eyes when he gazes across the field, tells you that he's at least near as happy to be here as you.

"so… on stage over there, we have that band ralf recommended," you start, pointing over towards a stage further down the path, before looking down at your map again. "and on main stage, we have… ice spice."

"ice spice?" paul repeats. "horner's wife?"

you roll your eyes. "that's ginger spice," you groan. "ice spice is a rapper." you take a step closer to paul, your shoulder pressed up lightly against his as you show him the paper in your hands. "tell me if you see anything interesting?"

"well," paul lets out a breath. "you're the one who wanted to show me around. i think you have a better chance of picking something good than i do."

he's right; all of this was your idea to begin with. when paul told you those months ago that he'd never been to a music festival, you knew instantly that you needed to bring him with you to one. especially considering how all of his playlists consist of 99% the weeknd. plus, you saw it as a good opportunity to get him out of his shell a little – this is definitely not something he would've done on his own, so it is your duty to make sure he has a perfect day.

as you keep reading through the schedule, your eyes suddenly land on one specific artist. "ah!" you fold up the paper instantly, looking up at paul. "a singer that i really like is starting on the stage furthest away in just-" you fish up your phone from your purse, eyes widening at the time. "-two minutes!"

"there's no way we can make it in time for that," paul says with a shake of his head. "there's way too many people in the way, and even if we-"

you can't help but cut him off. "too many excuses! be more optimistic!" you tease, stuffing your phone back in your purse before letting your hand reach for his wrist instead. "come on, let's hurry."

he doesn't hear your last words, though, because something in his brain short-circuited the second he felt your touch on his skin. his legs move as if on auto-pilot when you begin pulling him through the crowd, since there's nothing else on his mind other than your soft fingers wrapped around his wrist.

paul is familiar with the feeling of his heartbeat speeding up around you, but never this much. he's sure that all of his blood has rushed to his head and he can actually feel his cheeks heating up more with every passing second. and when you turn your head to look back at him, he can barely even manage to give you a slight smile.

this is going to be a long weekend.

[betaorionis-fr]

I spent a good amount of hours working on this trip/advisor mimicking dragon bio template. link to my f2u asset thread, there's an auto-coding google sheet linked from there.

detailed image description under the cut.

[image: a screenshot or part of a dragon bio made to mimic a website. the header reads from left to right Tripadvisory, "Where to?" in brackets to resemble a search bar, Discover, Trips, Review, gem emoji, Gems, Sign in in square brackets. the line below reads Singers Cliff, Hotels (underlined and bolded), Things to Do, Restaurants, Flight routes, Travel stories, and then a kebab menu (three dots spanning a horizontal line). the next line, between two divs, reads: Windswept Plateau > Singer's Brook > Singer's Cliff. beneath that, in large bold text is the title "The Windflower Inn" - flush to the right on the same line is an @ symbol and a heart symbol. below the title are three more lines of text. the first begins with four green star symbols and a green dot then it sats 10 reviews | #1 of 8 small inns in Singer's Cliff. line 2 is an address, and line 3 is a speech bubble emoji and the text: Write a review. right aligned text reads (check availability). at the bottom of the screenshot are four images, a large one to the left, and three smaller ones to the right. the first, large, image is of a winding dirt and stone path leading through a garden to a cottage; the topmost small image shows a warmly lit tavern table with a plate of bread; the middle small image shows part of a bookshelf, and the lowermost small image shows a blue rug with a fancy light blue design on it. /end id.]

[maenecoon]

loose idea but kimchay fucking in a music studio

chay who's a small aspiring musician who does mainly pop/bright cute songs. he also fucking hates wik's guts, sneaking into wik's recording studio to snoop around. he swears, wik's voice cannot sound that good, it has to be the work of extreme auto tune or a ghost singer he's had shackled in the basement of his studio or something.

of course, wik finds him. or, wik is already there.

crowds chay into the recording booth, whispers into his ears, all breathy and sultry - chay gathers that it's hotter irl, somehow. chay, moaning and panting into the microphone as wik pounds into him.

and then, a few months later, when chay's finally convinced his company of an image change, wik publishes a new collaboration single. the recording, with chay's pants and heavy breathing, starting the song.

so many more shenanigans to ensue, like cockwarming wik while he writes his songs/finishes up producing, them having song camps/producing songs together, fucking in the studio some more, pop idol chay trying to teach wik tiktok challenges, having beef on twitter, etc 😂 would be funny!!

[kelcemenow]

Drive Me Crazy - Chapter 2.

Pairing Travis Kelce x Reader

Words 1661

Warnings Strong language, but not much and a wee bit of flirting.

Huge thank you to the Anon who sent this in! They had such amazing words to say about my writing which I massively appreciate and then to top it off, had an incredible request for me! I only have experience with mechanics in the UK, so I've tried my best with this one! "I just recently got interested in Travis K. X reader stories and wanted to let you know, I read all of yours as quickly as I could. They are so well done and I couldn’t help but laugh/giggle and feel through each word you typed out. You’re doing amazing and I’m so glad to have stumbled onto your page. If you have any space for a request, I’d be curious about what Trav would think about having a military (like fighter pilot) or engineer or mechanic girlfriend. I see a lot of stories with him paired with models/singers/social media individuals (which are phenomenal!) but just wondering how he would be with a more tomboy like girlfriend!"

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

The dialling tone rang loudly in your ear for a few seconds as you wedged the office phone between your head and left shoulder. You typed up a couple of notes on the computer when the other end of the line picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it that Mr Kelce? It's Y/N from KC Auto repairs." You said, checking your notes.

A deep voice laughed, "Hey, yeah it's Travis. You can call me Travis."

"Oh, okay Travis. I had a look at your car and there is a problem with your combustion chamber. You see, vehicles need the right amount of air and fuel to mix and then-"

"Woah woah, you lost me at combustion." Travis said, "Just tell me, is the car a goner?"

You giggled, "No, you just need new spark plugs. It's around $250 including labour."

You could hear him sigh down the line, "Oh! That's fine then, do what you need to do."

"Okay, sure thing. I'll be finished with it by 4pm. Are you able to come and collect around then?"

There was a short silence, "I've got a crazy day. I got a couple of things to figure out first, I don't know if I'll be around."

You checked your schedule in the large leather bound diary in front of you, "Well, I'll be in the shop late working on some other cars, so if you drop by anytime before 7, I should still be here."

"Awesome, I'll stop by!"

"Great, catch you later." You placed the phone back onto the receiver and quickly jotted down in your diary details to remind yourself to replace Travis' spark plugs.

The office door opened and the noises of the shop floor grew increased for a second before they were muffled again as the door closed.

"Hey sport." You felt your Dad's hands on your shoulders, "Your headache gone yet?"

"Not really. I already got two cars to finish up, a service and now these new spark plugs for do for that GMC." You pointed your pen in the direction of Travis' car as you began to write out a worksheet.

Your Dad leant down across your shoulder, "I could do the GMC for you?"

"Dad no, Dr Martin said you had to take it easy." You covered the worksheet with your hand.

He swiped your hand away, "Oh come on, I'm fine! It's spark plugs."

You laughed until you noticed that his face had quickly changed when he caught sight of the sheet, "What's wrong?"

His once rosy cheeked complexion was now a ghostly shade of white, "Travis Kelce...you have Travis Kelce's car here?"

"Yeah, why?"

His eyes widened as he looked towards the shop floor, "His car is in my shop? The GMC, that's Travis Kelce's car?"

Your eyebrows lowered in confusion, "Yeah, he dropped it off this morning?"

"Oh man! Y/N, you gotta let me do it! The boys at the fishing lake aren't gonna believe this!"

"What is going on? Who is this guy?" Your voice was beginning to heighten in pitch.

Your Dad lifted his sweatshirt up to reveal a bright red jersey with the number 87 emblazoned on the front, "Travis Kelce is one of the greatest tight ends the Chiefs have ever seen!"

You rolled your eyes and turned back to your diary for the day.

"Which you would know if you ever watched football with me!" He poked you in the arm with his finger.

You tore off the worksheet from the pad, "If I give you this, will you stop shouting and making my headache worse?"

You Dad carefully took the paper from your hands and gently kissed the top of your head before dancing his way out of the office and onto the shop floor, Travis' GMC waiting in the corner of the garage.

______________________________________________________________

Glancing at the digital clock on the wall, you noted that it was 6.25pm. All of your colleagues had already left for the day, leaving you in the shop by yourself. You preferred working alone but your Dad's business had built up a good reputation in the city for being the best repair shop and it was always busy.

When you were younger, you had always preferred fixing your Barbie's houses to make them better as apposed to playing with the dolls themselves. As a teenager you could always be found in the workshop tinkering with tools and learning everything you could from your Dad. You started helping him in his shop during the summer and when you left school, he took you on and gave you a job. You saved every penny you could and when your Dad needed to take a step back from work, you bought into the business, running it alongside him.

You gazed up at the underside of the Ford that was lifted above you, squinting as the night drew in. The crackled radio played in the background and as you hummed along to yourself, the faint sound of footsteps seemed to blend into the music.

"Um...hello?"

You turned your head towards the direction of the deep voice, a silhouette standing in the doorway of the shop.

You squinted further, trying to make out any defining features but to no avail. "Karl, if this is you trying to scare the shit out of me, you gotta try harder than that." You shook your head and dropped your wrench down onto the floor, the sound of the metal hitting the cement loudly echoing in the vast room.

The figure stepped further forwards, his hands held up, "I'm sorry...it's Travis. I'm just here to pick up my car?"

You felt your cheeks flush red, "Travis? I am so sorry, that was really unprofessional of me."

"Hey, it's all good! Don't worry, I probably shouldn't have lingered in the doorway watching you."

Your mouth twisted to the side, "You were watching me?"

His eyes grew bigger, "Not in a creepy way. But now I've said that it wasn't in a creepy way, it sounds like it was in a creepy way."

You wiped your hands on your towel, smiling slightly as you listened to him struggle.

"I was just...impressed. Like I said earlier, I have no clue when it comes to shit like this." He looked around the room at the various tools and parts that were dotted around.

You slowly nodded your head, "Well, thanks...I guess?"

Travis scratched the back of his head and looked down at his feet, a clear indication that he was nervous. You took the opportunity to really look at him. He was wearing bright white trainers, dark wash jeans and a Louis Vuitton jacket with a white shirt underneath. He was so pristine and you were quite concerned that he wouldn't make it out of the shop without a smudge of oil on him.

"So, my car?"

You looked towards it, digging the keys from one of your many pockets, a couple of bolts coming out with them, "Uh yeah, my Dad took great pride in fixing your car. He's a big fan."

"Oh yeah? Well please, tell your Dad I said thanks!" He smiled before looking around again, "You on your own?"

You sighed, "Yeah, I got a few things to clear up on these babies and then I'll be done."

He unlocked his car and opened the door, pausing for a second before he turned back to you, "Wanna go for a drink?"

Your heart stopped for a beat or two and your chest tightened, a feeling you weren't used to. Men didn't usually ask you out, especially not at work. You didn't exactly make an effort to only be covered in grease all day and everyone knew that your Dad wouldn't be far away, meaning most potential dates kept you very much at an arms length. But here he was, an exception.

"I've still got some work to do." You looked down at your current appearance, "And I might not be down with the latest trends, but I'm pretty sure no one will let me in anywhere looking like this."

Travis smiled coyly, "So, is that a no?"

You winced at his hidden hurt, guessing he wasn't used to women turning him down, "Thanks...but no." Digging into your pocket, you retrieved his invoice, black fingerprints smudged across the paper.

As he reached to take the invoice, his large hand covered yours and you subconsciously held your breath, a fast heat rising to your face.

"No sweat, I might see you around anyway?" He jumped into his car, turning the engine on, "I'll wire you the money for the spark...things."

You nodded in acknowledgement, watching as he pulled away carefully out of the garage and into the night. You unclenched your shoulders and laughed to yourself, turning your attention back to the Ford.

______________________________________________________________

"A package? Who from?" You questioned.

Jordan shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. I didn't open it."

"We never get packages."

You became slightly distracted as Jordan tugged at the bottom hem of his hoodie and pulled it up and over his head, his shirt lifting up slightly to reveal a peek at his toned abs. He threw the garment onto the floor beside him and gazed at you.

"Y/N?"

You blinked, "Uh...I'll go and have a look now."

You furrowed your brows, making your way towards the office and shaking your head on the way, exacerbated at yourself.

On the desk was a small brown package with no indication of who it was from. You ripped open the paper and carefully pulled out the framed photograph. It was a picture of Travis midgame, the ball safely clutched in his gloved hands and speeding towards the end zone. He had signed the corner of the photograph. You turned the frame over to see some slightly messy handwriting on the back.

"For your Dad."

You smiled at his kind gesture.

"Let me know when you want to go for that drink."

______________________________________________________________

Taglist @rd14 @dandelionwrites8 @keiva1000 @fantasywritersstuff @caelipartem @anacarangel @she-lives-in-her-dreams @kkrenae @kristencochefski1125 @countrygirl120983 @charmed2000 @nouis-bum @cixrosie @delicateearthquakellama @wordsaresimple-imnot @amylouwho9 @queenisa17 @talicat713 @luvvtrent @purecinnamonextract @savaneafricaine @caelipartem @beyxgrande @caitdaniels @ezgirl1108 @vir-tual @lightsoutstyles @macey234 @s294749w @kelcemesoftly @calirindo @livinginmyfantasies @bernelflo @secretmywritingfictionlawyer @killatravtramp @there-goes-thefighter @unicornblueberry @calirindo @tjkelce87 @kristinamae093 @kmc1989 @ajbird18 @triski73 @ctn26 @kgcaputo07 @abby-splace @bobthe-turmpetman29 @cedricbitch @jmamas92 @bellstwd @killatravsworld @marchmaiden @chimchimmarie @blackstabbath6 @fanficfanatic15 @jessiemariebarnes @mmb219 @vanwritesfan-fiction

[lucy90712]

Gavi watching his s/o perfoming at her concert and him being so happy and proud of her.

WC: 2.2k Tonight is the night my dream finally comes true. I have always liked to sing and I've wondered if I could ever make it as a singer but for a long time that felt impossible. As it turns out it it's not impossible as I just released my first album and now I'm going to perform my first ever concert. 

A few years ago my dream still felt impossible but then I met Pablo. We started off as friends after a mutual friend introduced us but we were both attracted to each other so things quickly progressed into us dating. A few months after we met we made things official and once we did we were pretty much inseparable. One day I was over at his place waiting for him to get home from training as he wanted us to spend as much time together as possible as he had a busy time coming up. While I was waiting I was making the both of us lunch and like I always do I was singing as I work but I was so in my own world that I didn't hear the door open and Pablo come in. As soon as he heard me singing and we talked about it a bit Pablo insisted that I at least try and make it as a singer. 

Pablo did everything he could to support me as I started proper voice lessons and begin to write and record songs. I used some of the money I had saved to pay for all of that but Pablo also helped me out which I tried to tell him not to do but he insisted on helping me out. When things felt impossible and like a waste of time Pablo encouraged me by saying that he used to feel that way when he was younger but now he's achieved his dream because he kept working hard. He really wanted us both to be living our dreams and be that power couple who have both worked so hard to achieve their dreams all while supporting each other every step of the way. It was his positivity and belief in me that kept me going even when things were hard. 

After a lot of hard work behind the scenes I released my first song which a few people listened to but it wasn't a success at all. That didn't deter me though I kept going and trying to find my style which eventually I did and that was rewarded by the song somehow blowing up on tiktok which brought more attention to all of my other music. Once more people started to listen to my music I made sure that I kept them interested by putting out more music as quickly as I could. Eventually things became more stable and I had created a proper fan base which was doing nothing but growing. Once it got to this point Pablo used my song in his Instagram story and a few weeks later we went public with our relationship which helped me a lot too. He offered his help from the beginning but I wanted to make it on my own as that's the only way I'd feel like my success was my own. 

Since then I've been working hard every day and I even quit my job as I was starting to make money from my music and Pablo said he would help support me if I needed it. Last month I released my first full album and now I'm preparing for my first concert right where it all started in Barcelona. After this I have a small tour around Spain but I just had to start here in Barcelona so that Pablo and the rest of my friends could attend. 

I have been at the venue for a few hours already because I had to be here to do sound check as well as many other things but the main reason I got here so early is because I'm so nervous. I barely slept last night because I was so worried that no one would turn up even though I know exactly how many tickets have been sold. Also running through my mind was the thought that everyone might hate my voice as I know I'll sound different in real life even though I don't use auto tune. We had sound check first which took my mind off things for a bit but then I was back to sitting around until rehearsals which allowed me to go back to thinking about everything that could go wrong. After rehearsals I had a few hours until the start of the show which was supposed to be for me to get ready but I started it by sitting and having a panic attack. 

"Are you ok my love?" Pablo asked as he poked his head round the door 

"Yeah I'm fine what are you doing here so early" I said 

"I wanted to come and see you because I knew you'd be nervous and I can tell that you are not having a good time so its a good thing I'm here" he said 

"Now tell me what's going through your mind" he said 

"I just don't want everyone to hate me I mean what if I'm not as good as they thought I was" I said 

"If anyone thinks that then they're crazy because I know nothing about singing but you have always sounded like an angel to me even when you're not trying so everyone will love you don't stress yourself over that" he said 

"I'm definitely not that good but thank you" I laughed 

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready?" He asked 

"Yeah I am" I replied 

"Then what are you waiting for you I know I love watching you get ready" he smiled 

He wasn't lying so I grabbed all of my makeup stuff and started to get myself ready while Pablo sat behind me watching in the mirror as his arms clung around my waist. While I was concentrating he just kept talking which was actually really helpful as it kept me distracted and made me laugh every now and then. Once my makeup was done it was time for hair and Pablo being the good boyfriend he is helped me section my hair and hold strands out the way while I did the style I had planned. He then helped me into my outfit while I put my earpieces in as there was only a few minutes until I was supposed to go on. 

Once I was ready Pablo grabbed my hand and we walked backstage together. That's when I started to hear the crowd and things suddenly felt so much more real than they did earlier. All of those people are here for me which is such a crazy concept and slightly overwhelming to think about. Pablo must've been able to tell that I was getting nervous again as he spun me round to face him and placed his hands on my waist. He held me close to him and had me look directly into his eyes which made it feel like we were the only two people there which really calmed my anxiety. 

"You've got this cariño just go out there and give it your all I will be right there the whole time so just look at me if you feel anxious" he said 

"Thank you amor" I whispered back 

With that he let go of me and gave me one last kiss before running off to make it to his seat. I jumped up and down a bit and to hype myself up before finally walking out onto the stage. The noise was almost deafening as people in the crowd screamed and cheered for me. I couldn't help but smile knowing that there was this much excitement just to hear me sing I mean I'm not anything special I'm not like Taylor Swift but I sure felt like it walking out into that stage. To help settle myself I spoke to the crowd a bit and I looked for Pablo who was sat with some of the boys right in my eye line. 

When I finally started my set I begun to feel a whole lot more confident and I really got into it. I was completely in my own world feeling myself as I sung all of my songs and did all of the dances I had worked on with a choreographer. Every now and then I looked over to Pablo who was singing along every time I looked over without a care in the world which gave me even more confidence to do the same. All of the boys looked like they were having a good time but when I caught Pablo's eyes and saw him give me the biggest smile I could feel his proud he was. For a second I wondered if that's how he felt when I did the same for him whilst he was playing but I couldn't think about it for too long as the show had to go on. 

"I have one last song for you all I'm sure you can guess which one it is but before I start I want to thank a special someone who's actually here watching me today" I said 

"Pablo thank you for believing in me every step of the way if you hadn't of convinced me to give singing a try there is no way I'd be stood here today I owe all of this to you so thank you for helping me achieve my dream" I continued 

As I performed my last song I kept my eyes on Pablo who had tears in his eyes which were obvious even from a distance. This song was one of the first ones I ever wrote and it has always been his favourite of mine so it was only right to dedicate it to him and sing it as if we were the only people mind the room. The whole night had been magical but this moment made me feel like I was dreaming I could faintly hear the crowd in the background as I rounded up this amazing experience by sending a kiss to Pablo who sent one right back. Before leaving the stage I thanked everyone for coming and thanked the small team I had helping me as they deserve some of the recognition too. 

Once I got off stage and back to my dressing room all of the adrenaline left my body and suddenly I was exhausted but also all of the emotions caught up with me and nothing could wipe the smile off my face. The fact that I'd just done my first concert finally sunk in and I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in myself this is such a big occasion and could mark the start of a whole new life for me especially as I leave tomorrow for my next show in Madrid. After a few minutes of alone time there was a knock on my dressing room door so I went to open it thinking it might be my manager coming to check on me but instead I was greeted by Pablo and everyone else who came holding bouquets of flowers. There was so many flowers that once they were handed to me I couldn't see anything so I had to put them all down in the small sofa in the room. I thanked all the guys for coming and for the flowers and they all congratulated me on my performance before they all left so that I could be with Pablo. It only took a matter of seconds before Pablo smashed his lips onto mine. 

"You were so amazing out there" he said giving me a kiss in between each word 

"Thank you it felt amazing I've never felt such a rush in my life" I said 

"I knew you'd have the best time" he smiled 

"Also you didn't have to say all that about me this is your success all I did was steer you in the right direction" he said 

"I know but you've supported me whenever I wanted to give up and you posting with my songs has helped me a lot I really do owe you a lot because I wouldn't be here without you" I said 

"Thats sweet of you to say but I think you were destined for this life I'm glad I get to be a part of it and see you live your dream" he said 

"You're going to make me cry" I laughed 

"Don't cry my love just be happy you achieved a big thing today you should be smiling and so proud of yourself" he said 

We stayed at the venue for a bit longer before Pablo drove me back to his place so we could spend the night together. Along the way he got me to order whatever food I wanted for dinner was I hadn't eaten since lunch and was starving. We spent the night watching movies together on the sofa eating a lot of food all of which Pablo shouldn't have but he told me it was fine as it was a special day which only made the smile on my face bigger if that was even possible. 

[lizpaige]

sunday snippet 📦

i got nothing like cute/juicy this time around. i'm just trying to write more and sometimes that means it all ends up getting cut, but here's a snippet from the declan outsider pov pynch chapter 2!

The Lynch brothers were helping Ronan move into his first apartment in DC. When Adam transferred for the third time to Georgetown and his financial aid and scholarships no longer covered room and board, they agreed to find a place together. Declan offered to help set up some of the apartment tours, but in the end, Adam found this affordable one bedroom on his own. 

It was a secure access building with a doorman and 24 hour security. It was a 10 minute metro ride and 20 minute full commute to Georgetown, a little longer of a commute to his new auto body shop part time job, but not unreasonable. He somehow managed to convince Ronan to compromise and split the rent 50/50 despite Ronan’s barely-touched trust fund. He had two years left of college, two years where even though DC was closer to Singer’s Falls, neither of them could stand the time apart anymore. 

“Why do you have so much stuff?” Matthew whined, hefting a cardboard box onto the desk in the living room. 

“We’re giving you all the lightest boxes,” Declan winced at the loud bang as Ronan let go of his side of the couch. “We’re the ones doing all the work here.”

“And you had way more shit when I helped you move to DC,” Ronan groaned as he stretched his back before knocking off Matthew’s hat and ruffling his curls. “I didn’t complain.”

Matthew swatted him away. “Yes you did!”

“Did not!” 

Declan raised his gaze to the ceiling as his brothers fell into an exhausted half-hearted wrestling match on the couch. He decided to take the time to look around the place. 

Declan trusted Adam’s judgment more than Ronan’s on the affordability, security, and overall fit of the apartment. So when Ronan begrudgingly told them a move-in date, Declan offered to help them move in. Somewhat because Adam seemed hesitant about the extra cost of hiring movers and also because Declan wanted to scope out the place.

The apartment itself was a modest one bedroom, with a large windowless closet marketed as a “den” by the apartment complex “perfect for a home office,” but Declan thought that was a joke. The bathroom was clean, spacious. There was even a washer and dryer in-unit and a dishwasher in the kitchen. The complex itself was pet friendly, although Chainsaw was not with them currently. No doubt she was shredding up Declan’s couch in their Boston apartment with Jordan. 

In the bedroom, in the corner by the window, were three modest boxes and a potted plant on the window sill. These were not boxes that they moved in, so these must belong to Adam.

It was then that Declan really realized most, if not all, of the stuff they moved was Ronan’s. Adam, despite being on his own for years now, never accumulated a lot of stuff. Even when he would visit the Barns or Boston for a week-long holiday, he would only ever have a small duffle bag over one shoulder with just enough room for a change of clothes and whatever textbooks he needed to complete his homework. 

Even the furniture they brought upstairs - the old desk was from Ronan's room, that they basically let collect dust as soon as they were old enough to have their own desks at school. The couch was another Barns hand-me-down, as well as some of the kitchen items. 

It all belonged to Ronan, legally, so Declan didn’t speak to it. Just another observation he kept to himself for fear of starting another argument. Even though they didn’t argue as much anymore, they still happened to fight. That was always going to be inevitable with the eldest Lynch brothers. Declan just knew how to avoid the landmines with a higher survival rate now.

[demonvampire180writes]

Gonna sad post/vent my woes/ pity party for one for just a second because I can't sleep and my brain is v loud. Under the read-more is just me being sad about my writing skill, or lack of, and using BT as my jumping point/example.

I've noticed that, with BuckTommy at least, the stories that get the most attention are ones rated GA, or rated E. Stories that are rated T or M seem to get a lot fewer hits.

But it also feels like it's just my stories that are getting passed over, and I dunno. I don't really know what the scale of RSD is, but I know that I suffer pretty badly from it. My self esteem relies so much on outsiders and outer praise. While I enjoy the process of writing, and I like what I write, if I don't feel like it gets enough attention, my motivation drops. Inevitably I begin to question my writing skills.

I know that I have great grammar, and I've always been a great speller, but with auto-check on both those things it hardly even matters in this day and age. I hardly have to think about stringing sentences together that make sense because that squiggly blue line will be there to tell me that there might be a better way of saying it.

Take for example my very first 911 fic that I ever wrote. I posted it not long after BT's hospital kiss. It was a 7.06 coda and boy oh boy did the kudo's start rolling in! I felt so proud that people were loving it. I'd never gotten that much attention on anything that quickly. But I started doing the math of kudo's to bookmark to hits ratios and came to the crushing reality that less than 13% of hits left kudos (obviously knowing that some of the hits were people coming back to read it again) and the bookmark rate was abysmal. I don't even want to consider the number of comments I receive.

But that didn't stop me and I started working on the next thing, and the next, and the next. It didn't take me long to realize that my stories really weren't getting much attention and I couldn't figure out why. My rated G stories definitely garner the most attention, and one of my rated E stories has done somewhat well, but the length of time it's been posted vs the amount of meaningful interactions it has, and not just clicks, seems pitiful. And now I've started to doubt myself.

Is my writing really that bad? Am I just as mid of a writer as I am a singer and martial artist and really, anything I try my hand at? Like in most cases, the story gets a fair few hits when it's first posted, but within a weeks time, I'm lucky to get one or two kudos on it. When I sort by number of kudos, the top stories will have hundreds, if not closer to a thousand, while I'm lucky to see over a hundred. (On my non angst stories. I know the 8.06 canon compliant stories aren't popular.) Don't even ask me about how few comments my works get.

Then I compare it to the date posted and my heart sinks. Sure, these folks have probably built up a following - especially those of you who write almost exclusively for one fandom - but they had to have started somewhere. I can't even get readers to follow me from one platform to another. Not only that but I don't even get enough eyes on me for people to be curious about me outside of the stories I post. (Which honestly I get, I don't pay all that much attention to posts about sending asks about personal life stuff.)

So, depending on how readers are filtering the stories, and how they're having them listed, my stories get buried in the deepest recesses of the archive. They never seem to hit that critical point of being in the top five pages of the big filters: bookmarks, kudos, and hits.

Why am I having the pity party of one? Because I wrote the first chapter of a story that I was really excited about, the initial thought post got quite a bit of attention, and I assumed people were interested. But the response has been... lackluster. Maybe I'm just posting when all of my fellow BT's are in dreamland coming up with their own story ideas, or maybe I overestimate the level of interest and people "heart" the post just to be nice. Even on Ao3 the response has been relatively low and I feel like this is a somewhat new fix-it fic idea. I haven't really seen people throwing the idea around. (You know, besides "crash that whatever!")

I love this idea, but I'm questioning if it's even worth writing at my skill level. I personally think it's such a cool idea, but if I can't execute it well then there's no point. Someone else with much more skill than me should take it from my hands before I soil it.

[jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka]

Part 3!! I had a good time writing this chapter as well, and it’s another doozy. Hope you enjoy!

Pairings: Jake Kiszka X Danny Wagner ***slash

Warnings and tags: 18+ only please!! Adult themes including: very brief mention of past partner death, very brief mention of marriage problems, some crying, some insecurity, my sad attempt at flirting, very slight suggestive talk, dad Jake AU, uncle Danny

Word count: 5.5k

Mondays were hard for everybody, but this particular Monday seemed to be kicking Jake in the ass.

First he spilled coffee all over his pants so he had to change after already being a little behind on getting up and getting both himself and Luna ready. That made them end up at the back of the line for drop off at the elementary.

He was speeding over to the office after getting her to school. Normally it wouldn’t matter so much if he came in a little late, but someone had the bright idea of scheduling a meeting at nine am on a Monday and he still needed to go over a few things with his team before it started.

They had a big fundraiser coming up soon that he’d spent nearly six months preparing for. One of the local orchestras had offered to put on a concert and donate the ticket sales to the foundation. The event wasn’t going to be too big, but they had managed to secure a guest singer, a couple of soloist, and even a live band to agree to play afterwards while they had drinks and hors d'oeuvres.

Jake was excited about this particular fundraiser because the sales and any extra donations were going to go to giving students private music lessons, a program he’d been working on launching for quite a while now.

Though Jake had been working for the foundation for a few years already, this was the first project he’d put so much of himself into, feeling particularly strongly about the accessibility of musical education for children as a passionate musician with a child himself.

Even after his wife’s passing, Jake’s home was still filled with music to share with his daughter. His record collection specifically ranged anywhere from dusty old vinyls he had inherited from his parents house, to mint condition collectibles and limited editions he probably never would have found without his connections. His prized possessions however, were the first pressings of his and June’s album when it first came out.

The few copies they’d kept for themselves stayed tucked safely away on the corner of the highest shelf where they sat untouched since her passing, Jake still too tender to hear her voice again. Someday though he knew Luna would want to listen to them, and he only prayed he would have himself prepared enough by then.

By the time the meeting was over Jake decided to head back out for an early lunch. With the rush to get out the door this morning he hadn’t packed anything to eat so he decided to treat himself at his favorite restaurant- a spot he didn’t frequent too often since it was in what he considered to be a sketchier part of town.

Since it was just him he didn’t mind making the drive over, at least that was until his dashboard suddenly lit up with about three different warning lights. Of course he would be having car trouble today of all days.

With an annoyed huff Jake pulled over to the side of the road, leaving his car running because he was too scared that if he turned it off now he wouldn’t be able to get it back on. Being a little unfamiliar with his surroundings he pulled out his phone and googled where the nearest service shop was, finding one simply called Rudy’s Custom Auto just up the road he’d hoped would do the trick quickly and without charging too much.

His car managed to make it to the mechanic in one piece- though the sputtering of the engine misfiring was about to give him a heart attack.

The shop was nothing more than two bays behind old garage doors with a small office attached to the side. One of the bays was already occupied by an old body truck stripped of all its paint and covered in multiple patches of bondo. Jake pulled up to the next bay and waited a moment for someone to come out.

When nobody came he braved turning off his car, gripping the keys tightly in his palm as he slowly tread into the open garage. Once he stuck his head in he saw a pair of dirty work boots on the other side of the truck, but the dated stereo system that sat on top the workbench on the far wall kept the person at work from hearing Jake arrive. Jake cleared his throat and called out above the sound of Steely Dan playing loudly, “hello? Are you open?”

“You scared the shit out of me!” The person inside answered him, then their boots started to make their way around the front of the truck.

Jake stood awkwardly at the threshold of the doorway, waiting to see what kind of character worked at a place like this, but oddly enough he felt like he’d heard their voice from somewhere.

“What can I do for you?” They asked with their back towards Jake as they paused to turn down the stereo. Finally he turned around and a huge smile spread across his face when they both realized who it was. Danny was just as shocked to see Jake here as he was, but he also looked really excited.

“You work here?” Jake asked, thinking it was a stupid question as soon as it slipped out. Of course Danny worked here, he was standing inside the shop in a pair of navy dickies covered in oil and white dust with a just as dirty white t-shirt (this one without any modifications to it) tucked into his waistband and tightly stretched across his chest and arms.

“Off and on. Rudy’s a friend of mine he lets me do some body work when I need a job”.

“Oh,” Jake looked around the shop aimlessly, mostly just trying to keep from staring at the tattoo he now knew peaked out just underneath Danny’s sleeve. “There’s umm… something wrong with my car. Could you take a look at it?”

“Well, I’m not much of a mechanic but Rudy is out on lunch right now. For you though I could do some digging around and see if I can’t at least figure out what your problem is”.

Jake knew Danny was giving him special service as he lifted the hood and bent over into the engine. He never once thought having an admirer would come with many perks, but as he stood with his arms folded loosely across his chest as Danny checked hoses and looked for leaks the frustration towards the whole situation started to wear away. By some strange stroke of fate the car he so tediously took care of, nearly never missing an oil change, happened to break down in the same neighborhood he had no idea Danny worked in.

“Hey! Don’t break it any more!” Jake hollered, stepping up next to Danny to see what all the banging around he was doing was.

“I think I might know what it is” Danny popped his head back out, startling Jake as he suddenly came face to face with the other man. Another shock came when Danny grabbed his hand and shoved it down into the engine. “Feel that?”

Jake wanted to rip his hand away, all he could feel right now was the residual heat from the parts around his forearm, his fingers blindly searching for what Danny may be talking about, and the way his chest pressed against his shoulder as they both leaned over so Jake’s shorter arm could reach. Finally he felt the warm liquid and realized the smell he got a whiff of was gasoline.

“Must have a leak in your fuel injectors” Danny backed away, letting Jake pull his own hand out and offered him a rag from his back pocket to wipe it off with. “Gonna be a bitch to get replaced. Let me call Rudy see if he has any spare parts otherwise he can pick some up on his way back”.

Jake wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, not being too familiar with the inner workings of an engine himself, but he figured he should probably start making some calls of his own starting with work. After letting them know he probably wasn’t going to make it back from lunch Danny came walking out of the shop again.

“Good news, he can get the parts and he’s on his way back. Bad news, I could only sweet talk him down to a couple hundred bucks”.

“Right! Of course that’s fine, let me just-” Jake bent over back into his front seat, bracing himself on the cushion with one arm as he searched the console for his wallet. After a few seconds of not finding it he was struck with the realization that he’d had his wallet in his pants this morning. The ones he spilt coffee all over. “Fuck” he grumbled to himself, backing out of the car to see Danny looking away quickly. Was he staring?

“Well actually, I think I left my wallet at home. This Rudy guy doesn’t take ApplePay does he?”

Danny chuckled and shook his head, “no, this is not the kind of place for that. Don’t worry I’ve got you”.

“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to do that” Jake tried to quickly figure out how he could get the money before Rudy returned. Maybe he could call Josh to swing by his house and get his wallet, or bring some cash. Fuck how long was this going to take anyways? He might have to ask Josh to pick up Luna from school too.

While Jake’s mind was racing Danny turned around and walked back into the shop to get back to work on the sanding he was doing before Jake happened to show up.

“Let me see what my brother is up to right now, he might be able to bring me some cash. How much exactly is it?” Jake followed Danny inside this time, not paying much attention to where he was going as he pulled his phone out.

Abruptly he was stopped when Danny’s hands wrapped around his forearms and pulled him out of the way before Jake could walk into a tool box sitting in the middle of the floor. He looked around the inside of the shop now, seeing the entire place was quite a disheveled mess. Tools were everywhere between the ground and the workbench, and oil pans that looked like they’d been used one too many times were piled into the corner of the second bay. It was like navigating a minefield to get somewhere he could stand and wait.

“I said don’t worry about it” Danny replied once he had Jake situated in a safe place. “Besides there are plenty of ways you can pay me back”. Danny gave Jake a flirtatious wink from where he sat back on his rolling stool on the other side of the truck.

“Excuse me?” Jake scoffed, too astounded by Danny’s suggestive response to focus on making the phone call now.

“Yeah, like a date” Danny continued as he picked up his scrap of sandpaper and started to go over his most recent bondo covered spot.

“A date?” Jake blinked a few times, wondering if he’d heard him right since the radio was still playing quietly in the background. “You want me to take you on a date?”

“Well I was going to say let me take you on a date” Danny chuckled again, keeping his eyes focused on his work, “but if you want to take me out I’m not at all opposed to that either”.

“I- I mean- ” Jake was stumbling over his words, in utter disbelief and embarrassed by his lack of composure right now. He didn’t understand what had gotten into him.

“What? Are you not into guys or something?” Danny let his eyes flicker back over to Jake this time, catching a slight blush creep into his cheeks.

“No, that’s not it…” Jake replied sheepishly. It was true, from a young age he didn’t put much thought into sexuality or gender for that matter. He was always more attracted to the person and how deep of a connection he could make rather than just what was on the surface. Though he’d never actually dated someone of the same sex before, it was never out of the question for him.

“Then what is it?”

The sound of Danny’s sanding stopped as he waited patiently for a response. He had a suspicion he knew where Jake’s reservations were rooted from, having already heard a few details, but he hoped Jake would feel comfortable enough to tell him himself.

“Dates have been hard for me,” Jake began, fiddling with the rim of his phone case to distract himself from mentally screaming stop shut up if you tell him he will only pity you- “since my wife died a few years ago”.

“I know,” Danny replied without hesitation, making Jake realize- of course he knew, his sister was one of Jake’s closest friends, “and I’d respect your boundaries if you said it was still too soon”.

Jake leaned against the work bench behind him and let his head fall backwards, huffing a breath out through his nose, staring up at the ceiling as he thought for a moment. His eyes felt dry and prickly, but he absolutely could not tear up right now. No he’d told himself a long time ago that he was done with that.

Danny seemed to be one step ahead of him on this, already understanding what he was getting himself into when asking Jake for a date. “What if I said it wasn’t too soon?”

“Hmm?” Danny didn’t quite make out his question, either because it was being directed towards the ceiling instead of him, or maybe because Jake was actually only asking himself.

“It’s not too soon” he rephrased as he looked back over at Danny again, a little more resolve in his demeanor. “Are you free this Friday night?”

Danny’s face lit up in a smile, having thought there for a moment Jake was going to officially tell him to fuck off. “I can be”.

A cocky reply, Jake thought, smirking himself a little. “Alright then. Friday night, I’ve got an event to go to. You can come”.

“An event? For your job?” Danny questioned in return as he once again got back to work. “Doesn’t sound like much of a date to me”.

“Look, do you want to come or not?”

“No, no, I’ll be there,” he assured him quickly, “thanks for inviting me”.

It’s not really like I had much of a choice. The truth was he could have declined, could have told Danny to shove it and stormed out of the shop to wait in his car for Rudy to return. He didn’t though, and there was possibly even a part of him who was excited he’d invited Danny.

Originally he was supposed to be going with Josh, but then his brother had something come up that weekend that he couldn’t get out of. Josh’s partner booked them a little mini vacation not realizing the dates conflicted with Jake’s concert, and the hotel and airfare were nonrefundable.

Jake promised him he didn’t mind, ‘It’s just going to be a local group playing a few songs, nothing too special. You guys go have fun’. He was more anxious about it than he’d led onto Josh though. At least now he wouldn’t be going alone and he’d have something to distract him if he got too nervous- Danny being easily very distracting.

“What are you even doing? You’ve been sanding the same spot this entire time” Jake tentatively stepped a little closer until Danny waved him over.

“I may not know too much about engines, but I know a lot about the body” Danny replied with a smugish half smile that made Jake roll his eyes. “Come here, you have to get right up close to see what I’m talking about”.

Jake moved to stand next to Danny, leaning over slightly as he stared at the white blob on the fender of the truck. Danny stood up and got behind him, barely grabbing at his waist as he positioned Jake to get the right angle. Jake’s body stiffened and froze, unused to being freely touched so often without any warning.

“You see how smooth it looks?” Danny muttered behind his ear making the hairs on the back of Jake’s neck stand up. “Run your hand across it now”. Jake did as he was told and placed his palm on the cold metal, feeling a small ripple as he swiped it slowly over the surface.

“You see sometimes things look perfect from the outside, but when you get your hands on it you find tiny little flaws. I’m a perfectionist, I’ve got to get every little dent and scratch out. Sometimes that takes days of just filling and sanding it back down until I run my hand across and it’s smooth as can be”.

“Doesn’t it get annoying?” Jake asked, thinking about how long and tedious that process must be.

“I’m very patient” Danny shrugged, letting go and sitting back on his stool.

Jake couldn’t help but let his mind wander in this moment as he watched Danny from just a foot away now. He wondered what Danny might think if he ever got an up close look at him. Sure maybe from the outside he looked put together, just like this fender solid and sturdy, but once he got his hands on him he’d be able to feel all his flaws- the cuts that dug deep into his very being and had scarred over.

Only about ten minutes later Rudy returned and Danny took a break from what he was doing to help get Jake’s car back in good working order. Thankfully they were done just in time for him to get to the school and pick up his daughter without having to call in reinforcements.

“Wait, could I get your number?” Danny stopped Jake before he could drive off, hoping but also confident that their fix worked. “So we can coordinate the date?”

Jake looked over Danny’s shoulder, seeing his boss tossing more tools around, not even bothering to clean up and not paying attention to what his employee was doing- clearly harassing customers. He gave him his number anyway, finding a text presumably from Danny when he got home. Just a simple wink face emoji.

Before he could save the number in his contact list though, Luna called for his help in the kitchen and he dropped his phone off on the bar. Completely forgetting about the little message left on read.

It wasn’t until Thursday night after he’d gotten off the phone with Josh that he received another text from the unknown number.

What should I be wearing tomorrow?

10:34PM

Jake waited a moment to reply, he’d just about concluded that maybe Danny had forgotten about the ‘date’ because he hadn’t heard from him since leaving Rudy’s shop Monday afternoon. When Danny didn’t show up to Wednesday’s soccer practice either Jake was a little discouraged, but he told himself to get over it. He walked Emma home and her mom looked like she’d had a rough day so Jake didn’t bother asking about her brother's whereabouts. Should he really care anyways?

Something nice but not too formal

10:48PM

No jeans and a crop top

10:49PM

Crop top?

11:00PM

Wait, that’s my favorite shirt

11:00PM

Good to know. Don’t wear it.

11:02PM

Ok I won’t, but you remember it?

11:02PM

Jake panicked for a second as he read the text. Why did he have to bring it up? Stupid mistake.

Danny continued to text while Jake stumbled for a reply, writing something out then thinking it sounded stupid and erasing it, knowing Danny was probably watching him type.

Did Luna see the video I sent her? Of the soccer ball slime? I thought she’d like that one

11:05PM

If Jake didn’t already feel awkward about bringing up the crop top, now he felt even sillier about having thought Danny had sent that video to him. Of course it was meant for Luna.

He debated not responding, just closing the messages app on his phone and going to sleep, but he knew that would be rude- a little white lie might be better.

Yes, she liked it

11:08PM

I’m glad, sorry I wasn’t at practice this week

11:09PM

Danny didn’t offer a reason why he was absent, but at least he’d thought to apologize. Not that he had to, it’s not like Jake was hoping to see him there or anything. Again he didn’t know what to say; it was getting late Danny had to know he was probably in bed right? Before he could reply again another text came in.

I’ll let you get to sleep. I’m excited to see you tomorrow. Good night Jake

11:11PM

Good night

11:12PM

Friday was a frenzy, hustling around between the office, the venue where the orchestra and band were getting to practice with the soloists for the last time before the show, and then home to get Luna ready to stay at Emma’s house while he was out.

The air was heavy at the venue when Jake left, some issues with sound they were able to get a tech to fix, and some tiny adjustments to the breaks in the program had everyone tense and on edge. Jake knew it was just pre show nerves though and he had full faith that the night was going to go over well.

The confidence in his peers didn’t exactly extend to himself however, as he held his breath when he rang the doorbell, Luna standing at his side excitedly.

“Daddy you’re going to a party?” She asked, ever curious about what he was up to.

“I’m going to a work party” he explained to her again, having already told her she was going alone to play at Emma’s house tonight for just a couple of hours.

“Will there be presents and cake there?”

“No presents, but there might be some cake. Do you want me to save you some?”

“Me and Emma?” She asked, grabbing his hand and looking up at her Dad with a pleading smile.

“Of course, I’ll bring you both some” he returned the smile down at her until the front door opened and she bounced inside off to find her friend.

“Thank you for watching her tonight” Jake told Emma’s mom as he waited around for Danny to show. He’d text him when he was on the way, offering a ride since he was coming over anyways.

“Of course any time” she kept the door open, also aware who Jake was waiting on. The silence was a bit uncomfortable, how much did she know about them anyways? The two seemed to be close, but he worried if she thought it was a little strange her friend and her brother were going out together.

“I know someone who gives piano lessons will be there tonight. I can ask them if they have any space for Emma” Jake offered, just to fill the time.

“Oh, that would be nice. We’ve got a lot going on right now though so we might wait until next year”.

“No worries, I can just get her contact information. Has Michael been having to stay late again?” He didn’t want to pry too much, but after a couple of years of knowing them he could tell there seemed to be some new unresolved tension coming from the household.

She sighed and shook her head, obviously frustrated but biting her tongue. He realized there might be a little more to her irritation than just her husband working late, but before she could break and spill her worries Danny finally emerged from the hallway.

“Sorry for making you wait, I was ironing my shirt”.

Jake’s eyebrows shot up when he saw Danny in the doorway, the light from inside the house casting his long shadow across the porch Jake stood on. He was wearing a dark colored button up with a diamond pattern, the sleeves rolled a quarter of the way up his arms with subtle gold chains across his wrists and neck. “Is this okay?” He did a little spin, holding his arms out so Jake could get a good look at his outfit.

“Yeah it’s great. You look great” Jake cleared his throat and adjusted the collar of his own shirt, glancing over to see Danny’s sister watching them with amusement in her eyes.

“Well you two have fun. Jake don’t worry about hurrying home we’ve got the kids”.

Jake nodded and Danny gave his sister a quick side hug before joining Jake on the porch. She shut the door behind him and Danny gave Jake a big eager smile.

“You look great too. I like this” he ran his thumb across the lapel of Jake’s suede coat he’d chosen for the night, already knowing it got cold at the venue they were going to. “I like these too” Danny’s fingers moved next to one of the necklaces that sat against Jake’s chest, picking up the circular charm and examining it.

“Thanks, they were a gift” Jake replied, trying to remain as still as possible and keep his breathing steady.

“Well, shall we?” Danny gently laid the pendant back down and retreated, clasping his hands behind his back like he was reminding himself to behave.

The ride over was nice. They talked about music finding out they had similar taste, Jake leaning more towards blues and Danny towards folk but both sharing a passion for the classics of old rock n roll.

When they arrived at the event Jake had plenty of people to greet and thank for being there. He worried Danny might feel out of place or get bored, but every time he glanced over to him Danny was lit up with a smile and conversing with those around him. Soon it was time to take their seats; Jake showed Danny where they would be at the back of the room, and waited by the stage for his quick speech before the concert started.

Jake held the mic tightly in his hands, not having felt that weight in his grip in years. He’d always had a bit of stage fright, but getting up in front of a crowd with June had never been less than amazing and he tuned into the memory of that feeling when he stepped in front of the audience tonight.

“First of all I’d just like to thank everyone for taking the time out of their weekend to be here with us. For those of you I don’t know, my name is Jacob Kiszka and I work for the foundation who put on this event. All of our ticket sales from tonight are going towards our new program that offers students free private music lessons. I really hope you enjoy the performance. Over the past six months I’ve been overseeing this project, I've gotten the opportunity to know some of these brilliant musical minds and promise they have some treats in store for you. Again, thank you so much for coming and after the show please feel free to check out the live band and refreshments we will have in the conference room next door”.

The crowd clapped for him as he exited the small stage and scurried off to rejoin Danny at their seats. They had the last row reserved to themselves, and with the venue not being close to full there wasn’t even anyone sitting anywhere near them.

As soon as he plopped down next to Danny the lights dimmed, getting darker where they were compared to the stage lights that focused their intensity on the musicians down below and the first song on the program began.

Jake’s focus stayed on the stage, but he felt Danny shift closer to him and whisper into his ear. “You did a good job”.

Just as easily as he’d leaned over, Danny sat back in his seat and enjoyed the performance, letting Jake do the same. Despite any hiccups they’d had earlier, the soloists were flawless, the transitions between pieces seamless, and the audience was loving every minute of it, clapping enthusiastically after each final note.

“Isn’t she amazing?” Jake asked Danny when his favorite performer finished by far the hardest song of the night, The Habanera from Carmen. It was her idea to include it in the program, and although Jake worried it might be too difficult for an intermediate orchestra, he was blown away by their hard work and dedication to the art.

“I actually can't believe I just heard that in real life” Danny’s mouth was agape, his eyes glittering with sheer delight.

Jake’s smile faded as he observed Danny watching the performance now, but it wasn’t because he was upset or anything. Quite the opposite, he was suddenly being filled with an overwhelming sense of relief and reassurance. He expected Danny might like it otherwise he wouldn’t have invited him. Even if he didn’t that would have been ok, but Danny seemed to be genuinely appreciative of his time here and that made Jake even happier he’d come.

Feeling like he was being watched, Danny looked over and made eye contact with Jake who was sitting on the edge of his seat. A shiver broke through undeather his coat when Danny’s eyes took him in next, looking him up and down through hooded lids and finally settling on his hands in his lap.

Internally Jake was screaming at himself to move, say something, do anything, but on the outside he was as calm as ever when Danny reached over and grabbed one of his hands, intertwining their fingers together and giving it a squeeze. Jake let out a shaky breath as his eyes fell to his lap, hoping Danny could not feel his heart pounding in his wrist.

“Jake…” Danny muttered his name in the dark, swiping his thumb over the back of Jake’s hand making him look back up again, only he didn’t look him in the eye this time. Jake found himself staring at Danny’s lips, hoping he’d be the braver of the two again.

Before either of them could make the next move though their moment was cut short when Jake heard someone else start speaking over the microphone.

“This last piece was not included on the programs, it is a special thanks to our Director Jake for all the hard work he’s put in. We hope you’ve all had a great night and be safe”.

Jake snapped his head back towards the stage, shocked and completely unaware of this secret addition to the performance. He gripped Danny’s hand tighter when the song began to play and he instantly recognized it as a rendition of one of his own.

The singer started in after the acoustic guitar opening, and Jake was taken aback when he heard his late wife's lyrics bleeding through the speakers for the first time in over three years.

He could feel the sting but he didn’t even register the tears rolling down his cheeks until Danny sat forward as well. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just-” he felt his voice crack, his face and chest burning hot as he shook his hand free from Danny’s and excused himself.

Jake went out into the hallway to collect himself, furiously wiping at his cheeks until they were rubbed red and drying his palms on his pants. Thankfully he was alone, until he heard the sound of the door behind him allowing someone else out.

“I’m sorry, that just caught me off guard” Jake’s knee jerk reaction was to apologize, suck it up, and walk back in with his head held high. All of that flew out the window though when Danny silently came from behind him and wrapped his arms around Jake’s shoulders, pulling his back against his chest and resting his chin on the top of Jake’s head.

More tears began to pool along his lash line when Jake reciprocated the touch by wrapping his hands around Danny’s forearms and pulling them tighter around his shaking frame.

“Don’t apologize. You’re allowed to feel every emotion coming to you right now” Danny muttered behind him.

Jake shook his head and nuzzled his face into the forearms folded across his chest, waiting for the moment to pass before he popped his head back up and inhaled sharply.

“Ok, I’m going to go to the restroom. People will be coming out soon. Will you wait for me in the conference room?”

“Yeah, I can do that”. Danny released his hold and took a few steps back to give Jake some space now. Though as he watched Jake cover his mouth with the back of his hand and walk away, he wished he’d let him follow.

Tags: @lyndz2names @gracev0609 @lipstickitty @sanguinebats @kultavalo

A/N: So there really is a program called Austin Soundwaves that does offer free private music lessons for children in that area. I was able to go to one of their concerts and the performer really did start belting Carmen, it was awesome. Support your local musicians 👏

[ask-modern-patrochilles]

About this blog

Hi everyone! 💜

This is an ask blog for my modern omegaverse Patrochilles AU, which I’m currently writing on AO3 (Link!). Questions will be answered with art and/or text! My name is Angie (25 || she/her), and you can find me over on my main blog @darlingfreddie or my art blog @darlingsart where I’ll be posting art for this AU and my other AU + other random drawings/doodles.

This AU follows Patroclus and Achilles’ lives after meeting at a party and getting together a few months later. In this AU, Achilles is a famous musician, the lead singer of a band named Arete where his bandmates are Odysseus, Diomedes, and his cousin Ajax (referred to as AJ!). Patroclus is on the road to becoming a trauma surgeon and currently working on his fellowship program. Together, they’re navigating their hectic careers, family life, paparazzi, and everything else while being madly in love.

The About Page will be updated accordingly!

FAQ:

What are their secondary genders?: Achilles is an omega and Patroclus is an alpha.

How does this omegaverse work?: So, I've made this AU by pulling a number of ideas from different fics and resources since this is my first time handling omegaverse! Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics in this AU are more non-traditional than in some other AUs, alphas are frequently in relationships with other alphas, omegas with other omegas, etc. I'd like to think that there aren't any rules or much stigma around that.

How old are they?: Currently, Achilles is 28 and Patroclus is 29.

How long have they been together?: About about five years. They are currently married.

Family members?: Achilles has a close relationship with his father, Peleus and is currently mending his relationship with his mother Thetis. Patroclus is very close with his adoptive father, Chiron. They also have one son, Max.

Friends?: They share a mutual group of friends including Odysseus, Diomedes, AJ, Penelope, Briseis, and Automedon (referred to as Auto!). Patroclus is closest to Briseis and Achilles is closest to Penelope. Achilles is also friends with Helen, a movie actress he met a few years ago.

Education?: Patroclus is currently completing his fellowship training and Achilles left high school before he could finish.

—This list will be updated as questions are answered/fics are written!—

[fromtenthousandfeet]

https://x.com/97901_sue/status/1837382052729311473?t=AkNYU_IdWzar_rrDeie5Ew&s=19

Idk if he's achieved the money they were hoping his album would bring but he definitely got more fans than any other members. The songs that were chosen were of general public taste more than any other members'. Of course we know the Maknae line is already more Famous than others but he definitely gained a lot more fans like at least they succeeded in this. There's always some idols or other celebrities mentioning his songs and it's not just seven or not they do mention the b-sides as well. One thing i can say is that if currently there's one idol who's most popular then that's definitely him in general not talking about specific parts. The songs from Golden are known. I know the company pushing him helped A LOT but it's still about his vocal ability that i think attracts more ppl plus the choreo for those songs were also something that gp would love not too complicated not too easy. He Especially gained a lot more in sk cause so many idols mention him.

And i really hope someone won't say that I'm a jjk in disguise cause I'm not. Just saying what i saw. Would have said the same if it was any other member instead of him.

I'm really not convinced Jungkook picked up a ton of fans due to SEVEN or his album. Don't confuse successful marketing with actual committed fans.

Marketing exists for a reason - because it works! HYBE spent an INSANE amount of money marketing SEVEN, and Golden to a lesser extent. SEVEN was basically unavoidable if you were on TikTok. And if you weren't on that platform, you got hit by auto play on Spotify, or forced ads on YouTube. Hearing something enough times makes it familiar. Recognizing a song is kind of comforting. You may sing along even if you don't really love the song.

I get so many asks about Jungkook. Why me??? Stop, I beg you!

Here are my honest opinions about JK:

He's overhyped. At the end of the day, he's just a typical Gen Z dude in an extraordinary situation.

The songs I've heard from Golden sound dated and dull.

His voice is nothing special. I don't care how much training he's had. It's nasal and devoid of emotion. He sounds better when he sings in his lower register, but that doesn't work well in pop music, where almost all the male singers are tenors. His falsetto is unlistenable.

He's a mockingbird. He can mimic famous singers, but he himself has no signature sound or artistic point of view.

I'm not a fan of Taylor Swift. I don't hate her, but I don't actively search out her music. I'm fine listening to her songs when I hear them in public or on the radio. I think it's great that she's so successful. I'm totally fine with her enormous fandom. This is where I'm trying to get with Jungkook. It would be easy to feel indifferent to him and his potential success if all members of BTS were given equal treatment by the company. I would simply say, "congratulations on your success as a solo artist and good luck in your future endeavors." The problem, of course, is the fact that BigHit/HYBE openly sabotages Jimin, copies Jimin, and gives him the bare minimum of tools for success. They aren't really doing any favors for the remaining five members, either.

Jimin has something Jungkook doesn't have, and that's the most dedicated global fandom imaginable. It's an organized fandom who keep him on the charts despite the odds. Jungkook just has lots of tools, including basic pop songs specifically written for a western audience, infinite versions, covers, and remixes, and an unfathomable marketing budget, all of which almost guarantee his success. You just can't compare the two.

Yikes. I'm long winded as usual, but here's what I'd like to end with. I hope Jimin will continue to write his own music. I hope he will continue to dazzle us with his own style of dance, incorporating contemporary and street style. I hope he pushes boundaries. Jungkook can have the huge global pop star title. I am in no way obligated to consume his music or content. Equally, I won't mind if others do.

[sikudastoner]

✍🏻

Thank you for the ask!

Okaaaay so the thing about this 90s story was I was writing it at the beginning of the years but then I lost my job and I kinda abandoned it. So the other ocs for this are kinda vague.

Heath Leveson is the lead singer/rhythm guitarist for Sorest Need (a band that is definitely not based on Nirvana.) The best way I can describe him is Paul Rudd’s character in Knocked Up and This Is 40. Like he seems so nice and chill but secretly he’s an asshole and passive aggressive. He’s struggling with writers/creators block and some type of auto immune disease that I have not yet chosen.

His main faceclaim is Chris Cornell (if Chris Cornell were blonde, that would also be Lymond Lannister.) Personality/vibes is based off of Kurt Cobain. Heath Ledger also comes in mind because he was pretty much named after him. Sorest Need’s music is basically a mix of the big grunge names; Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Nirvana and Pearl Jane.

[allthesmutl0vers]

The Fate Of Us: Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Y/n

The moment my feet touch the ground, it’s as if I’ve been through a whirlwind. The world around me spins, and I struggle to find my balance.

Chuck, a familiar face, is quick to react as I stumble. His hand wraps around my arm, steadying me. “Woah, easy there,” he chuckles softly. “Here, let me help,” I hear him say before his fingers land gently on my forehead. A warm feeling courses through my body, taking away the dizzy feeling and replacing it with calmness. “There, is that better?” He asks kindly.

I look up at him, the sun shining against his brown hair, and he smiles down at me. “Yeah, loads,” I say as I take in my surroundings.

The scent of motor oil and rusted metal fills my nostrils as I take in the grounds of the Singer Auto Salvage yard. The lived-in house that I know holds the start of my journey, whether that journey is to save Chuck or kill him. One way or another, I’m not writing the story anymore.

I’m living it.

“I can’t believe it,” I mutter under my breath. “I’m actually here.”

Chuck moves to stand beside me. “You are y/n, and I have one more surprise for you,” he says, looking at me from my side. I turn to face him. “You know how dangerous this world is, and even though I know you know how to kill everything, you’re not a hunter,” he says softly. “And as I’m sure you can imagine, I don’t have a chance if you die. When I touched your forehead, I made you immortal.”

I take a step back, trying to understand. “What— what do you mean immortal?” I ask, trying to take in everything that has happened to me in the last two hours. “Like, I can’t be killed?

Chuck nods his head slowly. “Yes, exactly like that. Nothing in this world can kill you. You can still be hurt,” he clarifies. “But you can’t be killed. Not by any weapons that exist in this world. You can’t be smited or possessed by angels or demons either.”

“Does that mean I’ll live forever? Like longer than anyone here?” I ask nervously.

I didn’t ask for that.

Chuck pulls a small vial from his pocket, a silver chain connected to it to make a necklace. “As long as you wish to live,” he hands the vial necklace to me. The small vial contains a shimmery, white liquid that feels warm to the touch. “In this vial is a very small amount of my grace, my power. It’s only good for one wish. Whatever that wish may be, anything you could ever want or dream of. Whether it is to be mortal again, or to go back home, or to save a life,” he raises a single finger.

“But only once. The amount inside is just enough for one wish. Hold it close, y/n. You won’t get a second one,” he says sternly.

I put the necklace over my head, tucking the small vial inside of my shirt. “Why are you being so nice?” I ask him curiously, hoping I don’t offend him.

Chuck places a hand on my shoulder. “I told you. I want to be better this time around. I want to be a kind and loving God, and I want people to trust me. I want you to trust me.”

I nod my head slowly. “As long as you hold up your end of the deal, I’ll hold up mine,” I say, watching his kind expression falter for just a second before he smiles again and nods his head.

Chuck turns towards the house. “One last thing, y/n,” he says. In this world, I wanted to make it easier for you to adjust and easier for you to be welcomed,” he sighs. While you’re here, I made it so Bobby is expecting you.”

My eyes scrunch in confusion as I wait for him to explain. “As far as anyone here is concerned, yes, you are from your world. However, he knows that you’re the daughter of the man who plays him in your world.”

“What?!” I hiss in disbelief. “Why would you do that?!”

“Like I said. To make it easier for them to accept you. You know they wouldn’t trust you if you just knocked on the door and said God sent you to change the fate of their entire universe, with absolutely no real connection to them besides watching them on TV,” Chuck explains. And as much as I don’t want to admit it, he’s right. I’m just worried they’ll find out the kind of man my dad was.

Chuck nods towards the house. “It’s time, y/n, it’s time for you to start your journey. If you ever need me, just pray, and I’ll come,” he smiles before disappearing before my very eyes.

I take a deep breath, pinching my arm to make sure I’m not dreaming. Pulling the bag up my shoulder, I walk up the gravel driveway to Bobby’s front door.

How will he react when he meets me? Will he trust me?

Why would he? He has no reason to. I’m a stranger to him.

He’ll probably kill me. Or, at least, try to. Chuck said I can’t die, but isn’t that suspicious?

I step up onto the porch, my shaky hand clenching as I knock on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

The seconds that pass as I wait for an answer feel like hours. And in those seconds, I contemplate just turning around and running away.

Isn’t just being in this universe enough? I could start over, write my novels from scratch, and republish them. Dark romance isn’t really a big thing yet. I could be one of the firsts.

That option starts to sound like a really good idea. But as I turn around to walk back down the porch steps, the door opens behind me. All of the air feels sucked out of my lungs as I hear a gruff voice behind me speak.

“Can I help you?” Bobby’s gruff voice sounding confused but kind.

I slowly turn around to face him. Taking in the fact that he’s actually right in front of me, that he’s alive.

His furrowed brows relax before raising his forehead, and he sucks in a breath of his own, opening the door wider. “My God,” he says softly. “Y/n?” He asks.

I clutch the strap of my duffle bag tightly, nodding my head slowly. “That’s me,” I respond, trying to take in the fact he’s saying my name.

Bobby steps out onto the porch, taking a few steps closer to me before he smiles and wraps his arms around me tightly. The scent of old books and motor oil fills my nose before he pulls back and puts his rough hands on my shoulders. “Sorry, it’s just so crazy to me that you’re actually here in front of me. My flesh and blood,” he says proudly.

My stomach feels tied in knots. This man is the complete opposite of the man my father is. Where Jim is cold and off-putting, Bobby is warm and inviting. I still remember the day my birth father left me in the dust to my own devices.

Three Years Ago

“Hey, Dad, do you have a minute?” I asked cautiously as I knocked on the door to his office in the den.

My father cleared his throat. “What do you want?” He asked in an annoyed tone.

I pushed open the door and walked inside, clutching the finished copy of my first novel to my chest. I walk slowly to the end of his desk. “I finished my novel,” I say softly. He groans and rolls his eyes before meeting mine, holding out his hand for me to hand it to him without a word.

My father flips through the pages, barely spending five minutes to look through all three hundred pages of it before he closes it and places it on his desk. My hands shake as I wait for his opinion. It shouldn’t matter to me as much as it does. My father is the hardest person to please.

“It could be better,” he says flatly before opening his laptop again. I try to control the rage that floods through my veins and the disappointment that stabs into my heart like an icicle. “How long did it take you to write it?”

I clench my fists at my sides, willing the tears of frustration I want to cry to stay back. “Six months,” I say through gritted teeth.

He scoffs and shakes his head. “A little slow for someone who claims to love to write. The writers on set write that many pages, more than three episodes in a month,” he chastises. “Honestly y/n. You’re wasting your time wanting to be behind the screen when your mother and I worked so hard so you could get in front of it. Ridiculous.

“I don’t want to be on the screen, though. I’m more comfortable writing. I like expressing myself on the page,” I shoot back defensively.

He slams his hand on the desk, making me jump. He’s never hit me before, but I don’t like it when he does it. “You are so damn ungrateful. Do you know how many young women would kill to have the opportunities you have?! Your mother and I provided a good life for you. Gave you everything you ever asked for and everything you could ever want, and you want to squander it. For what? A few shitty pages of a novel that will never see the light of day?!” He throws the pages of my book over the desk, the papers scattering across the floor.

I can’t contain my anger anymore. I’m fed up with his narcissism. “Then I’ll publish it on my own! I don’t need you or your publisher or even your damn name on the acknowledgments! I’m done!” I yell back, finally standing my ground.

My father pushes back his chair, rising to his feet. “Then get out! Get out of my house until you find some sense!” He yells, pointing to the door. “I mean it! Out!”

I run out of his office, leaving behind the scattered pages of my book as I run upstairs and pack a suitcase. I pack only what I can fit inside of it, leaving everything else behind. I open my safe, grab the ten thousand dollars in cash that I keep there for emergencies, and stuff it into my purse.

After I left, I got a job working as a waitress in a small town. With the cash I took from my safe, I was able to rent a small one-bed, one-bath cottage home and get an old beater from a used car lot. I never touched my inheritance account, never even checked it. I meant what I said about doing it on my own. Screw him.

Present

“Y/n? Y/n? Are you okay?” Bobby asks me, his brows furrowed with a worried expression on his face.

I nod my head, pushing back the memories of my old life. I don’t want to re-live them anymore. “Yeah, yeah, I’m okay. It’s really nice to meet you, too,” I say softly, giving him a small smile. “Sorry, it’s just still hard for me to believe I’m actually here.”

Bobby laughs and nods his head. “The feeling is mutual kiddo. You want to come inside?” He asks, pointing to the front door with his thumb.

I nod my head once. “Sure, I’d like that. Thank you,” I say softly, clutching my duffle nervously.

Bobby leads the way, opening the door and holding it open for me. I look around, feeling like I already know the house. It’s exactly like the way it looked on TV; part of me feels like I’m simply walking around a set.

“It’s not much, but it’s home,” Bobby says, rubbing his head before putting his trucker hat back on his head.

“I love it,” I say, turning to smile at him.

Bobby smiles and nods his head. “I set up a room for you. I’ll let you get settled in, and then I figured I could fire up the grill. You like burgers?” He asks, leading me up the stairs.

“I love burgers. That’d be really nice. Thank you for welcoming me into your home,” I say politely as he opens the door to a spare bedroom.

Bobby chuckles. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s your home to now,” he says as he steps into the room with me as I set my bag down on the bed. “Listen, kiddo, I know I wasn’t the best dad in the other universe to you, but… I hope I can be a better one in this one. But if you don’t want to have another dad or a dad, or Christ, I don’t know. I’m sorry this is all just so strange.”

I smile softly. “Listen, um… Bobby… Is it okay if I call you Bobby?” I ask nervously. He nods, and I continue. “To me, you and Jim are two entirely different people, in the best way possible. It’s just hard for me because he threw me out at nineteen… Kind of like John did to Sam. Actually, exactly like that,” I explain. “I know you and Jim are entirely different people, so I feel like it’d be best if we just start slow. Try to figure out what it is that’s going on first.”

Bobby sighs in relief. “That sounds great. ’Cause I gotta level with you. I have no idea how to be a dad,” he chuckles.

“So let’s just start with dinner,” I say with a smile.

Bobby nods and smiles back. “Sounds good, kiddo. I’ll be out back when you’re ready.” He says before exiting my new bedroom.

I sigh in relief, examining my new room as I put my things away. Wondering what Sam and Dean are up to. Wondering if Lucifer is still in Cas. If I should call Cas ‘Cas,’ or if he’d prefer Castiel. Wondering if Jack’s been born yet.

But one thing is certain: I won’t let Chuck almost ruin the entire world again.

That’s for damn sure.

Chapter Three

[vampirehizzies]

🎵 pls 🥺

i was going to actually write for treemina djats au but i got lazy so here take what's been sitting in my wip draft for chapter 2 for weeks <3 warning for slight tiktok bashing

--------

THE SECRET OF LAMINA ABRAMS: A BIOGRAPHY by Persephone Price

Although they would ultimately become well known for their electric chemistry and the fierce bond that inspired such vivacious, passionate music, it wasn't all smooth sailing. In fact, Miss Abrams distinctly recalls that the band had not welcomed her with open arms as one would believe. "I understood their distrust, of course," the star conceded with a bright, knowing smile. "Just as I understood that I would have to prove myself to earn their confidence. To perform with The Covey, to perform with Treech... it was an opportunity that I would not let slip from my grasp." The world remains thankful that she tirelessly fought to earn a place alongside them onstage.

--

If Sejanus Plinth was expecting a chorus of celebratory cheers echoing throughout the studio, he was unfortunately to be disappointed. The members of The Covey instead stared owlishly at him with varying expressions, ranging from dubious boredom and neutrality to annoyance and slight curiosity.

Mizzen, at 19, only cared to update the band's Instagram and be an extra body on the small tour bus Plinth Records had assigned to them, grateful for the benefits that his bond with Coral provided him. The kid's priorities were understandably limited to proving his usefulness and enjoying the privilege of being kept under his older sister's wing.

Or, at least, they all allowed him to believe he earned his keep, because he was more or less a sweet, enthusiastic teenager, invigorated by a life on the road and charming the jaded, cynical group of twenty-somethings who had been through the trenches of adulthood with his boundless optimism. There was also the fact that everyone had the sense not to question Mizzen's place, for fear of provoking Coral's temper, an alarming side effect of her admirably fierce protectiveness.

Lucy Gray was easily adaptable and more than eager to share her talent, so long as she retained the spotlight that was naturally a lead singer's domain. Treech had his own doubts, of course, but respected all that Mr Plinth had done for them and was willing to put his reservations aside. Brandy and Tanner accepted the fact that they had little say in the band's affairs, anyway, despite Mr Plinth's claim that this was a democracy - a statement which had earned him a wild, taunting grin from Coral, who knew damn well that she called the shots.

Predictably, Coral's mouth widened in that same shark-tooth beam she had become infamous for, a vicious grin that only ever seemed to soften for her little brother. It was clear to everyone involved that the temperamental woman was anything but happy, despite her misleading expression. She leaned back arrogantly in her seat, legs spread out in a strange show of dominance, her elbows propped up onto the table that functioned as a gathering spot, both for professional meetings and as a place where the band played card games on their downtime.

"Now, tell me," she began, voice low and dangerous, advising Mr Plinth to tread lightly and with an abundance of caution, "why exactly would we want a collaboration with fresh blood? Does the baby musician even have an album out yet? Or is she one of those talentless hacks on TikTok who become famous for their pretty faces and excessive abuse of auto tune?"

Treech decided not to comment, knowing when to pick his battles when it came to Coral. The truth was, he also often found himself wincing when the latest new trendy pop star inevitably turned out to be a model-gorgeous influencer with good looks and little musical skill, poorly off key and obviously aided by extensive technology use. It was that type of "creator" (both male and female, he pointed out to fend off accusations of misogyny from Brandy, who was always eager to pick a fight with him) unfortunately saturating the music industry, which nowadays prioritized a song's ability to be repurposed into a 30 second TikTok background track rather than its quality, passion, emotion.

However, he was careful not to write off all TikTokers as shallow and superficial, because the world wasn't that simple as the people addicted to hatred and finger-pointing wanted to believe. The Covey owed much of their success to Mizzen's networking skills on a broad range of social media platforms, and several members of their fan base had contributed to their growing popularity by posting video clips of their performances at nightclubs and cafes.

For all of its faults and the aggravating trends of misinformation that ran rampant on the app, Treech knew that it had some redeemable qualities. While he didn't entirely disagree with Coral, Treech had to fight back the impulse to come to the defense of that stupid app.

He bit his tongue, even as withholding the truth of his opinion left an acidic taste crawling down his throat, bitter like the straight vodka Coral and Brandy always seemed to enjoy after a show. (The memory of the women swapping a bottle of the vulgar, barely drinkable clear fluid back and forth, throwing their heads back until their necks were exposed and laughing manically at the bitter taste, still made Treech shudder, as did the traumatizing incident of having come back to the studio later to retrieve his forgotten jacket only to find them engaged in a heated makeout.)

Mr Plinth, face blank and giving away nothing, seemed unfazed by Coral's hostility, which was something that made Treech both greatly respect and fear for the man. "This baby musician, as you call her, works with an old friend of mine over at Capitol Records. She might be a newcomer, but my friend believes that she shows great promise and future potential. I am inclined to trust his instincts that a collaborative project would benefit all parties."

His polite, smooth cadence, meant to placate Coral and subdue her into acceptance, did no such thing. Treech often found that the poor man underestimated Coral's pride, her overwhelming need to be in control. It was clear she was gearing up to continue the argument, but much to everyone's surprise, it was Lucy Gray who intervened, gliding over in smooth, graceful movements and gently placing a hand on the girl's elbow.

Treech could only observe, mildly perplexed, as Lucy Gray whispered some indecipherable words in the belligerent woman's ear, her dark brown curls obscuring her face as she spoke. What was even more surprising was that Lucy Gray's touch had a visibly calming effect on Coral, and she seemed to relax into the contact, her eyes no longer glittering with malice.

He had little time to examine what that was about, because after listening to their lead singer, Coral continued her interrogation of Mr Plinth, although less combative, and with her hand resting on Lucy Gray's where it remained clutching her elbow. "Well, at least tell us a little more about this mystery new artist we're supposed to link ourselves up with. Convince me she's worth it," she challenged. Although well-hidden and an almost minute, unnoticeable detail, Treech's attention still snagged on the way Lucy Gray ran her fingers slightly down Coral's arm, as if to soothe her, and observed how her heavy breathing evened out in response.

It was bewildering, Lucy Gray's talents of bewitching just about anyone, ensnaring even the coldest of people with her beguiling charm. Of course, this did not extend to Brandy, an onlooker who regarded the scene with narrowed eyes and an impatient huff. Treech's eyes darted to the Southern girl's twin brother, who retained the bliss of ignorance, apathetically twirling his drum sticks with a repetitive twitch of his fingers.

"You will not be disappointed," Mr Plinth promised cheerily. Coral still seemed doubtful, and even Treech wasn't so quick to accept some random newcomer into their band that, even with its occasional bouts of infighting, had become a tight-knit group and something of a family to him.

As if sensing their wary hesitance, Mr Plinth retrieved several Ziploc baggies from the mini fridge humming quietly in a corner of the room, one that served as a stockpile of fuel for late night songwriting and recording. "I have sandwiches for everyone!" A clear attempt at a peace offering. Despite the man's best intentions, Treech sometimes wondered if they were more a wolf pack to be tamed by his attempts of kindness rather than musicians on equal footing with their producer.

Well, he wasn't one to turn down a free sandwich. Treech politely accepted a PB&J with a grateful nod, relishing in how the two liquid-like substances combined on his tongue. Once sandwiches were distributed to the band members, all of whom proved rather ravenous - especially Mizzen, even though he was long past the trappings of puberty - their producer began the work of convincing them all to embrace this new creative direction. Really, Treech would have preferred the pretenses be dropped, since it always came down to Coral's decisions on the matter, and even her own brother wasn't extended the courtesy of being allowed to give his input.

"She did, in fact, get her start on TikTok," Mr Plinth began, which prompted a disdainful snort from Coral and a skeptical raising of her dark red eyebrows. "Have a little faith, Miss Gilbert. The girl has an excellent voice with great potential, and my friend, Pup, has a unique ability to spot talent. He wouldn't just pick up any so called influencer off the street. Why don't you look her up, see for yourself?"

The polished, well groomed man pulled out an expensive looking phone from his suit pocket. Most likely due to Mr Plinth's well adjusted attitude, Treech always forgot how well off the man was - at least, compared to the band who had been forced to adjust to unforgiving rent and restrictive expenses that confined them to the cheapest housing they could find that would accommodate this number of people.

Mr Plinth had never faced that sort of issue, especially since the wealthy record label was founded by his father, Strabo Plinth, and passed on to him upon his retirement. There were many instances when the band members found it difficult not to be amused by Mr Plinth's guilt over his inheritance, or, as a kid of Mizzen's generation would call it, "nepo baby" status.

They all gathered around their producer, straining to see such a small screen especially when seven people meant to look at it. Soon, the loading circle was replaced with the image of a hauntingly pale girl with sweet features and round eyes that seemed vulnerable and innocent, her face framed by thick red tresses, neatly brushed out and held back by a dark purple headband. Treech was suddenly aware of a tingling sensation deep underneath his skin, something nagging at him, a knowing he desperately grasped at even as he failed to recall its source.

Her lips parted, and she began to sing, the notes hitting at all the right places, a melodious sound, so exquisite it made him crave more. Treech recognized this warm feeling exploding behind his rib cage and washing over him like nectar, and he was also astoundingly certain he recognized her.

As the girl sang, her voice filled the entire room, and they all remained quiet so as not to disturb the musician on Mr Plinth's screen. Even Coral was taken aback, stunned into reluctant admiration. The video came to an end, and once Treech was finally able to tear his gaze away from the elusive TikToker - an immediate, deep sense of loss invaded him, and he longed to see more of her, assaulted by his own terrible need - he could see that even stubborn, infuriating Coral was impressed by what she had just seen.

Tanner and Mizzen, while releasing identical appreciative whistles, didn't seem to care one way or another, which was to be expected from the two of them. While the kid scurried off to engage in whatever it is teenagers found entertaining nowadays (brushing past Tanner, who grunted something along the lines of "watch it, fetus" under his breath), with eerily mouse-like movements, the Texan twins murmured to each other in their own personal bubble of side conversation, and Coral seemed to be wordlessly communicating with Lucy Gray. Treech was left on his own to stare off into the distance, still recovering from the clip of the girl's voice and reeling with the knowledge that he might give anything to hear it again.

Now if only he could simply figure out where he had seen her before.

[aseriesofunfortunatejan]

Common VOICEVOX Humming troubleshooting advice for Westerners

Or "commonly asked questions". As of writing this, VOICEVOX is only available in Japanese, which makes looking for parameters and information difficult if you... don't... speak that language.

VOICEVOX is a Japanese open-source text-to-speech program. Since late 2023-January 2024, it features a singing synthesis feature with the particularity of allowing TTS voicebanks to sing. This is called VOICEVOX Humming. Though it is sometimes used to describe the general singing feature, VOICEVOX Song typically refers to voicebanks recorded specifically for singing - of which there is currently only one, being Namine Ritsu.

First and foremost - how do I turn on dark mode?

At the top of the window, click 設定 (Settings) then the last option, オプション (Options).

Scroll down until you get to 外観 (Appearance). In テーマ (Theme), click ダーク (Dark) as shown.

It will change as soon as you click the button.

How do I open a project file?

VOICEVOX Song supports a lot more project files than when it was in beta! At the top of the window, click ファイル (File) then the second option, インポート (Import).

Then, click インポートするファイル (File to import).

Select your file. Then, if applicable, choose the track you'd like to import. As of writing, VOICEVOX can only read one track at a time.

When you've selected your track, click the インポート (Import) button in the bottom right of the pop-up.

Can VOICEVOX read romaji?

Not currently, no. If you enter a character VOICEVOX won't read, that section will be highlighted in red and the character won't sing it.

I opened a file or entered some notes and the singing sounds all weird!

And other such cases.

Make sure you're in the singer's recommended range.

This is set yet again at the top of the window, in 音域調整 (Range adjustment). As of the current version, it should be set automatically whenever you select a voicebank, but if it doesn't sound or look right, double-check.

Here is a guide of from March 2024.

Once that's set - let's take a look at the automatic pitch tuning to see if it's in the right place.

This time, you'll want to click the graph-looking icon at the top right of the window.

What da hell... No wonder our friend Ryuusei sounds all weird. The notes and pitch are in two different octaves.

All that's left to do is to move your notes to the right octave, which in Ryuusei's case, is lower than the file I opened. For that, you'll need to click the pianoroll icon right next to that graph-looking one to exit out of pitch editing. Select all your notes (Ctrl+A does it) and move your selection up or down with your cursor, like you'd move any note.

Or you know, once you know Ryuusei sings in C3 range, just enter your notes there next time.

If you're not happy with the sound, you can try playing around with those parameters, or editing the pitch, or trying that voicebank's other emotions.

How do I export my wonderful creation?

At the top of the screen, click ファイル (File) then the first option, 音声を出力 (Audio output). Simple as that.