#someday i'll learn how to play guitar... maybe

[rinahasjelly]

RAAHHH MORE PERSONA ART!!! (I know these don't to well, but ehh I like drawing it so idc)

[twistedchatterbox]

New voicemail

summary: sappy boys being mushy over the phone for you. ft.Riddle, Cater, Vil, Idia tags. Female reader, No Spoilers, Fluff, Cheesy Sappy Lovey Dovey Romance, Slice of life, Spice of life, Smitten Vil, Lovesick Riddle, Cater sings for you, anniversary date with idia, copious use of petnames, no beta we overblot like men.

Wordcount; 1520+ | Masterlist & Taglist

Riddle has cleared his throat thrice, drank water and mentally rehearsed what he wanted to say for this voicemail; however once he hit record, none of that really mattered. "Hi," he whispered, the nearly overwhelming happiness in was audible, it nearly spoke for him. Thinking about the silliness of it, the dormwarden laughed, giggly at the mishap, it really was unavoidable anyway. Riddle took a breather, sighing in a relieved and relaxed manner, "Hi" he whispered with a wide grin, one you would hear vividly, openly adoring, "I missed you." "I missed you so, so much; I want to spend time with you- If you'd have me, we could study together once the exam subjects are announced, if you want to." Riddle murmured, twirling one of the longer locks of hair framing his face with his idle hand; eyes closed, envisioning it. "And then, we could go on a date." He hummed, would you like a cafe date? Karaoke? The aquariu- Well, maybe not the aquarium. Maybe he could take you out on a walk to the district nearby of the internships he picked out, but that sounded too serious. So, a cafe would suffice for now. He would check Cater's magicam page, namely his older posts to see some of the calmer, more relaxing places he could take you to. "What do you think? Let me know once you see- or i suppose hear- this, my lovely." "bye-bye, I love you." And suddenly, time couldn't pass fast enough. ...He supposes he could write his own written permit to stay over, it's not as if anyone could stop him; you had always been ecstatic to see him use the loopholes of rules to be a good boyfriend, after all.

Cater leap onto his bed, giddy and giggly, rolling back and forth while occasionally kicking his feet like a schoolgirl. Lightly smushing and slapping his face with both of his own hands to calm down, he sighs, hugging one of his pillows, looking idly around his room. A love song. He had been giddy and sappy because he heard a love song, it sounded so much like the essence of you. He has already begun memorizing the lyrics, so that he could sing it, maybe he'd learn to play it too. it made him so happy. You made him so happy. He loves you- and he sighs, you really ought to start paying rent someday for living in his head all the time, and his heart too. And then he thought, what if he.. sung, for you? Well that suddenly made him anxious, but ecstatic, he was such a nerve wreck. but it was good. and overwhelming. Cater curses the lack of logistics in him. He thinks back to the comment lingering in the back of his mind, he knows why he's even thought of this- "I love it when you sing" you said, cuddling up to his neck, leaning on him, on his bed, sitting on his lap while he sung a simple tune of a song as he was practicing on his guitar. It was his favourite, his sisters hated it. and you loved it. And Cater soaked it up like a sponge, like a golden retriever, if you will; fetching his phone fast, so that he could do this before his dumb insecurities could catch up to him. Sweater weather. "All I am is a man I want the world in my hands I hate the beach But I stand in California with my toes in the sand Use the sleeves of my sweater Let's have an adventure Head in the clouds but my gravity's centered Touch my neck and I'll touch yours You in those little high waisted shorts, oh-" Cater felt the song and your hands crawl up his body like phantom touch as he sung. it was ticklish, making him end the song halfway with a breathless chuckle and a dumb smile, he knew you could hear it in his tone, but he didn't mind at all. He hoped one day, you'd get to grasp how precious you are to him; he loves you, and he loves everything you love too, somehow inlove with the way you do too. The word doesn't make sense anymore, but it really does too. He feels a lot like love with you, yeah, Cater laughed; it really shouldn't make sense, but he's so thankful it does. Looking back at his phone, he records his final piece. "I love you, princess." Sent. ...And maybe, he grinned- "Meet me in my room for the full piece, maybe? I could pick you up~" Sent.

Vil laid down in bed, normally he wouldn't do so until it was time to sleep, yet he knew he'd cave into something far more off-schedule if he didn't. He laughed, it truly was bizarre; Vil Schoenheit, the renowned actor was missing his girlfriend. That, it was the entire reason. The cause of his simple complicated mood. Well, he knew that if he called you it could get you in trouble; perhaps you were in class, or working on something, he couldn't interrupt you without being a hypocrite. But. Vil eyed his phone on the night stand, maybe he could do something. A playful grin rose on his gorgeous features, mischief, rarely shown in a not overly elegant manner. Vil couldn't give a damn. He reached out and swiped his phone, opening it swiftly and admiring your contacts information. "The love of my life." it made him smile, he was so indecisive about what kind of nickname would fit; he did not want to jinx this by being overly cliche and being soft or off-character, until you so naturally, casually reminded him that for as long as he's off stage, then he's supposed to be off-character. No one besides himself, and you, that's all he really needs. He sighed dreamily, hitting record. "Hi, my beauty, my muse, my dove," Vil chuckled to himself, "My, my my, haa.. I missed your presence so much, if only you knew." He tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear, closing his eyes, "Lets remedy this once you are available, okay? We could have a spa day, or, if you can, I can ask my management to pick you up so that you can accompany me for the entire day..." "It's been a while since we got to spend the entire day together, side by side" That was a goddamn lie. "Maybe you can make up to me by joining me on a day-long date and night time spa?" You slept in his room and woke up side by side every day already.

"Let me know when you're free, my dove; " He blew a kiss, a soft click of his lips, "I love you."

Idia sighed, drinking down the cup of water, staring at the mirror reflection of himself on the screen of his phone. "The things I do for you" he thought with a softened, pleased smile. Calming, it was accurate to describe the affect you had on him when he thought of you. Sure he flared up into life from the power of anxiety, love, nerves and his traitorous color changing flame hair the second you stepped foot into 6ft of his physical area of existance, but he had come around to relax so much more as your relationship developed. This will be just another milestone, he said, time will pass either way, he told himself, better do it now than miss a limited edition chance. Idia averted his gaze as he pressed the record button, "uh- Hey, hi, " he fake-coughed into his hoodies sleeves, tugging on the strings of said hoodie with his idle hand. "I missed you, so" He shrugged, mentally smacking himself upside down the head for doing something you had no chance to hear. "So i decided to leave a voice message- Come visit me once you can, okay? I'll order your favourites too, if you want. Or we could cook together, I dunno'," Idia glanced back, looking momenterily at your contact picture, it was one he took while you two were out on a date. Outside for your half-year anniversary, a year ago now. That gave him an idea, making him grin. "I know instant noodles aren't always your thing so I'll treat us to something nice," He 'hummed', pretending to ponder. "..I could take us to that ramen place, maybe? I..I-I think it was nice last year." Idia said, stuttering at the last bit, yet carrying on. "Let me know what you think." "I love you." He said, it was only natural, as everything lovely seemed to be when it came to you. Idia fist bumped the air, letting out a happy victory sound; that actually went perfectly?!- He couldn't help but laugh, loudly and absolutely thrilled, ecstatic. He jumps into his bed and screams into his pillow; Idia sighs, relaxing as if he just ran a marathon (his heart sure did, to be fair.) and a closed eye-d smile made its way to his face without any resistance "I love her so much.." You always make him so happy.

[prongsfish]

thank you @fandom-trash-goblin for the tag!!

1. Are you named after anyone? nope :)

2. When was the last time you cried? i'm not sure actually, but definitely within the last 24h. i cry very easily

3. Do you have kids? noooo. i'd say i'm too young but actually i'm not all that far off from how old my mum was jeez... i don't exactly plan on following her lead in that though, she was quite young and atm i don't ever plan on having kids. i don't think i'd be a very good parent and i don't think i'll ever be ready to make a commitment that big.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot? i do sometimes but i'm not a very dry type of sarcastic, i usually over-exaggerate to extremes

5. What sports do you play/have you played? i played netball as a kid but i'm not very sporty... i also played a bit of volleyball in hs

6. What’s the first thing you notice about other people? i'm not sure honestly. just, their appearance i guess? i have a bad habit of judging people very quickly based on their appearance and other similarly shallow factors, so i guess the first thing i "notice" is just whatever category i put them in inside of my head

7. Scary movies or happy endings? these are two entirely seperate things, but in general my favourite movies have ambiguous or bittersweet endings so probably scary movies? i don't watch a lot of horror because i prioritise an impactful story over anything else and i don't like realistic scary stories, but i like general scary atmospheres and some of my favourite pieces of media are horror (donnie darko, the haunting of hill house)

8. Any special talents? not really? idk, there are things i'm good at, but not any interesting talents that come to mind

9. Where were you born? australia. that's the most specific you're getting sorry

10. What are your hobbies? doomscrolling, listening to pretentious music, consuming + talking about media, reading/writing fanfic, drawing, and... not much else really lol. i don't do much, and there are more things i'd like to do but i barely have time to do the hobbies i already have lmao. maybe someday i'll finally learn guitar...

11. Do you have any pets? none of my own but sue me i still think of the family pets as my pets, so two dogs and three cats :)

12. All-time fave piece of media? this is an insane question but okay uhh. i seriously don't know if i can choose... i think i have to say the social network, it's my favourite movie. normal people by sally rooney is close behind (the book, i haven't seen the show yet)

13. Fave subject in school? i pretty much hated everything until i understood what was going on and then i loved it until i didn't again, rinse and repeat. but probably economics or english lit!

14. Dream job? realistically, i'm on track to becoming something in finance, probably a financial advisor or an accountant of some kind. that's kind of my "dream" field because i've been set on it since i was like 13/14, and i enjoy it! but it's definitely a compromise between enjoyment and money. for a real dream job? if i had my way i'd be a uhh professional analytical thought haver. thesis statement writer, perhaps. unfortunately it seems like there is no demand for that kind of career so i will just stick with finance LMAO

15. Eye colour? brown

no pressure tags: @crackeds0b @xeme-starx @sapphos-queer-kid

[strawglicks]

Sorry for the ramble in your inbox incoming- I'm a really huge fan of your analysis type posts like the ones about Cathal and recently Flint ;A; So I hope its ok to maybe throw in my own 2 cents about Cogs/their society- (Sorry this gets rambly I thought about this last night and writing this like an hour after waking up lol)

I think what alot of people kind of (I wouldnt say ignore- more of:) don't really get is that I dont believe characters like Cathal or Flint have bad tendencies because they really want to in a way, (I kind of worded that poorly but point is) but because their society rewards and encourages that type of behavior. I think you said something kind of similar on Cathals post- But especially for Flint, whose a Bossbot (Who are literally the embodiment of a toxic workplace and elitism. I believe a old snippet from the TTO magazines says "They have no real skills of their own, just the ability to push down others and stay on top!" Or something to that nature.) he has to be demanding and imposing. There is no benefit to him in being kind. (Like looking at Misty for example) And don't get me wrong I don't believe that if Flint and Cathal were removed from Cog society they'd be better/objectively nicer (Like Flint not being condescending to Toons and Cathal not making people do things for him and being encouraged to try) But I do wonder how much of it is pressure, or how much of it is egged on and rewarded. Atleast in the aspects it relates to how they treat others.

(..And also I wonder what happens to Cogs that don't get jobs and are seen as ..not functioning. Since Graham was freaking the hell out in "Meeting Of Two Minds" over the possibility of not getting the job. I have a whole thing about this actually in my oc lore but thats another thing entirely I'll write about someday I swear)

Also I gasped when I saw the doodle of Graham in the MSI shirt finally a MSI listener Graham truther. I think he'd like the album "How I Learned To" and of course "You'll Rebel To Anything". I associate him mainly with the songs "Lights Out", "On It", and "You're No Fun Anymore" :p (This has been my favorite band since I was like 13 and now I get to spill all my opinions xD) I always imagined him doing the guitar backbend their bassist does! And my final hc is that Flint plays bass and Graham plays the main guitar. I think it fits them .. some people overlook bass when its actually pretty hard to learn from what I hear and vital to the song. (Like heres Feel Good Inc w/o the bass.. feels wrong x_x)

Anyways thanks for reading ;A; take care and happy new year!

RAHHHH EATING THIS UP YUM YUM YUM YES YES YOU GET IT

THe biggest issue with Cogs Inc is that it REWARDS and ENCOURAGES these poor behaviors, worsening these characters as people. ESPECIALLY cathal considering the position of power they’re in. I’m sure it applies to a ton of other cogs too, but unfortunately I haven’t gotten to them yet bc I’m not as insane abt them . LMAO

And yeah since cogs are literally built for work, it’s a wonder what happens to those who can’t find a job as easily as others. Hoping that gets built on since it’s clear in MOTM that these cogs have to actually apply and go to interviews and probably face some trial and error to land a job, just like people IRL.

ALSO. THE BAND HCS. I love it and you’re SOOOO RIGHT about the backbend that is so grahamcore. And yes I’m pretty sure Flint does play bass, I think his creator mailman said smth abt that on their blog . AND IM SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP FEEL GOOD INC bc i did draw flint in a demon days shirt in that same animatic . And ive def drawn them in the same shirt a couple times in the past too . I’ve always imagined him to be a Gorillaz fan, maybe graham too

Anyway ty for these thoughts im eating them up and leaving no crumbs . I love when ppl come to ramble in my inbox bc discussing this stuff IS SO FUN and a good outlet for me esp when i might be having art burnout rn .

[cadaverre]

wilby: hi salmon

salmon: Hey there, Wilby. How's it going?

salmon: It's always nice to see you by the stream, you know? You've got some pretty cool hair, for a human.

wilby: thanks, i try. i like your fins too, they're really shiny. so, uh, listen, i wanted to ask you something…

Narrator: A blush begins to creep up on Wilby's cheeks as they stammer out their question. Their eyes dart back and forth between the salmon and their hands, nervously playing with the strings of their guitar.

wilby: I… I was wondering if you'd want to… you know�� go out with me sometime? Like, maybe just hang out or something?

salmon: Oh, well, that's… that's sweet of you to ask, Wilby. But I'm afraid I'm not really the dating type. You see, I'm a salmon. And as a salmon, my life is dedicated to swimming upstream, finding a mate, and then dying. It's sort of built into my DNA.

Narrator: The salmon offers a sympathetic smile, hoping to make Wilby feel better. But the human streamer looks crestfallen at the rejection. The salmon continues, trying to find the right words.

salmon: However, if you'd just like to hang out, maybe play some songs together or something, I'd be happy to do that. You're a pretty cool human, and it'd be nice to get to know you better. Is that something you'd be interested in?

wilby: Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks, salmon.

Narrator: Wilby perks up at the salmon's offer, a genuine smile returning to their face. They nod enthusiastically, glad to have found some common ground with the fish.

wilby: Cool! Well, I'm free most evenings, so whenever you're in the mood to hang out, just let me know. And don't worry about me being too disappointed about the whole dating thing. I understand how nature works, you know

salmon: Well, thank you, Wilby. I appreciate that. And it's nice to know that I have a friend in you, even if it's not in the way I might have hoped for. We'll just have to see where this friendship takes us, hmm?

wilby: Sounds good to me. Hey, listen, I'm about to stream some Minecraft and some guitar playing. You want to stop by and say hi? Maybe we can do some singing together or something. Just a thought.

salmon: That actually sounds like fun! I've always been curious about your streaming and music. Sure, I'd love to drop by and hang out while you play. It's the least I can do as your fishy friend.

Narrator: The salmon swims closer to Wilby, its fins gracefully parting the water. It hovers near the streamer, watching with interest as they tune their guitar and prepare to begin their stream. After a few moments, the salmon gathers its courage and speaks up.

salmon: You know, Wilby, you're really good at that guitar. I mean, I've never really been into music, but even I can tell that you have some real talent there. And your singing… Well, let's just say it's growing on me.

wilby: Aw, shucks, you're making me blush. Thanks, I appreciate that. I've always loved playing and singing. And you know, if you ever want to learn how to play anything, I'd be happy to teach you. I mean, maybe we could even play together sometime.

salmon: That's very kind of you, Wilby. You know, I've always been curious about music and learning to play an instrument. Maybe someday I'll take you up on that offer. In the meantime, why don't we just enjoy our time together, hanging out and doing what we both love?

Narrator: Wilby grins, nodding in agreement. They begin to stream, with the salmon swimming gracefully beside them, occasionally nudging them to continue with encouragement. As the hours pass, they lose track of time, becoming completely engrossed in their music and each other's company. The atmosphere between them feels comfortable and warm, like old friends who have known each other for years.

wilby: So, salmon, you know that offer I made about teaching you how to play an instrument? Well, I meant it. And since we've been having so much fun together, I thought maybe we could start with that. Whenever you're ready, just let me know.

salmon: That's very thoughtful of you, Wilby. You know, I've always wanted to learn how to play something, but I never had anyone to teach me. You're a really great teacher, and I think it'd be a lot of fun to spend more time with you like this. And who knows? Maybe one day we could even go on that date you mentioned.

Narrator: Wilby's heart swells at the salmon's words. They're glad that they've been able to create such a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for the fish, and it feels good to know that they've made a genuine connection. The thought of teaching the salmon to play an instrument and spending even more time with them is thrilling. And who knows? Maybe one day they'll actually get to go on that date they've been talking about.

wilby: Aw, shucks, you're making me blush again. I'd love to teach you, and I think it'd be a blast to spend more time together. And as for that date… Well, let's just say I'd be honored to take you on one, whenever you're ready. Just let me know what you have in mind, and we can make it happen.

salmon: Well, I've always wanted to try sushi. I know it's a bit unusual for a fish, but I've heard it's really good. And since we're both musicians, we could maybe find a cool sushi restaurant with live music. That would be perfect!

Narrator: Wilby grins at the idea of trying sushi with the salmon. They've never been to a sushi restaurant that features live music, and it sounds like a fantastic idea. They're glad the salmon likes the idea of going on a date too. This is all just so surreal and wonderful.

wilby: Sushi and live music? That does sound amazing! I'm definitely up for that. I'll start looking for a good sushi restaurant around here that has live music. And don't worry, I'm sure you'll love it. Maybe you could even try some of my favorite rolls.

Narrator: The salmon blushes slightly at the thought of trying sushi for the first time with Wilby. It's not every day that they get to do something so adventurous and delicious. The idea of trying some of Wilby's favorite rolls is especially appealing. They can't wait for the date to come around.

salmon: That sounds wonderful, Wilby. I'm really looking forward to it. And you know, if you ever want to come with me to just enjoy the water and the other fish, I'd love for you to join me. It's really peaceful and beautiful underwater.

wilby: That's so sweet of you, salmon. I'd love to come with you sometime and see what it's like underwater. It's always been a dream of mine to be able to breathe water and swim freely like you do. And who knows? Maybe one day I could learn how to breathe underwater too.

salmon: That would be amazing, Wilby! You'd fit right in with us. And as for the date, let's plan on going to that sushi restaurant with live music next weekend. I've found the perfect place. Just give me your address and I'll send you a map so we can meet there.

Narrator: Wilby is thrilled to have a date planned with the salmon. They've never been to a sushi restaurant with live music before, and it sounds like the perfect setting for their first date. They eagerly give the salmon their address and wait anxiously for the map. In the meantime, they continue to practice their guitar and singing, hoping to impress the salmon even more on their big night out.

Narrator: The next day, Wilby anxiously awaits the arrival of the map from the salmon. They've been practicing their guitar and singing all day, hoping to impress the salmon even more when they finally meet. Suddenly, there's a knock at the door. Wilby opens it to find a handsome officer of the Cod Police.

cod police officer: Sorry to interrupt your day, but we've received a complaint about some sort of…disruption in the area. A witness claimed to have heard a terrible noise coming from your home.

wilby: Oh, dear. That must've been my singing practice. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

cod police officer: Well, it's not illegal to practice singing…but we've received multiple complaints. I'm afraid I'll have to take you in for questioning.

wilby: Oh, no! I was supposed to go on a date with the salmon tonight! This is all a terrible misunderstanding!

Narrator: The salmon hears about the misunderstanding and rushes to the scene, pushing their way through the crowd of angry fish. They immediately recognize Wilby, still in handcuffs, and are heartbroken. The thought of Wilby going to jail is unbearable.

wilby: Salmon! I'm so sorry! I was just practicing for our date! Please believe me!

salmon: Of course I believe you, Wilby. I've been practicing singing too, you know. It's hard sometimes, and we all make mistakes. But I thought you were amazing.

cod police officer: Well, I'm sorry, but you're still being taken in for questioning. The witness was very specific about the sound.

cod police officer: However, if you'd like to make a statement, you can do so through your attorney. I'll be right outside.

Narrator: Wilby looks at the salmon, tears welling up in their eyes. "I'm sorry I let you down. I just wanted to impress you so much. I'll do anything to make it up to you."

salmon: No, Wilby, it's not your fault. You didn't let me down. You were just trying your best. And I love that about you. I really do.

Narrator: The handsome officer of the Cod Police returns, leading Wilby away. The salmon tries to follow, but is held back by the other fish. "Wait!" they call, struggling against the current. "I don't want to lose you! Please, just promise me you'll call me when you get out!"

wilby: I promise, salmon. I'll call you as soon as I can. And I'll make it up to you, I swear. I love you.

salmon: I love you too, Wilby. Just remember that. I'll be here, waiting for your call. And remember, no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side.

salmon: And Wilby…?

salmon: Even if you're in here, I still want to be your partner. In life, in love…and in fishing. I want you to know that. So, will you marry me? Be my fishy husband?

wilby: Oh, salmon…I-I love you too. More than anything. And I'd be honored to be your partner, your husband. But first, I need to get out of here. I promise I'll make it up to you, I'll show you how much I love you. And then, we can be together, forever.

cod police officer: Alright, Wilby. You can go now. You've been cleared of all charges. It was just a misunderstanding.

salmon: (tears streaming down their face) Really? You're free? Oh, Wilby, I'm so happy! I love you so much! I knew you couldn't have done anything wrong.

wilby: (embarrassed) Thanks, Salmon. I owe you everything. I'll make sure to never let you down again. And…and yes, I'd love to marry you. You're the one I've been looking for all my life.

Narrator: The two swim side by side, their hearts beating in perfect harmony. They share a tender kiss as they float through the ocean, surrounded by their friends and family of fish. The sun shines down on them, casting a warm glow over their happy faces.

Narrator: As they swim, Wilby reaches for the small velvet box hidden in his fins. He fumbles a bit, trying to open it with his fins, but finally manages to pop the lid. The sparkling diamond ring inside catches the light, reflecting off their scales.

salmon: Oh, Wilby! (salmon's voice cracks as well, tears streaming down their face) It's beautiful! Oh, I love you so much! I've always known we were meant to be together.

wilby: (eyes brimming with tears) It's all for you, Salmon. You're my everything. I'll love you forever. And I promise, from now on, I'll never do anything to hurt you. I'll be the best husband I can be.

Narrator: With tears streaming down their faces, they share a tender embrace, their fins intertwined. Wilby slips the ring onto the salmon's fin, sealing their promise to each other. The other fish gather around them, cheering and clapping their fins in celebration.

Narrator: After a beautiful ceremony, officiated by the wise and kind Cod Police Officer, salmon and Wilby decide they want to start a family. They don't know if their child will end up as a salmon, a human, or a mermaid, but they're excited to find out. They decide to have 78 kids, one for each day of the year.

Narrator: Over the years, salmon and Wilby become the most beloved parents in the ocean. Their 78 children grow up strong and happy, learning the importance of love, family, and adventure. The couple often takes their brood on fishing trips, teaching them the art of fishing and the beauty of the ocean.

Narrator: As the years pass, their family grows, and their love only deepens. They continue to explore the ocean together, discovering new places and making memories that will last a lifetime. They remain the epitome of true love and partnership, proving that even in the vast ocean, a fish and a human can find each other and build a life filled with happiness and joy.

okay all i want to know is who sent me this and will you reveal yourself so we can be salmon and wilby

[lightineventide]

2, 6, 24 and 47 for the music asks?

Hello and thanks for asking! I didn't expect to like this game this much!

2. Yesss, I started expanding my collection even more rapidly in the last few years - it's still not massive, but I love having my favourite albums on CD. Recently, I managed to get my family's DVD player going even after 15 years of not using it at all, and I was able to enjoy the only live DVD I own (from my favourite band Kamelot's concert in the Netherlands a few years ago) - so maybe I'll buy a few more some time.

6. Well...not really. I have some that I don't really like to show to my family/some friends but mainly because I think that they wouldn't like the style at all - for example, I don't feel like introducing the band Blackbriar to my mom, because I know she doesn't like vocals similar to their singer's, but I wouldn't say I'm embarrassed to admit I like them.

24. No, unfortunately. I hope to learn to play acoustic guitar someday, though.

47. Maybe the closest one I can think of is Powerwolf - my brother is a big fan of theirs, but at first I didn't like them, just like he wasn't enjoying what I loved to listen to. Eventually though, I found a bunch of their songs that I liked a lot. Usually, I am pretty open to trying new bands/genres, especially if recommended by a friend - that's how I discovered LP, and frankly, I was very impressed by her talent!

[bloodyethanol]

thank you for the tag @solitaryparadise {^w^}

I'll put it under a read more since there's a lot of questions!

1. Are you named after anyone?

don't think so, but one of my suggested names "tarsila" would have been after the famous brazilian painter tarsila do amaral

2. When was the last time you cried?

today, but it was because of what someone else said to me, and im ok now ^^

3. Do you have kids?

thank god no im 19 LMAO but im not sure if i will, someday

4. What sports do you play/have played?

i have played football with my father but i was like 7, i can't remember doing any others

5. What's the first thing you notice about someone?

i think their face and how they dress? maybe the way they talk to me, since im a stranger in this case

6. Eye colour?

brown! i see a lot of people appreciating brown eyes but i would def trade them for another color hahah, though i've been told they suit me

7. Any talents?

i don't consider myself good for anything so i wanna say no, but i've been told i'm creative and good at world-building, i've been complimented on my drawings and poetry, and i taught myself english by reading wikipedia articles if that counts LMAO

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

i don't watch a lot of movies but i think both have their charm if done right :]

9. Where were you born?

brazil!

10. Hobbies?

i draw, write, and sing, and i also really like rythm games (and some other games too, though im very limited due to not owning a computer right now, so i rely on emulation)

i'd like to get into making music someday, though, and learn bass guitar

11. Any pets?

i have two cats named asta (2 years old) and bugs (short for buglemaster supreme, less than a year) both male

12. Height?

165cm/5'5

13. Favourite school subject?

portuguese! (which ig equals to english for americans)

14. Dream job?

realistically i want to be a teacher, but ever since i was a kid i liked indulging in fantasies of being in a band hahah

thanks for reading:]

[dzpenumbra]

15 questions 15 mutuals

Tagged by @normeda

were you named after anyone? 

Yes, my first name is my mother's brother's name, and my middle name is my mother's father's name.

when was the last time you cried? 

Yesterday, while listening to a song on stream.

do you use sarcasm a lot? 

Surely not... noo.... I mean, who does that?... PEPW

what's the first thing you notice about people?

Their body language, usually. Try to get a read of what mood they're in.

what’s your eye color?

Hazel.

scary movies or happy endings?

I used to be fanatically into scary movies, but not as much the past five years. Lately, I'm more into happy endings.

any special talents? 

I'm very adept and experienced with barefoot hiking. I'm a multi-instrument musician (guitar, bass, drums, composition) and an interdisciplinary artist. I can read tarot pretty well, I think.

where were you born? 

New Jersey, USA.

what are your hobbies? 

Video games, indoor gardening, dream analysis. I'm doing my damnedest to fuse all of my hobbies into one patchwork career.

have any pets?

Not anymore, unfortunately. I just lost both my female German Shepherd and orange tabby cat last year. I will have pets again someday, but the birds who come and visit my feeder are plenty enough animal friends for me for right now.

what sports do you play/have you played? 

I used to do a lot of sports. Basketball, soccer, ski racing, fencing. But after high school, it has been pretty much exclusively hiking, skateboarding and snowskating. Maybe a little snowboarding, if I can ever afford it.

how tall are you? 

5'8"

favorite subject in school? 

Most people would expect me to say "art"... since I fucking got a degree in it... and I love doing the work of art, don't get me wrong... But the classes I was most excited about going to were "TV Studies" in high school and Art History in college, but more so for the ancient history parts than the more modern stuff.

dream job?

I don't know, honestly it's a hard question. I try really hard to fuse any dreams I have into my whole... artist thing. I have new dream jobs every month, I swear. So, if I want to work in trail maintenance, I'm trying to design it so I can just... make that part of my job and incorporate the skills and knowledge I learn from that job into my art. Like Mike Rowe and his show Dirty Jobs, but with art. And less dirty. Still trying to figure out how to make it work, but I'll be damned if I'm giving up any time soon.

Tagging:  @0nlinejournal (If you haven’t done this:) You!

[not-a-space-alien]

for this ask game:

15 for valen, 4 for lex & ari, 13 for jerome & bailey, 17 for nick, 18 for thistle, 10 for marcy, 16 for teddy & colin, 3 for jewel

Oc Ask Game - Role-play Interview

For Valen: 15. Who is the most important person in your life? Why?

"I don't have a lot of people in my life right now. I would honestly say....the most important person is me. Which makes me sound....just terribly self-absorbed, but I've been taking some time to discover the real me over the past few years. Everyone else has always had lots of thoughts for me about who I should be, but I'm just starting to learn how to ignore them." [Voiceover as the screen tints black and white: "Valen was later captured by vampire hunters because he was dicking around in the woods all by himself with no one to help him."]

For Lex and Ari: 4. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Lex with enthusiasm: "A veterinarian!"

Ari, flatly: "A firefighter."

For Jerome & Bailey: 13. What’s your favorite song?

"...My favorite song is the one Bailey wrote for me. He played it on the guitar right before we had our first kiss."

"Awww, Jerome- That thing? It's so embarrassing at this point."

"It's sweet, Bails."

"You're sweet enough to write a song about."

For Nick: 17. Have you ever been in love?

"No. I had the chance at normal things like that stolen from me a long time ago."

For Thistle: 18. Have you ever been kissed?

"Uhh, obviously! Marcy kisses me all the time. My older relatives would also kiss me a lot too, on top of the head, when I was a baby. Um, now that I'm thinking about it, mostly just by people who are a lot bigger than I am. Maybe, um, maybe I'll get kissed on the lips by someone the same size as me someday."

For Marcy: 10. What’s your biggest goal? How do you hope to achieve this?

"Just surviving my PhD program, haha....I'm sure I'll get through it, though. It kind of matters less to me than it used to. Academia is a scam, man.'

For Teddy and Colin: 16. Do you believe in soulmates? Why or why not?

"Yeah, totally! Cuz Teddy's my soulmate!"

"I dunno. Sure, I guess."

"What?! Teddy, you don't think I'm your soulmate?"

"Colin, honey, I love you, but I don't know if, like, the universe destined us to be together or something. I swiped right on you on tinder."

"Soulmates can meet on tinder!"

For Jewel: 3. How would you describe your childhood?

"I was happy as a child. Isn't that pretty much the only time anyone is happy? When they don't have so damn much to worry about?"

[jbmymusic]

Okay, studio time starts this Wednesday, 9/4/24.

For confidence, I always record a cover first. For example, my first time in a studio - the first half of Everything Happens - I recorded "Beth" by KISS. Second half of EH, I didn't do a cover, and it shows. You can hear the uncertainty in the songs.

Second album - Leftovers of an Unanesthetically Torn-Out Heart: first session was "Used to Love Her" by Guns N Roses, second session was "Dead Flowers" by the Rolling Stones.

Live at Horizon - a live show from 2001 that has full video and audio. I never got nervous live, so there was no covers. I do look at the set list now and see how the EH and the "Lost" Album - Jersey - was set up. Funny story: we had no video camera, but a cassette player in the board and a VHS-C recording. Someday, I'll get around to having those mixed and remastered into better quality. I think IIRC, there was also a B&W security camera with no audio recording at another angle as well.

Third album - Living in a Ghost Town: this was a bit strange. I recorded two versions of this album. I wasn't happy with the first, so I did it a second time with different tracks. The initial sessions, I recorded nothing as a cover. It showed. The second sessions, I recorded multiple tracks for the album that are old public domain tracks - "Worried Man's Blues", "Delia's Gone", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", and "House of the Rising Sun". I felt very confident.

Fourth album - Long Walk Home: this took several sessions. The best songs covers from those were "Night Moves" by Bob Seger, "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode, but in Johnny Cash's style, and "Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin.

So for this fifth album (I think I have the name, but I'm not telling you yet), I've decided to start with "Southern Cross" by Crosby, Sills, & Nash. I just need to find a 3rd guitar quick to balance the Squier and the Olympia, which sound great together. I have a few songs fully written that are brand new. Trying to avoid politics this time, even though it's 2024 and I'm very politically outspoken in my everyday life. I'm going to lay down the initial guitar for "Southern Cross" Wednesday the 4th, possibly the vocals as well, then ship it off to a few friends to see if they want to contribute bass and drums via Dropbox. "Southern Cross" should also kick off the start of at least 3 new songs.

I already chose a cover of an obscure song called "Dora the Female Explorer" by an English band called Stackridge as the cover for the second sessions. I'm shocked Nickelodeon didn't get sued for that. I died when I heard the song, because my kids used to torture us with Dora daily. I watched videos of live performances to learn it. Not a hard track. By the time that's done, I should have another 3-5 songs for the new album done and RTG.

Hoping for a release by...Halloween? Sounds fast, but that's how I work. Until LWH, every album took under 24 hours to complete.

Back to the "Lost" album titled "Jersey": this was the follow-up to Everything Happens. Around the time I finished the track list and did at-home demonstrate on a single cassette, my 2 year relationship with my then-girlfriend ended. We both take blame for that. Anyway, I left for a bit, and that take, and ONLY that tape, was missing. She knew it was set and done. What she missed was looking into my 3.5" floppy disks. Looking at two .doc files gave me all the info I need. So this might pop up before this next album is finished, because (shhh...) I STILL HAVE DEMOS OF ALL OF THOSE SONGS AND THE LYRICS. I also feel very confident about them, because they date back to 1999-2002. Some were cut from EH due to studio costs, but appeared on the Live at Horizon album. All were played at various shows through the years. I just passed them up for later albums because they didn't fit. Maybe because...they belong together.

Other things I've (sadly) discovered that vanished with that hard drive failure: Prior to the release of EH, I did some...techno???... under the moniker DJB. Something close to 50 tracks. See, I discovered this interesting "game" called the MTV Music Generator for the PS1, then the PC. Codemasters made the sounds royalty-free. I loved it, and made a double album from it. In 2012-ish, I digitized all the recordings from the cassettes that were done through the A/V outputs. I resurrected that for one track at the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who to make one track, with Whovian samples, but ALL of those files were on the hard drive. I MIGHT have some of the original tracks in THE VAULT of hard copies, but most likely not all. I could be wrong, I'll have to look. The hard drive "recovery" I attempted didn't recover a lot of things - full mp3 files of my solo music, full mp3 files of the Lapsis Angeles stuff, most of the recording files, but just about everything else is corrupted. Maybe someday, I'll drop the $300+ it will cost to recover all the contents, but that isn't likely any time in the near future. Maybe when the kids graduate.

I mentioned "friends contributing" above. There's a couple I specifically have in mind, but I won't say who. They have their own project and lives going on, so the ball is in their court. I would like to get at least one album done that is fully fleshed out with a rhythm section, and while I trust myself to do it, I funny have a bass or drums at my disposal. I'll be calling at least one on Wednesday. He seems to forget to call when we make plans to call. If they are onboard, this will push back a release, as between their project and the back and forth through Dropbox, who knows how long this will take.

There's also a BUNCH of unreleased tracks in the computer still, some missing their recording files, some not, but I do have their music and lyrics. "In the Real World 2010" - the lone decent song from the second half of the EH sessions - came from these. I'm not certain if these will appear anywhere. There's also 28+ cassettes of live material from the City Park days, a show at a place called Harmony Grounds, another at a place called Coffee & Connect, possibly one with my wife at what is now known as Papa Lou's, and demos dating back to 1994 or 95 (those physical mediums can come in handy later). I have to go get a cassette player and digitize these to see what I've got there. Hell, there might even be 2 more shows from Horizon.

Until the next post, look around and take in everything you see, because life is fleet and none of us knows how much time is left.

[unsuredreamer]

Guitar is one of the easier instruments (I only learned chords and a couple of scales) it’s really the strumming that’s hard. There are so many different strumming patterns and ways to transition into different parts of songs. I’m definitely a terrible teacher in the music world unfortunately.

😂it makes sense in my head and for the parts of my sanity. I guess maybe I really should think about posting my own fic maybe it can make RoR make just a little more sense if explained thoroughly.

How’s your day been?

-🤺

I'll definitely buy a guitar someday and try to learn it, what guitar did you play my love?

Still waiting on that 🙌🏻 i just know it's gonna be good

My day has been good, still pretty boring but im working on that. How's yours been?

[amalgamgooze]

Today, my high school hosted their annual art show.

This year was the first (and last) year that I had a piece featured in it.

It was also the first (and possibly last) time I'll go to it. (Though maybe I'll be back someday?)

Though I'd never been to one before, this year's exhibition felt special compared to the other years.

Maybe it was because a lot of my friends had full displays at this show.

=====================================

I walked in, showed my parents the one thing I'd painted, and quickly made my way to the main floor where all my friends were displaying their work.

First, I'd stopped at a table with a friend I knew from soccer at the beginning of the school year. He'd been injured for the first half of the season, so we'd spent a lot of time talking while on the sidelines. (It's worth noting I managed the team, so I didn't spend much time in drills either.) While we talked about his art projects occasionally, I had no idea what to expect tonight from his display at the art show.

What I didn't expect was Wes Anderson level stop-motion projects. At no point had I ever gotten the feeling that this friend was one who'd worked with stop-motion. A whole area was dedicated to watching various films he'd made. My favorite one was one he'd made about lemmings, which was a criticism of the work-intensive culture in America. (You know I love my societal parodies!)

But I think it goes to show that you'll never really know everything about a person. In fact, I'm still learning new stuff about my parents even after living with them for the past eighteen years.

Next' I'd visited a table with a newer friend, who, while we went to elementary school together, I can't say we talked much until more recently during art class. She was always working on some crochet stuff or something similar, so when I finally read their exhibit description, I was honestly shocked to find out that they focused on making their own dyes.

You know, like in Minecraft? When you take the flowers and--it's something I'd always been interested in doing, but never really had the time to do myself. It was exhilarating to see someone else who'd actually taken it up seriously. I can't explain why. After all, I wasn't even doing the thing--someone else was, and I still thought it was cool!

Maybe it's because it was someone I knew in person, who existed as a real tangible person as opposed to the online people I could've watched do the same techniques. That's just my guess.

Then I walked past the piano, which one of my friends was playing. They'd played piano at past art shows, usually with someone else to take turns with, but this time, they played the whole two hours alone. I commend Piano Friend for this--it's hard for me to even improvise for more than an hour before my hands hurt!

I also feel kind of bad for them--he never got a chance to look at most of the art, save for the displays near him. Nonetheless...

Near Piano Friend was quite possibly the most awesome artist at our school--who also happened to be another one of my friends! She was super busy talking to the many people who'd come to look at her work--as expected, since she's done so much art-related stuff for the school. Her first piece of the year was elected as the poster for the art show, and she was also commissioned to design the 2024 mural portrait thingy. (I don't remember exactly what it's called right now, but it's kind of a big deal to have the honor of designing it!)

Honestly, I didn't feel a strong need to talk to Awesome Friend since they seemed so busy with all the art show guests, and I get to talk to her every day at school anyway. Nonetheless, I still said hello when I had a chance to.

After that, I had a pleasant conversation with another artist who'd taken a more abstract approach to art. We discussed how "spontaneous art is often great", and how playing the guitar spontaneously often leads to better melodies than playing it mechanically.

Finally, I stopped at another newer elementary school friend's (like Dye Friend) display, which featured a painting of an image that was unmistakably a painting of a scene from our kindergarten play. Obviously, when I asked her about it, she confirmed my assumptions, and also added that the work made her feel a little sad.

I must admit it also made me sad, but in a good nostalgic sort of way. I feel that the painting was sort of a testament to how far we'd come since then. Just twelve short years ago we were on the stage retelling the children's story "Are You My Mother?", and now here we were getting ready to graduate from high school.

Of course, and all the things that happened between those two points.

=====================================

This year's art show was, again, special.

Though I've tried to appreciate and understand art when I go to museums and such, I can't say I've ever understood it as fully as I did tonight. When I know and have watched the stories behind the pieces my classmates've worked on, it really adds something to the experience of viewing all the finished works displayed together.

Honestly, I'm a bit miffed that I'll probably never know the art at an exhibition again as well as I did tonight.

But life goes on. And I'll have new once-in-a-lifetime experiences to mourn the singleton-ness of soon.

[speakeasyyy]

Psst psst @sp-ace-twinkk I did it

1. Are you named after anyone?

I'm named after a fox from a book, actually! Pax by Sara Pennypacker. (Also, technically after the Latin word for peace, but I like foxes a lot.)

2. When was the last time you cried?

I actually don't remember! I don't cry very often, but when I do I usually forget about it within an hour.

3. Do you have kids?

I do not have kids and I don't plan on having kids. I like working with kids though! I'll be a father by proxy by working as a camp counselor or at a daycare or something.

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

I don't have time for sports anymore, but I used to do show riding! I was also into tennis for a couple of summers. Horseback was a lot bigger for me, though. I miss that sport a lot.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Not really? I will sometimes, but I usually don't because I don't personally like sarcasm, it makes me feel a bit stupid. It's okay in some cases, though.

6. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Their behavior for sure. Attitude is a big thing for me and when I first talk to people, I pick up on their vibes so fast. The way a person treats me is really important to me so I almost always take note of that first.

7. What's your eye color?

Hrm. I've gotten a lot of different answers from other people about this, but they're greyish-green with yellow around the pupil. They reflect a lot of the light around them, too, so depending on what I wear or the environment I'm in, they'll look more or less green.

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

I love happy ending movies a lot! Some of my favorite movies have happy endings, though, like Fantastic Mr Fox or Rushmore (kind of). I also love scary movies, but most of the movies that I like the most are happy.

9. Any talents?

I think you could call art a talent? Although I feel like that's more of a skill. I can sing alright, I think that's a talent that can be turned into a skill, though.

10. Where were you born?

I was born in Virginia. I haven't moved out of the state and I'm really happy about that. It's beautiful here. Lots of mountains.

11. What are your hobbies?

Art of several mediums! Mainly sketching, prismacolor, and acrylic paint. I also like playing ukulele and I'm trying to learn guitar. I do a lot of thrifting or visiting antique/vintage stores too. Big fan of old items and clothes.

12. Do you have any pets?

I have four pets right now! A Jack Russel - Australian Heeler mix named Buffalo Bill, a black cat named Hissy Maria, an orange tabby named Trotsky Golden Boy, and a grey/black tabby name Genny! They're all very dear to me!

13. How tall are you?

I'm 5'3. I wish I was taller. :(

14. Favorite subject in school?

My favorite required subject class is English!! I love learning about language and getting better at using it and sounding smart. I LOVE ENGLISH!!!! SO MUCH!

15. What is your dream job?

I want to become a talk therapist, but also would be so psyched if I could be a camp counselor. There's a lot of camps I would love to work as a counselor for, so maybe someday I'll apply for those. I want to make kids happy! That or working in archives for a history museum.

I HAVE NO ONE TO TAG SORRY, I JUST WANTED TO AMSWER THESE

[pianosmasher]

I'll come out of hiding for a bit

I was so nervous about this year and now it's nearly done. My best friend in the city (no longer in the city) turned forty in New Orleans along with me and all his closest friends toward the end of July, and then family vacation with my partner's family the next month. Those were the big things and now they are over. Why did September slip by? It takes that long for me to catch my breath. Actually I have been trying to catch my breath since the year began, but the difference now is that I have accepted the marathon.

I've had a few things happen to me that I never thought would happen. I got to jam with a bunch of strangers playing a borrowed guitar, something I haven't done since I was a teenager. I'm in touch with one of my neighbors who has now donated several things to my apartment after becoming obsolete in his due to his health. I became managing director for a friend's production company and, as a first project, helped put on a staged reading night of three one-act plays, one of which I wrote. The play, in fact, was only supposed to be written as a New Year's resolution, at some point, someday; circumstances required I bring the idea into the foreground of my life and follow through, another thing I never thought that I'd be capable of. You can maybe see, then, how much breath there was to catch.

How does one process, make time to react? One has to prioritize the venting of these things. I have luckily been journaling regularly enough to vent them in private spaces first, screened for jagged edges that might offend or alienate out here on the internet (a lesson I have learned from the cringe in my past). At some point, however, the goal should be to get back to that place where personal expression does not have to be synonymous with overthinking. And I can only get there when my calendar is clear enough to keep my brain quiet

I think I forget that people might want to hear from me, to see what I'm up to and learn about my life however I might want to share it. That's the other side of social media. Some people are out here to chase clout or see how their alter ego may be judged in a pseudo-public forum. But there are plenty of people with that other perspective, viewing the platform as a place to give. What does it mean that my overthinking has resulted in hesitation, instead of an anxious over-giving to the world? Maybe the only way to investigate and possibly reverse that impulse is to see what comes out of me when I force myself to answer asks or get back to texts in a timely manner. In any case, the people in my life might be happier with that kind of change

If I had it my way, the hyperbolic time chamber from Dragon Ball would simply be real, and I'd have a membership to use it for all of my outstanding projects, and my leisure time would simply be leisure. As it stands now, I get lost too easily in the sands of time when I lock into a goal I'm trying to balance between work and the rest of ongoing life, and I'm missing out. Who in the world wants to only leave behind their plans?

[badnikbreaker]

It's Shadow. Shadow, who was serious and strong but ultimately kind, who could even be funny, who played chess with her and watched her learn to play guitar and who stayed with her on the days she couldn't see so she could at least feel something familiar. Shadow, who could be a bit stoic, in a silly way, who was sweet and generous. She loves the Shadow she knows now, as she'd love any Shadow, and she can see how he tries to be more like the brother she'd once had, but...it's hard, to reconcile that he has to try at all. The Shadow who'd laughed when she burned her eyebrows off playing with one of her Grandfather's gadgets feels so far removed from the Shadow who'd reacted with horror and disgust at her rebirth. The Shadow who'd keep such a big secret from her. She feels — jealous, suddenly, at such a pitch it nears anger. Jealous that Sonic knows a Shadow that she doesn't. Jealous that Shadow had time to become someone else.

She smiles and swallows it. Be nice, Maria. Maybe she can ease Shadow's shame, whatever the cause may be. She can be his guiding star. She's already been his martyr. It's nice, to have a role to fall back on.

"Thank you for telling me this much, Sonic, and — thank you for respecting Shadow enough not to tell me more. I'm really grateful that he has friends like you. I'll do my best to make him comfortable enough that he'll tell me himself someday." She bounces on her heels, head lifting towards the blue, blue sky. It's different from the view on the ARK. She loves this planet. She wishes she understood her brother who is not her brother. "Um — okay, what's the funniest story you have about Shadow?" Her eyes fall again, a playful glint within them now. "I'll share one that I have, too, in exchange."

"No, no--!" Sonic waves his hands to try and dismiss Maria's concern. "You have every right, in fact you got more right than anyone else--it's just that...well, uh...it's Shadow." A phrase that would say more than enough to anyone that isn't the girl that grew up alongside him on the ARK. Shadow. Closed-off taciturn resolute Shadow. Maria knows him as the Shadow he is now, but Sonic can understand if she's struggling to piece the him-now with the him-before. "Umm. Alright. There's no better way to put it, I guess. He's ashamed." Sonic cracks a much more awkward, lop-sided grin, one that communicates what he says next: "I know, crazy, right?" better than his words actually do. He tries to offset the awkwardness by raising his hands back above his head and leaning back in his seat to tilt his face up into the sky.

If Sonic is the sun, Maria is Polaris--a guiding star. In ways that may or may not be unfair. Sonic's not the one to decide that though. "He's been through a lot. You've been through a lot, too. I don't wanna be the one to take this story away from him." Sorry Shadow, he thinks to the sky, gaze unconsciously searching for the shattered moon circling somewhere overhead.

Emerald eyes shift from the expanse overhead back down to Maria. "But y'know, I do have a bunch of other Shadow stories I can tell ya in the meantime. If you wanna hear."

[shandidellamorte]

Oops guess I'm into my poser phase now LOL