On The Demeter, Straight Up “eating It.” And By It. Well, Haha, Let’s Justr Say. The Entire Crew

Whenever humans appear in fantasy or science fiction we are usually the boring default who aren’t strong or fast or magical and the writer has to make something up to make us interesting but we already have a special ability: our stamina.

We can go forever compared to most other animals on earth. When you look it up you’ll mostly find stuff about running but our ability to walk and walk and walk is insane too. We are not the only creature with this ability but we are among the top.

I used to go on walks with my housemate and sometimes her cat would join us. He’d start huffing and puffing halfway through the walk and she’d joke about how out of shape he was but in reality cats just aren’t made for long continuous walking. They hide and attack in quick bursts. Heck I’d sometimes go on walks that turned out to be too long for my dogs despite dogs being endurance hunters like us.

So I think we deserve more acknowledgment for our stamina and endurance in otherworldly settings. We are the race that can keep going long after our party had to sit down and take a breather.

Podcasts I’ve listened to, in the order I’ve listened to them…

Seeing as my internal rewards system has moved on to 'trans fiction' from 'queer horror audio drama podcast' I thought I should do a little roundup of everything I listened to the past few months.

A rough ranking:

Malevolent. Just squeaking into the top spot here based on 1) technical prowess (iykyk) 2) compelling characters and story and 3) they are my blorbos your honor!!! Mind boggling that Harlan Guthrie has so much chemistry with himself.

The Silt Verses. Only topped by Malevolent bc season 1 is not as polished, but it really doesn't matter. Top tier characters, amazing worldbuilding, intricate plotting and it had something to SAY about the casual violence of systems, the nature of hope, the complexity of being human in a world that tries to make us inhuman. Also, it doesn't rely on some thin recording contrivance (a framing device that has its place) and instead truly takes the mantle of audio drama without apology.

The White Vault. On the topic of framing devices, TWV has a very cool take on found footage recordings. A group of [researchers/archeologists] are sent to investigate a remote site in [Svalbard/Patagonia] and the podcast is structured as a documentarian presenting the notes, recordings and diary entries in a reconstructed timeline. My favorite element is that many of the characters don't make their notes in English, so the segments will often open with the VA speaking German, Spanish, Mandarin, Icelandic, Russian, etc etc before fading into the translation. There are miniseries between the seasons available on their patreon and they were so worth the $10 I paid to access them for a month. Reveals are slow, but worthwhile, and the mythology built for the show is highly original and intriguing.

Deviser. A one season contained story from Harlan Guthrie of Malevolent. Scifi, psychological, lots of wet awful body horror. If you're a fan of Harlan wimpering into a mic, you'll love this one.

WOE.BEGONE. Long, ongoing, and so so so far from the original premise it's hilarious, I'm ranking this higher than it maybe deserves for two factors 1) the creator and the VAs are clearly having a blast and 2) it's riding the line of taking itself serious despite a premise that invites irony poisoning without becoming too wrapped up in itself. It's fun, I think, that keeps w.bg strong.

The Magnus Archives. Should this be one up? Probably. But everyone bloody well knows tma by this point, it's good, great even! Beyoncé of horror podcasts.

I Am In Eskew. Only knocked down due to the actually godawful sound quality. Truly unsettling stories though (the one with the building architect haunts me) and a surprisingly realistic conclusion. You can see the bones of The Silt Verses here, from the same creative team.

The Magnus Protocol. Everything above this is there due to originality. As a sequel series, TMAGP will always suffer in that measure. However, I like our new cast and I do love an alternate reality. Curious to see where season 2 takes us. I'd like to kill Mr Bonzo in a fire.

The Inexplicables. Another one season story, this time from Rusty Quill, with really fun, flawed characters and no recording framing device!

Wolf 359. Storywise, great! Characters, excellent! Kicking it way to the bottom bc they just would NOT STOP referencing H***y P****r. Yes, Doug's characterization hangs on excessive reference humor, but that was one well I wish they'd left alone.

Red Valley. Knocked for HP references too (come ON british podcasters, do better) but more importantly for veering WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY too close to real life in season 3 onward. I was here for a horror sci fi story about cryogenics, not to listen to my worst climate disaster fears brought to life via hearing rich old sods try to buy their way out of consequences while the world burns and eco terrorism escalates. Too real. Not bad storytelling, just very much not fulfilling my escapism needs.

It's kinda crazy to me that anytime I mention this genre to normies in my life they say, "oh, like true crime podcasts?" And then I die inside. No dude, like radio drama. Like War of the Worlds.

Anyway, I'm off to get even less relatable by reading a zillion niche trans novels (hello Welcome to Dorley Hall, aka, what if there really was a 'trans cult' force femming dudes to undermine their masculinity? It's amazing how much yarn we can make by subverting the cis gaze.)

so I got into grad school today with my shitty 2.8 gpa and the moral of the story is reblog those good luck posts for the love of god

The entirety of Dracula by Bram Stoker is really just:

Dr Seward: I wish we could figure out what’s wrong with Lucy.

Van Helsing: I figured it out immediately but I’m just going to let you solve it yourselves.

Dr Seward: Or you could just tell us.

Van Helsing: Friend John :( I have known you for one thousand years and you have been one of my very good friends and best students :( Do you not trust me? Why do you not trust me, friend John? Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me? Do you not think I have a good reason for withholding vital information? :(:(:(:( Have faith in me, your very old and good friend.

Dr Seward: You’re right :(

Lucy: I love everyone so much and I’m going to tell them every day 🥰💕 also legalise polyamory wtf

Renfield: look at all my pets that I’m definitely not eating 🪰🪰🪰🪰

Dr Seward: What happened to all the birds I gave you?

Renfield, with a mouth full of a feathers: I have no idea.

Arthur: I think… I miss my wife… also how the fuck didn’t we realise Dracula’s house was right next door?

Quincey: I keep saying I’m not that smart but I’m the only one to immediately point out that something was actively taking Lucy’s blood. Brb need to go shoot a giant bat with a gun.

Mina: I am the only person keeping this shit show together. We literally would not have made it without me and no one who adapts my character seems to get that. Women are the heart of this story. I am the glue that binds this group together. I just want ONE MOVIE that understands that and values my intelligence, which is at the forefront of my character.

Renfield: I have an entire character arc but don’t expect any adaptations to show it.

Quincey: ok but what if… we shot Dracula with a gun??? Also stop fucking cutting me from all the adaptations.

Jonathan: has seen indescribable horrors, is a shell of his former self, will literally never be what he was before going to Transylvania

Dracula: oh Jonathan! 🥰🥰🧛🏻🧛🏻🥰🩸🩸🥰🥰

BONUS: everyone is constantly holding hands, especially all of the men, and talking about how they’re going to be best friends forever. The male friendships in this book are shockingly pure and the women are incredible. The Crew of Light are actually the only found family ever, I think.

Bad Things Happen Bingo 3.0 #10

Biting

(Contains blood & vampirism)

Villain was surprised when their most trusted henchman came up to them with a nervous expression on their face. “What is it?“ Villain asked. “We’ve found and captured [Hero].“ Villain raised an eyebrow. “That’s a good thing… why the apprehension?”

Henchman pursed their lips. “They’re… sick, but we can’t figure out why.” Villain had a feeling they knew what was wrong. “Have they said anything?“ “No, they can barely speak, they aren’t moving. We found them on a patrol and literally had to just scrape them up. No wounds, no fever, nothing to explain it.“

Villain frowned. “Let me go and see. Perhaps I can find a way to help.”

Villain found them tied down on the bed, their breathing raspy, barely even existent. Villain studied their still body for a while, judging, assessing. They knew Hero’s secret. They were one of very few if not the only one who knew. They were a vampire, and judging by the state of them, they were beyond starving.

Villain sat down on the side of their bed. “What trouble have you gotten yourself into?” they mumbled. Villain looked behind them to see their Henchman still standing. “Give us a minute. I think I need a word with our dear hero.“

Henchman raised their hands in mock surrender and left Villain to it. They were good like that. They never asked too many questions, they trusted Henchman completely. Villain turned their attention back to Hero and carefully tilted their head to the side. “You’d better give me a very good explanation after this…” Villain rolled up their sleeve and offered Hero their exposed wrist. Hero managed a groan, but they didn’t bite.

Villain pressed their wrist against Hero’s lips, waiting patiently until they finally lashed out in a sudden movement. Villain grunted and closed their eyes tight, battling their urge to snatch their hand away. But they waited, and soon the pain faded off while Hero fed. Villain stroked their hair carefully and waited until they could move, until they had enough to reach forward and try to grab more. Villain waited for as long as they dared before taking their hand away and pressing a handkerchief tight against the wound. The bleeding would stop soon thanks to Hero’s saliva, but they couldn’t afford to lose much more blood.

“I’m sorry,“ Hero rasped, licking their lips. “I…“ “You needed it,“ Villain answered flatly. “Though how I’m going to explain this is going to be a difficult thing indeed.“ “I’d been trying to find you, but I didn’t have long… [Other Villain] had kept me locked up. [Villain], they know my secret a.and I don’t know what to do.“

Villain continued to stroke their hair. “I’ll see what I can do. But for now, you need to rest.” “So do you,“ Hero answered weakly. “That… that was a lot. I’m sorry…“ “Don’t worry about it, but after this, we are even, you understand?“

Hero nodded hesitantly.

I wanted to mess around with stamp textures and now we're here

yeehaw, baby!

back when s5 started I had a WILD theory how everything was about to go, but with new information, relistening to s1-2 and me pondering about it in my free time - this is a Canon Divergent AU now, BUT LISTEN

RACE TO THE BLACKSTONE AGAINST OTHER VARIANTS OF ARTHUR

So my idea was, is that there is only one Blackstone in the whole multiverse and it constantly jumps between the universes. There are hints and mentions about it in all universes, but it exists physically in only one. To make it even worse, it stays in one place and in one time period and only for some time frame, before jumping into the next universe with a new place, time period, and time frame. Kayne was, along with killing his other versions, trying to track down where exactly Blackstone was going to end up and for how long. Unfortunately for him, not only it was escaping him, but he couldn't look at it, like he couldn't perceive Blackstone at all. The only reason he managed to find it and pinpoint was because he started looking at it's absence, rather than it's presence.

And Kayne being Kayne decides the spice thing up

Kayne throws our Arthur (and John) into the timeline where Blackstone exists (still Medieval England, in 1300) and gives him the quest to find it. BUT THEN, he throws other Arthurs and gives them the same objective. Basically, he makes a treasure hunt including 4-5 different versions of Arthurs, who are the best of the best. The one who gets him the Blackstone will get what he asked.

So, I was thinking apart from our Arthur (Canon Arthur next) there are Darkthur, Darkthur Without Right Hand, Anna Stanczyk and maybe another variant of Arthur, which was similar to Canon Arthur, but there was something different about him(sense of wrongness you know) (I am not sure about him now, but I still kind of like him)

So, now Arthurs would need to try and find Blackstone. Either helping each other or fighting each other. I was thinking that to differentiate one another they would give themselves the names of their favourite poets. I was also thinking about Anna actually being Faroe from Faroeverse but hiding her identity from other versions of her father.

I was also thinking about giving different names to Johns. Maybe Darkthur variant of John doesn't have a name, Darkthur Without Right Hand's variant of John is actually named Hastur (I was thinking this different version of Darkthur is John accepting his identity as the King). Slightly Different Arthur's John named Parker or Peter. Of course Jane for Anna/Faroe's variant

And now it is a grand adventure of weird versions of you trying to reach for an object of immense power. I wasn't sure how exactly everything would play out (Darkthur definitely wouldn't operate with others, Darkthur Without Right Hand would want to but couldn't do so because of Hastur, Anna/Faroe avoiding all Arthur Variants, and Slightly Different Arthur being the only one who cooperates with Canon Arthur). There could be mysteries about how exactly all variants' timelines are different, the grand revelation that Anna is Faroe, who will betray who to reach the Blackstone or will they try to work together, and whats the deal with Slightly Different Arthur. And the finale of who will get the Blackstone

Rereading this, and this is a WILD au, someone please write a fic about it

50 Character Personality Traits + Meanings (For writers, worldbuilders, and artists) Part 1

Adventurous - Enjoys trying new experiences and exploring the unknown.

Ambitious - Driven to succeed and achieve their goals.

Analytical - Tends to think critically and examine things in-depth.

Artistic - Highly creative and expresses themselves through artistic mediums.

Assertive - Confident in expressing their thoughts and feelings.

Caring - Shows compassion and concern for the well-being of others.

Charismatic - Has a natural charm and appeal that draws people in.

Clever - Able to come up with creative solutions and make astute observations.

Compassionate - Displays empathy and a desire to help those in need.

Confident - Believes in their own abilities and is self-assured.

Conscientious - Reliable, responsible, and attentive to detail.

Curious - Eager to learn new things and explore the world around them.

Cynical - Tends to be skeptical and distrustful of others' motives.

Dependable - Can be counted on to follow through on their commitments.

Determined - Persistent in pursuing their goals and overcoming challenges.

Diplomatic - Skilled at navigating social situations and resolving conflicts.

Eccentric - Displays unconventional or unusual behaviors and interests.

Empathetic - Able to understand and share the feelings of others.

Ethical - Guided by a strong moral compass and a sense of right and wrong.

Extraverted - Enjoys being around people and draws energy from social interactions.

Flexible - Adaptable to changes and open to trying new approaches.

Forgiving - Willing to let go of past hurts and give people second chances.

Friendly - Approachable and enjoys building positive relationships with others.

Grounded - Practical, down-to-earth, and focused on the present.

Hardworking - Diligent and dedicated in their efforts to achieve their goals.

Honest - Values truthfulness and integrity in their words and actions.

Idealistic - Driven by a vision of how the world should be and a desire to make a difference.

Imaginative - Possesses a rich inner world and creative problem-solving abilities.

Independent - Prefers to think and act for themselves without relying on others.

Indecisive - Struggles with making decisions and often second-guesses themselves.

Introverted - Finds energy and fulfillment in solitary activities and introspection.

Jealous - Experiences feelings of resentment or insecurity towards others.

Kind - Gentle, considerate, and thoughtful in their treatment of others.

Leaders - Able to inspire and guide others towards a common goal.

Logical - Approaches problems and decisions through a rational, analytical lens.

Materialistic - Highly values the acquisition of possessions and wealth.

Organized - Maintains order and efficiency in their personal and professional life.

Perfectionistic - Strives for flawlessness and can be overly critical of themselves and others.

Pessimistic - Tends to focus on the negative aspects of situations and expect the worst.

Resilient - Able to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to changes.

Risk-taker - Willing to take chances and step outside of their comfort zone.

Sarcastic - Uses irony and witty remarks to convey their thoughts and feelings.

Sensitive - Deeply affected by the emotions and experiences of themselves and others.

Stubborn - Unwilling to change their mind or compromise on their beliefs and opinions.

Suspicious - Inclined to doubt the motives and intentions of others.

Thoughtful - Considerate of the impact their words and actions have on others.

Timid - Shy, reserved, and hesitant to take risks or assert themselves.

Trustworthy - Reliable, honest, and worthy of confidence.

Unpredictable - Displays an element of surprise and spontaneity in their behavior.

Witty - Possesses a quick, clever, and humorous way of expressing themselves.

Hey fellow writers! I'm super excited to share that I've just launched a Tumblr community. I'm inviting all of you to join my community. All you have to do is fill out this Google form, and I'll personally send you an invitation to join the Write Right Society on Tumblr! Can't wait to see your posts!

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Membership Form for Write Right Society (Fill-Out Form!)

Welcome to Write Right Society! At Write Right Society, we are dedicated to nurturing the creative spirit and honing the skills of writers a