#the moon crown podcast

[twinstrangersp]

The Moon Crown OFFICIAL MERCH LAUNCH!

‼️Exciting Merch News!! We're excited to FINALLY announce @themooncrownpod merch releasing in preparation for their upcoming finale! You can find stickers, posters, and even a PUZZLE to satiate your buying needs! Keep an 👁️out for more!

[boombox-fuckboy]

Hi!

I have been following this blog for a while now and I love using it to find new podcasts. I was wondering, if you have time, what you think is the scariest podcast you've listened to or what your favorite horror podcasts might be? Thank you, and I hope you have a great day :)

I'm so glad to have helped you find new shows!

I don't really get scared by horror podcasts (not sure why. It isn't some "I'm tough" thing, I get startled by the toaster, and it's not like I never feel unsettled or concerned or icked out at podcasts, just not scared) so I'm not sure I can give you a good answer on that one, but I'll gladly give you ten of my personal favourites instead:

Alice Isn't Dead: The podcast that got me into podcasts. A truck driver travels the USA looking for her wife, who until recently, she had thought was dead. Along the way she has all manner of strange encounters, and sees a side to the world that few truely comprehend.

Archive 81: A young archivist takes a job at a remote outpost organising and digitising a collection of tapes. On the tapes is a series of interviews and investigations made by a social worker in the 90s as she becomes familiar with a bizzare apartment building. The archivist, naturally, has an increasingly bad time. Each season is part of the same story, but they're all a bit different.

Ghost Wax: Recorded interviews conducted by the last surviving necromancer, and various people who died under seemingly otherworldly circumstances.

Hello From The Hallowoods: Supernatural and cosmic horror. A powerful and dramatic entity visits your nightmares to relay stories of the people (to varying degrees of both human and alive) who inhabit the beautiful and deadly Hallowoods. What start off as individual stories quickly connect to a larger narrative.

Hi Nay: A supernatural horror following a young woman named Mari, who's babaylan (shaman) family background draws her into helping people with various horrific supernatural problems around Toronto. Formatted as phone calls to her mother telling her what's happened.

I Am In Eskew: Often-horrific stories from a man living in something that very much wishes to be a city, and a private investigator who was, in her words, hired to kill a ghost. Many people seem to agree this one is scary.

Janus Descending: A xenoarcheologist and a xenopaleontologist are sent to investigate and sample the ruins of a long-dead alien city, and discover more than they anticipated. The format for this one is really clever: you hear her audio logs first to last, and his last to first, and the story is all the more heartbreaking for it. I'd recommend listening to the supercut.

The Lost Cat Podcast: A man befriends strange entities, loses bits of himself and drinks an awful lot of wine while looking for his cat. Soft and cosmic horror.

The Moon Crown: The shortest on this list, but also one of the most fascinating. A disgraced scribe living in a city of humans, beasts, and other bizzare entities, begins to recount recent happenings, and actions she has a hard time explaining, on broadcast. But the people she's hoping to reach might not be the ones listening.

The Silt Verses: In a modern world where gods are plentiful, both illicit and commercialised, two disciples of an outlawed river god go on a pilgrimage.

Although, maybe some other listeners can help me out and share what scared them?

[stormfireproductions]

M Molder of @themooncrownpod points out an excellent reason why some writers prefer more circuitous methods of storytelling.

Listen to the latest interview with a storyteller on the Tales from the Hearth podcast feed, available wherever you get your podcasts.

[jijingka]

we’re bad gods.

[ID: digital illustration of mabel martin (left) and anna limón (right) from mabel podcast. they are sitting face to face with their hands barely touching and a spark between them. behind them is sally’s house with vines spreading from anna’s side, red light shining through the door, and a labyrinth pediment. there is a crown and rabbit jumping over the moon above them and a fairy ring below them with a sound wave or heartbeat line within it. they are framed by a spiral telephone cord, mirror image anatomical hearts, and daturas. a quote from the podcast lines the frame: “-of the house. It means so much to - to Sally. She loves that house more than I can ever […] It’s […] like a religion. People […] n’t - they don’t love like that anymore. […] -s there. Something created. We’re bad gods. We let all our works rot into the ground.”]

*note: i intentionally only included some parts of this, but here is the full quote from episode 7: “Please take care of the house. It means so much to – to Sally. She loves that house more than I can ever convey to you, more than anyone has a right to love anything. It’s like – like a religion. People don’t- they don’t love like that anymore. They don’t even love each other like that anymore, let alone something that just – stands there. Something created. We’re bad gods. We let all our works rot into the ground.”

[mybedroomceilingsbored]

hey y'all!

you can call me Mouse! i'm a nerdy, artsy-craftsy, music-loving, incredibly enthusiastic GEEK.

i love chatting with people, always feel free to shoot me an ask/dm :)

about me

☼ she/her pronouns are great! ☼ i'm a minor ☼ i'm a dancer and i play a few instruments ☼ pisces sun/moon, scorpio rising ☼ infp-t 2w3 (explanations linked, if you're curious) ☼ one (1) beach completed, on my way to becoming an Official Certified Ken (credit: my very dear @green-binder) ☼ i tend to forget things-please don't take anything i do/don't do personally! chances are it just slipped my mind. ☼ i love interacting with people, but i do sometimes burn out. sometimes i just don't have the energy to reply to something or continue a conversation, please don't take it personally!

not rlly doing chain mail atm

i've got a funky lil tma sideblog @consumedbywhatlovesme if you're interested, hyperfixation going STRONG 💪

things i love...

☼ cavetown ☼ the magnus archives ☼ malevolent ☼ coraline ☼ hozier ☼ plants/gardening ☼ ancient greek mythology and culture ☼ slime molds, mushrooms, microbiology in general ☼ stranger things ☼ pjo ☼ baking ☼ crochet/knitting ☼ long bike rides ☼ sketching and painting ☼ rainy days

... and people i love!

@15millionfireflies, @a-dam-heartstopper-fan, @bleep-bloop-boo, @brains-out-rn, @ch3rry-t0mat0,

@dormienscattus, @fairyycoffin, @finleyforevermore, @galaxys-universe, @genderfluid-diaries,

@green-binder, @hugallurfriends, @i-eat-so-much-grass, @margaret-the-duck, @mossy-stormcloud,

@puppy--boy, @remithegayshoebill, @sad-girl-shit11, @sagaofa-dying-star, @scatteredraysofhope,

@small-giggle, @the-chaotic-snek, @theladyofpaintedstars, @thestrawberryapologist,

@totheidiot, @trans-lobotomy, @urlocalsadkid-l, @wistfulenchantress, @yelenapines

comfort books...

☼ a psalm for the wild built + a prayer for the crown-shy, coraline, the electric kingdom, the song of achilles, truly devious, a wrinkle in time, inward, heartstopper, the secret garden, severance, they

... movies, tv, and podcasts...

☼ coraline, the magnus archives, malevolent, spirited away, stranger things, good omens, over the garden wall, gravity falls

... and foods

☼ hot cocoa, peach tea, lemon cookies, asparagus, fresh sourdough, grapefruit, chocolate chip cookie dough, berries of any kind

currently listening to

favorite artists

☼ cavetown, hozier, lizzy mcalpine, luz, wallows, girl in red, taylor swift, mother mother, billie eilish, david kushner, madilyn mei, coin, tv girl, fuvk, gregory alan isakov, mxmtoon, boygenius (+ solo work), hayd, maya hawke, pomme, the paper kites, novo amor

please send me music recs!! i'm always happy to listen to something new :)

moodboard by my darling @wistfulenchantress <3

(dividers by @/saradika-graphics, their stuff is absolutely gorgeous)

[allatseapod]

Meet the crew!

Look what the tide washed in!

Noah (they/them) is the writer of All At Sea and the voice of February. They're currently in the process of completing their MA in English Literature, which focuses on the importance of the found family trope in queer, POC-led narratives. When they're not drowning in books or literary analysis, you can find them staring blearily at a blank Word Doc, or drowning in all the different audio dramas they still need to listen to.

Scotchy @secondhand-coelacanth (any pronouns) is a producer of All At Sea and the voice of Sturgeon. They found their passion for podcasting through working on The Hermit Archives as an editor and minor character, and can't wait to bring more sounds and noises right to your eardrums. When he isn't splicing voice lines for enrichment, or surviving the horrors of academia, Scotchy can be found making music, crocheting, or fishing around for a new hobby to try out.

Louis Wolf @louis-dc (he/they) is a producer of All At Sea, he is a disabled artist/actor based in Colorado. Doing theatre in high school helped to reveal his passion for storytelling, specifically with acting and directing. This has fed in well to a love of dnd. When not playing ttrpgs with friends, Louis can be found playing video games, yelling about superheroes, or watching bird documentaries with their cat. Louis is the assistant producer of Soul Operator, you can hear them as Alex in episode eight of The Grotto and Athena in the upcoming audio drama Forged Bonds. He is creator of upcoming talking head podcast Media Microscope.

Rowan Odom @twinstrangersp (they/them) Rowan, sound designer of All At Sea, is a non-binary creator whose passion lies in creating stories in a post-Covid world, specifically those filled with queerness, love, and horror. They also make time for D&D and random crafts in their spare time! They are one of the Strangers of Twin Strangers Productions and the creator of the studio’s first AD, Syntax. They are also the main editor in the upcoming Rites of Descendancy and can be heard as a voice in The Moon Crown as Aria, and Syntax as Elora.

Rusty Cornmagnate @cornmagnate (he/they) 20 y/o artist and graphic designer, author of visuals for All At Sea

El Carters @waysofink (they/them) is our transcriber & beta-reader/listener. Creative writing graduate from Poland who fell in love with the audio drama format in 2022. Since then they have been getting involved in some projects (like this one) & writing their own show - Nightpocalypse. When not writing, El likes to indulge in some sewing, soundscaping, DnD, media consumption, and various arts and crafts.

[breelandwalker]

hi Bree! I am currently doing research on modern paganism as a whole, and have come across a few passages about how some practitioners claim to follow an 'old' or 'the old and true' religion. I know Margot Adler mentions this briefly in "Drawing Down The Moon" (page 77) - but I'm wondering if you've seen any other sources on this? I want to learn more about the origins of this 'old and true' religion, but none of my regular resources are turning up anything of substance.

-gasps in Witchstorian- Is it time? I think it's time. Excuse me while I put on my very best hat.

Today, we're going to have a chat about MARGARET FUCKING MURRAY and her thoroughly discredited theories about a Great White Western Witch-Cult. (I have plans to do a wholeass podcast episode on this nonsense in the coming year, so consider this a warm-up. I should also note that debunking claims of an Ancient Unified Religion of Witchcraft is part of how I first earned my stripes as a fledgling Witchstorian. So this be my wheelhouse and I welcome ye to it.)

In her 1921 book, The Witch-Cult in Western Europe, Murray put forth the theory that the ceremonies and rituals detailed in witch trial documents were actually descriptions of practices utilized by a matriarchal pagan fertility cult whose adherents had survived in secret following the Christianization of the British Isles. She pointed to a number of historical personages accused of and/or executed for witchcraft as members of this alleged "Old Religion," presented the idea of "flying on broomsticks" as a ritual activity involving a leaping dance with brooms held between women's thighs (the handles being smeared with a hallucinogenic salve), and claimed that the "Horned God of the witches" was later twisted into modern artistic depictions of Satan as a method of quite literally demonizing these supposed pagan ways. Furthermore, according to Murray, the cult had survived into the present day in the form of a certain secret groups in rural areas of Britain. (It should be noted that while Murray did not invent this theory, she was its' biggest and arguably most legitimizing proponent in her day.)

If any of this is sounding familiar, you get a cookie.

Gerald Gardner was a big fan of these theories and further bolstered the claims when he touted the New Forest coven as a surviving group from the "Old Religion." He incorporated many of Murray's claims into the early framework of his own myth-building. If you read Witchcraft Today (1954), you'll see a lot of Murray's work repeated as a framework for Gardner's own theories on contemporary witchcraft practices, which later became the basis for Wicca.

The issue here is that Murray was working with both a flawed premise and a really terrible use of source material. Repeatedly, she cited superstition, prosecutorial arguments, and confessions from accused witches from 16th-17th century trial records as fact, completely ignoring that none of this had any physical evidence attached to it and that confessions were often made under torture or the threat thereof. She also cited a lack of evidence as alleged evidence of a coverup by the Church and the Crown, or the cult itself covering its' tracks. Even her contemporaries viewed her work as fringe theory and it's largely because she was invited to write the Encyclopedia Britannica article on Witchcraft and the later use of her theories in the creation of Wicca that she's taken seriously by anybody at all.

While Murray's claims are thoroughly discredited, almost literally laughed out of academia during her own lifetime, certain sectors of the modern witchcraft and pagan communities still cling to this idea of a secret surviving pre-Christian goddess cult. I can fully understand why this is tempting, given the romantic notion of clandestine meetings and bonfire dances out in the woods, as well as the need of some modern witches to feel connected to some form of borrowed martyrdom as a mirror for their own feelings of disenfranchisement. No serious scholar of the early modern period or the history of witch trials during that time considers Murray's work credible and modern historians are prone to cringing whenever her name is mentioned.

So yeah, if you see a work on modern paganism or witchcraft referring to "the Old Ways" or "the Old Religion," that's very likely what it's talking about. Margot Adler and Ronald Hutton, both noted and credible authors writing about the modern witchcraft movement, mention Murray's witch-cult hypothesis in their books....but mostly only to say what a crock of shit it was.

For further reading, I recommend Jacqueline Simpson's 1994 article, "Margaret Murray: Who Believed Her And Why?," Ronald Hutton's "Triumph of the Moon," and the Wikipedia article on the witch-cult hypothesis (purely for a condensed version of how the theory came to be and how it has affected modern thought).

I'll leave you with this quote from A New History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics and Pagans (Russell and Brooks), regarding Murray's work:

"That this 'old religion' persisted secretly, without leaving any evidence, is, of course, possible, just as it is possible that below the surface of the moon lie extensive deposits of Stilton cheese. Anything is possible. But it is nonsense to assert the existence of something for which no evidence exists. The Murrayites ask us to swallow a most peculiar sandwich: a large piece of the wrong evidence between two thick slices of no evidence at all."

[teopatra]

✨🤭 BIENVENUE 👋🏽👋🏻👋👋🏿

Let me preface by sayin, I went on Google, found some images, saved these images, but I DO not own them and i am NOT citing my source 😆 BC I CAN *karlie red’s voice* teehee yes I did yes I did somebody plz tell ‘em who the EFF I IS 🤪 I’ll give updates if someone takes legal actions 🥳

♍️Pick a fictional Virgo♍️

Since it’s both Virgo season ANND mercury rx im going to be doing a lot of readings themed around this season for research 🧐 purposes 🤓

1. Rue (real life ♍️ Zendaya)

What do you need to work on?

Either you have an unhealthy addiction or attachment to something OR you need to be focusing more on something like your life depends on it due to either procrastination, laziness, self loathing/not believing in yourself ENOUGH OR just not dedicating enough time to something. If you have an unhealthy attachment to something like social media or video games, know that it’s okay to indulge in certain things but you have to have balance and know wen it’s time to take a break.. your screen time could be high but if that’s the case how are you using that time to create content or make that fun thing lucrative for yourself. You can make tiktoks even if you may think it’s stupid bc the views will bring more traffic to your page but only if the intentions are good and you aren’t harming anything or displaying inappropriate behaviors. Also if you play video games you can stream, if you like to read you can do voice memos and turn it into a podcast, reel, YouTube video and you don’t even have to show your face. I’m getting mercurial energy from this pile bc it’s something to do with your voice and hands .. maybe you build, play instrument, make beats, sing, do ASMR whatever ..

Additional Messages: while mercury is in retrograde this is a good time to work on your craft not perfect it just work on it.. beginning stages will not exhibit perfection so if that’s what you expect out of yourself there is where the shadow work needs to be done. You need to make a schedule; it doesn’t have to be time exact focused but you need to have better intentions for your day.. you need to strengthen your upper body especially the arms.. practice breath work and work on healing and or balancing your lower chakras: root chakra, sacral chakra and or solar plexus whatever one resonates with you..

2. Hermoine Granger 📚

What is holding you back?

Your mouth is holding you back because you don’t understand what it means to move in silence. Just because you didn’t tell people about it or show the internet doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Learn how to enjoy the beauty of life on your own. People will begin to see right thru you and not take you serious if you’re always posting every little thing. Know your own worth, other people see it but it doesn’t seem like you’re being authentic to your true self. Maybe you tried doing shadow work and wanted to reinvent yourself; but who are you trying to be like? If you’re not being you then you’re being a carbon copy and that will just lead you down a path of self destruction.

Additional Messages: I see you’re experiencing some type of food allergy maybe gluten or dairy and hormonal imbalances. You will benefit from journaling, sound baths, and meditation music. Gemini energy somewhere in your chart maybe your moon; if it’s difficult for you to quiet the mind rn maybe bc of issues within the family relating to health or finances then you have to unwind the mind. It’ll take time, (bars) maybe you want to write music is so then do it.. work on the crown chakra, heart chakra, sacral and solar plexus chakras, you really need to recalibrate cuz you’re out of wack and your body or tummy is stressed

3. Bella Swan 🦢

How can you hold yourself accountable?

You use other people’s problems as a way to distract yourself because you want to feel needed by other people. You refuse to do things for yourself or by yourself bc maybe you realize that wen you’re by yourself you’re really sad or lonely.. figure out the root of this sadness and loneliness and heal your trauma. Tell yourself that what happened to you is NOT YOUR FAULT. People will still love you even if you aren’t available for them at the moment, if they’re meant to be in your life they’ll understand. But you don’t want to accept the fact that the people you hold dear to you are probably not meant to be in your life at this time.

Additional Messages: are you using your financial status and material meals to define your happiness? Who would you be without those things? Who are you? Do you even know? You’ve been going thru the motions for so long, that you’ve put your true desires in life aside bc you feel guilty . Heavy guilt issues, check your sun sign and your Saturn and the houses they’re in.. Heal your root chakra and if you’re going thru a Saturn return you better understand what that means for you now since the start of it until the end or else you’ll have to wait another 27 years to really dive into what you love…

4. Frodo Baggins 🧝🏽‍♀️

Where you need to communicate better…

If you have a speech impediment or your first language is diff than those around you causing language barriers do NOT be afraid to express yourself. If anyone makes fun of you for the way you speak they’re a loser and work on your confidence so this doesn’t bring you down. You know what you’re trying to say so maybe work on how to express yourself better with words. You may deal with self doubt, insecurity, trauma, and you may shut down when you feel like others don’t understand you. It’s mercury retrograde and I see for the next 3 weeks people just may not listen , that doesn’t mean talk louder, that doesn’t mean argue, become a better listener and this will help you with your communication. I feel Aquarian energy like you’re different and the ones who know you understand when you speak but you have to have balance and be able to speak in all aspects don’t be afraid or shy it’s okay.

Additional Messages: check your 11th house, and aspects to your Aquarius house, work on your throat chakra and your root chakra. If you’re in school for psychology or you’re an astrologer then you already have the answers you seek you just don’t trust yourself so work on the heart chakra as well.. idk why you don’t trust yourself you’re actually very intelligent but you have some type of disability maybe, confidence and time will strengthen this

5. Jorah Mormont 🗡️

What isn’t working for you anymore?

other people opinions aren’t working for you; you keep allowing people to put their 2 cents in when you need to trust your gut. You have a very keen eye and people feel important wen you ask their input. It’s okay to ask advice from others time to time but ask the universe, the divine, your spirit team, and or your higher self to enlighten you. There may some evil eye around you in regards to your work, others see that your hard work will lead you to success but people feel left out and want to siphon all your energy. Insecure and low vibrational people aren’t working for you. Your challenge rn is to know wen is a good time to just put your phone on DND and do you whether it’s rest or meditation. Strong Leo energy, check your sun sign your 5th house and anything aspecting your Leo house.

Additional Messages: you may need more sunlight or you may need to use more sunblock so you don’t get radiation poisoning. Or some of you could be outside n the sun too much which is draining you in some way. Vitamins could benefit you or orange foods like oranges and carrots. Maybe try drinking smoothies, cut out carbonated drinks and snacks high in sodium, it’s causing brain fog and memory loss. Fatigue is happening to you bc you’re probably over worked and don’t drink enough water or the right type of water.

6. Neo 👽

How to be more productive?

Be more imaginative , be more delusional, exercise your neptunian or piscerian energy by making your dream or fantasy world reality. You need to strengthen your psychic abilities maybe by asking the universe or higher power to give you a sign.. work on your telepathy by imaging a certain object you want the universe to use to communicate with you to affirm. Stop doubting your intuition just because it may scare you. If you believe that we live in a simulation and nothing is real then why are you allowing this reality to bring you down. Pretend you’re in a video game or movie and you’re the main character or final boss. You may need to move your body more bc your blood isn’t circulating enough or properly esp if your body parts have been falling asleep lately

Additional Messages: it would benefit you to detox, drink more water and take on a healthier diet or lifestyle because something is clouding your judgement and intuition. Check your chart for what planets are in your 12th house or aspecting your Pisces placements. You’re in a self deprecating mode rn and you have to snap out of it. Eat less meat especially if you’re a water sign bc you’re taking on the energies of those unalive animals your eating you feel their pain.. also stop eating GMO food for 60 days…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3:03 on the clock

[aliypop]

Anyplace Is Paradise

Word Count: 1,551

Writers Note: A Little break before I write Chapter 6 Of Anday Now, Sorry It took so long I was editing a podcast

Warning: Language / Fluff

Pairing: POC OC x Elvis

Summary: It's 1956 And Elvis and Cecelia are Vegas-bound for their concerts, but in between time Cecelia has sparked a love for photography.

Taglist

@darkmoviesquotespizza

@sissylittlefeather

@richardslady121

@thegettingbyp2

@presleyenterprise

@sissylittlefeather

@dkayfixates

@rjmartin11

@thetaoofzoe

@your-nanas-house

@zayurir

@60svintage

@sillybookmarks

Audubon Drive April 1956

"Cecelia! You're driving like a bat outta hell!" Midge shouted. Cecelia was speeding down Alabama Street in her pink Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner. Daphane and Rosa were in the back, sliding around and laughing. "Baby, she's just excited," Cheryl mentioned, 

"About what?" Midge mumbled back to her wife. Cecelia had hit a sharp curve as Midge shook her head, to be 21 and wreckless. 

"Let's see a big two-week show in Vegas..."

"At the same time as Elvis~" Rosa added,

"That's why you agreed to this?!" Daphane rolled her eyes playfully as Cecelia began singing to whatever WHBQ had playing on the radio. "Oh my God...It is..." Daphane reached over and playfully hit her as Cecelia laughed. She and Elvis had been secretly dating for about a year, with her mother on tour with her father. She didn't have to worry about her mother knowing anything. 

"So what if it is. Elvis and I are-"

"Just good friends," Everyone in the car said as they rolled their eyes, 

"Papers are saying y'all are a thing..." Cheryl hinted as Cecelia's cheeks got red. She was silent, "Haven't you seen them oogle at each other," Daphane pretended to gag as Cecelia parked her car next to Elvis's in the open garage. "We don't ogle, we daze." Cecelia got out, walked towards the door, and knocked. Gladys had opened the door, a smile on her face as she hugged Cecelia, 

"Mrs. Gladys!"

"Cece! Come in. Elvis'll be out any minute," Gladys ushered her in. Elvis had had a few flings, but Cecelia was a favorite, 

"Thank you. Did you get the gift I sent you?" She asked as Gladys sat down, "I did, and they're Vernon's favorite pair of earrings on me." She laughed as Cecelia chuckled along with her. 

"I'm pleased you like 'em so much." 

"Alright, Mama, how do I look?" Elvis walked out. As Cecelia was ogling at him. He was wearing one of his lace shirts and slacks. Gladys looked between the two as she shook her head, 

"You look fine,"

"Yes, he is..." Cecelia mumbled, "I mean, does!" Cecelia then stood up as he scooped her into his arms and kissed her, 

"Hey, sugar,"

"Hiya, star shine," Cecelia blushed, 

"You look beautiful." He peppered her face with kisses as she laughed, "Oh Elvis~" a flustered tone from his mouth, "Don't you have to pick up Scotty and Bill..." Vernon said as Elvis pulled away, red as a lobster, 

"Right, right!" Getting his suitcase, Elvis headed out the door holding Cecelia's hand in the other,

"Hey Daph, Rosa! Y'all wanna a ride?" Elvis asked as they looked at Midge and Cheryl, 

"Please, we're all going to the same place!"

"You two can go, but Cece rides with us."

"We aren't going to do anything," Elvis smirked, blinking his baby blues, 

"Presley!"

Elvis and the girls zoomed off as Cheryl smirked at Midge, 

"Now we have some alone time..." 

"I can finally sew without Cece scanning every station for an Elvis song." Midge grinned, 

Cruising to pick up the fellas of the Blue Moon Boys, Rosa, and Daphane were like two kids watching their parents kiss from the back seat, 

Las Vegas April 1956

"We're getting word. A certain Pink Cadillac and Ford have made their way to The New Frontier Hotel." Cecelia laughed, handing a pen to Elvis. In the backseat was a sleepy Scotty, and Daphane was drooling on Bill's shoulder, "Two weeks of paradise..." Elvis smiled,

"Maybe... a trip to the pool will clear your mind?" Cecelia said as he opened the door for her. Cecelia took his hand, and like clockwork, the fans flocked, 

"Denise, Cecelia is gonna be fine..." Midge replied as Cheryl moved their bags into their hotel room, "No, Elvis won't be a problem. Or distraction, they won't even see each other!" Cheryl nearly cackled hearing her wife lie,

Cecelia walked down the hall as Midge stopped her. 

"Your mother called."

"What'd she say?"

"Well, I told her that you didn't even know Elvis was here,"

"So..."

"Don't get pregnant, and don't get caught."Midge smiled,

"So I..."

"Can stay in his hotel room." Midge winked. Cecelia hugged her as she ran off to get settled in, 

"What's that about?" Cheryl asked,

"Oh, Nothing," 

Cecelia had unpacked everything from her suitcase as Elvis was trimming his sideburns and doing his usual pre-show grooming regimen. He was in the mirror, lost in his world until he heard. 

CLICK!

"Cece, what in the hell are you doing?" Elvis laughed, looking directly into the lens of her camera.

"Takin pictures of art." Cecelia laughed as she snapped another photo of him. Elvis couldn't hide his laughter as he tried to act annoyed, but it was also his idea to buy her that thing as a gift. "Last I checked, you can't kiss art." She rolled her eyes as Elvis pulled her in close, dipped her, and kissed her, "You can if it's your muse." She winked. Elvis blushed as he picked her up, "I-I'm your muse?" He blushed as Cecelia nodded, 

"All my love songs are about you." She kissed him again, and he then heard another CLICK!

"Damnit, Cece." He chuckled, tickling her as she laughed. 

The next day, the sun was up and piping hot. Cecelia had just gotten off the phone with her mother as she made her way to the hotel poolside, which was where Elvis was signing autographs in his tied-up shirt, looking as handsome as ever to Cecelia, taking another photo she had soon walked over to him, her heels clicking as she sat by the poolside in her bathing suit. A few fans crowded around her, and Elvis couldn't help but stop and stare at her, "Cat got your tongue, lover boy." Cheryl asked as Elvis blushed, "Wh-What, naw," His accent strong as he was flustered, 

"I believe it does," Cheryl laughed, "You two ain't fooling no one with this whole hiding thing," she whispered before walking away. Cheryl was right, and with Cecelia taking pictures of him, he knew he might as well have his cake and eat it, too. Walking over, Elvis tapped her on the shoulder, some of the guests in shock that he'd even talk to her. While their kids and teenagers already knew the story, 

"I think we should give 'em something to really stare at," Elvis said as Cheryl watched the whole thing happen. She beckoned Midge over, whose blood was boiling like hot pasta sauce, "Like what, Pres..." her brown doe eyes looking up towards his. Pulling her close to him by her chin. He leaned in to give her a kiss until they heard,

SPLASH!

Rosa and Daphane chuckled, seeing the two get out of the pool, sopping wet like a biscuit in gravy. Some of the guests gasped as Cecelia noticed the staff draining the pool. Oh, how it boiled Elvis to the core when people did such things to Cece or, in general, "You'd make more money if you sold the water!" She shouted as Elvis held her back, back in their hotel room after they had both gotten out of the shower. Cecelia was already dressed, her camera back in hand as she took another picture. Elvis glanced up at her as he was a little embarrassed. After all, he was putting on his pants. 

"Cece!" 

"Oh hush, it's not like we didn't just shower together..." Cecelia laughed. Elvis tackled her on the bed and began to tickle her, the two laughing and kissing as he had his hand on her thigh, 

"God, you're beautiful..." Cecelia blushed,

"And you're annoying some- CECE!" He said in a pit of laughter as she tickled his stomach, 

"St-Stop It!"

"Make me~"

"HEY BREAK IT UP YOU TWO!" Midge said. The two looked at her as she shook her head, "You two already broke one rule. Don't break the pregnant one..." she slammed the door, the two irrupting with laughter as Elvis took the camera and pointed it towards them as he took several pictures of them. Even though they were in Vegas to strictly perform, he felt he was on a romantic getaway with his true love. 

On their last night in Vegas, the eight of them were at dinner, eating and carrying on. And there was Cecelia taking pictures of every memory. Sure, a few of her bandmates thought it was annoying. But Midge knew why tomorrow wasn't promised, and youth faded away quickly. Yet here was Cecelia taking every photo she could get of the love of her life, 

"Cece!" Elvis looked at the camera, "Don't you show anyone that one!" He laughed. He had crumbs on his face, and to Cecelia, he never looked more handsome,

~ Bonus ~

"You sure you wanna drive back to Nashville tonight?" Elvis asked as he pulled her close to him by the doorway, "My mother will worry, and I gotta get the girls home." She responded as he sighed, "Alright, you be safe and call me when you get home," He kissed her forehead, 

"I will." She giggled as Elvis felt her slip something in her pocket. It was the photograph of him eating, rolling his eyes. He loved that woman, and he knew that she loved him. 

[llycaons]

SO. I've hit 14 books this year!! I do have a goodreads but it's kind of public so it's mutuals-only (feel free to ask!). but here's my list so far

babel by r.f. kuang

kindred by octavia butler

the goblin emperor by katherine addison

horse by geraldine brooks

spinning silver by naomi novik

kitchen by banana yoshimoto

deep as the sky, red as the sea by rita chang-eppig

the buried giant by kazuo ishiguro

annihilation by jeff vandermeer

the order of the pure moon reflected on water by zen cho

the mask of mirrors by m.a. carrick

black water sister by zen cho

the witch's heart by genevieve gornichec

mexican gothic by silvio moreno-garcia

I also attempted, but gave up on

the night tiger by yangsze choo (the stepsibling romance...I couldn't)

the tiger's wife by téa obreht (just a bit slow - may return to it)

song of the huntress by lucy holland (I just hated one of the leads so much 😭 my blood pressure skyrocketed every time it was her chapter)

these violent delights by chloe gong (WOW this book is for 15 year olds and also pretty pretentious and stupid to boot)

black sun by rebecca roanhorse (it did not grab me)

the black tides of heaven by neon yang (frankly this was a bad book)

silver in the wood by emily tesh (shut UPPPPP white rich british man!!!!!)

lucha of the night forest by tehlor kay mejia (very juvenile and an embarassingly heavy-handed 'drugs are evil' moral right off the bat. also just not very well written)

my reading map as of now

borrowed

ancillary justice - scifi isn't my usual genre but I was really intrigued by the sample I'd read, and I loved the raven tower by the same author. audiobook

sistersong - I had such a bad time trying to read song of the huntress I'm wary about this one but I do still want to try it. ebook

holds - physical books

gods of jade and shadow - I don't know much about this one but I do love a more modern take on folktales and I don't know much about mexican mythology

snow crash - I'll finish this eventually lol. another scifi

pachinko - sampled this ages ago. will it be good? idk. I was absorbed

salt fish girl - REALLY looking forward to this one. it says zero copies available so perhaps I will need to buy it 😭

warbreaker - a podcaster I listen to gave a glowing review and I've been meaning to get into brando sando for ages

lolita - lower on my priority list. I'd like to listen to the audiobook but maybe that would be harder. the only available copy is in spanish anyway

holds - audiobooks

warbreaker - I'll takewhatever arrives first. the waitlist is fucking. months long

pachinko - ditto. these are both 20+ hour audiobooks so maybe a physical book would be less tiring. maybe

wuthering heights - I want to know what everyone is talking about when they rave about their toxic doomed love

the final empire (mistborn #1) - another sanderson offering

the watchmaker of filigree street - I have been on the waitlist for so long for this one...

the water outlaws - please be good please please please

giovanni's room - long waitlist for this one too!!

on my list but not in my library

when a fox is a thousand - I want to read this one so bad I feel SICK. libby PLEASEEEE

piranesi - honestly this did not captivate me but it's so short. why not

sorcerer to the crown - only the second book of this series was available, oddly enough. is the second one so freestanding? is it so much better? I'd like to read them in order. lower on my list since it was a new addition

this is like 16 books and some of them are VERY long so I doubt I'll get to this entire list by the end of the year but it's so satisfying to look back and see how much reading I've done 😊 I've done more this year than I have in like, a decade and it's been so wonderful getting back into another long-beloved form of storytelling even if I don't get as obsessed with it as I used to in hs and middle school

[twinstrangersp]

TSP Network Announcement: The Moon Crown Joining!

Some INCREDIBLE news we've been waiting to announce! Twin Strangers Productions has added @themooncrownpod as an official network partner! We're so elated to have this amazing show added to our network -- M. Molder is truly a talented creator, and an unique addition to TSP!

If you'd like to listen to their show, or are curious to know more about the TSP Network, you can find our NEW official website here, with a list of all our current shows, network partners, and a swanky about section!

More news to come, so stay tuned!

[theaberrantreport]

Well I guess it's that time of the week again! Happy Audio Drama Sunday!

Here is what I've listened to this week:

The Moon Crown

I listened to @themooncrownpod again this week with some friends and the amount of detail in the world and even just the sound design is incredible. I could listen 5 times and I'd find something new every time.

The Moon Crown is a high fantasy horror. You discover this world of vampires, Filipino folklore, and mystery with the help of Lou and their radio broadcasts. There is a lot to unravel along the way!

The Silt Verses

I've been listening to@thesiltverses on my plane, and the world they built is so intriguing. Gods and their worship are embedded into the daily lives of these characters, almost always in such violent ways. But the river draws you in, as well as Carpenter's devotion to it. I'm only on chapter 5, but I will definitely continue to listen to see where the story goes!

Hello From The Hallowoods

I want to congratulate@hellofromthehallowoods on 100 eps! The ep Centuries is just as grand as the name suggests! I've loved following along with this series and William has been an inspiration for me and my podcast since the start! I'll be listening til Nikignik finally says goodbye

Book of Constellations

I started Book of Constellations! I've only listened to episode one so far, but I'm enticed by the way the narrator carries the story. It feels just like a book, as the name suggests. It's emotional, even in episode one, so watch out. But truly lovely so far!

I'll definitely be listening to more of this podcast throughout the week 

The Aberrant Report

Tacking this on at the end because I can, but don't forget to check out The Aberrant Report if you'd like! It follows an impulsive unethical student journalist as she solves a paranormal mystery in her college town. Highly recommend for obvious reasons ;)

[saturniandevil]

June 2023 Important Dates

AKA my notes on The Astrology Podcast's June forecast.

Recap of May: The Pluto station in Aquarius (1st of 38!) coincided with a major AI engineer leaving Google and related conversations with software engineers at the White House. Guest hose Kirah Tabourn connects the WGA strike with Mercury's retrograde (disruption in communications) approaching Uranus in a Venus-ruled sign (arts). We're also finally getting some lunations free of eclipse season. Speaking of eclipses, which have indicated major changes in rulership since ancient times (ex. a clay tablet from 331BC ties Alexander the Great's defeat of Darius to a concurrent eclipse), Charles II was also crowned king of England under the eclipse early this month, and while it's an intensification of his natal transits, Austin says it's an electional chart he wouldn't recommend--perhaps indicating the fall of a dynasty. The eclipse also coincided with the passing of Ellen Black, one of the founders of Project Hindsight (translation of ancient astrology texts directly into English).

Overall June has few big rearrangement, in contrast to the tumult of April and May. We're out of eclipse season and Mercury has gone direct, though some sign ingresses this month give us hints as to what's coming this summer.

June 3rd - Full Moon in Sagittarius This full moon occurs while Mercury & Uranus are approaching an exact conjunction. With both benefics in aversion to the lights (one of whom rules the Moon), this lunation wants to be grounded but can't quite get there. Jupiter wants to understand things to improve them, and is in a position to help us, as he's being received by Venus with a line of communication (sextile) between them. Our hosts are drawing heavily from Formicus today, who describes extreme bad cases with certain aspects, but suggests mitigating factors that may lessen or negate difficult effects, one of which is this conversation between benefics.

June 4th - Mercury conjoins Uranus

June 5th - Venus enters Leo She will retrograde in this sign on July 22nd, and will enter the shadow period (degrees she'll revisit while changing direction) this month. She'll be chasing Mars this month and for the first half of July. Though never exactly conjunct, they'll be copresent. Venus-Mars is not subtle, and even louder in Leo. Drawing from horary significations, this may indicate something that seems to start but never quite comes together. That being said, there's still a lot of drama as two planets light up the same house of our chart. We may fight over the spotlight or misperceptions of our egos; expect a double dose of sex scandals & celebrity drama.

This retrograde also ties back to Venus's previous Leo retrogrades, most recently the summers of 2015 and 2007, so you may be going back to complete something unfinished. For example, a Venus-Jupiter conjunction then effectively legalized same-sex marriage in the US, but now Jupiter is squaring her. Pluto is also squaring her for the first part of this transit, as well as the nodes, indicating power dynamics and confusion (the North Node tells you to hold on while the South Node urges you to let go). Overall, this is a good time to audit the contradictions we feel in our relationships. Hold some space for that back-and-forth ambivalence, because we'll make it out the other side with some clarity--but you can't get the answer six weeks early while you're still in the process.

Venus also signifies creative processes, especially the arts, so be prepared for your projects to take some time. Let it twist and turn where it needs to go. The change of direction in the sky gives us a chance to change our direction internally as well. Venus's actual retrograde will happen with plenty of communication with Jupiter, so the road into the retrograde may look scarier than the retrograde itself (though first we must deal with the unexpected disruptions Uranus brings us by squaring Venus on the day of her station).

June 11th - Pluto regresses to Capricorn, Mercury enters Gemini Pluto has only explored the first degree of Aquarius before returning to the themes first begun in 2008 (our hosts especially predict banking & finance themes). However, Mercury's trek through his home sign should speed up our conversations, movements, and thoughts. A square to Saturn slows him down a little, but once he clears those degrees we should be moving.

June 17th - Saturn stations Retrograde This is his first station in Pisces and as far as he'll get into the sign this year (7 degrees). Early degrees of mutable signs will feel this transit the most--think an ocean of lead. The square to Mercury brings some tension: Mercury wants to skate around the big heavy issues that we can't help, while Saturn wants to take a long time to work on deep healing and is annoyed by the light conversation.

Around the 19th, Jupiter will sextile Saturn exactly, and with the reception between them (Saturn is in Jupiter's sign), there's a positive stabilizing influence. We've got some options for how to deal with the difficulties--or settle into the years of work they require. This is the first exact aspect between them since the ingress into Aquarius in 2020, which began a new cycle. This is the first new chapter of the 20-year long story, especially involving world events. We've got a balance between pessimism and optimism--the course is stabilized.

June 18th - New Moon in Gemini, Auspicious date The Moon conjoins the Sun at 26Gemini, closely squaring Neptune (27♓) just 12 days before his station. This is a very good Moon for being creative, like sci-fi and fantasy, artists and musicians, or for doing something creative as a change of pace. It's also a good time for socializing and having fun. Think storytelling and myths as a social function and using healthy doses of escapism. Ask: what kind of story am I in right now? Sometimes roles shift and it takes us awhile to realize who we are now. A few days later, Venus will hit 12 degrees of Leo, which is where she'll station direct after the retrograde.

This is also the date of this month's auspicious election (around 11:56AM local time):

The chart has Virgo rising, ruled by Mercury in the 10th house at 12 degrees of Gemini (who has cleared that square with Saturn and is riding the high of a sextile to Venus (11♌)). This is a great chart for career matters and public reputation (10th house)--anything that requires direct and quick communication. This is also good for 11th house matters like friends and social groups: the Moon is applying to a sextile with Jupiter in Taurus, who himself is in the 9th house of religion, philosophy, and foreign travel, and applying to a balancing sextile with Saturn (who, though in the 8th house, is more cooperative in a day chart and feels the stabilizing influence of Jupiter). Thus this chart is good for 9th house matters as well. Both the Moon & Ascendant ruler are in very good shape during this chart.

June 21st - Sun enters Cancer (A/N: The beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere!)

June 25th - Mars square Uranus (not pictured) We've had some Mars issues lately between eclipses, retrogrades, and fall placement, but know we've also got a bit of instability/sparking the powder keg coming up. Alternately, our stability may be stress-tested.

June 26th - Mercury enters Cancer In a few days on the 30th he'll have a cazimi (exact conjunction to the Sun), resetting his synodic cycle. Austin says this configuration will further add to a deeper understanding of where we're at in life. Chris brings up the Gnostic/Hermetic concepts of gnosis and gnos, where we each have a spark of the divine within us (gnos) and occasionally glimpse the greater pattern as represented within us (gnosis).

June 30th - Neptune stations Retrograde

[arianwells]

Vibing with the Moon Crown podcast, but I have no idea what's going on

[curedeity]

If you’ve got any, 17 for the fanfic ask?

17. Do you have any other writers or works that inspire you (i think that was the question i didnt copy paste)

Yes always and inspo is one of my favorite things to talk about!

One of my first writing inspirations was the Percy Jackson books, and that phase of my life still kind of influences the genres im interested in writing and the like. I read a lot more novels when i was younger so i remember having more distinct favorites back then. As for novels right now, Id say Kelly Barnhill is one of the bedt authors ive recently read. Her narrative style is quite captivating, her chapters are short, and there is always a slightly different progression than i imagine there being. Ive only finished "the girl who drank the moon" but i started both "iron-heart(ed?) violet" and "when women were dragons". I wish i still used goodreads so i could go theough a list of what books id read recently, but i wanna quickly mention ve schwab. Her books are hit or miss and not always the best but damn sometimes she puts out a banger, and when she tries she can have an impeccable narrative style that leaves me breathless. Sometimes i also like reading neil gaiman works. They both intrigue and inspire me somewhat but i dont think to the same extent other authors have

Now that was JUST novel inspos!

A lot of my main writing inspiration actually comes from podcasts. Welcome to Night Vale was a huge early writing inspiration for me, introducing me to a surreal style of writing that i love getting to develop. Wtnv and other productions by its team are often so stylish that it is impossible to not be inspored listening to them. I think wtnv and within the wires are my faborites on a writing level.

Cant forget the magnus archives, the narration is very slick and the interconnected plot growth so well done, along with really good and intriguing inpersonal dynamics that never failed to offer something intriguing. I never finished season 5 but i remember listening to just some of the first episodes and being awestruck at how stylish the writing was.

Then there is unwell podcast! One of my favorite pidcasts to discuss on a writing level, it has so many ups and downs, but one thing i will give it is having great character voices! There is not a single character that doesnt speak distinctly and the dialogue flows so well, being one of the best parts of the show. Id love to be able to write character voices as well as they do.

For tv shows now!

Madoka Magica has squickly become a huge writing inspiration for me. Honestly, more like the crown jewel of great writing. I cannot praise madoka magicas writing enough. Its thematic unravelling is so layered, its character writing gripping, its way of writing narrative parallels and foils impeccable, and just. God. Incredible. I cannot explain how much i want to be able to write on madoka magicas level. But madoka magica is the only show ill mention bc the other stuff i watch is often shit.

Uhhhhhhh for video games... i havent played that many yet sorry. While i love pokemon, it isnt a writing inspiration, and most games i play dont speqk to me like that.

And then comes the format thet is probably most applicable... fanfic...

Ill admit i read a lot of fanfic, but i dont actually think that many inspire me writing wise, so ill take a second and just focus on beyblade to say Val was my biggest inspiration to write beyblade fanfic in my fandom early days. I was inspired by some of the stuff she did, and especially some character dynamics (madoka and yuki) but realized i wanted to do incredibly different things. So i think her inspiration wasnt so much of "oh god i love this idea and characyers and synamic and plot" but just like, more of a realization of what i might be able to do with the characters as a whole?

Also wanna drop that Sadie has an impeccable writing style omg im literally eating it up i need it. Sadies art is also a huge inspiration for me to the surprise of no one who has seen Hikarus Adoption Agenda.