#the high sign 1920

[justbusterkeaton]

The High Sign (1920)

The General (1926)

Sidewalks of New York (1931)

[friendlessghoul]

Buster Keaton The High Sign (1921)

[busterkeatonsociety]

#WIPWednesday 6ft11 Ingram B. Pickett is armed & dangerous! Will Buster Keaton rescue sweet Bartine Burkett? Promo pic for “The High Sign,” 1921.

[spocks-got-a-glock]

Falling a little bit in love with him because he's adorable (also probably the strangest place I've ever got gender envy)

[rosecoloredsunshine]

honey, you're familiar — james patrick march

masterlist | character.ai bot | part two

PAIRINGS: james patrick march x female!reader

SUMMARY: you are the reincarnation of his greatest love, the woman who mysteriously vanished from his life in the 1920s. though you have no memory of your past life, you are an exact replica of the woman he adored.

REMINDERS: please be reminded that this is a work of fiction. meaning that all events and occurrences in this story are all fictional and all are part of my imagination. any resemblance to actual life events and people, living or dead, are all purely coincidence.

WARNINGS: no use of y/n, reincarnation, slight implication of reader being murdered (if you squint enough), the countess does not exist in this fic, and minor typographical errors.

WORD COUNT: 1.4k

AUTHOR'S NOTE: hi! i've been rewatching ahs, and i wanted to give it a try writing for the ahs fandom. this will also be my first time writing for the ahs fandom. i also made a character.ai for this fic that is linked just above. i hope that you guys will enjoy this one! :)

2015

The night air was unseasonably cold for Los Angeles. You had stepped out of the cab with a soft huff, wrapping your coat tighter around your body as you glanced up at the building that stood before you. The Hotel Cortez. It loomed like a relic of another era, gothic and imposing, the dark stonework catching the dim city lights in odd angles. Truth be told, it wasn't your first choice, it was far from it, but after calling around every hotel in the city, it was the only place left with a vacancy. You had hesitated for a brief moment in the cab, chewing the insides of your cheeks, but what other option did you have?

Inside of the building, the lobby was a different world. Grand, in an old Hollywood kind of way, but there was something off. Maybe it was the silence, or the way the golden fixtures gleamed too brightly, as if they were watching you. You have your luggage in tow behind you, the sound of wheels clattering against marble floors echoing through the space.

From behind the front desk, a woman perked up at your approach. She was a much older woman, thin lips pulled tight over perfect teeth, hair styled in an immaculate bouffant that screamed another decade. Her name tag read Iris.

“Welcome to the Hotel Cortez,” she said brightly, but her eyes didn't seem to match the warmth in her voice. “Checking in?”

You nodded at her. “I need a room for the night…maybe two.”

Iris’ fingers clicked across the keyboard, an ancient looking machine that still required a punch of force on each key. “Well, lucky you,” she said, “we’ve got one left. Seems like the city’s just full up tonight.”

She then slid a paper across to you, pushing a fountain pen along with it. “Sign here, please.”

As you scrawled your signature across the page, you felt something in the air had shifted. It was subtle at first, like the faintest change in pressure before a storm. You did not notice it, but he did.

James Patrick March was standing on the mezzanine above, his hands resting on the brass railing as he stared down at you with eyes wide, unblinking. He had not known fear in his lifetime, he’s the kind of man who reveled in control, carnage, in bending fate to his will. His usual smirk was absent, replaced with something that is raw, something akin to disbelief.

His mind could not accept it at first. It had been nearly a century since he had last seen you. Since you had vanished without a trace, leaving him to scour the world for any whisper of your presence. But now, James watched as you tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear, just the way you always had. Your fingers were delicate, graceful, as if they belonged on piano keys. Your profile turned toward Iris was devastatingly familiar, the high curve of your cheekbone, the sharpness of your fox-like gaze, even as your eyes darted so casually across the lobby in a way that suggested this place unsettled you.

You are here. His lost love. His obsession. His salvation and his damnation.

James’ chest constricted. You were unchanged. Not merely similar, but the same. Perfect. Flawless. As if God himself had honored James’ desperate plea for your return, despite his profound aversion to the Christian values. He descended the stairs without realizing he had moved, the sharp click of his shoes announcing his approach. Iris noticed him first and immediately stiffened. You did not see him at first, too busy retrieving your wallet from your bag.

“Sir,” Iris said, voice lower, deferential.

James’ voice was honey-drenched steel. “I will handle this guest personally, Iris.”

You turned then, startled. For a brief moment, the world seemed to pause. He stood before you, immaculate in a three-piece suit from another age, posture unnaturally straight, predatory yet elegant. His mustache was neatly groomed, and his dark eyes were captivating. It was as if they burned into you with such intensity that you took a small step back without thinking.

“I—” you began, voice soft and uncertain. “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”

His smile was slow, it was like a knife slipping beneath flesh. But there was something else there. Reverence and awe. “You will,” James replied, voice low and velvety. “In time.”

There was an unsettling calm to him, like the eye of a hurricane. Iris handed you an old-fashioned key on a brass fob before scuttling away, leaving you alone with the man.

James gestured toward the elevators. “Permit me to escort you to your room. It is the least I can do for a guest of your…exquisite standing.”

You briefly hesitated, but politeness was second nature. It had been drilled into you at finishing school, and this man spoke with such an archaic elegance, like he had directly stepped out of a Fitzgerald novel.

You offered a wary smile. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

As he walked beside you, pace measured, James studied every delicate angle of your face. They way you held yourself, graceful and poised, just as he remembered. Your perfume was different, more lighter, but your skin—he could almost swear, still smelled faintly of rose and sandalwood.

“I’m James,” he said as you reached the elevator. “James Patrick March, the owner of this hotel.”

You nodded. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

The elevator doors opened with a groan, and he ushered you in, following closely. As the doors slid shut, you glanced at him, feeling the weight of his stare.

“What is it?” you asked softly.

James tilted his head, smiling in a way that made your stomach twist, half-charm and half-sinister. “Forgive me. You remind me of someone…very dear to me.”

You flushed faint at his words, but nodded, really unsure of what to say. As the floors ticked upward, James kept his hands behind his back, concealing how they trembled with restraint. He wanted to touch you, just to confirm that you were real. That you were flesh, and not some cruel hallucinations that had been conjured by centuries of longing.

When the doors opened, he stepped aside and let you lead the way, gaze never straying from you for an instant. You walked to the door that Iris had assigned you—room 64. He took the key from your hand with a touch that sent a straight shiver up your spine and opened the door for you. You crossed the threshold, feeling the strange energy of the room settle over you like a veil. As you set your bag down, James remained in the doorway, just watching.

His eyes darkened as he spoke again. “If there is anything, anything, that you require, you need only ask.”

You turned to him with a gracious nod, still smiling politely, though something about his intensity gnawed at you. “I appreciate it, Mr. March. Goodnight.”

James took a breath, lips parting as if to say something more. But he did not. Instead, he gently grabbed your hand and kissed it softly, as though you were a queen and he was a loyal knight.

“Goodnight, my dear.”

The door shut softly, but he stood there for a long time, staring at the wood as though he could see through it. His mind reeled. You were here, at his hotel. Alive. Returned. Though you bore no memory of the life you once shared, of the nights he whispered secrets into your ear and how your voice had caressed his name like a prayer as you lay tangled in his arms, of the dreams he had for the empire he was building with your beauty at its heart—he would remind you.

James would awaken the love you held for him. Brick by brick, memory by memory, he would reconstruct you into the woman who once adored him with such fierce devotion, and this time, you would never leave the Hotel Cortez. One thing was certain—James Patrick March did not believe in coincidences. Fate had returned you to him, and he had no intention of letting you go a second time, so he wasted no time and descended the stairs to find Iris.

He turned to Iris. “Send her dinner, something divine. And Iris…”

“Yes, Mr. March?”

James��� gaze was gleaming. “Nobody disturbs her. She is not to leave. The lady of the house is home at last.”

Then slowly, he smiled.

© rosecoloredsunshine, 2025

[jackrussell1907]

They called her Aunt Sophie Campbell, but she belonged to the mountain. Born in 1855 as Sophie Ogle in the hidden valley of White Oak Flats—now known as Gatlinburg—she grew up wild, barefoot, and free. She fished the streams with her hands, tracked game through the forest, and could outshoot any man in town. When she met Tom Campbell, a man as untamed as she was, they climbed high above the valley and carved out a life with their bare hands on Harrison Mountain.

For forty years, they lived in self-made peace. They farmed the slopes, raised their children by firelight, and built everything they owned—by heart and by hand. But the world below was changing. By the 1920s, Gatlinburg was no longer a sleepy settlement. Roads came. Tourists followed. And eventually, the government arrived, laying plans for what would become the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. One by one, mountain families were forced off their land. But not Sophie and Tom. They stayed.

As tourists climbed the trails, they found more than a view—they found living history. People hiked up just to catch a glimpse of the last of the old ways. National Geographic came, too. When they asked Aunt Sophie if she had any wish, she smiled and said, “I'd like to see the ocean.” But the mountain never let her go.

She passed in 1936, in the log cabin Tom built for her. The men of Gatlinburg carried her down by torchlight. Two years later, Tom was found sitting by his hearth, waiting to join her. Their cabin? Bulldozed for a ski resort. Their valley? Covered in neon signs and gift shops. But their spirits still linger. Step just a few feet off the busy street—and listen. You might still hear Aunt Sophie in the wind, whispering from the trees she once called home.

[alastor-simp]

"A What Now?” - Alastor x Non-binary Reader

This was requested to me by @dudeidontknowok

I’m sure you are all aware Alastor is not very up to date with new sexuality’s and genders, seeing he was from the 1920s, so this will be my take on him reacting to a nonbinary reader. Enjoy!

“Let’s see…the man said take a left here and the hotel should be right….” Walking through the narrow streets in the Pride ring, you were trying to spot the Hazbin Hotel. Your name was y/n and you had just arrived in Hell a few hours ago. It was a very odd experience, suddenly dying in an accident and ending up in a place with a blood red sky and people looking like something from a cartoon, but at least you were glad you weren’t fully dead dead. The streets were havoc walking through them, fires popping up everywhere, random people getting stabbed or robbed and some others were just high out of their minds. A little flyer had landed in front of you, saying “Come to the Hazbin Hotel!” Seemed decent enough, but there was no map on the flyer and since you just arrived, you had no idea where to look. Thankfully the first demon you asked was friendly and not psycho bonkers crazy, and he explained the direct path that led to the hotel.

You had reached your destination and in front of you was a huge building, neon sign flashing “HAZBIN HOTEL”. It seemed a little run-down, but there were some good qualities about it. Heading up to the door, you stared at them, feelings of hesitation in your stomach. You had no idea if this was just a trap to lure people like you to get killed or worse. Taking a deep breath, you lifted your hand to knock on the door.

Before it could make contact, the door had swung open. A very tall man was standing in front of you. He was almost 6 or 7 feet tall, wearing a red striped suit, accompanied with a bow tie and red monocle on his face. His hair was in a bob cut, and dyed red to black. The smile he had on his face was enormous, making your cheeks hurt from how wide it was. His slitted red eyes stared down at you, a hint of shock in them as he probably didn’t expect someone to be at the door. “AH!, A newcomer! Hello my dear/young fellow! Have you come to stay at the hotel?” His voice sounded like it was coming out of a radio. He bent down, his face leaning closer to yours, making you feel a bit uneasy, since he appeared very intimidating. Giving a small smile, you gave a nod, leading to him grabbing your hand. “Splendid! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Alastor! And you are?” he was very animated, given how wacky his reactions were. “My name is Y/N, and you don’t have to call me dear/fellow, just my name is fine.” He arched an eyebrow at that, as he pulled you in, allowing you to enter the hotel.

Your head darted all around, taking in everything. It was very spacious, and the decor was pleasing to the eye, but there was some hints that it still needed some work, given the wall you saw that was being repaired and some bugs crawling. You realized there were other people staying at the hotel as well. There was a tall, lanky spider lounging on one of the couches, phone in hand. There was another female demon, speeding around the hotel with a broom in hand. It was hard to figure how what she looked like, but she was very cute. Noticing there was a bar, you gazed at it and took a look at the bartender. He was the definition of a grumpy cat, given the scowl on his face. His mouth was attached to a beer bottle, chugging away. He noticed you looking and gave a slight nod, while still drinking the beer. A giant snake man was sitting on the ground, appearing to be fiddling with some device, he looked up, smiled, and went back to work. Al had brought you over to the couch, where the spider was staying, and made you take a seat. "Wait right here! I'll go fetch the owner of this establishment!" Al said, as he snapped his fingers, disappearing. Well that shocked you, you had no idea he had powers, maybe you had some as well.

Your thoughts got interrupted when you felt two arms, grab at your waist, pulling you closer to the other demon. "Well hey there handsome/toots~. Never seen the likes of you before, you new in hell?" The spider smirked down you, letting you see his gold tooth shining." You nodded and said you were which made the spider smile more. "Name is Angel dust~. Now tell me your name, toots/handsome." This was making you a bit uncomfortable. "Um could you please not call me that. I don't identify with male or feminine terms. My name is Y/N, by the way." Angel's eyes widen at that, and he rubbed his neck with one of his hands, "Oh sh✪✪, my bad. Didn't mean to offend ya." Giving him a smile, you pat one of the hands that was on your waist, saying it was fine.

The sounds of feet clattering against the floor alerted you, making you turn your head. A women, dressed in a red suit had ran into the lounge. She had pretty blonde hair that was tied up, and her cheeks had two cute red dots on them. The smile on her face was radiant, it could make the sun jealous. "HELLO! Oh my goodness, another patient! My name is Charlie, its so nice to meet you!" She had extended her arms out, squeezing you with a hug while you remained on the couch. Letting out a laugh at her energy, you hugged her back. Looking over her shoulder, you spotted Alastor walking back in, along with another girl with white hair and an X on her eye? Strange.

Charlie finally let you go, standing up while grabbing the other girls hand. "Let me introduce everyone, this is Vaggie, my girlfriend. Angel Dust is the one next to you. Husk is the bartender. Niffty is the little one running around. Sir Pentious is another one of our patients, and I'm sure you met Alastor." You turned your head at all the new names you heard, giving a smile and small wave to everyone, which they gave back, except Husk as he still looked grumpy. The little one, Niffty, had rushed up towards you, jumping up in front of you: "Ooooo... she/he is very pretty." There it was again, that feeling of discomfort. Angel Dust noticed your expression, giving your shoulder a rub. "Niffty, they are non-binary. Don't call them he or she, ya got it? That goes for all of you as well." Angel said as he pointed at everyone. Niffty blinked up at Angel, seeming confused before smiling, letting out an okay.

"Pardon me, a what now?" a static voice had spoken out, letting you know it was Alastor. He had walked closer to where you were sitting, head tiled in confusion. Angel was about to say something, but Charlie chimed in. "Alastor, they don't see themselves as man or a women. They may have male or feminine features, but they don't fall into either of the categories. Does that make sense?" Charlie helped explained it to Alastor. His head stayed tilted, clearly still confused. "I'm afraid I still don't follow, my dear. During my time, there were only gentleman and ladies." His time? Your mind picked up on that

"Um, sorry for interrupting, but what do you mean by your time?" You copied Alastor, tiling your head. Alastor perked up at that. "Ah, I was born in the roaring 1920s! Ah how I miss it so!" Dang, he was from the 1920s!!! That must be why he didn't know. "Ahh, that makes much more sense. Don't think so hard on it Alastor, its fine." Alastor still seemed a bit puzzled, and he wanted to say something else, but he was cut off by Charlie. "Well since your going to be staying here now at the hotel, you'll need a room! Come! I'll bring you to it." Grabbing your hand, Charlie pulled you off the couch, and began to walk away from the lounge. Turning your head back, you gave a small wave to the others, which they returned back. Alastor was still gazing at you, as you left, along with his shadow that eyed you with curiosity.

Charlie had brought you to your room, also letting you know that your neighbor would be Angel Dust, which she hoped you wouldn't mind, which you didn't. The room was marvelous, all nice and tidy and it even had a outdoor balcony. "Welp I should probably head back down to everyone, I'll bring you some new clothes since I'm sure you want to freshen up, let me know if you need anything else, okay?" Charlie beamed at you, making you smile. Thanking her, you told her you would do that, earning you another hug from her. Soon she left the room, leaving you by yourself. Well, might as well take a shower.

**Later in the evening**

After your shower and wearing the comfy lounge clothes Charlie brought, you headed back down to where everyone was. It was time for dinner and on the menu for tonight was lasagna. Apparently, Angel made it himself, letting you know he was well versed in Italian cuisine. Dinner with everyone was nice, it was a bit chaotic, but your heart felt warm being around everyone. They were all a bit kooky, but still friendly. Soon it was time for bed. Everyone bid you a goodnight as they headed to their rooms, while you walked away with Angel next to you. "Night y/n." Angel said, giving a big yawn while stretching his four arms in the air. "Goodnight." you said back, as you went inside your room.

Sadly, you weren't very tired, so you decided to head over to the balcony and stay for a bit. The view was nice, and so was the breeze. Leaning against the railing, you gave a sigh, peering into the maroon sky. "Trouble sleeping?" a static voice appeared next to you, making you jump. Turning around, you see that it was Alastor, grinning with glee that he managed to frighten you. "Jeez, you nearly gave me a heart attack." your hand was placed against your chest, which was still racing. Alastor gave a chuckle, and leaned his arms against the railing, copying you: "Oh I wouldn't want that to happen! I have grown very fond of you!" His smile was mischievous, but his eyes gave away that he was telling the truth. You turned back to look at the sky, before you heard Alastor speak again. "May I ask something?" Turning back, you gazed at him, waiting for his response.

"Well, could you go into more detail about the whole non beanery, was it, again?" He lifted one of his hands in the air, spinning it around, as he was trying to come up with the word. You quickly broke into laughter. Non-beanery!?! What the heck was that?! Alastor watched you, as you continued to laugh, wondering what was so funny. "Its non-binary, Al. I basically don't see myself as a male or a female. Growing up, I felt different then everyone around me. In my soul, I knew that. So after a while, I came out as non-binary, it was odd to tell everyone I grew up with that, but hey, I was still me. Yes I know to you, it's a bit strange given you were born in the era where there was always two genders, but that's what I am and I'm comfortable with it."

After your speech, your irises kept staring into Al's. He had not said a word, gazing at you still. His smiled had relaxed more into a soft grin. "Thank you for explaining it. I'm not the type to apologize often, but I wish to offer my apologies about before. It wasn't my intention to come off as rude." Your heart felt warm after hearing the sweet apology, you told him it was fine. Alastor smiled and turn back to look at the sky, before he turned his head back quickly, causing it to emit a loud snap. "How would you like me to address you then? Now you must be patient with me, since it will take me a while to adjust!" You were happy that he was taking this very seriously, other people you have told usually brushed it off, but it was nice that he cared. "My name is fine, but if you are ever mentioning me in a conversation, say they/them, okay?" Alastor's signature smile returned, and he gave a nod. "Duly noted!" The both of you gazed at each other smiling, before turning back to stare at the night sky.

~END~

Tagging:

@pepperycookie , @yourdoorisunlocked, @ghostdoodlen, @aceofcards0-0, @jyoongim, @saturnhas82moons, @unholycheesesnack , @luujjvi, @forbidden-sunlight, @pinkcrystal44 , @veethewriter , @rains-sleeping@danveration , @demoarah, @cookiekyo , @iiotic, @delectableworm , @91062854-ka , @alastorsgoldie , @lokis-imaginary-friend , @themysteriousslenderman

[dufferpuffer]

Tom Riddles orphanage is interesting.

1920s/1930s The idea of not putting children to work was quite new. In fact there were still Workhouses until 1948.

Victorian's commonly thought that people were only poor because they are lazy, plus the well-blossoming ideas of eugenics meant poor people were probably just worse genetically. It was 'Christian values' to at least dress and feed poor children, but if you were too supportive of them they would only grow up to continue to be lazy, probably like their stupid poor lazy parents. They will go off and join the workforce at 14, so you shouldn't coddle them too early or else you'll spoil them.

Most orphanages were set up and funded by whichever rich fuck wanted to boast about how many little kids they 'help'. Some really were trying to help - but yknow... eugh. Rich people. Nothing was particularly regulated and abuse against children was accepted and even encouraged.

Plus its fresh after The Great War, poor street kids fending for themselves were hardly rare, infant mortality was high... Lots of kids and not much demand for them. If they could hurry up and grow up to join the workforce... that would be swell.

Experience of the common orphan in a common orphanage: + Crowded eating halls where they usually didn't eat well. + Beds lining the walls, no privacy, everyone in the same room. + No individuality - kids often forgot their own birthdays or names... adults rarely use them, there's too many kids to remember and they keep dying and shit, honestly who cares - if they get adopted maybe they'll be renamed anyway + Education was often light, just the basics + Sometimes they were also put to a little work beyond their own laundry and cleaning etc. + Sundays they get dressed up, cleaned up - to try and get them adopted. Trot them out like little show ponies to try and tempt some rich person. ''They aren't dirty street shits, they're nice and handsome little children who won't embarrass you.'' + In many places child abuse was just... awful. Being made to eat their own vomit, pushed down stairs, locked into rooms and forgotten about, straight up being murdered by their caretakers... if you can imagine it, it probably happened.

...Why do I say all this? Because barely any of that seems to apply to Tom's experience. That doesn't mean his Orphanage was a nice place for him to grow up... but my god, it sounds like a DREAM compared to the norm-!!!

+ Tom Riddle... had his own fucking bedroom. WOAH. + Privacy. Access to books to read. He could READ. + His own WARDROBE, where he could KEEP HIS OWN THINGS. + It's assumed other children could ALSO keep their own things, as he had stolen their stuff - and some even had PETS??? + No real sign that he is put to any grueling work. + He was calm and impolite in his own room - he isn't terrified to talk back to adults. + Though it did anger and scare him, experts were being brought in to try and evaluate his health. + He looked well. Well fed, healthy, clean, normal.

Mrs. Cole the Matron - though she says judgemental things she says and the mention of 'whacking on the nose with a rusty poker' (which I assume is basic physical abuse...?) - seems shockingly involved with the children. She knows their names, their preferences, their backstories... and despite the orphanage being poor, they take the children on a holiday every year. Even Harry thought she seemed alright.

It is BONKERS how nice it is at Wool's Orphanage. That is an intentional writing decision. They author is British, she knows basic recent British history - the 'suffering orphan' is baked into her very bones as a concept.

He COULD have been depicted as: + Just one dirty face in a room of many beds, many children, that Albus had to weave through to take him somewhere private and tell him he was different from them, he was special. + Keep the smaller rooms - but he has to share with five or so other boys... who have all moved their beds as far from his as possible. + He could have only barely even remembered his own name - there's nobody who cares to call him it anyway, so he dislikes it. + A "Yes Sir, Sorry Sir, Of course Sir" little boy - who then breaks out in joy over going to Hogwarts + ...just straight up could have been in a workhouse.

It wouldn't be far-fetched for it to be described like Oliver Twist (set in 1830s, but there was actually higher child mortality in 1930s) Or more of an Annie situation (set 1930s New York - probably better conditions than 1930s England) The Author has never shied away from displaying child suffering before. Just look at Snape and Harry... and even Neville! Yet Tom Riddle very much has an air of being the Top Rooster. + Even the adults don't know what to do with him. + He is rather comfortable as long as doctors aren't being brought in. + He has gone out of his way to MAKE that comfort for himself, through enforcing a harsh pecking order amongst the other kids. + He is, especially for the time, a bit of a brat. Talks back, snappy, sneering and scoffing, talks over adults, snatches...

That's not unreasonable of him, by the way. He IS treated unfairly due to his powers, he is a poor orphan in a world with an abundance of poor orphans... and he's just a little boy. Of course he acts out.

But he could have been made more sympathetic - and more believable, honestly - with only a slightly more harrowing depiction of his living situation than simply 'a little shabby - and the over stressed but tries-to-care Matron likes a drop of Gin.' Instead he is living better than most of the lower class.

Which to me can only mean he isn't supposed to come across as too sympathetic. He isn't a suffering orphan, he isn't miserable, he isn't abused (too badly), he isn't lonely, he isn't any of the things Harry was... despite being in a similar situation, at first glance. He is still sympathetic. Harry and Albus both thought so. But the reader isn't supposed to see his childhood as terrible. Just sub-par. We are happy he gets a chance at life at Hogwarts... ...but aren't thinking 'Oh man, of course he murdered people, he has had such a harrowing life' Snapes life was worse. Harry's life was worse. Neither of them kill.

[correlance]

Remember that one fan theory I wrote about Alastor having a rivalry with Thomas Edison in the 1920s? Well, I decided to do a bit more research; it turns out that, not only was I right, but Edison really hated radio. He loathed it so much that he wrote not one, but several articles railing against the "radio fad" in 1926, to the point where an anonymous person wrote "letters to the editor" to argue with Edison.

Gee, I wonder who it could be doing that in the Hazbin-verse? /s

GIF and art originally by karumkin on Twitter/X (2019).

There was also a slew of increasingly aggressive telegrams sent back-and-forth between Edison and radio proponents, with Edison penning thinly-veiled insults that offended even mild critics of the "Wizard":

"The radio is a commercial failure, and its popularity with the public is waning. Radio is impractical commercially, and ethically distorted, and is is losing its grip rapidly in the market and in the home. There is not 10% of the interest in the radio that there was last year.

Radio is a highly-complicated machine in the hands of people who know nothing about it. No dealers have made any money out of it. It is not a commercial machine, because it is too complicated. Reports from 4,000 Edison dealers who have handled radio sets show that they are rapidly abandoning it; and, as for its music, it is awful.

I don't see how they can listen to it. Thousands of people have signed a petition asking that sopranos be kept off the air. Of course, most of them don't know that the soprano voice distorts the radio. The phonograph is coming into its own because people want good music. The fact is that the radio never had a high peak of popularity.

In towns where 25 or 30 dealers were handling radio sets, only one or two are now handling them. A farmer 5 miles from town buys a radio, perhaps on the installment plan. A wire becomes loose. The dealer has to arrange to fix it. This happens time and time again. The business becomes unprofitable for the dealer to engage in. He does not make any money out of it. None of them has. They are giving it up as fast as they can. It is not a commercially successful machine, because it is too complicated.

Static is awful, and the difficulties of tuning out--and now, they're stealing each other's wavelengths! It is too bad that the radio has to be too complicated. It was a big and interesting thing, and the people responded to it, but they want good music, and they found it is not to be had on the radio. That is why the phonograph is reclaiming its own."

Quote from "Edison and Radio", Radio News, December 1926, "in which the Editor takes issue with Mr. Edison's claim that radio is a failure; yet it is pointed out that the radio industry owes Edison a great debt; wherein facts are figures are given to show that radio is on a steady increase; granting that neither radio, nor the phonograph, is yet perfect; how the interest in radio is steadily increasing, and radio dealers are now making good money":

"Since the publication of the famous interview with Mr. Edison, the press, and particularly the radio press across the entire country, has been more or less agitated...I do believe that Mr. Edison has not been recently in-touch with radio sufficiently to appreciate fully the tremendous advances that have been made. Mr. Edison is a busy man, and a tremendously busy inventor. It would be well-nigh impossible for him to be in-touch with all of the various commercial phases of radio all over the country; and, like other executives, he obtains his reports from his subordinates, and such reports often as not may be highly colorful, and even wrong...[thus, the radio industry is unwilling to accord Mr. Edison anything]...as to Mr. Edison's remarks, the statements that follow are facts, which can be checked up by anyone who is unbiased."

Imagine Alastor and Vox with "Stayed Gone" in Episode 2, and Alastor and Lucifer with "Hell's Greatest Dad" in Episode 5, but happening entirely over letters and telegrams, because mass media and television didn't exist yet. The closest musical numbers would likely be "Farmer Refuted" and "Your Obedient Servant" from Hamilton.

Per the book The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World by Randall E. Stross:

Page 276: "[Edison's] phonograph business faced a challenge in the 1920s unlike any that had come before: the advent of commercial radio stations, and the wide availability of free music broadcasts and other entertainment. By the end of 1921, an estimated 1 million listeners had access to radios, and listened to programs broadcast from the Eastern seaboard. A single station in Roselle, New Jersey, which offered the voices of operatic stars among its musical programs, had a broadcast range of a thousand miles, covering New England and the mid-Atlantic states, and reaching as far west as Missouri. A contemporary newspaper account explained to readers not yet acquainted with the phenomenon that those who owned radio sets could enjoy entertainment that was 'literally as free as the air'. Charles and Theodore Edison [proposed a combination phonograph-radio]...their father need not feel slighted because the vacuum tube, a key component of the radio set, was a modern descendant of Edison's experimental work on the incandescent lightbulb. Edison did feel slighted, however; such, at least, was the opinion of Thomas Cowan, a former Westinghouse employee...[who conducted experiments in radio broadcasts with the aid of a phonograph Edison was willing to loan him in 1921]. Cowan had several conversations about radio with Edison, who became upset and recalled the loaner when he heard the Westinghouse broadcasts...[Edison's sons were embarrassed, humiliated]."

"Edison calls radio a 'failure for music', thinks phonograph will regain its own": The New York Times, 23 September 1926. Underlining the usefulness of radio for purposes other than musical programs, Edison did tune in to a radio broadcast of the Dempsey-Tunney fight in 1926, which he was too deaf to hear. He had to rely on family members [usually his wife, Mina] to summarize what had transpired at the end of each round.

"Radio satisfactory on bout, Edison says": The New York Times, 24 September 1926. Defending the quality of musical broadcasts, the radio industry offered expert testimony to rebut Edison's claims [in the next week's newspaper]. See: "Broadcasters disagree with electrical wizard", The New York Times, 3 October 1926.

The "radio fad": A few months later, [after much outcry from the radio industry], Edison was willing to grant that radio might not disappear, but he had a new criticism: listeners' aesthetic sense would be damaged. "Undistorted music, in time, will sound strange to those brought up on radio music," he predicted, "and they will not like the real thing." See: "Thomas A. Edison sees a menace for music in the radio", Musician, January 1927.

"Edison's fears [about the Edison Company not succeeding in the radio business] were realized, though it had been Edison's intransigence (refusal to change one's views) that put the company at such a great disadvantage as a late entrant...on 9 October 1929, Charles Edison prepared a report for his father that showed a loss of $1.3 million due to start-up costs for the [Edison] radio...he could not know that, two weeks later, the stock sell-off would begin with Black Thursday, on 24 October, followed by Black Monday and Black Tuesday...a few days later, Thomas A. Edison, Inc., announced that it would cease producing [music] records [altogether], and refit the factory for the production of radios. The announcement was accompanied by a mention of regret, as the phonograph was 'one of Mr. Edison's favorite inventions'."

"An employee reported observing Harvey Firestone tearfully explaining to Edison that the collapse of business due to the stock market crash of 1929, and the Great Depression, meant that he could no longer continue to financially support Edison's laboratory. Edison was heard, sneering, 'He's a Goddamned lightweight.'" ("I saw your fiasco on the picture show, and I just couldn't resist. What a performance! Why, I haven't been that entertained since the stock market crash of 1929, hahaha! ...so many orphans.")

Edison's death at the age of 84 on 18 October 1931 was also, ironically, commemorated through radio broadcasts: "[The next] night, two radio networks, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and the Columbia Broadcasting Company (CBC), jointly broadcast an 8-minute tribute that ended on the hour, when listeners were asked to turn out the lights. The White House did so, and much of the nation followed, more or less together, some a minute before the hour, others on the hour. On Broadway, 75% of the electrified signs were turned off briefly. Movie theaters went dark for a moment. Everything seemed connected to Edison: the indoor lights, the traffic lights, the electric advertising, everyone connected via radio, which Edison now received credit for helping to 'perfect'. In the simple narrative that provided inspiration for posterity, one man had done it all..."

Some numbers provided for how much radio was making:

1922: $46.5 million (~$860 million in 2024)

1923: $120 million (~$2.2 billion in 2024) (156% increase)

1924: $350 million (~$6.3 billion in 2024) (186% increase)

1925: $449 million (~$8 billion in 2024) (27% increase)

1926: $520 million (~$9.1 billion in 2024) (14% increase)

Overall, per another source:

1922: $60 million (a little more than the previous statistic)

1929: $842.6 million

From here, we can tell the biggest gain was in 1923-1924. Per another source: "Total cost was about $120.00 to buy a new radio in 1926; in today's money, that is about $1,500 to own a radio." That would mean that 7.6 million radios were sold by 1926; an impressive feat, considering that the United States only had a population of a little over 117 million people at the time.

Percentages of United States households with radios:

1925: 19% (5 million households)

1929: 35-40% (200% increase)

1930: 12 million households

1939: 28 million households

The number of licensed broadcast stations surged from just 5 in 1921 to 500 by 1924, per yet another source. In the early years, household radio ownership was highest in the Northeast and on the West Coast. In large sections of the South, Midwest and Great Plains, stations and radio sets were scarce. However, there were notable exceptions.

There were 732 radio stations total across the country by 1927, and the average radio was on 2 hours and 25 minutes per day. People who couldn't afford radios purchased them on installment loans, through which the full price of a new radio could be paid over time. Radios had even more advertisements for washers, dryers, and refrigerators, causing people to use even more merchant credit and installment loans to purchase these shiny, new technological devices.

However, radio sales also took a hit with the Great Depression, as average income levels fell from $3,270 per year in 1920 ($53,300 in 2024), to $2,300 per year by 1929 ($41,500 in 2024), then to $1,500 per year by 1932 ($35,500 in 2024). However, buying a radio also became cheaper, dropping from a costly $200 ($3,200 in 2024) in the early 1920s, to just $35 ($630 in 2024) by 1929-1930.

By the time Alastor died in 1933, 3.6 million radio sets were sold that year alone. By the mid-1930s, 67% of American households had radio sets, and by 1939, about 80% of Americans—over 100 million people—owned radios. Radios were in almost every house, and some Americans even had radios in their cars. The Golden Age of Radio lasted from the 1930s to the 1940s, before being eclipsed by television in the 1950s. Radio hosts went from being paid $10 per broadcast in 1921 ($180-200, 1-2 hours per night, 3-4 nights a week, for a weekly salary of $720-800; monthly salary, $2,900-$3,200; annual salary, $34,800-$38,400; modern-day annual salary range for a radio show host is $30,000-100,000, depending) to making triple-figure salaries in the later 1930s.

Another source lists the following salary ranges for radio hosts:

$2,500-2,700 a year to be an announcer in 1927* (~$45,000-$48,000 range in 2024)

$2,400 a year to be a dramatic director (~$43,000 in 2024)

$4,000 a year to be a program director (~$72,000 in 2024)

New Orleans' first radio broadcast was on 31 March 1922, with WWL. The station wasn't started as a commercial one; but rather, "more of an experiment, started as an interest in wireless communication picked up nationally". The station did not go commercial until 1929, meaning that Alastor also probably had at least one other side job.

Also see:

"Early Radio Announcers Invented Their Profession in the 1920s"

"The History of the Radio Industry in the United States to 1940"

"'A Godlike Presence': The Impact of Radio on the 1920s and 1930s" by Tom Lewis

American Babel: Rogue Radio Broadcasters of the Jazz Age by Clifford John Doerksen (see excerpt here)

Race and Radio: Pioneering Black Broadcasters in New Orleans by Bala James Baptiste (Note: The earliest Black broadcast in New Orleans was in 1945, meaning Alastor was white-passing.)

"Golden Age of Black Radio - Part 1: The Early Years" (Note: The first Black radio announcer, Jack L. Cooper, hosted in 1929.)

"How African Americans Entered Mainstream Radio" by Bala James Baptiste, the author of Race and Radio: Pioneering...

[justbusterkeaton]

[friendlessghoul]

Buster Keaton, Bartine Burkett, and Ingram B. Pickett The High Sign (1921)

[busterkeatonsociety]

This Day in Buster…April 12, 1921

Buster Keaton is magic! As is his use of the screen to draw the eye around & about.  “The High Sign” is released.  

[maxenceandrebisset]

NHL for rookies || pt. 1

Basic knowledge of hockey and its rules is expected going into this.

══════════════════════════════════════════

Overview of this part:

Teams - history, the Original six, important staff members

League structure - conferences, divisions

Season structure - preseason, regular season, mention of the playoffs (will be a separate post)

Organizational structure - the Board of Governors & the commissioner

══════════════════════════════════════════

NHL or the National Hockey League is the most esteemed professional ice hockey league in the world, founded more than one hundred years ago in 1917.

It belongs to the "Big Four" leagues — NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL — which are the most prominent and wealthiest professional sports leagues in the US and Canada.

══════════════════════════════════════════

TEAMS

Currently, there are 32 teams — 25 in the US and 7 in Canada.

In the beginning (1917) though, there were only two — Montreal and Toronto.

After Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and New York Rangers joined in the 1920s, they formed what is to this day known as Original Six.

They served as the league's only teams for 25 seasons until further expansion happened.

To this day, the Original Six has the most combined Stanley Cup titles in the league.

They are among the most valuable teams in the NHL, as well as the most scrutinized and harshly judged by the public and experts.

Generally, it is considered a privilege to play for any of the Original Six teams (even though they haven't belonged to the most successful ones for a while).

══════════════════════════════════════════

Important staff members in the teams' structures — aside from the coaching staff:

GM (general manager) is the person who:

hires, fires, and supervises the head and assistant coaches, scouts, and all other hockey operations staff members

negotiates contracts with players and their agents or their current teams

responsible for acquiring and trading players

oversees the drafting process

calls up or sends down players to/from the AHL

manages the salary cap

President of the Hockey Operations:

above the GM in the organizational structure — oversees him

serves as a buffer between the GM and the team owner — ensures the hockey department aligns with the ownership's vision

can veto the GM on decisions

sets long-term direction — rebuilding...

handles high-level negotiations and disputes

.

.

.

Scouts — two types - amateur and professional:

Amateur scouts evaluate young, draft-eligible players in junior, college, and international leagues.

Their goal is to identify future NHL talents

Because of that, they travel extensively all over the world.

Their task is to put together a profile of young players that talks about the player's skating, hockey IQ, skill, and potential.

They also interview players, coaches, and families to evaluate the kid's character.

Professional scouts evaluate players already in pro hockey (NHL, AHL, European leagues).

They help with trades, free-agent signings, and call-ups.

Their job is to analyze players on other teams and find trade targets — players that would fit the specifics the team is currently looking for.

Provide reports on players the team may face in the upcoming games.

Tracks team's own minor-league prospect for potential call-ups.

══════════════════════════════════════════

LEAGUE STRUCTURE

The teams are divided into TWO CONFERENCES, based on the geographical positions — Eastern and Western.

Each conference is then further divided into TWO DIVISIONS.

The Eastern Conference has Metropolitan and Atlantic divisions.

The Western Conference has Central and Pacific divisions.

══════════════════════════════════════════

The map of the NHL divisions.

══════════════════════════════════════════

STRUCTURE OF THE SEASON

The NHL season is divided into:

A preseason (that covers September and early October) includes...

Development camp and prospect tournaments that feature prospects the teams have drafted (both signed and unsigned), as well as specifically invited players from any other hockey league who haven't been drafted or signed by any NHL team yet but whom the teams are interested in.

Training camp begins in mid-to-late September.

The team invites and evaluates around 50 players to put together their roster for the follow-up season and begin the training.

Even the players who are considered stable members of the roster attend this camp and are expected to prove themselves to the coaches.

Primarily it is for the young prospects who have the potential to make the team to show up and convince the coaches that they deserve a spot on the roster & for the new additions (traded players) to show their abilities and how they click or not with the new team.

It is followed by 6-8 exhibition not-for-the-record games that allow the coaches to evaluate their choice of the roster for the following season by seeing it play a game against other teams.

══════════════════════════════════════════

A regular season (till mid-April)

Predefined schedule — since 2021 the regular season consists of 82 games, out of which half is at home and half on the road.

To be precise, 26 out of those games they play against the teams from their division; 24 against the teams from the teams from the other division of their conference; and 32 remaining against every team in the other conference — two (home and road) against every team.

2 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for losing in overtime or a shootout, 0 points for a loss in regulation.

══════════════════════════════════════════

The playoffs (from April to the beginning of June)

Details will be explained in another part as there are a lot of important details that need to be said and explained.

══════════════════════════════════════════

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The ruling and governing body of the NHL is the Board of Governors.

Each team appoints a Governer — usually, it's the owner of the club — and two alternates.

The board establishes the policies of the league, concerns itself with the salary caps for member clubs, approves purchase/sale/relocation of a team, hires/fires the commissioner, and others.

It meets twice per year in June and December.

The chief executive of the league holds the title of the commissioner.

He leads the negotiations on behalf of the league and appoints officials for all games.

The position was established in 1993 and it has yet to experience a change as it still is Gary Bettman who is not a very well loved person among fans.

If you're asking why he's still the commissioner, it's because he made the owners of the clubs filthy rich back in the day (still does) and works primarily for them (not us, the fans) — satisfying all of their needs, and taking most of the bullets for them.

And since the owners of the clubs are mostly old filthily rich men, you can't expect progressive thinking from them, including a fair rotation on the spot of the commissioner — because what if there came someone who would go against them, right?

══════════════════════════════════════════

What to expect in the future parts:

Draft explained

Playoffs explained

Salary cap and contracts explained

How taxes nowadays make some teams more lucrative than others

Rebuilds explained

...and many more

══════════════════════════════════════════

[guzhufuren]

Thailand 🇹🇭 A Guide to Some of the Best Queer Asian Shows

Full list here.

1. KinnPorsche mafia boss/bodyguard; action; kidnapper/kidnapee side couple

Kinn, a son of a prominent mafia head, is ambushed by an enemy, and meets Porsche, a bartender who comes to his rescue for a price, thus beginning their reluctant relationship as boss and bodyguard, which soon turns into something more.

iQIYI

2. Bed Friend friends with benefits; office setting; trauma

King and Uea work in the same office. After a company outing ends in a drunken hook-up between them, Uea and King agree to keep seeing each other on a strictly physical basis. With no strings attached, will these two be able to keep things between them simple and carefree or will their emotions eventually get the better of them?

Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or GagaOOLala or cut on YouTube

3. The Sign reincarnated lovers; fantasy; thai mythology; police

The story of the love between Phaya and Tharn who used to be mythological creatures Naga and Garuda in their past lives, and were forced apart. But fate intervened, and two men were reincarnated in new bodies. Now, they work together as partners in the Special Investigations Unit to uncover violent crimes and supernatural mysteries while their love is tested by mystical forces and past enemies.

YouTube

4. I Feel You Linger In The Air period drama; time travel; bittersweet

Jom, an architect overseeing the renovation of a rundown villa, continuously dreams of a man he's never met. When a twist of fate transports Jom to Chiang Mai in the 1920s, he assumes the role of a servant to the affluent young master Yai, the mysterious man from his dreams.

GagaOOLala or YouTube

5. You're My Sky sports; university setting; coming of age

Thorn, a young basketball player follows his senior Fah to university as a result of the promise they’d made — to become national basketball champions. However, to his dismay, he finds that Fah has already given up on basketball. --- Aai has to work in pairs throughout the semester with San, 1 year footballer; in order to receive a scholarship to study in Japan, Ai must be willing to do everything to get an A grade. --- Track running requires the compatibility of the team members to be very high. Vee, who became the new racquet 4, has to speed up training to fit in with the team as quickly as possible, especially with Dome, spending extra time together to train. Is love actually a major obstacle on the path of being an athlete?

Viki

6. Cutie Pie (+Cutie Pie 2 You, Naughty Babe) arranged marriage; secret identity; crack

The sons of two companies, Lian and Kuea, have been engaged to each other since childhood. One decides he doesn't want the arranged marriage anymore while the other decides to win him back.

Cutie Pie: YouTube & Cutie Pie 2 You: Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or cut on YouTube & NB: uncut on IQIYI or cut on YouTube

7. Until We Meet Again reincarnated lovers; forbidden love;university setting

Two boys who couldn't be together in one life find each other again in another.

+ Between Us university setting; swimming club; trauma

A parallel story to Until We Meet Again. Win and Team get to know one another through the swimming club, and eventually develop a relationship. They grow their connection as Win helps Team deal with his childhood trauma.

UWMA: YouTube & Between Us: Special: YouTube & Between Us: Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or paid YouTube or cut on YouTube

8. Step By Step office setting; boss/employee; slowburn

Jeng is a marketing manager and son of the owner of the company. Pat is a new team member. Jeng develops a secret fondness for his new subordinate, but in this position, he has to be strict and picky with Pat.

Uncut 18+ on Viki or GagaOOLala or cut on YouTube

9. GAP The Series wlw; office setting; boss/employee; class difference

Long after Sam first came to Mon's rescue when they were kids, Sam is unambiguously Mon's idol. In order to be near Sam, Mon gets a job working under her. When they finally meet again at the office, Mon is surprised by Sam’s icy exterior, so different from the image she'd had of her. Mon and Sam aren't just different in demeanour; they stand apart in class and age.

YouTube

10. Lucky My Love wlw; office setting

In the pursuit of love, Nabdao has been doing everything. She has got her fortune read. She's gone on a string of blind dates. Unfortunately, no one seems to be on the same page as her. She starts to think that perhaps her gorgeous and caring boss Pheem could be the one for her. Then Vela, her new team leader, comes into the picture and shakes things up with her observant and affectionate care.

YouTube

11. La Pluie soulmate alternative universe

In an alternate universe where Thailand is perpetually rainy and soulmates exist, La Pluie traces the story of Saengtai, who suffers from sensorineural hearing loss every time it rains. The only voice he can hear then is that of his soulmate, but he is adamant about not giving said soulmate a chance due to having seen his parents’ (who are also soulmates) relationship deteriorate.

YouTube or iQIYI

12. I Told Sunset About You (+ Last Twilight in Phuket, I Promised You the Moon) coming of age; childhood friends to lovers; high school setting

Two childhood best friends-turned-rivals meet again, awakening an old rivalry and old feelings. They now have to navigate their lives together and the growing attraction toward each other.

Viki (ITSAY) & YouTube (LTIP) & Viki (IPYTM)

13. Ghost Host, Ghost House crush at first sight; ghosts; grief

Kevin's passion is the challenge of hunting ghosts. He returns to Thailand after 10 years to stay with his aunt's family, but he didn't know that he'd come to stay under the same roof as those hunted ghosts. There he meets Pluem, a young gardener working for his family and a spark ignites between them.

YouTube or GagaOOLala

14. Something In My Room ghost/human; mystery; bittersweet

Looking to start a new life in a new house with his mother, Phat feels something uncanny in his room, which turns out to be the ghost of Phob. Phob wants Phat’s help in solving the mystery of his death before it’s too late.

I recommend watching the extended uncut version on KissKH or Dramacool, but you can also watch cut version on YouTube

15. Manner of Death crime; mystery; dark

A forensic pathologist Bunn is threatened to identify a manner of one victim's death as suicide — something that is not true according to the autopsy performed. The prime suspect seems to be a man named Tan who denies all involvement. They team up together to find the real murderer.

WeTV

16. Triage time loop; hospital setting; crime; mystery

As a resident in the emergency room, one should be indifferent when not saving a patient's life. But Tin got the chance to reverse a random patient's death for the second, third, and countless times. To help Tol and save his life.

AIS PLAY

17.  Love Mechanics cheating; university setting

A love story that starts one night in a club — between Mark, who is drunk and carrying the painful burden of his one-sided love, and the boy who he bumps into and mistakes as the object of his affection. They spend a night together and gradually Mark falls for Vee, although he knows Vee has a girlfriend. Will the love between them make it?

WeTV

18. Wedding Plan wedding planner/groom; lavender marriage; wlw side couple

Nuea is a professional wedding planner. Sailom happens to be the perfect man for Nuea based on his visual considerations for a man. But the universe has an unimaginable sense of humor as Sailom and his fiance Yiwa turn out to be Nuea's new clients.

Uncut 18+ on iQIYI or cut on Youtube & iQIYI (special episode)

19. Laws of Attraction lawyers; crime

When working-class man Tinn's niece fails to receive justice for her untimely death, he encounters Charn, a cynical morally corrupt lawyer. As Tinn and Charn team up to delve deeper into the case, they form a close bond despite their ideological differences. The series explores Charn and Tinn’s fight for justice, even though they were on opposite sides of the fence at the beginning.

YouTube

20. Secret Crush On You “nerd”/popular guy; queer friend group; university setting

Discover the secret of a nerdy young man, Toh, who fell in love with a popular third-year senior. Because his dream is so far from reach, observing is the only thing he could do. But what happens when one auspicious day the world devises an opportunity for Toh to make himself known to his crush Nuea?

YouTube

21. To Sir, With Love period drama; family drama; rich man/lower class man

A powerful family suffering from internal power struggles is now facing an even greater secret threat, the oldest son and heir is gay.

YouTube

22. My Only 12% best friends to lovers; slow burn

Cake and Seeiw, next-door neighbors and childhood best friends, navigate their feelings towards each other as they grow up.

YouTube

23. Show Me Love wlw; beauty pageants

Meena moves to Bangkok to achieve her singing dreams. She chances across Cherine who asks Meena to join her in a beauty pageant. The girls' journey for the crown begins and a romance between them sparks.

YouTube

24. Pit Babe omegaverse; alpha/alpha; car racing

Babe is the number one race car driver and an alpha with special abilities who only has sex with other alphas. Nerdy naive alpha Charlie approaches Babe to ask for his help to become a racer himself. Babe agrees to help Charlie realise his dream, but it will come with a price.

Uncut on iQIYI or cut on YouTube

---

You can watch many shows for free on YouTube, and watch others on the streaming websites by setting VPN to Thailand. In other cases I recommend paying for subscriptions to show appreciation and support of content in order to get more of it in the future, but if you can’t, watch on KissKH (better quality), Dramacool or get files from MkvDrama. Enjoy!  🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[perseidlion]

One Night Can Stretch Into Forever - A Catwin Modern AU

I'm very proud of my WIP, a modern take on Edwin x Cat King. Cat is a personal stylist, and Edwin is an English professor. They meet one night in a jazz bar. They both start to catch feelings almost immediately, but Edwin is determined to keep it casual. Rating: E (soft E, non-graphic smut) Status: Ongoing. No less than 1 chapter per week, sometimes more.

CHAPTER 1

A jazz club was not Cat’s usual scene. Normally, he spent his time at underground clubs and posh cocktail bars. Part of that was practical. As a stylist with rich and famous clients, he wanted to have his finger on the pulse of what was new and trendy. When one of his clients told him about a speakeasy that had been getting a lot of buzz, he was intrigued. He’d been seeing hints of 1920s-inspired fashion in next years’ winter previews his contacts had given him a sneak peek of, which made the jazz club even more intriguing. 

London never had Prohibition, so the speakeasy vibe of Giggle Water was completely contrived. Fake or not, it was executed very well - from the hidden door at the back of a florist, to the exposed brick and brass finishings. He suspected the club might have actually been a Molly House that was given a jazz-era makeover. That would explain why, although the club was not explicitly a queer one, he saw many visibly queer people as he waited in the short line to descend into the club proper.

When Cat emerged from the narrow stairwell, he was greeted with a surprisingly open space with vaulted ceilings which suggested it was once a cellar for the historic building above. There was a small stage in the corner where a trio was playing klezmer music and the club was packed with young and fashionable people. That was a good sign that the visit was actually worth his while.

Normally Cat’s personal style leaned towards the garish and gender non-conforming. For once, he was there to see and not so much to be seen. His deep blood red blazer with subtle black brocade over a tight black t-shirt with a slight sheen and high-waisted, perfectly tailored slacks might be ostentatious on someone else, but on him, it was practically understated. His blond curls were tousled in an easy surfer style and he was wearing cologne that smelled like boozy cherries with a hint of musk. A diamond stud glinted in one ear and he was wearing a subtle amount of eyeliner to make his eyes pop and give them a slight cat-eye look. 

As Cat scanned the well-dressed crowd, he started to mentally catalogue the vibe of the most well-dressed people. Waistcoats for women with very masculine tailoring were well-represented, as were asymmetrical blazers for all genders. A very masculine-presenting person breezed past him in a corset paired with wide-legged trousers with very high slits giving a flash of silver booty shorts underneath. 

“Oh, yes,” Cat murmured to himself.

He’d have to get himself a pair of those pants. Maybe paired with a latex-look turtleneck and a diamond belt and ankle height go-go boots.

Cat had seen enough to know it was worth lingering awhile longer. It was still relatively early, and it was possible more interesting fashionistas and socialites would make their way into the club. So he got in line at the bar.

“The cocktails are quite excellent here. Though if you aren’t a fan of actually tasting the alcohol, you might find them strong for your taste,” came a masculine voice in a crisp, posh, English accent.

Cat turned to find a tall, dark-haired man in his mid-twenties. He was wearing a black and white patterned shirt with an identical tie, and an immaculately slim-tailored pair of black pants and a single breasted blazer that nipped him in at the waist. It was nothing groundbreaking fashion-wise, but it was trendy and well-tailored enough to catch his attention. He was holding a cut crystal glass with something dark and strong in it.

Cat gave him an obvious once-over, then grinned. “Well, I’d say that makes sense seeing as this is a cocktail bar,” he drawled. 

“Oh, you’re American.”

“You sound disappointed.”

“No, not disappointed. Are you a tourist?”

Cat examined the stranger, one eyebrow lifted. He was having a hard time reading him. It felt like he was being flirted with, but it could also simply be smalltalk. There was a soft lisp to his voice and a certain flow to his mannerisms that made his gaydar ping. However, he’d made the mistake in the past, misinterpreting poshness for queerness. There was also a note of hopefulness from the stranger that made him think he wanted the answer to his question to be no.

“Resident,” said Cat. He smiled wide enough to show his naturally pointed canines that had given him the nickname in his childhood that he now used exclusively. His gaze flicked to the man’s full glass, then up to his face. “Unless you’re second-guessing your drink, I’m guessing you’re not in line. So?”

“Pardon?” said the man. He was holding himself confidently, but something in his eyes suggested nervousness. 

“Are you going to offer to buy me a drink? Or have I…” he shifted a little closer, “...completely misread you?” 

Continue reading on Ao3

[mr-laveau]

I told I would show up eventually and here I am (even tho i should be asleep)

for the design lab: Sweetheart oc

1. What's your listener's name and nickname?

Cassiel (chosen name), commonly referred to as Sneaks or Cass (still called Sweetheart by Milo)

2. What's their backstory?

Cassiel comes from a family of five, having one older and one younger brother (Jonah and Raphael respectively). He comes from a well-off family, high middle class, both parents work in healthcare. Their older brother is studying to become a surgeon, and their younger brother wants to become a sculptor but is being pressured to pursue a science instead. Typically Cass doesn’t get as much feedback about their carer from their parents. A few times it was suggested they should become a teacher or a lawyer, but Cass never liked the idea of those. He never considered going into medicine, since they knew how much it strained their family, and they wanted to do something outside of the beaten path. Make a name for themselves as *Cassiel* not as a Grandwood (family name). Because their parents worked such hectic hours, Cass was often the one to watch their little brother in the evenings/weekends, and did not have free time for themselves because of this. They were not a very social child either, obsessed with books—mystery books in particular—and pouring themselves into their studies so they don’t get chewed out for their grades. When they found out that they were empowered, being the only one in their family to be empowered, they were very freaked out. They were only 13, and had no one to turn to. One of his teachers, also empowered, alerts Mazeed al-Masih (goes by Maze generally) who is a department worker, and he teaches Cass everything they need to know. They find out the opportunities they now have because they are empowered, things he didn’t even dream about, and he sets off for DAMN university as soon as he’s graduated high school. DAMN is in a different state than Cass, despite being the closest, so this does separate them from their family, and they don’t make a habit of keeping in contact with anyone but their little brother. They make it their mission to become an Investigator, and the best one around at that.

3. What's the desired aesthetic of your listener character (punk, greaser, bimbo, scene kid, schoolgirl)?

Kinda thinking punk meets 1920’s investigator. If that makes sense. idk if it does.

4. What's your listener's gender presentation like?

Trans-masc, usually says that they’re non-binary. (they/he pronouns)

5. What's your listener's ethnicity?

Irish

6. What's your listener's age?

33

7. What's your listener's body type/build?

I’m not sure any official words for it, but like a volleyball/swimmer build (they played volleyball since middle school)

8. What's your listener's star sign?

Sagittarius

9. What are your listener's most important relationships and who are they connected to?

Familial (both found and blood): The pack, Mazeed, Raphael (little brother), their friends from DAMN, the rest of their family to an extent

10. What's your listener's hobbies/interests?

Reading, puzzles (both jigsaw and things like crosswords/sudoku/etc), walks/cafe visits to people watch, volleyball

11. If your listener was a deity from a known mythology, what deity would they be?

Athena

12. What Audio RP series are they from?

Redacted Audio (if you couldn’t tell)

13. What kind of lover are they to their partner/what kind of friend are they?

They’re pretty attentive to the ones they love. If there’s the tiniest thing that they notice they’re going to attempt to fix it. Very much a quality time/acts of service guy. Some would think that because of the effort they put into their work, they wouldn’t be a very good lover and those people are very very wrong. They will make time for everything (even if it nearly kills them)

14. What is something/are some things that your listener values?

Family, justice, quality time (if that counts??)

15. Pick a song that you think represents your listener.

Second Child, Restless Child by The Oh Hellos

16. What's the inspiration behind your listener's design?

Honestly a lot of Cass’ design/vibe is just a mash of a bunch of things I enjoy in a character, but the main thing i think of when i think of him is “tasks themselves with fixing the world” and a lot of 1920’s snuff films. Cass is definitely my most chaotic oc so far.

17. Could you give me a vague concept of what your listener's visual vibe is?

Fashionable when trying, very cozy when they’re not. They’re very intimidating when they dress up, usually has rings and the like on. If it’s for work, it’s very much business attire with a few personal touches that won’t get them in trouble (their rings, for example). If it’s a casual day in with Milo/the pack they let themselves dress cozier with over sized sweaters and such.

18. What are some extra tidbits you wanna tell me about your listener?

This kinda goes with the program but i kinda wanna stress how stubborn (maybe headstrong is a better word idk) they are. They will do something the hardest way because that’s how they started it and they don’t want to change plans now. They also have a necklace that their little brother gave them that they won’t take off. I think that’s all I wanna mention.

LaVeau-gue - design #004 - Sweetheart - Cassiel - Pluto

I haven't touched this series in a while but I'm back at it and starting it up slowly with Pluto's Sweetheart, Cassiel!

Design Notes

I would say this was difficult to design but that would be a lie. Instead I will say that it was fun to mess with this design.

First off, my major considerations were that this was a design for sweetheart, it was supposed to be inspired by Athena, it was noir punk and that you're a Percy Jackson fan (debatable since you like the movies but oookaaayyy/j).

So for this, I wanted to lean into different things; Cassiel should look put together but similalry uncooperative-you mention that growing up, they got good grades but did so for the sake of earning them to pass off as a good student rather than having a love for it. Additionally, the mention of their love of puzzles as well as their meticulous attention to detail concerning their loved ones gave me a good idea of what their shape language should be.

Cassiel reads someone who is somewhat athletic, attentive and keen to question things so while their hair might be slicked back, their posture upright and their attire somewhat kept, they do not concede to the complete idea of being wholely tidy by appearance. Following old british punk influence, I loosened Cassiel's tie, gave him a blue patch in their nice dress pants, added a blue studded belt and choker while also giving them a fishnet top which is more emo than punk but the addition of it feels it's anti-DUMP dresscode so I ran with that.

I did take note of Cassiel's penchant for dressing up and rings but elected that such a look would not be regular enough to make up for a complete design so I leaned away from that and into something that Cassiel would wear while in the field.

Finally, after those aspects, I then leaned into their athena inspiration and DUG for some inspiration from Epic The Musical-that led me to using blues and grays within the design BUT the majority of the influence came from the concept of barn owls. This shaped out with their hair being slicked back, their colour pallette mimicking the same distribution of colour across a barn owl's feathers as well as the framing of his face. As a smaller note, I gave them blonde hair and a grey streak as a callback to annabeth who sports that kind of hair in the PJO books if I'm not mistaken.

I hope I did you concept some justice with this design @agentplutonium!