#your cd drive will make some noises

[starhvney]

𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: garroth, laurance, travis, dante, zane, katelyn, & nana

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘: what i think they'd be like on a roadtrip!

𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐒: fluff, slice of life

𝐂𝐖: none!

𝐀/𝐍: i miss going on roadtrips i haven't been on one in so long

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇

☆ calls shotgun immediately and insists it’s his spot for the rest of the trip (oldest sibling syndrome)

☆ always buys something at every rest stop, whether it’s an icee, chips, or some stupid trinket

☆ bought a key chain one time that flashed the words “bad boy” on it because he thought it was so funny. he was devastated when it stopped working one day

☆ likes being the gps guy because sometimes he’ll find a cool place to stop and check out on the way (to make the most of the trip, of course)

☆ talks about town lore when you pass through somewhere interesting

𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄

☆ he has the best road trip playlist and made sure to plan out how long it was depending on how far you’re traveling

☆ honestly he’s probably the one driving for most of the trip if not all of it, he finds driving relaxing and also doesn’t trust other people to drive safely

☆ likes to play fun talking games like never have i ever or would you rather, or just talking about life

☆ will play the license plate game or i spy to stay alert

☆ if he’s not talking he’s really enjoying the playlist

☆ if the road trip is super long he’ll agree to switch out of driving for a bit to take a nap

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒

☆ is really invested in the license plate game

☆ he’s always cracking jokes and is definitely the type of guy to look in other people’s windows on the road and guess their life story

☆ gets invested when a car sticks with yours for a long time and gets dramatic when they finally split away

☆ plays multiplayer games on his phone with whoever wants to play or sends memes to the group chat (you guys are literally in the same car)

☆ will suddenly start discussing conspiracy theories or will tell ghost stories about the towns you pass through

𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄 

☆ he’s either talking the whole time or passed tf out no in between

☆ says “i could go for some fast fast food right now” literally anytime you guys pass a fast food restaurant

☆ also cracks jokes and will add on to travis’s guesses on the lives of oblivious travelers

☆ makes really exaggerated and out of place guesses because he thinks it’s funny

☆ it’ll be a grandma driving in her old chrysler and he goes “how much you wanna bet she’s got a pound of weed in her trunk”

☆ like man what the hell are you talking about

𝐙𝐀𝐍𝐄

☆ irritated if people are talking too much (dante and travis)

☆ puts on noise canceling headphones and only tunes back in if food or a rest stop is involved (he’s busy listening to my little pony infection au lore/j)

☆ has a pillow, blanket, and hoodie on at all times for maximum comfort

☆ another sleeper. surprisingly doesn’t mind if you use him as a pillow or ask to share his blanket, he’s really comfy with all those layers on

☆ will lightly shove you away if you start moving too much, though

𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘𝐍

☆ pretty chill the whole time as usual

☆ sits in the very back and mostly will watch the scenery

☆ she brings a book or watches a movie, and doesn’t mind sharing her headphones with you to watch it together 

☆ unless you’re traveling in a car with tv screens installed, then she has a small travel case with a ton of burned cds (if you know you know) and everyone can join in

☆ if she gets tired of socializing with everyone she puts in some earbuds and takes a nap

𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐀

☆ packs a whole bag of snacks and homemade sweets for everyone

☆ checks pretty often if anyone wants to take a break at a rest stop and stretch their legs (she’s pretty jittery and doesn’t want to be the only one constantly asking to stop the car)

☆ also participates in the license plate game, but also likes to play the slug bug and yellow car game

☆ made the mistake of slug bugging katelyn and got punched back in the arm

☆ gets really addicted to cute cat games on her phone and accidentally spends a bunch of money on passes

☆ she brings some sort of craft or sketchbook for the trip. you notice she’s been quiet for a while before looking over and seeing she’s already crocheted half of a scarf and a hat

©starhvney, 2024. please do not steal or repost my works as your own.

#aphmau mystreet #mystreet x reader #aphmau #garroth ro'meave #mystreet garroth #mystreet travis #mystreet katelyn #mystreet kawaii chan #mystreet nana #mystreet laurance #mystreet zane #zane ro'meave #mystreet dante

[sardonic-the-writer]

𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲

↳ summary: the day that landed your coworker in the hospital, and a car in the side of a building

↳ warnings: some blood, mentions of alcohol, some hurt but everyone turns out okay, and murdoc being murdoc

↳ notes: had a close friend that knows nothing about gorillaz beta read this, and they convinced me to post it. enjoy. reblogs and comments are more than appreciated

↳ song: da funk—daft punk

masterlist | commissions | carrd

Business at Uncle Norm’s Organ Emporium had been steady that day.

You remember it being around three in the afternoon when your shift rounded its end. The busted heater of the store rattled with a wheeze as it desperately tried to stay on, and you reveled in the momentary relief it brought you from the cold weather. Customers shuffled amongst isles lined with various vinyl’s and cd’s, occasionally approaching you at the front desk to ask a question or secure their purchase. Only one or two complained about the mold in the corners of the room this time—an overall win for the day, you mused. 

“‘Ello.”

The small shop filled with a tinkling noise as the glass door to the outside swung open. A burst of cold air came with it, and the customers nearest the entrance bundled up tighter for the moment. You just exchanged a polite look with the newest addition to the store, eager to get off your feet and go home.

Stuart Pot’s green eyes flitted to you for a moment as he offered a small smile to accompany his hello. He took a moment to breathe in the warm air of the shop, no longer disrupted by the draft he had let in, before shedding his coat and starting forward. No doubt preparing himself for the beginning of his shift.

Stuart was a man that seemed to be all legs and no brain. Most people upon meeting him assumed he was stupid, walking all over him until he said something to make them think otherwise about their actions. You yourself wouldn’t have made much of him if he hadn’t struck up a conversation one day. Now, he was one of the only people you talked to on a regular basis. Pretty sad, considering he was just your coworker, but not at all unexpected for having just moved here.

You knew he liked roller skating and wanted to be a storm chaser as a kid. You knew he had a girlfriend that played guitar, and spent his spare time painting. And after one unforgettable day when you decided to bring your lunch in, you now knew his lips ballooned up when he ate pickles.

Stuart really wasn’t a difficult guy to get along with. And while your job wasn’t bad, it was always nice to have something of a friend to complain about it with.

“Afternoon.” You settled for nodding at him as he rounded the corner of the desk, pushing yourself out of the leaning position you had been in to allow him space behind the register. “It’s a real nasty one out there, yeah?”

“Only if yew don’t have a car.” Stuart, who had insisted you call him Stu for the past year now, shrugged. In truth, it wasn’t that he didn’t have a car, just that he didn’t know how to drive it. But that wasn’t anything important you needed to know.

You nodded in agreement as he panned away from you to clock in. At that moment across the store, a customer opened the door Stuart had just come from only to have the wind outside blow it closed right in their face. They took a moment to struggle with it before stumbling outside, looking displeased as they did so.

You made a face.

On a nearby chair hung your own scarf and jacket that you’d brought for the walk home. And while your feet hurt something awful, the thin layers you had brought in preparation of the temperature made you hesitate. Clearly you hadn’t thought long enough about how cold it would get. You sighed in defeat before turning back to Stuart.

“So, how have you been?”

The blue haired man blinked at your form leaning on the counter, no doubt wondering why you weren’t heading out. With a huff of air, you tossed the formalities in favor of a more straightforward conversation.

“It’s freezing out there.” You scrunched up your nose. “I don’t want to walk all the way through town in that just to get to my flat and find out my landlord forgot to fix the heat again. At least here has some warmth.”

“True.” Stuart’s voice cracked in its familiar fashion. Ever a man of few words, he just stood awkwardly, biting at a stray fingernail or two as a nasty habit. Thankfully the silence didn’t linger long before someone shuffled up to purchase a new set of guitar picks.

“Have you heard the new album that we got last week yet?” You mused after he was done ringing the fellow up, pushing yourself off and jumping over the front desk to point at a collection of records. “I thought it was pretty good, and it sounded like one of those underground bands you like to talk about.”

Stuart immediately perked up when you started talking about music; as he always did. It shouldn’t have surprised you, really, to work at a music shop with someone that was passionate about the art form. But with the way Stuart rambled on every now and then you’d think that that’s all he ever thought about.

Nimble fingers picked up the artists cover as Stuart turned it over to the description on the back. When you hadn’t been looking, he’d abandoned his post in favor of the possibility of a new song track, moving surprisingly quiet for someone of his height.

“Homework?” Stuart parroted the title back at you as he read through the track names. “Sounds funny.”

“Lot’s of people think the same thing about you.” You grinned with teeth, unaffected by his suspicion. Stuart just looked at you owlishly, letting a small gap toothed smile show as he caught onto the joke.

“‘S nawt my fault I got an accent.” He placed the album under his arm for later, no doubt going to utilize the employee discount you and him were so generously offered. “If anyfing you’re the weird one.”

You would have responded. In fact, your lips had already opened— ready to rebuke his claim —when a horrible screeching noise stopped you.

The front of the store exploded into a brilliant shower of glass mere seconds later. Shards glittering in the grey light from outside threw themselves at you, covering the skin along your arms and face with a tingly feeling. You barely had time to process a slow trickle of something warm making its way down your face before your body reacted for you. 

A poorly carpeted floor felt the weight of your backside as you fell back, bumping your head on a nearby table in the process. Somewhere a few feet away from you, you heard high pitched groaning that sounded faintly like Stuart’s voice, and a gleeful cackle that incited a splitting headache.

Faint sirens wailed in the background as you wobbly stood to your feet. The sight before you was much different than it had been a few moments ago. Pianos and cases of speakers that you had spent the better part of last week propping up were now in pieces. Some made sparking noises as they lay in disarray. You stared at them as your vision swam, not yet aware of the yelling figures around you or of the  small pool of blood collecting at your feet.

But the biggest change by far you noticed, was the giant car sticking through the front of the shop.

At the wheel was the source of the maniacal laughing. In the three seconds it took to give him a once over, you observed more details about the driver than you could ever want in your life.

He had olive toned skin that was lined with sparse scars. His teeth were yellowed and pointed in an unnatural manner, and his hair fell just about halfway over his eyes; which when he opened them you saw were two different colors. One black, and the other a faded pink. It didn’t take long for his gaze to land on you.

“Oi! Did you bloody see that!” He shouted with glee, apparently ignorant to the chaos he had caused. “Brilliant! Bloody brilliant! Can’t even say I’m sorry about the cuts, love.”

His gravelly tone did nothing to snap your brain out of the haze it was floating in. With a far away look, you stared straight through the driver.

Later you wouldn’t remember the way his eyes widened as you mumbled something with a frown before collapsing forward on the hood of his car, fading into a restless realm of black.

You were fine.

Stuart Pot was fine. 

At least that’s what the tests said. 

Doctor after doctor had come in and out of your room with clipboards before they allowed you to even so much as get up. They’d given up on keeping you off your feet after you rolled out of bed as an act of defiance.

Everything was too white. Hospitals had always felt so artificial to you, so being stuck in one was nothing short of a nuisance. Beeping machines in your ear only proved to aggravate you further, testing your nerves. Thankfully, a nurse was sent in to discharge you, bringing news of only a few cuts they had disinfected, and some minor head trauma that should be okay as long as you kept an eye on it.

Now here you sat, just a few rooms over from the one you had just woken up in, sitting in a visitors chair next to your only friend.

Your only, catatonic, unresponsive friend.

Stuart’s hospital room was busier than yours. There were more machines, more i.v drips, and more nurse visits than yours had. It was to be expected, though. He had gotten hit with the car head on instead of just being near it, unlike you and the other spectators. The only thing keeping your stresses at bay was that his vitals were steady. 

Blue hair splayed itself all around his pillow like a halo as he lay almost peacefully. His chest was moving up and down at an even pace, the gap in his teeth making a whistling noise as he breathed. You would have felt more relieved about it all, if it wasn’t for his eye.

It was fucked. That was the simple way to put it. Completely and utterly fucked. Where a gaze of mossy green had been prior, there was now brilliant bloody red. The entirety of it had been consumed by an inky darkness, making it look like the appendage had just popped right on out of his face. You were unaware if Stuart could see you staring at him from time to time, but you figured if he could, all he would see was pain on your face. Pain, not at his appearance, but at the trauma that was sure to come from it when he woke up.

There had been a third party to visit Stuarts bed not too long ago, sporting sunglasses indoors and black lipstick, and proving to be a very useful distraction for you. You hadn’t recognized her at first until she rushed to Stuart’s bedside, clutching at his hand like it would somehow shock him back awake.

Paula Cracker was just as you remembered her; loud and unabashed. The one time she had come by the shop to pick up Stu on her way home hadn’t been particularly interesting, if the way she barely looked at you before screaming along to her radio said anything. Stuart had to assure you the next day that she didn’t mean any harm. She just wasn’t all for meeting new people. 

You had shaken your head at him and said nothing at the time.

But now, in the hospital, sitting by her boyfriend’s bed, Paula couldn’t seem to stop talking to you. She ran right into conversations like they were open doors, barely leaving any room for you to respond before barreling on. By the time she declared that she had to leave, no matter how much she apparently wished to stay, you had counted a total of ten words that you’d managed to get in. You offered her a short goodbye to match. She didn’t seem to notice.

You settled into a morose silence after that. Nurses stopped coming in, and you stopped waiting for something, anything at all, to happen. It was beginning to set in that Stu had been, to out it bluntly, run over, and wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.

You had just begun to wonder if you should head home when the door knob to the room rattled, and opened harshly.

“Well this is bloody brilliant.”

The door to the hospital room, which you could have sworn Paula had just walked out of, swung open in a wide berth to reveal the very person that landed you in the hospital.

A quick glance at the clock let you know that Paula had been gone for almost two hours, leaving you to sit by yourself as Stu stayed put. 

“What are you doing here.” Your mouth moved before you could stop it, sentence slipping past your lips in a weak attempt to make sense of this unsettlingly human being.

He looked the very same as he had the last time the two of you met. Just this time with an upside down cross for a necklace, and less blood on his hands. Literally.

The stranger made his way over to you, flopping down in a visitor chair and lighting a cigarette with one very dented lighter. He smiled cruelly at you, showing off a familiar row of teeth. They were as pointed as you remembered.

“Charity.” He tacked on a weird laugh at the end through the stick in his mouth. Two fingers lifted to his lips to remove the cigarette, a thick plume of smoke coming with it. He blew it in your face, and if you hadn’t been so lost in thought, you might have hit him for it.

“You don’t seem the charitable type.” Once again, your words were getting ahead of you. But he didn’t seem to be offended at all. Rather, the man gave a bone chilling laugh that was ended with another drag of his fag.

“Court mandated.” He continued with a smirk.

“They already had you tried?”

“What can I say? The law works fast when it comes to Murdoc Niccals.” He shrugged, once again with that strange laugh of his that accompanied nearly everything he said.

You simply eyed him with a tired sort of caution, drinking in the new information like it could kill you at any second.

“What? Not going to share your name with me?” Murdoc sneered. “It’s only polite.”

“When it comes to you, I have a feeling manners don’t really apply.” You grumbled, but ended up sharing your name all the same. Murdoc nodded slowly in response. You saw his eyes flick you up and down a couple times— something that made you clench a fist —before they found their way over to Stu’s bed.

“Hafta take care of him for ten hours.” He continued to explain without a hint of regret for the individual. “Apparently knocking some scrub in the noggin’ is a crime.”

“I wonder why.” You responded dryly, scratching at the bottom of your right eye without thinking about it.

“Wish I’d hit someone better looking with my car.” Murdoc laughed with a not so subtle look to you. “Wouldn’t mind taking care of ‘em for a few hours.”

“You just crashed a car into the front of a building and nearly killed someone. I don’t think I’d trust you with as much as a dead fish, much less Stuart.” You crinkled your nose. ‘Or me,’ your brain silently added.

“Not much you or I can do ‘bout it now, love.” He took another smoke to punctuate his sentence. It left you with furrowed brows and downturned lips. Murdoc snickered at your expression.

“I mean, it wouldn’t that be hard to watch you.” 

“Didn’t know you were into that.” The man sported a shark’s grin, only dropping it when you made a fake vomiting noise.

“God no. I meant watch you while you take care of Stu. Make sure you don’t do anything to him.” 

“I’m hurt you think I’d do anything unethical to Steve.” He scoffed.

“Stuart.”

“Same thing.” He shrugged. You didn’t bother to correct him.

The two of you delved into an awkward pause that was timed by the ticking of the nearby wall clock. While you were busy thinking about what exactly you had just offered yourself up for, you could tell Murdoc was growing bored. You fell back on bouncing your leg as you analyzed him, the bottom half of your body attempting to get out all of the nervous energy you had been bottling up.

“Well—" Murdoc flicked a bit of ash off the butt of his cigarette, putting it out against the armrest of his chair. “—this was a joy, yeah? Let’s never do it again.”

You couldn’t help but mumble an agreement in his direction. He stood up with a twist of his back, letting out a satisfied sigh as it cracked.

“Guess I’ll see you soon, love.” Murdoc chuckled darkly while heading for the door. One leather clad boot was out the exit before he paused, necklace bouncing against his chest as he turned to look at you.

“Say. You don’t play any instruments, do you?” His eyes held an unreadable emotion.

“Uh, I dabble. Stu is more of the music guy than me.” You responded. “Why?”

But he was already gone, leaving you to wonder if he had never been there. But the ash on the chair next to you and the faint smell of booze in the air told you otherwise.

You let your head fall into the embrace of your hands as you groaned, massaging at your temples in an attempt to quell the pounding in your head.

“What have I gotten myself into.”

#gorillaz #gorillaz x reader #gorillaz x you #gorillaz x y/n #murdoc niccals #murdoc x reader #murdoc x you #murdoc x y/n #stuart pot #2d #2d x reader #2d x you #2d x y/n #paula cracker #russel hobbs #noodle #x reader #one shot

[sookiesookie]

♪ riri williams music taste headcannons ♪

a/n: a lil sumn silly while I finish these two ffs in my drafts

key:

riri dialogue

shuri dialogue

reader dialogue

♪ listens to songs she can get high to (or feel high to, she mostly gets high socially rather than alone)

♫ on some cloud nine type things, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, Childish Gambino, Kid Cudi

♫ but not limited to psychedelic indie or rock like Mac Demarco, Jimi Hendrix, TV Girl, Yves Tumor, Tame Impala, Men I Trust, that one Lil Yatchy album counts too ig lmao

♪ stem!riri? yeah she’s def on that Canadian Nigga Trio HEAVY (Drake, PND, The Weeknd)

♫ toxic stem!riri? Brent & Bryson in rotation

♪ gang gang w/ some Pierre Bourne, Lucki, Ken Carson, Young Nudy

♪ Smino and Baby Keem on lock

♪ she likes a lot of pluggnb/trap, especially the girls

♪ Bktherula her baby frrr

♪ she DID have an XXXTENTACION phase for about 2 years in middle school

♪ a huge rnb girlie ofc, with your SZA, Summer Walker, Jhené Aiko, Victoria Monet, Tinashe, Teyana Taylor, Ari Lennox things naturally

♪ HEAVY ON KEHLANI

♫ probably her top artist

♫ like she’ll kick your ass if you dare skip a song by her TOP ARTIST

♪ she hates Justin Timberlake because of Janet Jackson but she can’t deny his first two albums being in rotation

♫ she still rides for Janet Jackson OF COURSE though, that’s her queen

♪ definitely some 90s and 00s rnb, rap, and neo soul

♫ definitely some 90s and 00s rnb, rap, and neo soul when she’s up in it-

♪ speaking of neo, she’s on Neyo HEAVY

♪ goes hard for the rap girlies, Flo Milli, Ice Spice, Bree Runway, Rico Nasty, Monaleo, Megan The Stallion

♬ “DOECHIIIIIIIIII!”

♫ if there’s one thing about riri, it’s Doechii

♫ Spooky Coochie>>>

♪ COLE WORLD, a middle school favorite

♬ “Now put a finger in the sky if you want it nigga!”

♪ definitely on her Kendrick things too

♪ spotify user to the fullest

♪ fuck Sony headphones, she made her own lil’ bluetooth noise canceling headset with good bass to not only make sure she can listen to music but FEEL that shii 

♪ also she didn’t feel like paying $300+ for that so…

♪ she can’t ever listen to an album on shuffle, she feels it ruins the “cinematic experience”

♬ “I know you did NOT just skip that shit.”

♬ “Riri, it was literally an interlude.”

♬ “I said turn that shit back!”

♪ she’ll backhand slap you if you dare try it with a Weeknd album, that’s just an unspoken rule for her never to skip a Weeknd song in an album (a/n I may be projecting w/ this one lmao)

♪ is an avid playlist maker and has playlists for every single mood and activity

♬ “Tryna smoke? Lemme pull up this playlist i got-”

♬ “You goin’ to the store? Wait, lemme hook up my driving playlist-”

♬ “You having trouble studying? Hol’ on- I got this good playlist I use for when I'm doing my math homework!”

♬ “Okayyyy some chill rnb so far, Sade, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Alicia Keys… Rico Nasty, Bktherula, Destroy Lonely, Carti???

♬ “What? I tend to get pissed off about an hour in! Especially if it’s word problems!”

♪ she listens to both, but she keeps the “Cochise >>> Carti” opinion to herself

♪ Frank Ocean makes her tear up for no reason so she barely listens to him unless she’s in the mood to cry

♪ she was a Nicki fan… she still IS one, who you frontin’ on?

♬ “R-R-R-Roman!”

♪ honestly, she was on everybody part of Young Money, Bedrock was a moment in time

♪ she was definitely an Ariana Grande fan in middle school tho, don’t play with her

♫ she still gon’ blast her My Everything and Yours Truly albums in her garage, don’t get it twisted

♪ she was a 1D fan in elementary school but she’ll forever deny it happened

♫ she’ll blast Big Time Rush like a bitch though (Boyfriend is a hood classic)

♪ MINDLESS BEHAVIOR RIDER

♪ she still has their CDs stowed away in her garage somewhere

♪ (cannon) anime watcher on her jpop/jrock shii

♫ and we can’t forget the OSTs in her playlist

♫ Ouran High School host club outro>>>

♪ Lamp listener, definitely a comfort artist for her

♪ she fucks w/ Shuri’s kpop (cannon) stuff too though she’s not a fan

♫ she’ll shake ass to Kick It by NCT on the low, though

♪ she’s on plugging/trap so you know she definitely on her hyper pop shit too

♪ her top 10 artists: Kehlani, Lamp, J. Cole, Bktherula, Janet Jackson, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Mac Demarco, Victoria Monet, Doechii, Rico Nasty

a riri mix for realism:

#riri imagine #riri williams #riri black panther #Shuriri #riri x y/n #riri #headcanon #black panther wakanda forever #black panther #wlw #shuri #riri smut #riri fluff #riri wiliams x reader #shuri fanfic #shuri udaku #mcu shuri #mcu riri williams #dominique thorne #shuri imagine #shuri fluff #shuri black panther #Spotify

[sapphosvioletts]

All You Touch and All You See, Is All Your Life Will Ever Be

Yelena Belove x reader (platonic or romantic, not specified)

Summary: Being freed from chemical subjugation with Yelena and on the run leads to the little memories granted as a widow being resurfaced

Note: this one is very personal to me. as some of you may know i've been struggling recently with memory loss and memory issues. music has helped me cope. and going back to music from my childhood has brought me comfort. i learned the lyrics to songs in my free time growing up, and i still remember them. singing to myself and listening to that music has been my comfort, it makes me feel in control knowing i still remember them. and i still remember a lot of memories associated with those songs. it's comforting knowing i still have some memories of my childhood, and if i keep these same songs maybe i can remember the present too. the song used ('brain damage') is from a band that i had grown up with thanks to my dad and brother. and even now, pink floyd brings me the most memories and comfort.

whoever catches all the references will get a smooch

.oOo.

As my head tilts back to rest on the car seat and we are finally met with a moment to rest, I am left to dwell on what has just happened. In the span of less than hour, we were freed from chemical subjugation, and on the run from Dreykov and his widows.

I'm not even sure where we are going, but I trust Yelena, who's behind the wheel of a stolen car. All that I do know is that we have far left any cities and people, the only thing being visible is vast darkness from the night sky and what seems like endless empty roads.

Neither of us have spoken more than the cautionary's or instructions to each other that were necessary while making our escape. Both of us just stuck processing everything in silence.

My brain is overwhelmed, while at the same time completely blank. It feels like I'm stuck in a trance. So much so, that I don't even notice the rustling noise of the center console or glove box being rummaged through, and the noises of the CD being inserted and the tracks being skipped.

But all it takes is 4 seconds of noise blaring through the car speakers to break me out. But it's different than just being snapped out of it. This was a physical reaction, as the beginning of the song made something click in my brain. My heart jerked and my eyes shot open.

A smile - albeit a somber and slightly confused one - forms slowly over the next 12 seconds as recognition floods my mind. My gaze turns to look at Yelena as my head is still rest back on the the seat. Yelena only smiles and turns it up louder. I close my eyes, still smiling, the only sound heard being the music that my brain automatically knows so well even if I consciously don't.

Though we didn't have much, and don't remember much from being under chemical subjugation, for me and Yelena music was one of the only things we did have. When we were out on missions we listened to it as much as we could, and we remembered. Music is powerful like that, it slots itself in your brain and memories even when you don't think there's any room for it.

We both quietly start singing, just like we always did when we could. After a minute or so, Yelena rolled the windows down. We were driving down completely empty roads, speeding so fast that the wind knocked me back at first when the window was down. She turned the sound up, blasting it over the sound of the harsh wind and air rushing by.

As the chorus comes up, we both look at each other, smiling with a look in our eyes that can't be explained but can be felt by the other. Before we knew it, we were yelling with the song- the type of yell where your voice is hoarse and your throat feels numb from the vibrations. Because we never got this freedom before, and being overcome with the emotions of having something we remember.

And if the dam breaks open many years too soon

And if there is no room upon the hill

And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too

I'll see you on the dark side of the moon

Making eye contact at the last line, both of us having wet eyes with tears dripping down our cheeks. The saying we always said to each other when we were ever separated. "I'll see you on the dark side of the moon."

Neither of us commented or really cared about the rapidly falling tears and even the occasional sobs coming from each other. We understood. We were free. And this is the moment that it sunk in. Neither of us had felt like this in years. We hadn't felt emotions this heavy, hadn't felt this free. We hadn't remembered this much. Now in the span of only an hour, we're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl. Running before time took our dreams away. And all we can do is cry as the emotions of that settle in.

We made it. And even if the darkness of our not so long ago pasts will always linger, and we might even be eclipsed by it- right now we have the present. And silently the both of us ingrained this memory in our heads. When you have nothing else to remember, you learn to associate. If this song is all we remember, then this memory is all we have along with that.

.oOo.

also just small infodump, and hopefully to give insight into the significance of the song ('brain damage' by pink floyd) for those who don't know. the reason the word 'lunatic' is used, is because people used to believe that mental illnesses could be caused by the moon. it comes from the word 'luna' meaning moon. the dark side of the moon (the album name as well), is a metaphor for darkness. "All that's to come and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon." the sun represents that there are positive human experiences, there is enjoyment in life. but there will always be the dark side of the moon. and it's often inevitable, and depending what it represents to you, it is inevitable. i cant get more in depth bc when i tell you it will be long and this isn't even all of it like there's multiple other meanings and everything- but i just wanted to give insight into the significance of the song

#yelena belova x reader #black widow x reader #marvel x reader #yelena belova imagine #marvel imagine #black widow imagine #avengers x reader #avengers imagine #marvel fanfic #yelena x platonic!reader #songfic #is this a songfic???

[callsignbaphomet]

Unusual Headcanons

What's your muse’s favorite album of all time / favorite artist? ﾟ･*☆ He’s got a lot of them and picking one all time favorite album is kind of out of the question honestly speaking. He’s got too many to just pick one. His very favorite band is definitely Slayer though.

How do they listen to their music? iPod, mp3, computer, cd, records, etc? ﾟ･*☆ A hacked version of Spotify. Give those clowns money? Hell, no.

Do they take baths or showers? Do they prefer one over the other? ﾟ･*☆ He's okay with both but prefers showers.

Do they wear their hair down when they sleep, or tied up / braided? ﾟ･*☆ Down.

How many blankets / pillows do they like to have on their bed? ﾟ･*☆ 2 blankets and 5 pillows. Three pillows for him and two for Angelus.

What do they normally dream about? Nightmares or nonsense? ﾟ･*☆ A lot of the time it's just straight up nonsense that either creeps him out, leaves him emotionally worn out or makes him feel weird.

Do they wake up groggy or alert? Do they like mornings? ﾟ･*☆ Alert and usually rested. He loves mornings!

What do they sleep in? PJs, normal clothes, nothing? ﾟ･*☆ Usually just in a shirt. Rarely wears nothing. It just depends on where he is.

What do they smell like? Do they use perfume or cologne? ﾟ･*☆ Mostly flowers, he likes floral perfumes and most of the time uses women’s perfumes.

What shampoo scent do they like the best and why? ﾟ･*☆ Either floral or fruity. He likes how it longers in his hair and smells nice.

 Bar soap or liquid? Do they like loofahs? ﾟ･*☆ Both. Yes, he does. Always uses one.

 Do they prefer sleeping alone or with someone else? ﾟ･*☆ Someone else. Sleep is either a mess or he just doesn't sleep, either way he’d prefer to have someone around.

Do they like the room cold or hot when they sleep? ﾟ･*☆ Arctic.

Do they stay up too late? Do they like staying up? ﾟ･*☆ He’d rather not, especially since he has a lot of trouble sleeping.

Do they know how to drive? Do they like to drive? ﾟ･*☆ Yes, he does. He absolutely loves to drive.

Do they prefer taxis / buses / subways, etc? or none of the above? ﾟ･*☆ Has no preference to be honest. He’ll take any.

Do they have pets? What kind? dogs, cats, etc? ﾟ･*☆ Yes, he does! A Belgian Malinois named Dagny and a boa named Ayo.

Do they prefer cats or dogs? Or neither? ﾟ･*☆ Both. Evenly, he thinks both are equally great pets.

What are their phobias? Do they have any at all? ﾟ･*☆ He’s petrified of the dark. Every room in the apartment has night lights. He's also terrified of the ocean, he saw something when he was younger.

What do they hate being teased about? Are they teased often? ﾟ･*☆ His height. Like he can help the fact that he's 6,6. The basketball and weather jokes make him wanna punch a hole through a concrete wall.

Did they have any fears growing up that they’ve since conquered? ﾟ･*☆ Like I’ve said before he’s been able to see, hear and interact with things no one else can see since he was a toddler. It used to creep him out, hell, there's some that are hostile and make him feel uneasy but he’s so used to it he doesn't really think about it too often.

Do they have a fear they want to conquer, but haven’t yet? ﾟ･*☆ The dark. That's a fear he’ll never get over.

How do they show fear? sweating, shaking, blankness, anger, etc? ﾟ･*☆ He tends to go quiet when he's scared.

Do they have a short temper? what’s most likely to set it off? ﾟ･*☆ Oh, no, not at all. He's got a lot of patience. There is a limit though.

Do they get scared easily? Do loud noises, shouting, etc, scare them? ﾟ･*☆ Not really.

What are they most passionate about? What could they debate about for hours? ﾟ･*☆ Books, movies and animals. He loves both and could easily spend hours talking about anything and everything about those subjects for hours.

What do they never, ever want to speak of, ever? ﾟ･*☆ His status as a Maker, much less the fact that he’s the Arch-Maker. Don't ask him about it, don't bring it up.

Do they have kids? Do they want kids? If so, how many? ﾟ･*☆ Not right now. Eventually he’ll have twins with Angelus. A boy and a girl.

Is there something they’d like to change about themselves physically? ﾟ･*☆ Nope.

Is there something about their personality they want to change? ﾟ･*☆ Eh, that's really hard to answer. Sometimes he wishes he wouldn't feel shit as intensely as he does but sometimes he barely feels anything at all. He’d just like a nice middle ground. He can absolutely do without the self-doubt.

Do they have good fashion sense? or do they just wear whatever? ﾟ･*☆ The man’s pretty simple when it comes to that. Band shirt, hoodie if weather permits, loose fitting jeans and sneakers or boots. So I guess whatever.

Do they critique others easily? do they judge from afar? ﾟ･*☆ No! Not his thing and he honestly feels like it’s not his place to judge anyone. (within reason of course)

Are they too hard on themselves over the little things? ﾟ･*☆ Yes! Holy fuck, yes, he does! He’s super critical of himself in so many ways and aspects. Sometimes it’ll hinder him, not gonna lie.

Are they the jealous type? What are they most likely to be jealous of? ﾟ･*☆ Nah, not really.

Are they possessive over their things? or over other people? Both? ﾟ･*☆ Things? No. His husnad? Absolutely!

Would they rather be alone or in a relationship? ﾟ･*☆ He’s never had any preference for one or the other honestly speaking.

What do they think about polyamorous relationships? Would they do it? ﾟ･*☆ He will fucking defend them until the day he dies! He actually tried it out on several occasions but it’s not really for him. He can certainly understand the appeal and all and truth be told in a perfect world he’d be married to both Angelus and Trevor.

Do they have parents / parental figures? Do they have a good relationship with them? ﾟ･*☆ Both of his parents are alive and well and he has a great and loving relationship with both of them. (my ass over here living vicariously through him and Loke…)

Do they have siblings? If so, how many? Do they like them? ﾟ･*☆ He has one older brother. Like him? Lol. He absolutely loves him to death, he’s his best friend and spending time apart makes him anxious.

Do they have a big family or a small family? No family? ﾟ･*☆ Including non immediate family? Pretty big. Loke (older brother), Sanaa (mom), Ingvarr (dad), Angelus (husband), Aleksey (father-in-law), Uthorim (brother-in-law), Jørgen (uncle on his father’s side), Grete (aunt, uncle’s wife), Anette (cousin), Jelani (grandfather on his mother’s side), Subira (grandmother on his mother’s side), Fae (aunt on his mother’s side), Shaun (Fae’s husband), Leah and her sisters Athena, Minerva and Juno (cousins, Fae and Shaun’s daughters), Jaali (maternal uncle), Nkosazana (aunt, Jaali’s wife), Xolani (cousin, Jaali and Nkosazana’s kid).

Where would they want to live if they could live anywhere? Why? ﾟ･*☆ He’s been all over the world and has seen every place there is to see…sure while working but whatever it still counts even if he jokes that it doesn’t ‘cause it was for work. But honestly speaking he’d just go back home specifically back to Hammerfest where he was born and raised. Why? He hasn’t lived in Norway in loooooong centuries and honestly a part of him is tired of just not being back home. That’s why every chance he gets he goes back home to visit.

Are they happy in their current living situation? Why or why not? ﾟ･*☆ 100%. He’s married to the love of his life, surrounded by loving friends, while the job and the position he holds within it can be extremely demanding and asks a lot of him he loves it and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Has a loving family that supports him. Yeah, he’s happy. Sure, there’s the less than stellar things related to health and the whole Maker thing but he’s happy.

Do they like living alone or with another person / other people? ﾟ･*☆ He’d rather live with someone else. Not a big fan of solitude.

Did they go to college, or are they attending? Did / do they like it? ﾟ･*☆ Once for ecology, second time for zoology, third time for biology and a fourth for veterinarian. Ask him about pandas, cheetahs and “trending” dog mixes. Go ahead. Ask him about Oodles. He’s gonna talk your ear off for at least 3 hours.

What's their dream job / profession? Do they have one? ﾟ･*☆ To be very honest he’s kind of there already. Acting leader of a prominent and powerful PMC that answers to no country or person? Yeah, he’s pretty much set.

If they could control one thing in the world, what would it be? ﾟ･*☆ Nah, dude. Nah, this is not the sort of question you ask a control freak like him. Uh-uh. If he could he’d control nearly everything but he knows better than that as much as it pains him to say it.

Do they like tv shows or movies? or neither? ﾟ･*☆ Both but he really likes movies. He’ll go out of his way to learn as much information as he can about his favorite movies or even influential and historically important ones. He’ll look up behind the scenes facts as well as editorial stuff, filming equipment used, wardrobe, filming locations—everything!

Do they have social media? Do they like it or hate it? obsess over it? ﾟ･*☆ Sometimes he remembers he has it. Mostly just sticks to IG (he keeps his account private lol). Mainly follows friends and family as well as anything food related, tattoos and piercings, lot of animal related things, bands, photography stuff and a lot of things and people in the queer community.

Do they have a creative outlet? If so, what is it? ﾟ･*☆ Unless reading counts then no, he doesn't. He doesn't write and wouldn't be able to draw a stick figure to save his life. But I guess baking and cooking can count. He has a lot of fun with that, especially the experimenting.

Where do they see themselves in 2 / 5 / 10 years? ﾟ･*☆ He doesn't plan like that. He likes leaving things as open and flexible as possible. In his line of work he learned long ago that restricting and planning out a long road tends to lead to disappointment especially when he's had to uproot and leave to another location as all branches of Oracle tend to do to avoid suspicions and for safety reasons. The one thing he knows for certain is that in the future Aleksey will step down as leader and Jelani will ***officially take his place. Believe it or not he has mixed feelings about that. Yes, he looks forward to it. Yes, he’s excited about it. Yes, he’s very ready and prepared for it. Yes, he’s super nervous about that. The kind of nervous that keeps you up at night. He’s been at it for years and quite frankly there’s no one else better suited for it than him. He (along with Loke) has been in Oracle the longest and has worked his way up the ranks and has earned Aleksey’s complete and total trust and to be honest Aleksey has seen his brilliance when it comes to strategizing and diplomacy among his other talents as an agent. While he’s not crazy about leaving the field once he becomes the official leader of Oracle he’s flattered. Aleksey still has a few miles left in him and he’s okay with sticking around since he knows Jelani loves being out in the field and doing hands on work instead of just sitting by and waiting. Though, to be honest Aleksey himself sometimes comes out of the shadows to do some stuff.

*** I say officially because Jelani has been the acting leader for a very long time now and Aleksey has left him in charge completely every so often and he has even made it known that Jelani is taking his place. For now both Aleksey and Jelani are leading Oracle.

#Jelani tag #i love doing these if you haven't noticed lol

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers LOST EDEN ー Sakamaki Prologue

ー The scene starts in front of the Sakamaki manor

Yui: ( Pwew...Today was yet another exhausting day. )

( But I’m all done with my midterms now, so I suppose I’ll relax in the bed for a bit before hitting the hay early. )

*Caw caw caw* 

Yui: ( Hm...? Where is this noise coming from...? )

*Caw caw caw* 

*Flap flap*

Yui: ( Ah! A bunch of crowd have gathered on top of the manor’s roof. )

*Caw caw caw* 

Yui: ( It’s not just one or two either. It’s kind of unsettling how they’ve all flocked together. )

( They say that crows are the messengers of death, so it’s giving me bad vibes. )

( ...I better hurry inside. )

*Caw caw caw*

Ayato: Yo, Chichinashi!

Yui: Wah!

Ayato: Hehe, lame-o. What are you pissin’ your pants for? 

Yui: Geez...

( How could I not get startled when someone suddenly calls my name? Anyway, there’s a more important matter at hand now... )

*Rustle rustle* 

Yui: Ayato-kun, there’s a bunch of crows on top of the roof...

Ayato: Ah? 

*Caw caw caw* 

Ayato: Hmー And what’s the issue with that?

Yui: ( I doubt he’ll understand if I try to explain to him that it foretells misfortune. )

Ayato: Now that you mention it, crows like to peck at the corpses of dead people, don’t they? 

Yui: God, stop it...

( They really are creepy. I just hope they’re not on the balcony as well... )

*Woosh*

Yui: Huh? 

( They’ve all vanished in thin air. How...? )

Ayato: Hm? Look, they’re gone. 

Yui: Yeah. But I didn’t hear them flying away, did you?

Ayato: I guess not. But you were creeped out by them, no? In that case, you should be happy. 

Yui: ( I am but...No, I guess he’s right. )

( I’ll just forget about it and head inside. )

ー They enter the manor

*Thud*

Yui: ( Phew. Now that I’m inside, I feel safe... )

Ayato: ...Wait. 

*Rustle*

Yui: !

ー Ayato pins her against the wall

Yui: ( Ayato-kun has got me pinned in place!? )

Ayato: I got thirsty while listenin’ to your borin’ chit-chat. ...So let me suck your blood. 

Yui: Eh?

*Rustle*

Ayato: You’ve only got yourself to blame for spreadin’ that delicious scent of your blood...?

Yui: No, stop...!

ー Shuu enters the room

Shuu: ...You’re in the way.

*Rustle*

Ayato: Woah!?

*Thud*

Yui: T-Thank you...

Shuu: ...Why are you thanking me? Move aside already.

Yui: My bad...

*Rustle*

Ayato: Oi, Shuu! Fuck off! Don’t get in my way!

Shuu: Shut up...You go ahead and enjoy your time on the floor for a bit.

ー Shuu walks away

Yui: ( I should probably keep quiet and follow Shuu-san, huh? )

ー The scene shifts to the living room

Shuu: ...

Yui: You got back a little late. Did you stay behind at school? 

Shuu: The exact opposite. I got out early, so I had the limousine drive me to the CD store.

Yui: ( So that’s why we had to go home on foot today... )

Shuu: More importantly, don’t you think it’s time you lay it off? 

Yui: Eh?

Shuu: You really are a slut to offer your body to someone out in the open like that.

Yui: Y-You’ve got it all wrong! Ayato-kun forced himself on me...

Shuu: I wonder...

ー He leans in close

Shuu: It’s your fault for leaving yourself vulnerable, no...?

Yui: Cut it out, please!

Shuu: Hehe... ...?

ー Shuu almost bites her, but stops at the very last second

Yui: ( ...Huh? )

ー He steps back again

Shuu: ...

Yui: Um, is something the matter? 

Shuu: I thought I could sense someone on the staircase. 

Yui: Eh? 

Shuu: ...

ー Shuu walks away

Yui: ( I didn’t notice anything but Shuu-san seems very concerned about it...That’s strange. )

ー He returns

Yui: ...Was someone there? 

Shuu: No...Did I just imagine it? But that doesn’t make sense...

Reiji: It appears that you have returned home. 

Yui: Yes. Welcome back to you as well, Reiji-san. 

Reiji: I returned home quite some time ago. I had simply stepped outside for a bit to fetch these flowers to decorate the dining room. 

Yui: I see. 

Shuu: Are the other guys home too? 

Reiji: Good question. However, most likely... 

ー Ayato bursts into the room

Ayato: Shuu! Take responsibility, you bastard!

Shuu: Hah? 

Ayato: I hit my head when you kicked me earlier! It still hurts! 

Shuu: Not my problem. 

Ayato: Aah!? Can’t you see this bump on the back of my head? 

Shuu: I can’t. Nor am I interested. 

Ayato: Haah!? 

Reiji: Good grief. Excuse me, could you please hold these roses for me? 

Yui: Sure...? 

Reiji: Please help me arrange them. I shall go get a vase, so go ahead and make your way to the kitchen.

Yui: Okay.

ー The scene shifts to the kitchen

*Pssh*

Yui: ( Now to put the stems in the water... )

( This should do. To get a clean end result, I suppose I should trim them one by one, huh? )

*Snip*

Yui: ( They smell lovely...It’s relaxing. )

???: Such wonderful flowers. 

Yui: ? 

( What? I heard...an unfamiliar voice just now. )

???: Fufu. Nice to meet you. My name isーー

ー Reiji enters the kitchen

Reiji: My apologies for the wait.

Yui: R-Reiji-san! There’s someone behind me...!

Reiji: ...What are you saying? There is nobody. 

Yui: Eh...?

( No way...I could hear a voice loud and clear...So how? )

Reiji: You seem completely out of it. (1) Such a strange girl you are. More importantly, did you manage to snip the stems of the flowers? 

Yui: Um...I’ll hurry up, okay? 

*Snip snip*

Yui: ( I can still hear his voice echoing in my head...I can’t calm down. )

*Snip*

Yui: Ow!

( I cut my finger... )

Reiji: ...This happened because you let your mind wander.

Yui: I-I’m sorry...

Reiji: Good grief...Show me. 

*Rustle*

Yui: ( Eh...? )

ー Reiji licks her finger

Reiji: Nn.

Yui: ( Ah...! )

Reiji: ...I am only doing this to speed up the healing process, so please do not put any weird ideas into your head. 

Yui: ( R-Right. Stay calm, relax. )

*Rustle rustle*

Reiji: You appear to be in a daze. Is everything alright? 

Yui: Yes...U-Um, are you positive there was nobody standing behind me earlier? 

Reiji: Yes. What on earth happened for you to be so shaken up by it? 

Yui: Somebody whispered in my ear from behind. But then they disappeared almost instantly...

Reiji: It sounds to me like one of my brothers pulled a prank on you?

Yui: I hope so...Um, do you know who else is at home right now besides Shuu-san and Ayato-kun? 

Reiji: I got back first. Then Ayato, Shuu and yourself followed afterwards. 

Yui: ( Then the person Shuu-san sensed was not one of his brothers...? )

Reiji: ...There appears to be something else plaguing your mind? 

Yui: ( I suppose there’s no point in fretting over it all by myself. I’ll consult with Reiji-san instead. )

Actually...

ー Yui tells him the whole story

Yui: ...In other words, I believe that an outsider might have made their way into the manor. 

Reiji: However, I do not sense any intruders. It is only you and members of this family at the manor right now...

Yui: I see...

Reiji: Perhaps you are simply exhausted from letting your imagination run wild? I shall pour you a cup of tea, so please try and relax. 

*Pssh*

Yui: Thank you very much...

ー Kanato enters the kitchen

Kanato: So this is where you’ve been...You are not getting away again. 

Yui: Eh...?

Kanato: What did you do to my sweets? ...You’re the one who ate them, aren’t you? 

Yui: Eeh!? I’m not!

Reiji: What are you making a fuss over this time? 

Kanato: The cookies and candies I kept in my room have disappeared...I had put them aside to enjoy later...

Yui: Wait. I came home not too long ago and came here straight away, so I haven’t even been to your room? 

Kanato: ...Then who ate them? 

Yui: I don’t know that...

Reiji: Couldn’t it be that you have simply forgotten that you ate them yourself? 

Kanato: That’s impossible. The cookies were the fancy kind I got in the Demon World ...I cannot let this slide. 

Reiji: ...There’s some pudding I made earlier over there if you’d like. Why not have some of that instead? 

Kanato: ...I will. 

Reiji: Well then, here’s one for you as well. ...You could use something sweet to relax, no?

Yui: Thank you very much. However, I am not yet done arranging the flowers so...

Reiji: I will take it from here. (whispers) ...Therefore, please lead Kanato away from here. I cannot concentrate on work when he is constantly crying about.

Yui: ( I see... )

Kanato: Hey, let’s get going already. 

ー The scene shifts to the dining room

Kanato: ...You’re not going to have any?

Yui: Yeah...You can have it if you’d like. 

Kanato: I see. In that case, I’ll be so kind as to eat it for you. 

...

Yui: ( I’m glad he calmed down. Anyway, I wonder what happened? )

Kanato: ...The candies I had put aside were pudding-flavored. 

Yui: I see... 

Kanato: As good as this actual pudding may be, it disappears as soon as you swallow. That’s why I would have preferred the candies...

I don’t know who is behind this, but once I find the culprit, they aren’t getting away with it. 

Yui: ( I doubt anyone will be able to fess up in front of such a menacing look...Anyway, I am curious who could be behind it? )

( However, the only people at home were myself, Reiji-san who was with me, and Shuu-san and Ayato-kun who were quarreling. )

( Other than that... )

ー Yui recalls the strange voice

???: Fufu. Nice to meet you. My name isーー

Yui: ( ...It can’t be, right? )

Kanato: ...

Yui: Ah, geez, you’ve got caramel sauce stuck on the corner of your mouth. 

( Um, I’ll wipe it off with a napkin... )

...There, all gone. 

Kanato: ...haven’t I?

Yui: Eh? 

Kanato: I’ve told you to stop treating me like a child, haven’t I!?

*Smack*

Yui: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.

Kanato: Then at least wipe it off in a more adult-like fashion. For example...

ー He leans in

Kanato: You could bring your lips to mine like this and lick it off? ...You can do that, can’t you? 

Yui: ( I-I can’t! )

*THUD THUD*

Yui: Kyah!? 

Kanato: ...That came from upstairs. 

Yui: I-Is everything okay up there? 

Kanato: I bet it’s just Subaru going rampant again? Anyway, hurry up and continue. 

Yui: Eh?

( I just can’t...Okay, in an attempt to talk my way out of this situation, here goes nothing... )

I’m worried, so I’ll go take a look, okay? 

ー Yui gets up from her chair and runs towards the door 

Kanato: Hmph...Nom nom.

ー The scene shifts to the hallway

Yui: ( I just can’t get rid of this bad feeling. What if someone actually got into the manor...? )

( There just seems to be too much happening for it to be my imagination. )

( Um, Subaru-kun is... )

*Thud*

Subaru: You bastard! Whatcha playin’ at, huh!? 

Yui: Wah?

Subaru: Hah? Why are you...? Che, did you happen to see anyone leave my room?

Yui: I haven’t...

Subaru: Then where did he run off to!? 

*THUD*

Yui: Eeh? You’re kind of catching me off guard with the sudden question...

Subaru: ...There was someone in my room when I came home from school. And on top of that, this jerk had the nerve to take a look inside my coffin...

Who was it...He’s not getting away with it!

Yui: ( I guess it makes sense why he’s upset. )

Subaru: Oi, did you really not see anyone run away? 

Yui: I didn’t, but you see...

ー Yui tells him everything which happened up till then

Yui: ( It’s all a bit vague because I don’t actually have a clear grip on the situation myself but...I wonder if he’ll believe me? )

Subaru: There’s no way someone intruded this manor. ...What are you pissin’ your pants for?

Yui: But...

Subaru: Che...But I have to admit that when I saw the guy from behind...I felt a weird presence. 

Yui: Eh? 

Subaru: I can’t put it into words very well. But something just felt off, like I could feel a shiver run down my spine.

ー Laito walks up to them

Laito: Hmm~? Seems like the two of you are really enjoying your talk over there? Let me in on the fun as well~

Yui: Wah?

Laito: So...I heard you were doing something inside his coffin which gave you the shivers?

Subaru: Haah? That’s not what I said!

Laito: Bitch-chan is really living up to her name, getting it on inside a coffin!

Yui: Eeh!? You’ve got the wrong idea!

Laito: There you go trying to hide it~ ...Mmh, I honestly thought you were about that age to start growing interested in such things. 

ー Laito creeps up on her

Laito: But you know, if you wanted to have some fun in a private space, you should have invited me over. I’m confident I could give you the experience of a lifetime? 

Subaru: You bastard...The fuck are you sayin’!? 

*THUD*

Laito: Ahーah. Calm down. Reiji will get on your case again, you know?

Subaru: Che...Whose fault do you think this is...? 

Laito: Gosh, a little teasing and you instantly lose your temper. ...So, what’s this strange presence you mentioned earlier? 

Yui: You heard that?

Laito: Of course! You’ll fill me in on the details, right? 

Yui: Yeah, you see...

ー Yui explains the situation one more time

Laito: Hm~ ...I see. Well, I can only imagine he’d be after one thing. 

Yui: Eh...?

*Rustle rustle*

Laito: That would be...you, Bitch-chan. 

Yui: Me? 

Laito: Mmh. I’m pretty sure someone got inside to steal you away, you see? 

Yui: However, it didn’t feel like that when I heard him talk...

Laito: Nfu~ He was just baiting you, you see? As a result, you’re curious about him now, aren’t you?

It’s his way to pique your interest, then as soon as you approach...He might just gobble you right up~!

I mean, you are a ‘snack’ in more than one way after all~

Yui: ( I can’t deny that it has been on my mind this whole time... That might be exactly what this guy wants though... )

( What now? I’m kind of anxious all of a sudden.. )

*SHATTER*

Ayato: Shuu, you bastard! Don’t be throwin’ shit at me! What if I get another bump!? 

Shuu: Hah? What makes you think I’m the one throwing things? 

Ayato: Then where did that plate come from!? 

Reiji: That plate...happens to be part of my precious collection...!

Yui: ...

Laito: Something seems to be going on downstairs. ...I’m getting bad vibes from this, so let’s go take a look. 

Subaru: Che...The fuck’s goin’ on?

ー The scene shifts to the living room

Yui: ( Ah...The pretty plate has broken in two. )

Laito: There’s no way Shuu would throw this. 

Yui: ( I guess so. Then there must be someone in the house after all...? )

Kanato: Ah...I found one of my candy wrappers. The culprit...Subaru, it was you, wasn’t it...!? 

Subaru: Geh!? How the hell did that get inside my pocket!? You’re wrong! Someone’s tryin’ to frame me!

Kanato: Shut up!

Yui: ( This really is odd. Something is off... )

???: Ahaha! You guys really are a bunch of fools. ...Don’t disappoint me now, will you? 

Yui: !? 

( Whose voice...was that just now...? )

Reiji: It appears...that someone has actually snuck their way inside the manor. 

Ayato: Fuck, oi! If you’re there, stop hidin’ like a coward and show yourself!

Subaru: Che...Where the fuck are you!? Lemme punch you in the face!

Kanato: Give back...my sweets. 

Laito: Seems like he made a run for it. 

Shuu: ...What a drag.

Yui: ( It could be a Demon of some sorts...? )

Monologue

ーー Ever since Karlheinz-san vanished, 

the Demon World has lost its absolute ruler,

throwing everything into disarray.

What had been kept balanced through his immense powers up till now,

was now spiraling out of control,

due to the disputes over who would ascend the throne as the next King. 

The parties involved consist of:

The Vampires

The Wolves

The Adlers

The Vibora. 

Those four clans. 

On top of that, there’s also the existence of the First Bloods,

who have ties to all four subspecies. 

From what I have heard, 

several movements have been taking place all over the Demon World,

as a result of these parties fighting over the sovereignty,

which was previously in the hands of a Vampire. 

Yui: ( ...Hold up, he seemed quite shocked when that man’s Familiar came to report everything, didn’t he? )

( I have a feeling that a lot of trouble lies ahead but...I’m sure everything will turn out fine in the end, right? )

( Exactly. As the one who inherited Karlheinz-sama’s powers, I’m sure he’ll... )

[ Choose Shuu ] [ Choose Reiji ] [ Choose Ayato ]

[ Choose Kanato ] [ Choose Laito ] [ Choose Subaru ]

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

Translation notes

(1) Literally he says that she seems to have been possessed/bewitched by a fox (spirit). This is an expression used to describe someone who is at a loss and has no idea what is going on. 

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #shuu sakamaki #reiji sakamaki #ayato sakamaki #Kanato Sakamaki #laito sakamaki #subaru sakamaki #lost eden #lesakamakiprologue

[five-miles-over]

Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends

Pairings: Rory Slippery (from Fortysomething) x Reader, Bill Hazeldine (from Suburban Shootout) x Reader

Summary: A first-year medical student at the University of Surrey, you move into a uni house and meet your new flatmates Bill Hazeldine and Rory Slippery

"Yes, mum. I've just pulled up in front of the building," you spoke, precariously holding the phone with one hand while you parked your second-hand car with the other. The car, a dark grey 1990 Honda Accord, a graduation present given to you by your parents, with the idea that you'd be able to be much more independent driving to uni rather than relying on public transport. Of course, it was also a convenient way to get rid of a car they'd been hoping to replace with a much newer, more fuel efficient model. That aside, you were sure that it would make you a bit cooler around campus, not that it truly mattered anyways. "I'll call you again when I'm settled. I love you, Mum." 

After exiting the vehicle, and locking it, you opened the door to your uni house for the first time. "Eee!" A rat scurried past you, and a chill ran down your spine. You might need to call someone to deal with that…very soon. With a long look up the wooden stairs, to where the bedrooms were supposed to be, you took a deep breath and picked up one of the three keys laying on a countertop. 

To say the house needed some work was a slight understatement. The kitchen sink was leaking like a salivating dog, the faded pastel wallpaper in the living room was peeling near the edges, the furniture was clouded with a coat of dust, and to top it off, the gilded '221' on the door was half-covered in dark rust . No wonder this house was one of the cheapest near campus.  

Within one hour filled with heaving, panting, and thankfully no more mice, you were able to get all of your boxes into your room within the uni house. Compared to the rest of the house, the room that you chose had a pale blue paint on the walls, and it vaguely matched the color of the bedsheets you brought with you. The mattress, which was lodged against a large window with one large crack (heaven knows where that came from…some Romeo throwing pebbles?), was relatively stainless though yellow from age.

You unpacked the boombox among your things and filed through the box containing your CDs. Selecting a random one, you let the music play through the house while you dueled with fitted sheets and fought with a bedskirt (why do those even exist??). 

"Finally!" You exclaimed with relief, falling back onto the bed after setting it up for the first time. Unpacking the rest of your things wouldn't be so hard, now that the bed was set up. Plus…now you could always take a nap if you were tired. Just then, from a distance, you heard the sound of two people - a middle-aged woman and a man - talking quickly. The door opened with a creak, and was followed by the sounds of their footsteps.

You stealthily left your room, trying to make as little noise as possible with each step. A tall, lanky, boy with dark blonde curls carried a box overflowing with books into the home while the middle-aged woman and man (presumably his parents) could be heard inspecting the house. 

"Jeremy, I can't believe the condition of this living room," the woman - slender with a bowl-cut, a few wrinkles upon her face - commented with dismay. She stood near the seemingly rickety, dusty coffee table positioned in front of a small television with a flimsy-looking antenna. You swore she blushed just a tiny bit when she came across a worn-out copy of A Savage Adoration, published by Mills and Boon, hidden under a small ashtray found on the coffee table. 

"It'll be a good experience, Joyce," the man peeked from behind a fridge. "I remember my uni house being in worse shape than this…" He didn't seem much taller than the woman, though definitely a bit more stout. 

"Hello?" You cautiously asked, introducing yourself as one of the students living in this house for the academic term. 

"Oh, you've moved in already?" Joyce's face lit up when she heard who you were. She tentatively came towards you, and looked around the house. "Bill, come say hello to your new flatmate."

You and Bill, the lanky boy with blonde curls you saw earlier, shook hands and exchanged names. His palms were sweaty and his eyes were a mixture of blue and grey, like the sky during a thunderstorm.

"Looks like you'll get your first taste of living among the ladies." Jeremy chuckled, watching his boy reluctantly extend his hand. "Good practice for when you're married."

"Bill, make sure you call every day," Joyce instructed Bill with a hand upon the boy's shoulder. "I want you to promise that you'll stay away from drugs, any kind of parties, or gangs."

"Joyce, our son's all grown up now. He'll be quite alright." Jack commented, and you couldn't help but smirk just a little. Bill, though he may be old enough for uni, just seemed too….baby-faced the more that you looked at him. Not that it was off-putting at all. It made Bill seem angelic and innocent, like the type who wouldn't cause trouble. 

Joyce and Jack shook your hand, hugged Bill at least twice, and wished you both luck before finally driving off. 

"Where's that coming from?" Bill pointed upstairs in the direction of the music that you'd briefly forgotten about. You could barely hear "Sugar We're Goin Down" playing from your bedroom. 

"Oh, it's just my boombox - I put on a CD while I was setting up my bedsheets," you dismissed. "I think I've got a kettle packed somewhere, do you want a cup of tea or some coffee?"

"Tea sounds good." Bill rummaged through a cardboard box and handed you a box of Earl Grey tea packets, along with…a bag of sugar.

"You might need to find another way of storing this," you chuckled, placing the items onto the counter. The electric kettle, filled with tap water, hissed after you plugged it into the outlet. And while the water heated up, you removed the plastic covering off the box of tea bags. Just then, you and Bill heard a knock on the door.

"There's supposed to be a third person here, right?" Bill asked as the two of you shuffled towards the front.

"Yeah…Rory something." 

You and Bill opened the door to find another young man with cropped brown hair and sharp cheekbones. He wore a blue and black sweater, a visible white undershirt, and worn out jeans. A pile of boxes, and a stereo were piled near his feet.

"This is…221 Dunmore Street?"

"That's the address, I believe." You pointed the number on the door.

"Where's your family?" Bill asked, lightly squinting.

"Didn't need their help." The young man shook Bill's hand "I'm Rory Slippery."

"Bil Hazeldine. Let me help you get your things." Bill rushed to carry one of Rory's boxes inside. 

"Thanks." After Rory introduced himself to you, you extended your hand forward too. Instead of shaking your hand, Rory lowered his head and briefly kissed your knuckles with a little smirk. 

You looked down briefly and smiled. "Wow, thanks."

"Always a pleasure." 

You picked up another one of Rory's boxes and led him inside the house. "Your key's on that table over there. We've got a kettle going - do you want some tea?"

"Alright." 

"The water should be done by now. Let's get all the boxes inside." You, Bill, and Rory continued to carry boxes inside the house. And just like how two of Bill's boxes were overfilled with books, two of Rory's boxes were filled with video games, sweaters, and…hair care products. You made a mental note to ask Rory about that sometime, but not yet.

Fifteen minutes later, the three of you were situated in the living room, sipping steaming mugs of Earl Grey made with the tea bags that Bill had brought. Holding his mug, Rory searched the room for the television remote. Meanwhile, you and Bill sat on a faded couch and the Mills and Boon book was being perfectly ignored on the coffee table.

"Where's everyone from?" Bill was the first to break the ice. 

Rory procured the remote from a mystery corner table in the living room, and blew a cloud of dust off of it. "My parents live in Wimbledon."

"Cool! I've been to Wimbledon once. I absolutely loved it."

"That's not far from campus. Why'd you choose a uni house?" You asked, taking another sip.

"I needed my own place." Rory aimed the remote at a television and managed to turn it on. "I'm a grown man now, I need to…be mature for my age."

You raised an eyebrow.

Rory sighed. "I'm a third-year. Transferred from University of Raleigh in time for the new term."

When Bill asked why, Rory confessed that his ex-girlfriend cheated with his brother, and he couldn't put up with it. "I just don't want to come home and see his lying, sniveling coward face everyday."

After a moment of awkward silence, you asked what everyone's courses were. Rory stated that he was interested in Sociology and Bill declared that he wanted to pursue Theology.

"What about you?" Bill asked.

"BMBS," you gently said with a chuckle. "Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery."

"Cool!"

Rory piped up. "My dad's a doctor. I could introduce you to him."

"That'd be great, thank you." You nodded. "What's his speciality?"

"Not sure." Rory shrugged and took another sip.

"I'm sorry about your girlfriend."

"I'm not. She was never the one."

"Maybe you'll find someone nice here." Bill cheerfully moved closer to you and Rory, and raised his mug. "A toast to a good year at uni. A new chapter in the books of our lives that will be filled to the brim with

memories." 

You and Rory silently clinked your mugs against his.

#rory slippery #bill hazeldine #bill hazeldine imagine #bill hazeldine x reader #tom hiddleston x reader #uni au #tom hiddleston characters #benedict cumberbatch imagine #tom hiddleston imagine #rory slippery x reader #benedict cumberbatch x reader

[crissiebaby]

The Padded Palace Act III: Chapter 4

DISCLAIMER: This story contains diaper usage, crossdressing, inappropriate language, humiliation, masturbation/diaper sex, and other ABDL themes. Be sure to check out the link in the description if you need to start all the way back from the first chapter in Act I! I hope you enjoy!

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“Old MacDonald had a farm!”

“Ee-I-Ee-I-O!”

“And on that farm, he had some cows!”

“Ee-I-Ee-I-O!”

Singing back and forth in tandem, Latasha and Skye were making the most out of their time on the road by singing along to a children’s CD together. While kiddy songs weren’t something that Latasha or even Skye listened to on their own, car trip sing-a-longs were a favorite pastime amongst the Padded Palace crew. It was the perfect exercise to keep Littles active and engaged, preventing any road trip boredom from causing civil unrest.

For Skye, she was more than happy to play along with her Mommy. It wasn’t even a half-an-hour after they departed from the Palace that all thoughts of her “feud” with Latasha over Connor were left in the rearview mirror, washing away any bitterness she may have felt toward her caregiver. Meanwhile, the nebulous anticipation of going to her first ABDL convention in a few years was slowly shifting to something more tangible as they drove closer to their destination. “Awe we dere yet, Mommy?” she asked as Old MacDonald began to fade out on the car’s stereo.

“Still a good couple of hours,” said Latasha, reaching down to the console and silently skipping the next song before it could start playing. Seconds later, a whimsical version of Baa Baa Black Sheep began to echo out of the car’s speakers. She signed with relief before continuing to speak, “How’s your diaper holding up, sweetie?”

Shifting in her seat, Skye’s butt could be numb and the noise alone would be enough to tell her she was drenched. Luckily for her, she was able to feel every squelch that her diaper created, causing her to blush like crazy as she responded, “I-Ish pwetty wet buh I fink I gud fo nows.” With her eyes locked on Latasha to make sure she didn’t see anything, the pervy Little’s hand slowly slipped between her legs as she ran her finger along the crotch of her diaper, biting her lip seductively.

Believing herself to be extremely stealthy, it would come as quite a shock if Skye were to find out that Latasha was well aware of what she was doing even without having to look. Crinkly diapers had a way of letting Bigs know when their Littles were getting too handsy. Luckily for Skye, Latasha had no interest in disrupting Skye’s fun. It was a lengthy trip for anyone, especially a Little. As a seasoned Big, she knew in moments like this, it was best not to discourage self-exploration.

Still, it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Latasha that Skye’s horny nature was popping up more and more recently. Whether it was during naps, at lunchtime, or in the nursery, Skye’s hands were constantly slipping between her legs to grab a big, naughty handful of diaper fluff. She’d considered sitting Skye down to address the subject but decided against it out of fear that Skye would end up regressing back to her old, isolationist ways. Though, if things continued to escalate, she’d be left with no choice. The best thing to do for now was to cut her off nonchalantly when needed without tipping her off to the reality of how noisy her solo play sessions were. And since they were alone and on the road until at least 6 PM, she had no issue letting Skye go to town on herself.

As her breathing picked up, Skye began rocking back and forth in her car seat, her hips thrusting as her sex drive overwhelmed her senses. Due to masturbating two to three times a day on average now, Latasha had one massively horny baby on her hands. Ever since that weekend with Carol and Ellie, her arousal had become too much to control, causing her to crave similar treatment whenever her kitten began to moisten. Only, as much as she loved Latasha, she didn’t want that kind of relationship with her, but with Connor. She imagined his hand on her diaper as she pushed herself into a climax, emitting the tiniest of squeaks as she exploded in her diaper.

“I’m gonna be stopping for lunch soon. Does a Happy Meal sound good?” said Latasha, waiting until she heard Skye finish before asking about food.

Sitting up straight in an attempt to act casual, Skye nodded shakily, still coming down from her pleasure high. “Uh, y-yes! Dat souns yummy!” she responded, feeling like the naughtiest girl in the world as she recovered from her “secret” orgasm. Looking out the window at the wide open plain filled with countless rows of corn, she sighed contently, knowing this would be far from her final orgasm of the weekend.

Seeing Skye’s satisfied expression in the mirror, Latasha could only smile at her precious, lustful baby girl. It had been far too long since it was just the two of them and with this weekend already starting on a high note, their time at CrissCon 2023 was bound to be a memorable experience. Her only regret was that Little ConCon could join them for his first con. She hoped he was having as much fun running the Padded Palace on his own as she and Skye were having.

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“This is pure misery,” thought Connor, sweat beating down from his forehead as he rushed back into the kitchen to check on lunch. It had been an eventful morning for the freshman caregiver, to say the least. After two months of working as Latasha’s pair of extra hands, he had failed to realize just how much of a Herculean task it was to operate an adult baby daycare center on his own, “Seriously, how did Latasha pull this off for months on end?!”

Opening the oven, Connor looked at the pan filled with sizzling dinosaur chicken nuggets, nodding his head affirmatively as he shuttered the oven again and began setting out plates on the kitchen counter. “Perfect, another two minutes and those should be good to go,” he said to himself, the tiniest feeling of relief creeping up on him as he’d nearly managed to cross one thing off his extensive to-do list.

“CONNOW! I NEED HEWP!”

As he set a third plate on the countertop, Connor exhaled solemnly, lowering his head as an over-energized Little’s voice bellowed out into the hallway. “One sec!” he shouted back, barely hanging onto the kind, patient voice he tried to maintain at all times.

Exiting the kitchen, Connor jogged back into the nursery to find Ellie and Stacy playing tug-of-war with a long, caterpillar stuffy that had all 26 letters of the alphabet on its stubby legs and the numbers 1 through 12 lining its back. “Teww Stacy ta give him back!” shrieked Ellie, pulling on the plushy with all her might.

Clinging to the caterpillar’s lower half, Stacy’s hold on the stuffed animal was nigh unbreakable thanks to the way she had it clamped between her thighs. “My tuwns nod over yet!” she barked back, lifting a hand off the fluffy friend and pushing Ellie backward with a big shove.

The direct attack caused Ellie to instantly release her half of the stuffy, sending her tumbling backward onto her padded rump. It wasn’t long after that the waterworks kicked up. “WAAAAAAAAAAH!” she yelled mercilessly, forcing everyone in the immediate area to cover their ears.

Braving the reverberation of Ellie’s cries, Connor approached the wailing girl and brought her in for a comforting hug. “Shhh, shhh, shhh! It’s okay. It was an accident,” he said, lowering Ellie’s tantrum from all-out screaming to sniffling in seconds. Patting Ellie’s back to console her, he closed his eyes and soaked in the momentary silence, using his hug with Ellie as his own source of comfort.

“Why does Ewwie gets da hug?! I da victim hewe!” shouted Stacy, dropping the caterpillar to her feet as he placed her hands on her hips in a huff.

Connor glared as he turned to look at Stacy, letting his emotions get the better of him as he found himself unable to maintain impartiality. “I don’t care who started it. You know better than to get physical,” he said, continuing to pet Ellie’s hair.

“Connow’s wite,” chimed in Riri, who was contently minding her business as she knelt in front of the easy-bake oven working on her overly-sprinkled cookies, “Pwus, chus did pwomise ta let Ewwie have it wike an howr ago.”

Sticking her tongue out at Riri, Stacy was less than pleased with how everyone in the nursery was gaining up on her. “Chu weren even a pawt of dis, sho shush!” she said assertively, pointing a harsh finger in Riri’s direction, “It don even madder anyways cuz Connow towd me I cood have dis stuffy aww day if I wanted! Wite Connow?” She swiveled her head Connor’s way, narrowing her gaze and shifting her eyes down to his crotch for a split-second as a rotten smirk grew on her face.

As much as Connor wanted to call out Stacy’s obvious bullshit, he knew outing her lie now would only result in her outing the pull-ups he was currently dawning. Begrudgingly, he had no choice but to relent. “Sorry, I-I forgot I said you could all day if you wanted,” he said, his heart filling with unfettered guilt as he stared into the shocked expressions that Riri and Ellie now wore.

“See? Towd ya!” said Stacy, presenting her tongue once again to Riri, this time in victory. Sniffing the air, her sadistic smile only grew as the scent of char filled the air, “By da way, it smewws wike sumfings buwning.”

With his eyes going as wide as the empty plates he had set out on the kitchen counter, Connor released his grip around Ellie’s shoulders and jumped to his feet. Dashing toward the kitchen, he beelined straight to the oven and pulled the door open, only to be met with a puff of smoke and two dozen nearly-black dino nuggies spaced out evenly on the metal tray. He shut the oven door quickly so as not to allow the smoke to set off the fire alarm. “Shit,” he muttered under his breath, leaning his head against the microwave that was built in the space over the stovetop.

“I-Is evewyfing okie?”

Whipping around, Connor was disheartened to find three sets of concerned, hungry eyes. Well, more like two sets. Stacy was still smirking up a storm, which somehow made Connor feel even more incompetent than if she just felt sorry for him. Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, he knew there was no way to cover up the mistake he had made. Flashing a wide grimace, he did his best to stay positive in the face of mounting anxiety, “So uh…w-who’s up to order pizza?”

TO CONTINUED…

« PREVIOUS l FIRST l NEXT »

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Heyyo! Can't wait until next week for more Padded Palace!? Subscribe to my Patreon, where you can get early access to main series chapters like this one, as well as exclusive content you won't find anywhere else! Join my dollhouse at patreon.com/crissiebaby!

Edited by AllySmolShork

#diaper art #diaper stories #crissiebaby #little space #ab/dl #ab/dl stories #ab/dl art #ab/dl sissy #diaper sissy #sissybaby #diaper humiliation #md/lg #dirty diaper #diaper messy #wetting diaper #crissbabydiaperco #the padded palace #thepaddedpalace

[meme-streets]

omg what’s your personal ranking of the doors albums i’m so curious on your take

ok sorry this was so late! i realized i hadn’t actually listened to the live album yet (which i wanted to rank as well) and then i didn’t get the chance for several days. for the sake of ease i’m only going to do the ones released while morrison was alive. these are based on my preferences, not judgements of quality.

1. morrison hotel. ironically has the highest volume of doors songs i don’t really like (which i like…2), but it’s the album i listen to straight through the most, i own it on CD, and as an overall whole i think coheres incredibly well. the callbacks to “roadhouse blues” in “the spy” and “maggie m’gill”, the callback to “waiting for the sun” the album in “waiting for the sun” the song, just in general the way the whole thing flows.

2. strange days. i expect this is an uncontroversial pick, given as it’s generally accepted to be a great album. “love me two times” and “people are strange” are of course iconic, “strange days” and “moonlight drive” are incredibly cool songs, and of course “my eyes have seen you” is probably my all-time favorite doors song. the album has a really cool sound overall and i think it holds together very well; another album i’m inclined to listen to all the way through and the one that got me into them as a whole. some of manzarek’s best keyboard work is on here imo, or at least my favorite. the fact it feels like a slightly more cohesive concept album also gives it a slight boost over the self titled.

3. the doors. a killer first album with an abundance of favorite songs of mine–“soul kitchen” (an old favorite of mine from childhood), “back door man” (makes me want to dance in ways that are not physically possible), “break on through”, “take it as it comes” (genuinely haunting), “light my fire”, “i looked at you”…honestly every single song on here is a complete banger. “the end” is an incredible finale. literally just a bunch of really fucking good songs so i gotta put it high up on the list.

4. absolutely live. their energy is incredible live, it flows super well, the mixed in spoken word poetry is fantastic, and also...jim morrison noises. the slight lyrical alterations to soul kitchen and how perfect of a closer it made. the emotions i experienced listening to this sure were something!!

5. waiting for the sun. maybe a strange pick, but despite being one of their lesser-appreciated albums i think it’s cool as hell with a really unique sound. “five to one” is a favorite of mine, “hello, i love you” is iconic, “not to touch the earth” is genuinely kind of terrifying (sounds like getting murdered in a funhouse imo), “the unknown soldier” and “yes, the river knows” are great, and despite it being a weird song, i have a particular soft spot for “my wild love”. i’m a sucker for sort of…campfire songs, almost. overall an incredibly cool album that doesn’t get appreciated enough.

6. the soft parade. another underrated one; between this and waiting for the sun i had to give the latter a slight edge just for how many songs on it i really like, but i love the orchestral sound of this album. “touch me” has been a favorite since i was a kid, and “runnin’ blue” is a weird but fantastic song featuring bluegrass breakdowns and what seems to be jim morrison’s surprisingly on point bob dylan impression. and of course, the final and titular track has the iconic “you cannot petition the lord with prayer” bit.

7. l.a. woman. ok, don’t eat me alive for putting this last–i feel insane for it–but despite it being an iconic album and having a couple songs i really really like (“the changeling” and “been down so long”)…it’s just not my favorite? i don’t find myself listening to it as much, though it was the last one i listened to out of the main 6 so that probably had an impact. i will say, their cover of “crawling king snake” is really cool, one of my higher rated ones (though nothing will ever top junior kimbrough for me), and overall it’s still a fantastic album.

this was incredibly hard oh my god. as obnoxious as i am about how hot i find morrison, i fell in love with the music first, and i adore (heh) most of the doors’ discography. even the songs i’m not as big on i don’t dislike.

#ask #🎸

[kermakatti]

I did a small thrift store PC game showcase stream on Twitch and ran into some technical issues. VirtualBox didn't like it when I played Time Gate: Knight's Chase (a French 3D adventure game from the mid-90s using the Alone in the Dark engine) in DOSBox on my non-virtual real Windows 10 laptop and mounted my external Blu-ray drive for use with that, because it wouldn't start without the CD (I'm guessing it streams all the pre-rendered cutscenes from it).

After I was done with Time Gate, I shut down DOSBox and tried to return to VirtualBox but neither of my virtual PCs booted, both of them claimed to have some kind of error and I noticed that they also no longer recognized my external disc drive. Rebooting my entire laptop seemed to fix the issue.

So, for next time:

do not mount your disc drive simultaneously with VirtualBox and DOSBox because it causes issues, or

just make an .iso of the disc before the stream and use that. Less disc drive whirring noises too, though I think some of my small audience is kinda amused by it

#Kermis speaks #also thanks for the raid and scandalous Infogrames info Toxicoow

[youabandonedthem]

qhat kind of music do you think the midnight crew would listen to

Droog listens to 1900's vinyls on his gramophone we know this. i think thats most of what he listens to and regards most other music as idiotic noise

Boxcars perhaps collects a few cds (not a whole collection he just has his favourites) and likes crap like mariah carey top hits all i want for christmas is you but year round and any other thing in that gnere of awful love song. Possibly across multiple genres of tacky music. but he would also like beautiful music that you would imagine plays in a fancy restaurant with art on the walls during a romantic dinner date scene

Deuce dont ask me im not qualified to tell. But whatever he chooses he would primarily listen to it while performing other tasks to aid concentration (such as to fit a training montage that occurs in his mind). He would possibly have unexpected insights/information on lesser known artists that not a lot of people would expect to hear about. Maybe he seems to not have a preference and listens to what the other crew members listen to most of the time but secretly for a small portion of the time he pulls out his mp3 player with his secret favourite mp3s that he's ripped from online (putting them in the modern world).. And then a joke occurs where it's like despite your name being CD you dont own anything of the sort and prefer a more portable method of enjoying your music. then something terrible begins playing in the next slide

I think slick only likes to experience music that gets performed live (eg from playing in his own band) and thinks most professionally recorded music is waste of time and energy and doesnt understand. (he can have a few exceptions like i think he would like a few tracks by the stone roses. If he actually likes something he has a specific relationship with it and it would zoom in on him slowly with it playing while he uses it as a soundtrack to figure out a problem hes having like house md) But otherwise his only interest in music is when he drives karkat to middle school and lets him have the aux and he begins having preferences for SOME crap that karkat plays, over the other crap. Whatever this could be is subjective.

I can't link you or provide examples for most of this or ever begin to make playlists for them because nothing i listen to would be anything they would listen to. And this could be under revision because ive had a lot of liquor from ancient china today but hopefully up to standard for you. And i dont know really about the trolls but this is i feel like what sollux listens to -- > ___

[mysticcat98]

Just give me a chance

chapter two: The sexy busboy

Being a government-paid assassin has its advantages, for example that you can travel in first class, which was quite appreciated being a trip of almost 11 hours from Seoul to the United States. They had called you for a mission which had entrusted you to end some white traffickers, a job that you had successfully done on your own.

After those endless hours of flight, you finally arrive at the airport, go through control, look for your bag in which the wait is much longer than the flight itself, added to the extremes that always generated you to lose it, it never happened to you but you were always with that fear. Miraculously you see your luggage leave the cabin with the others, pick it up and go to the escalators.

Your face was the typical one of someone who has traveled and gone through 3 stops, you were a disaster, poorly rested and in need of a shower. But this expression of exhaustion and bad humor changes when you see the figure of your sister in the distance. He was the same as always, with his typical half smile which he only showed with exception and his black outfit, he was never one to wear bright colors, he casually wore dark colors but most of the time he lived with black.

You approached her giving her a big hug, in which she responded instantly "We have a lot to talk about" she said and then guided you with one arm around you towards the parking lot while with the other she carried your heavy bag.

Over the course of his drive home he was telling you and bringing you up to date about your new assignment, it seemed like something out of a sci-fi novel, but as long as the pay was good you didn't really care. -So-you began to drawl-it's just the two of us with all this

-We are six

-Great, less work for me-she just gave you a smile-does any of them have an extraordinary ability?

"Extraordinary ability?" I ask curiously.

-Yes, you know, like I can decapitate heads with a single blow or shoot from meters away without failing or I don't know something extremely cool

-Well only one in the team can do all that

-Really?

-Yes, his name is Vigilante

-Vigilante? And his real name?

-Secret identity

-What nonsense, but do you know his real name?

-That's how it is

-And you're going to tell me-it sounded more like an affirmation than a question

-Of course not, it would not be ethical

-You talking to me about ethics? What did you do with the real Emilia?" You joked, surprised by her sudden and unexpected response. "Are you an alien butterfly?"

-Shut up-she said gracefully hitting your arm softly-and puts on some music

-Okay alien copy of Emm-Checking the glove compartment you found several cd's of bands that certainly were not to your sister's taste-And these? Van Hallen? Metallica? wow do you have High Voltage by AC/DC?

-Ah those, Adrian lent them to me, he wanted me to start listening to ´´good music´´

-Well, Adrian has good taste. Is he your boyfriend?

-That?? I wouldn't even go out with him, he's weird

-As if you weren't- You decided to keep looking finally finding one of his old TLC albums, you put it in the player making the song baby-baby-baby sound

The rest of the trip was spent singing out of tune each of the songs on the album, it was not your favorite music genre but they reminded you of your childhood with Emilia, singing and dancing together with her mother since that cd was hers and now yours .

After four hours of travel they finally reached Evergreen, it was quite picturesque with its roads full of pine trees, the air was totally different from that of Gotham, the streets almost uninhabited, without any kind of noise from car beeps, ambulances, Insults from the drivers, basically there was no chaos…just calm.

-We'll go to dinner with the team first and then we can go home, okay?

You just diverted your gaze from the window and nodded already hungry, tired and wanting to die in your bed.

Upon entering the place you noticed that it was a family restaurant, which made you doubt why a meeting of butterfly killers would be in a place like this, you were expecting something more, seriously?, but you didn't care anymore, your stomach was already growling. You were absently observing the place until you were called to land by your sister who pointed you to a group sitting almost at the bottom.

You to all this you just stayed almost attached to her without knowing how to act, you hated meeting new people but there was no other and you had to put your best face and attitude

-People- I greet with the characteristic gesture of her approaching the group- she is my sister T // N, the professional killer that I told you about

-Hey-you managed to say with a half smile and a joking tone as if to break the ice a bit and give a good first impression-it's not that big a deal either

-A pleasure Y//n, I'm Leota, this is Chris and John You only saw them but no trace of that vigilante, your eyes wandered the place curiously in search of him, but nothing

"So? That Watcher?" You tried to ask with total disinterest but your sister managed to stifle a laugh to which you only managed to fulminate her with a completely red look remembering her conversation in the car.

"I'm sorry," she managed to say, "He's… busy."

With total disappointment, you sat in your respective place next to Emilia and Chris, you reviewed the menu for a long time while every so often you looked up to answer questions from the team. After almost fifteen minutes of looking up and down at the paper you felt someone approaching the table, you were still waiting for what to choose.

So girls? Do you know what you're going to order?" the man said, addressing the two of you.

-I know, fifteen minutes ago

-Shut up grumpy-you manage to say annoyed by his mockery towards you, a response that made several laughs jump out added to that of the waiter-just give me five more minutes

-Adrian, I present to you my unbearable sister, Y//N this is Adrian, a friend

When you looked up you saw him… god… he was perfect, curly black hair, wide smile, green eyes and a great body, you were speechless.

-Hello insufferable sister of Harcourt, it's a pleasure to finally meet you

You couldn't stop smiling, you were already trying hard to get that stupid smile off your face, you didn't want to look weird and even more so with that cute boy-Hey, you're the one with the records, right?

"So you finally heard them?" He turned to her smugly.

-Yes of course

-It was to be expected-He returned to you-But I hope that Y//N has good taste, not like you

-Don't be smart and bring my order if you want me to leave you a tip

-Excuse her, she's on her days

"He always is," you heard Chris say but he quickly fell silent when he noticed Emilia's ascetic look directed towards him.

-Would you give me a few more minutes?

Luckily for you, he only gave you a tender smile -Okay, I'll give you five more minutes, if at that moment you don't decide I'll help you- I point my finger at you playfully-okay?

"Okay," you replied awkwardly, then watched him walk away.

By the time he came back you had already decided on some waffles with a strawberry milkshake, a choice to which your older sister responded with ´´it´s not time to eat that´´ but you just ignored her by returning the menu to Adrian, for a devil, even his name seemed pretty to you

At the end of your ´´dinner´´ you went to the bathroom before deciding to go home, on the way you almost bumped into the pretty boy, except for his quick reflection so as not to crash into you

"Hello," you said awkwardly.

-Hey, what did you think of the waffles?

-Very good

-In that case the next time you come to eat here I will ask you for a couple to take away

-That would be great, Emm is not very skilled in the art of cooking

-Haha, and what are you good at?-I raise a eyebrow followed by a half smile describing her as sexy or someone who is flirting Following his attempted flirtation you were willing to double down.

-In the art of talking to pretty waiters and asking for their number

-Oh, in that case I feel flattered, give me your arm-you complied with her request, seeing how she took a pen out of her pocket and passed it through your arm-here it is, I await your call

-Do not doubt it

"Okay, we're talking" he greeted and then turned around and walked away from your side

-Goodbye-you whispered with your eyes fully focused now on her incredible back, you wondered how it was possible for a busboy to have that physique

Leaving the place you saw in the parking lot only your sister leaning outside in the car, from a distance you directed a sign of triumph raising your arm to the sky-I have her number! I'm incredible!

-Okay Romeo, just get in the car

#vigilante x reader #vigilante x oc #love history #pacemaker #killer reader #league of shadows

[nullarysources]

Benjamin Burns for Eurogamer back in 2020:

Destined to fail and become joke-fodder for mid-2000s angry video game reviewers, [the Atari Jaguar] was, at the time, in desperate need of a killer in-house developed title. The previous two, Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy and Club Drive were both critical and commercial flops, and the team was searching for its Sonic the Hedgehog moment. This led to some delightfully silly ideas, my personal favourite being a game starring an alligator lawyer named Al. E. Gator. Most of these suggestions were shot down by the design team at Atari, all of whom quite rightly thought they were dumb. That was until one of the junior artists put forward a concept.

The proposed title would be a cyberpunk role-playing game, inspired by novels such as William Gibson's Neuromancer and pen and paper RPGs such as Shadowrun and Cyberpunk 2020. As a fully open-world, 3D action-adventure with a third-person viewpoint and the ability to interact with every NPC, Black ICE\White Noise would have been a truly revolutionary title. You could enter any building, talk to scores of NPCs, and even open up your 'deck' to read emails, make calls, and hack into the city's electronic infrastructure.

"If we had been able to create the game we wanted Black ICE to be, it would have been a landmark title," insists BJ. Speaking to me almost a quarter of a century after the conception of Black ICE, he reminisces over just how ambitious the project was. "I've never seen another game that early that was able to deliver an open game world from a CD, with no load lags or breaks in gameplay, to transition to a new level."

I was just clicking on random things yesterday, as I am wont to do, when I ended up finding the frankly outstanding preliminary cover art for this game embedded above, and I had to know more. It looks less like a game and more like the worst late '90s hip hop album you've ever listened to in your entire life

#1990s #video games

[paypant]

10 Ways to Listen to Audiobooks for Free

I love audiobooks, but they can get expensive. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to listen to audiobooks for free! Here are ten tips and tricks that will have you listening to your next favorite book while saving money.

Borrow audiobooks from your public library.

Check with your local library to see if they offer audiobooks. Many libraries do, and many of them are free. Even if you're not a library member or don't live near one, it's worth checking out—sometimes libraries will let you use their services even if you aren't a resident or member. Most libraries' audiobooks are digital, meaning you can download them directly onto your phone or tablet without needing physical CDs or DVDs (though some still offer these options). If the audiobook is available in both formats, I'd recommend opting for the digital version since it's more accessible and easier to move around than physical copies. Audiobooks usually come with time limits—you may have only three weeks (or one month) after check-out before they expire and must be returned. Be aware of this when choosing what books to borrow from your local library—you might not want something that'll leave you disappointed after only a few days.

Use digital services like Overdrive and Libby.

Here are some ways to listen to audiobooks for free: Use digital services like Overdrive and Libby. If your local library or school district offers audiobook borrowing through these platforms, you’re in luck! You can borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library using this service. You only need an internet connection and a device that supports the Overdrive app (iOS, Android, desktop). Download podcasts about books. Loyal Books has hundreds of free podcasts for readers who want more information about books they read or are thinking about reading (this is my favorite). Open Culture also has many free podcasts on its website that discuss books in detail.

Check out your local library's site and download any apps they have.

Your library may have audiobook apps. The best way to find out is by checking the library’s website and searching for “audiobook” or “audiobooks” on their app page. Ask them if they can make one if they don't have one. If your local library doesn't have an app available, you can still listen to audiobooks on your phone through apps like Audible, Overdrive (which works with many libraries), and iTunes. You can also listen to audiobooks on your computer and tablet using these same methods.

Get audiobook apps on your smartphone or tablet.

Find audiobook apps. If you’re looking for an app that will let you listen to audiobooks, search the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for “audiobook.” You can also check out Audible and Overdrive. They both have similar features and are great places to start your search. Look for an app with a user-friendly interface that is easy on your eyes and ears. The first thing that attracts me to an audiobook app is its design—a simple layout with large fonts makes it easy to read while driving or doing other tasks around the house. What's more important than design? The sound quality, of course! Ensure it has clear speakers, so no buzzing noises disturb your enjoyment when listening on headphones (or better yet: earbuds). Download free content from public libraries or buy individual episodes or entire series as downloads through these apps when possible so they don't eat away at data limits when streaming over cellular networks. Especially if you're paying per MB with plans like T-Mobile ONE Plus International plan, which offers unlimited high-speed data abroad but charges $25/GB after reaching 50GB each month domestically—and always requires WiFi connection everywhere else except those regions where cellular coverage exists like Japan where all providers offer 4G LTE speeds indoors.

Free trials for audiobook subscriptions.

Take advantage of free trials for audiobook subscriptions. Listen to audiobooks for free on Amazon. Listen to audiobooks for free on iTunes.

Use the free audio content on YouTube.

Listen to audiobooks on YouTube with a free trial of Audible. YouTube has a vast collection of free audiobook content that you can access with your computer or phone. You can use YouTube's built-in player on your desktop or download the app from Apple or Google Play and listen directly. You'll be able to find new releases and classics alike, as well as multiple versions of each title (audio only, text-to-speech reading of the book). The selection's not too bad either—there are over 75,000 books available. One caveat: many readers will be marked "properly licensed" when they're not, so if it bothers you that some authors aren't getting paid enough money for their work (or at all), skip those.

Join a podcast community focused on literature.

If you deeply love books and want to surround yourself with other like-minded people, joining a podcast community focused on literature may be just what you're looking for. Many podcasts focus on literature, some more educational and some more entertaining, but all of them will help keep your love for reading alive. Some focus on different genres of literature, such as memoirs or poetry, while others focus on specific authors and their works. Still, others are more general and cover everything from the writing process to how best to approach particular topics in our daily lives (such as love or death).

Invest in Audible.

Consider investing in Audible to get more flexibility with audiobooks. If you'd like to get the most out of your audiobook collection, consider signing up for a monthly subscription service like Audible.

Not only does this give you access to thousands of titles that aren't available elsewhere, but it also provides the option to cancel at any time and restart or extend your membership later. You can try the service with a complimentary 30-day trial before committing yourself.

Download for free from Loyal Books or Open Culture.

If the book is in the public domain, you can download it for free from sites like Loyal Books or Open Culture. Public domain means that a work has expired and can be used freely. This includes books whose copyrights have expired or been forfeited by their owners, which means they're available to anyone who wants them—including you.

The Internet Archive has an enormous collection of public domain books, organized by categories like "French children's literature," "Russian literature," "Utopian novels" (which is my favorite), and more. Some full-text versions are available at Gutenberg Project, but if you want the audio version, try one of these other sites instead.

Non-fiction books with Free Audiobooks.

Non-fiction books are a great place to start with free audiobooks because there are many great ones. You can find a lot of great non-fiction books on the internet. The website Librivox has over 15,000 audiobooks in the public domain, and they're all available for streaming or download as MP3s. You can also find plenty of non-fiction books in your local library. Go to their website, check the catalog, and request the text you want to listen to! Libraries often have more than one copy of each title (sometimes many), so don't be afraid that yours might not be available when you call them up and ask for it.

Best Free Audio Books

There's no question that the best free audiobooks come from Librivox recordings of public-domain texts. The oldest are from the 1900s, and they all have a unique feel with different readers and styles. These are an incredible value since they're free but high quality simultaneously. For these reasons, these free audiobooks should be your first stop when looking for great things to listen to for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free version of Audible? The short answer is that there isn't a free, unlimited version of Audible. However, some ways exist to enjoy listening to audiobooks without breaking the bank. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get two free monthly books and listen to them on your phone or computer with the Audible app. Of course, there are some limitations to this version of Audible: they're restricted to two books per month, and they'll expire at the end of that month. But if you're a voracious reader and want to get in on all those great deals before you start paying for books, this option is perfect for you. How can I download audiobooks for free? The best way to download audiobooks for free is through a podcast. Podcasts are audio files that you can subscribe to on your phone or computer and listen to at any time, usually while you're out walking or driving. The big disadvantage is that they are usually very short (5 minutes or less) and come out very infrequently (usually just one per week or month). Related article: 17 sites to get paid to read e-books Which is the best audiobook app? Audible is a subscription service that costs $14.95 monthly for one book (plus a credit on the site for buying additional books). You can find more than 100,000 audiobooks from popular authors like JK Rowling, Tom Clancy, James Patterson, and Suzanne Collins here. The app has a nice interface—you can easily search for everything available or see what's new and trending. You can also browse by genre and subject matter, so it will be easy to find if you're looking for something specific. How do you listen to audiobooks from the library? If you want to listen to audiobooks from the library, you'll first need a library card. You can get one at your local library branch, or if you live in the U.S., you can sign up online at your local library's website. Once you have an account, the most common way is to download them instantly onto your computer or phone (or other listening devices) using OverDrive, which is free and available for many devices. It may take a little time for OverDrive to process your request (they give a processing estimate with each book), but once it's ready, it downloads and stores the file. Then you have to plug in your phone or computer (or whatever device you're using as a player) and listen away. What is the cheapest way to get audiobooks? There are plenty of ways to get audiobooks for free or nearly free. Here are some of my favorite resources for getting audiobooks for cheap: Your local library – Your local library is a great resource for free audiobooks. Each library varies in how many they have available. Still, most should have many fiction and non-fiction titles you can borrow and download to any device you have (computer, tablet, smartphone). Audiobook apps – Many apps let you download audiobooks onto your phone or tablet. What equipment do you need to listen to audiobooks? You don't need any special equipment to listen to an audiobook. Obviously, an audiobook is a recording of someone reading out loud, so all you really need is a way to ensure that you aren't listening to anything else–like music–while listening to your book. The easiest way to ensure this doesn't happen is just to plug in some headphones and go about your life.

Summary.

The good news is that there are many places where you can find free audiobooks. With the rise of digital books and e-readers, more people are turning to audiobooks for entertainment and information. If you’re looking for an alternative format that won't cost much but still offers excellent content, audiobooks may be just what you need. Read the full article

[themowearchives]

Press Archive, Part 4

Pop Culture Press

No Guarantees CD Review, May 2005

The Avalon Motel is located in Saugus, Massachusetts on 1529 Broadway. It has 26 rooms and the prices range from 51 to 100 dollars a night. In one of these rooms, Number 9 to be exact, lives the bassless trio My Own Worst Enemy. Not that much goes on in Saugus--some car shows, maybe some barbeques and well, there's a miniature golf place also located on Broadway. But for the most part the band members have to fend for themselves, killing time in their room playing cards, scrabble, and cuddling up with each other in bed. Togetherness is a good thing for a band, up to a point. So, when it all gets too much and that old ennui starts overtaking the room, the drummer drags his snare in from the car, the other two strap on their guitars, and they chase it away with music. What comes out sounds at times like a hybrid of X and the Patti Smith Group, which isn't surprising as the band has been known to while away the late night hours with records by those same artists, as well as in dreams of Grant Hart, Mia Zapata, Nico, and escaping once and for all the dusty doldrums of the Avalon Motel. (William Crain)

Kapital Ink

No Guarantees CD Review, Summer 2005

Best Boston debut in a long time--in many ways evokes the golden age of classic co-ed indie rock bands: Love Child, Yo La Tengo, Eric's Trip, etc--the boy sings a song, the girl sings the next one, and they always sing together. It's the pinnacle of rock band equality--but also codependency and this album makes love sound like one long drink of gin...partly thanks to Sue's Jersey Queen vocals (one of the nicer things to happen to female vocalizing in the name o' rock since Denise James). Lack of bass player gives them a skeletal Sleater-Kinney clank. This album evokes a harsh 70's reality...mainly of my parents telling me to go play in the traffic while they did the "jungle boogie" on the couch. (Joe S. Harrington)

High Praise

Sometimes we get email! This one's from August 2006

"...I don't know when I'll get the opportunity to speak with you, so i thought I'd share a thought with you...Every time I see you guys play, I'm constantly reminded of that Athens, GA Inside/Out compilation record that the guys in R.E.M. put out years ago. You folks simply seem to dispense with convention by throwing it out the window, with glorious results. Your music is a really refreshing change from what's fed us these days, and it gives me a lot of hope. Please continue to rock." PS...I like the new drummer, he plays like Chris Mars! (email from 'W' in Somerville)

The Noise

Live Review, November 2006

The Kirkland Cafe, Somerville, MA 10/14/06, opening for Lyres/Lars Vegas/Frank Rowe

I arrive before 9:30, but still miss Frank Rowe (Classic Ruins). I've missed Frank three times recently. Sorry, Frank. At least the club is playing the Classic Ruins CD while My Own Worst Enemy is setting up. Guitarist Steve says into the mic, "Has anyone seen our bass player?" He's joking, because My Own Worst Enemy doesn't have a bassist. Tonight there are two guitarists, one drummer, and a special guest percussionist in the evenly-distributed- gender band (the female side of the band is talented and pretty and the guys have that indie quality). They play driving garage rock - few chords, easy melodies, and interesting stops thrown in to keep listeners on their toes. Sue handles most of the lead vocals with good energy and an honest delivery. Steve is the leadless lead guitarist while also providing the bass lines. Drummer A.J. and percussionist Lindsay are upbeat and on the beat, and I like it that everyone sings. Standout songs include Come On, Snowflake, and Turn It On. (T Max)

The Noise

Live Review, February 2007

The Abbey Louge, Somerville, MA 01/11/07, opening for The In Out/Grey Does Matter/Brett Rosenberg Problem

It's Thursday night and I'm having my socks rocked off at the Abbey. I've never been here before, actually, and, while there is a crowd of frat boys hanging out in the corner and making me very nervous, there is also a solid Jack and Coke in my hand making me very, very happy. Enter My Own Worst Enemy, comprised of Sue, Steve and A.J. Yeah, that's right, just three. Sue sports a Courtney Love-style semiformal dress and enormous black boots, and she splits the vocals and guitar with Steve, whose fashionably floppy hair makes me want to hug him immediately. A.J. on the drums breaks out some admirable vocals on a Guided By Voices cover; he also gets a thumbs up for excellent use of the cowbell. The songwriting is strong and earnest, the sound is remarkably full for a band without a bass player, and, overall, they make me want to dance. (Danielle Cotter)

[billk128]

Three Records

Do people no longer consider the time spent absorbing a record, or album, or "full release" by an artist worthy of their attention? And if so, why do artists continue to put records (sic) out? I honestly couldn't care less, because I prefer the record to singles or list making, despite the expected lesser offerings any record might provide. In most cases I find it a more satisfying way into the artist's particular intent at the time of the recording, and the extended listening time rewarded by hearing a more completed whole.

Blah blah blah, so here are insights into three records I spent some good time with recently, and recommend investing your time in for different reasons.

Lou Reed - Ecstasy (2000)

Ecstasy was actually Reed's last solo rock record proper, and it came at the end of a largely successful run of records beginning with 1982's The Blue Mask, where Lou turned back to a 2 guitar-bass-drums lineup for the most part. Simple sounding, the musicality of this combo is actually the more surprising part of the equation, as Reed's sharp and corrosive lyrics (along with his underrated vocal delivery), which never truly wavered over the course of his career, endure.

Check out how the Stonesy Paranoia Key of E opens, announcing the musical interplay, which is followed by the driving rock of "Mystic Child," and then into the weirdly hypnotizing "Mad," an awful story by any measure, but oddly compelling. That fat bass sound is almost reassuring, and the Motown-y horns also bring light. ""Sit, come, stay" are the perfect words meant for you." I initially thought the woman said this line, as the words are perfect, but it's likely the man, and some 25 years later the culprit remains. And to that end, it's as sad as mad from my perspective.

And yet Modern Dance tries to take a more youthful look, and I believe is even an attempt at a pop song, but underneath expresses a restlessness and loss of identity that seems endemic to the youth of today. While Rock Minuet offers a tableau fraught with fantastically dark imagery, but more ordinary and still relevant questions.

Alas, there is a classic Reed 18+ minute enduro-noise offering entitled "Like a Possum" that makes Sister Ray sound like the actually really good rocker it is, but it's worth a listen or two to complete the whole. Lou, as is his wont, makes amends with the ending Big Sky, the Rock "n" Roll Animal throw in, and it kicks overall and through what seems like a too long ending jam, where Lou crosses a bit with Neil Young and Crazy Horse (again, but that's for some other conversation). It's a satisfying finish to a nuanced record offering both unexpected musical directions and still relevant viewpoints worthy of consideration from both young and old alike.

Neil Young and the Santa Monica Flyers - Somewhere Under the Rainbow (2021, from a 11/5/73 live recording)

I somehow re-started getting emails from the Neil Young Archive site and ended up taking a look through the back catalog section. A somewhat infamous 1973 show in London where Young and his at-that-time recording unit - Nils Lofgren and Ben Keith in with original and still Crazy Horse members Ralph Molina on drums and Billy Talbot on bass - played the entire and unreleased Tonight's the Night record top to bottom in front of an unsuspecting crowd was listed. As a devout Young/Ditch Trilogy type, I figured what the heck...

Given Neil's vocal approach to top quality sound, and the standard pricing of the CDs for this product, I was a bit taken aback by the bootleg-level sound quality; that noted, the liner notes laid out the (heavily inebriated) scene and pleaded the listener to bypass the sound and dig what's REAL with the playing and the songs. And the recent deaths of good friends - the main inspiration for Tonight's the Night - was clearly weighing heavily on Neil in particular on this night.

At first, it was tough to digest the muddy sound, and the quality of the playing definitely fluctuates. But if you dig in and listen, you can hear past the sound and into the playing, and the emotion of the moment. Playing a complete record to a crowd that previously hasn't heard a note is ballsy enough, but laying your heart bare to the same crowd must have been hard to process, for both performer and the show's attendees. That truth becomes evident in the performances and in the moods Neil reflects in his between song banter and within each song's reading.

To demonstrate some of this essence, I picked three songs in particular:

Speakin' Out: Full disclosure, I have a Nils Lofgren bias (a consummate musician), and this song allows Nils to stretch out a bit on lead guitar, while hanging together pretty nicely overall, as Neil sings with passion and pounds the piano.

The reprise of Tonight's the Night that closes the set proper slowly burns its way into your consciousness and culminates (at around 7:40) with a confessional, Springsteen-like rap, ostensibly a conversation between Neil and the deceased roadie Bruce Berry, where Neil has to fire him for losing a guitar...whether true or not, clearly Neil is releasing guilt and sadness, conflict and danger, as Lofgren starts adding different backdrops that swell a few minutes later, and Neil slips back into the song. It's not easy, and not supposed to be, but you can feel this one deeply.

The encores bring back familiar material for the crowd for the most part, but it's still not necessarily to their expectations. Check out Helpless: Young is not directly not singing the chorus or anything really much like the original melody, and perhaps nodding off at about 2:40 before Nils' accordion revives him…then Neil almost doesn't want the song to end, or maybe is just uncertain, twitching it back into action for a final time at about 8:21, Dylan-harping and crowd stomping to an appropriate, fizzling out kind of ending.

The final song, a jammy "Cowgirl in the Sand," finishes it all in a wash of sloppy editing and guitar noise, feeling open ended, as the story would continue despite the pain endured.

The Gaslight Anthem - History Books (2023)

After nearly a decade on hiatus, and preceded by a get-together tour for the anniversary of a record, an apparently reinvigorated Gaslight Anthem released this new record and have maintained a touring schedule, so good for them. And for the most part, History Books delivers enough reason for them to remain a going concern. There are specific touchpoints that stand above.

Opening the record with older school punk noise that only quickly reappears and fades later, Spider Bites rings in the album with purpose: Maybe nothing is permanent, as singer Brian Fallon's words imply, but leaning on guitar sounds (largely from lead axeman Alex Rosamilia) and the propulsive and oft-inventive percussion from drummer Benny Horowitz is where Gaslight finds their sweet spot.

And if a clear influence like Springsteen steals a verse in the title track - and perhaps influences the melody of "Autumn" (see Easy Money) - Gaslight steals it back in Positive Charge, melding the genuine pathos of Fallon with the punky pop drive that the band can generate so engagingly.

Finally, Little Fires touches on the driving rock pulse again, but skillfully draws you into the ending chorus, tugging gently at your heart while you sing along. And if the remaining four tracks that follow delve more into the solo Fallon territory (other than "I Live in the Room Above Her" which is more like a good outtake from 2014's troubled Get Hurt) - an interesting, but different place from Gaslight Anthem proper - the net result is an encouraging, if tentative step forward.