#i might draw him later I love his lil earing and the way you mixed the colours his oufit is STUNNING just

[gaycrittercentral]

YESS WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE FANKIDS ‼️

Hhhhdhdgshgd I’m very shy abt them but I’m gonna be brave since a couple of y’all were curious!! :’> here they are!!

There’s four of em and their names are Maisie, Lacey (short for Shoelace), Crowbar and Junior. They were born tiny, hairless and wrinkly and developed the ability to zoom around and track smells before they managed to open their eyes so they start terrorizing Jimmy Two Teeth before they can even see him, they’re like a horrible mix of naked mole rats and piranhas lmaoooo

Also here is the first drawing I ever did of them :’)

When I was designing them I felt like there were already so many fankids out there that are a really perfect fusion of both of Sam and Max’s looks, and I wasn’t crazy about trying to do it myself so I just made an army of little maxlets. The Maxlings, if you will! But I did give them longer tails in later drawings and Crowbar has floppy ears like Sam, so they didn’t completely skip his genes jfkhsgs ^^; I have planned out how they came to be but I’ll probably put that in a different post (maybe I’ll even write a little thing for it teehee that might be fun). But I can describe them a little here!!

Maisie is the oldest (as in the first one to be found, they weren’t really born in the traditional sense so \_:p_/) and she just really loves sharp objects lmao. She is mostly non-verbal, but in kind of a Ferb way where she’ll occasionally throw out a cryptic one-liner and mostly remain silent with kind of an ominous stare. Her sisters and brother are completely unfazed by this and have absolutely no fear of her, but she loves being scary to everyone else. She constantly seems like she’s about to commit an act of incredible violence but she doesn’t like to be caught doing it, so it’s all off-screen. She feels like it’s scarier that way. Max is very proud of her.

Lacey (Shoelace, because she used one as a teething toy as a baby which is baffling because neither of her dads wear shoes where did it come from??) is one of the middle kids. She likes dressing up and bounces around between masc and femme and both and neither. She also likes chatting a mile a minute with Crowbar, and she’s less of a twig than her sisters. Later in life she might try and get a lil buff like Sam. She mostly likes to go along with her sisters’ ideas because her head is pretty empty a lot of the time, and she’s slightly less inclined to jump to violence than they are. But only slightly. She also maybe picks up Sam’s habit of grabbing random items.

Crowbar is the other middle kid and fairly precocious. She’s the first one to unlock language capabilities (I have a comic about that I can post later!), and she loves trying to imitate Sam’s vocabulary. Not that she’s, like, good at it yet, but she’s trying lmao. She’s always very cheerful and bouncy and probably the most likely to cry a little if something goes wrong, but also frequently swings back around to bouncy happy and tends to forget whatever upset her immediately. She swings violently back and forth between having zero thoughts and being head full many thoughts that she has to babble loudly all at once.

And Junior is the youngest, the smallest, the baby of the family. He’s very shy and sensitive, and his sisters are like his own personal bodyguards lmao. He has a lot of sensory issues that his dads make sure to help him with, like getting him soft clothes and a noise cancelling beanie (bc he ears not really suited to headphones) and shooting out overhead lights when they’re too bright for him hdkdhshs. He also likes napping in Sam’s pockets and under his hat and Max loves carrying him around like the baby he is. He’s also a creative little dude and he likes drawing (and also eating the crayons afterward).

All four of them are little goblins who have no concept of morality (like even Junior, he may be skittish but he still condones violence and chaos hdkdhshs) and will eat almost anything. They are truly their fathers’ children shjfjjdgdjshsh, and speaking of which Sam and Max are thrilled to have them around and completely obsessed with them hehe. They pretty much just carry on with their cases like usual except now they have a small pack of land piranhas that they can sic on difficult suspects lmaoooo

And I have some more sketches of them I can post, too!! So I’ll probably bounce back and forth between that and the virtues for a bit hehe :>

#oh and um feel free to ask questions abt them if y’all have any :> #hdkdhsjsh they are my little sillies and I like them a lot… #sam and max #sam and max freelance police #freelance husbands #the maxlings #my art #asks

[catzgam3rz]

Just two small Boos saying hello to each other.

Catz Response: OH!!! OH THEY’RE SO CUTE!!!!!! I ADORE YOUR RANBOO HIS LITTLE BOOTS AND THE HALO ARE SO GOOD!!!

#ranboo #ranboo fanart #dream smp #dream smp fanart #dsmp art #dsmp ranboo #submission #mcyt #fanart #ehhh still don't like using that tag #others art #god this is so adorable thank you so much #dude your ranboo is just.. so good so so so good I love him #i might draw him later I love his lil earing and the way you mixed the colours his oufit is STUNNING just #fuck man fantastic design 10/10 and your style is so cute #the lil fluffs on my ranboo's ears the way you drew it is just #ahhh god I love this thank you

[ddarker-dreams]

Do Well. Yan Dabi x Reader [COMM]

warnings: dabi is just a huge asshole, emotional manipulation, implied panic attack word count: 2.6k.

“Would you be a dear and wait here for a few? I need to take a call.” 

Dabi tilts his head alongside his words, glints of amusement present in his sapphire eyes. You’re certain the bastard picks up on every subconscious movement your body makes at the question, feeling like an open book before him. Despite your valiant efforts, human biology doesn’t operate in your personal interest. The challenging premonition causes your lips to curl down, fingers twitching on the wide straw of your milk tea. Pausing mid sip, you pull back, eyelashes fluttering. It’s the subservient behavior he wants to see, and considering the alternatives, you’re tripping over yourself to give it to him.

“... Of course. I should just stay here, right?” It’s more of a question posed for your sake than his, information vital to keep your head above water. Any movements on your behalf that even hint at disobedience could lead to dire consequences, ranging in severity. The worst of which is being confined back to his dingy apartment, with nothing but your thoughts to entertain yourself. All the faux smiles, carefully timed giggles, and strategic brushes of skin against skin would be for naught. You worked too hard for these trips outside for it to fall through your fingers like sand. 

Your captor makes a point of giving you a once over, lackadaisical visage a front for a predator in waiting. Condensation builds up against the plastic container in hand, making it tricky to tell if it’s your hands growing clammy or the drink. Time passes by at a snail’s pace, neither of you making the slightest of movements. People go about their lives in happy-go-lucky bliss, none the wiser to the potential harm that Dabi poses. Feeling finally returns to your body as he stands, seemingly content with the exchange.

He shoots you a coy look over his shoulder, a crooked smile spreading across his face. “Don’t miss me too much.” 

Dabi snickers at how your nose scrunches up, waving and slinking off with his phone in hand. You watch his retreating figure, still in disbelief over the unfolding events. This would be the first time since being kidnapped that you’ve been on your own in public. These special little outings were a privilege, one that you had worked diligently for. Consistently being on your best behavior, day after day, in the presence of someone you abhor from the depths of your soul is no easy task. A rush of adrenaline shoots through your body when he’s out of sight, eyes darting around in excitement.

This is a prime location to make an escape, the outdoors of a crowded mall in the afternoon. Everyone ranging from families, to couples, and employees on their lunch break are walking around. Lively chatter fills your ears, and you observe every possibility as if it’s your last. While it’s likely a futile dream, the rush your quickening pulse brings demands attention. Lithe fingers shake by your side, every ounce of your strength devoted to keeping yourself from unraveling at the mere concept of being free. He has to be watching. You know him well enough that he wouldn’t have offered the opportunity to escape on a silver platter, there’s got to be measures in place. 

There’s no way he isn’t keeping an eye on you now, making sure that you hold true to your word of behaving. 

Your shoulders slump at this cruel reality. The act of looking around excitedly would be too much of a give away, an observation he’d surely bring up later. An eruption of goosebumps dot your skin, even in the sweltering summer heat. Taking another sip of your drink, you abandon hope of escape, certain it’d be a mistake should you try it. Though he’s purposefully kept you in the dark on most of his relationships with the League of Villains, you can safely assume he’s interconnected with enough unsavory figures to locate you should it be necessary. In contrast to the sugary goodness that coats your tongue, a sour taste in your mouth develops at this blatant flaunting of power. What an asshole. 

To be so self-assured that even in the event of your escape, hunting you down and bringing you back into his loving arms is still within the realm of possibility. Your eye twitches at this realization, mentally flinging numerous curses towards him. He didn’t have to make it so obvious, rubbing salt on the theoretical wound of your pride. Too preoccupied with festering thoughts of resentment, you fail to notice a figure taking a seat next to you on the bench. 

“Is the drink not good or something?” A light, masculine voice asks from your left. Darting around immediately at the interruption of your venomous thoughts, you spot a man around your age. Sporting messy brunette hair and a casual get up of a tee with a pair of jeans, it tugs painfully on your heart to see someone living an uninhibited life as you used to. This envy mutates into horror, as you realize being caught speaking to a stranger is going to land you in boiling water. Dabi’s consciousness is a minefield in waiting, daring to blow at the slightest wrong movement. 

What do you do? It might leave a wrong impression should you not say anything. The current times are plagued by high tension.  Numerous League of Villain attacks have rendered the surrounding regions on constant alert, news anchors telling folks to be wary of anyone or anything suspicious. Weighing your options, you decide to dismiss the stranger in kind as fast as humanly possible. 

Just act natural, act natural… “W-why do you say that?” 

Shit. Your first conversation with someone other than Dabi in over half a year has left you thoroughly horrified, pupils no doubt dilated and voice meeker than a mouse squeak. The stutter has you wincing, your naive companion undoubtedly picking up on it. You want nothing more than to shoo him off, but in fear of drawing unwanted attention, attempt to suppress your frayed nerves. You’ve been through worse than a strained conversation and made it out relatively unscatched, but this feels like a different type of battle. 

“You just seemed to be making quite the upset face,” he chuckles, reminiscing on the thought. He must’ve been referring to the glowering thinking about Dabi brought out from you. “I swear I’m not a creep or anything. I was just waiting to pick up my little sister, and happened to catch you scowling.” 

“The name’s Ryota. And you?” 

Suppressing panic that threatens to drown you, you swallow thickly. “I’m uh, Hina. The drink is fine… I just have a lot on my mind.” 

The lie is seasoned with enough truths that you hope it isn’t too transparent. Giving away your actual name could hint back to missing person’s cases, the thought of which would greatly displease Dabi. Besides, if it had been as simple as going to the police, you would’ve done it by now. You’ve grown uncomfortably familiar with Dabi’s workings, killing off a few people or bribing them would be one of the least heinous things in his portfolio. You figure the best case scenario here is that this well meaning Ryota character leaves you be, or else dire consequences will come to fruition. 

“Good to know, Hina-san. My lil sis talks about boba often, but I’ve never gotten that into it. I figure since the store’s right here, I should surprise her with a drink. What would you recommend?” 

You can’t help but greedily soak in the normalcy an interaction like this brings with it. The irritation from being drawn into a conversation is replaced with pity, a stronger resolve to keep this bystander out of harm’s way blooming. There’s no time to be wasted on the warmth erupting in your chest, or on the first genuine smiles in months that’s settled on your lips. To see the best humanity has to offer, after being subjected to the worst, is a much needed breath of fresh air. While it may be greedy to fixate on these aspects, you find yourself wanting to savor the moment of being a regular person. 

Surely, Dabi would understand your logic. 

“It depends on her tastes. If she likes sweeter drinks, I’d recommend Thai milk tea. If you’re not sure, classic milk tea is always a safe bet.” You’re proud of how you’ve been able to pull yourself together, speaking like you used to. With this, he should be set to leave, or at least you want to believe this. Unfortunately for you, life is never so easy. He doesn’t seem interested in going anywhere anytime soon, crossing his legs and leaning slightly closer to you. Realizing your mistake of radiating friendliness, your muscles go taut. 

You need to do something about this before it’s too late. 

Ryota scratches his head, mulling over your advice. “I’ll keep all that in mind. I appreciate your insight.” 

“It feels nice to be able to chill and talk like this every now and then. If I’m being honest, I was somewhat against my sister coming out to hang with friends,” Ryota’s tone takes a turn for the somber, face looking crestfallen. “With all the chaos that’s been around, y’know. It feels like everyday I wake up to more of those League of Villain stories. It feels like it’ll just be a matter of time until something happens near here.” 

“I’m sorry that--” 

“Things sure are rough,” A voice that brings out every negative emotion possible speaks up from behind you, Dabi’s familiar figure slithering into sight. He takes a seat on the bench, close to your person, wrapping a tight arm around your shoulder. “I hate to interrupt, but I need to borrow her for a bit. You mind?” 

Neither of you were expecting the sudden interruption, Ryota trying to piece everything together. “Oh, uh, not at all.’

Everything hits you like a ton of bricks. From Dabi’s rich cologne that mixes in with the smell of ash, his hair brushing against the side of your face, to the possessiveness of his grip. He squeezes your shoulder, looking from Ryota to you. It takes a moment to register what he’s communicating, but you’re able to decipher the gesture. In a last ditch attempt to salvage this situation, you confirm Dabi’s statement before things get ugly. Nodding your head, you watch with bated breath as Ryota looks from Dabi to you. He gets up from his spot on the bench, awkwardly shoving his hands into his pockets.

“It was nice talking to you.” 

Ryota heads off towards the mall doors, leaving you in the clutches of the devil incarnate. You feel how terribly warm Dabi is next to you, words wanting to spill out to justify the actions that led up to this moment. Before you get the opportunity to ramble out your thoughts, Dabi places a finger on your lips, looking at you with the same grin as always.

“Making some new friends, hm?” He inquires, drawing out the syllables. His finger goes south, lifting up your chin, and holding you close to his face. “Awe, babe. You look like you’re aboutta cry. Don’t give me that look.” 

You’re not sure if you should feel horrified at his sudden spike in talkativeness, or relieved over not having to speak your piece yet. The words wouldn’t be able to leave your mouth even if you wanted them to, a lump forming in your throat to coincide the dryness of your tongue. Dabi makes a point of emphasizing his engulfing height, having to tilt your head up to maintain eye contact. Not wanting to make a scene, you do everything within your power to still the tears that are threatening to spill out. There’s no visible signs of wrath, not that you can pick up on. He watches with great interest as you calm yourself, releasing the grip on your face and leaning back into the bench. 

When you appear sufficiently soothed, he speaks up once more, voice grating your ears. “So tell me, doll. What was all that about? I knew you’d be hurting for company in my absence, but I didn’t think you’d be so bold as to speak to someone else.” 

“I… I was approached, and… I swear, nothing happened. He just-- just wanted to know about a drink for his sister, and--” 

Dabi gently flicks your forehead, unable to stifle his cackling any longer. “I’m just messin’ with ya. I saw everything.” 

It doesn’t settle in immediately, the hypothetical cogs and gears of your head turning in slow motion. Your heart is pounding so violently that you hear it in your ears, your face erupting into a bright red. Humiliation, indignation, and finally, loathing take turns dominating your mind. He’s always had the best of times playing with you at your own expense, poking and prodding to see what reactions he can get. There’s a knee jerk reaction to want to slap him, anything to let out these overflowing feelings. Knowing that getting bothered is what he finds the most pleasure in, you’re further motivated to gain control over yourself. 

A deep breath. Inhale, exhale. You continue repeating these steps, biting your tongue to the point it stings. Dabi rests his head on his fist, watching you calm yourself down through lidded eyes. You really do get yourself worked up so easily, it’s endearing. He wants to pinch your cheeks and tease you more, but is feeling generous enough to give you this time to gather yourself. There’ll be plenty of time to play with you later, occupying himself with this cute sight placates him for the time being. When you finally reopen your eyes, you’re met with the deplorable sight of Dabi’s crooked grin. 

“Can we just… go home? Please?” You hate how weak your voice sounds. You hate everything about this situation, about the life that you’ve been forced into living. How you have to adapt to unspoken rules, subjected to twists and turns that never let you lower your guard. Most of all, you hate the person who has done this to you. His touch, his scent, his voice, all of it. You want nothing more than to scream at him at the top of your lengths, ripping that satisfied looking off his flesh and ridding yourself of this turmoil once and for all.

“Hm? Already? I thought you were hoping to get some dinner out tonight.” Dabi keeps up an air of nonchalance, likely wanting to hear you repeat yourself. Not willing to give in outright, you instead bunch up the fabric of his jacket with your hand. 

“Dabi…” 

It’s a low plea. You know you’ve gotten your point across ages ago, but he’s deriving too much pleasure from seeing how you squirm. The painful utterance serves you well, earning the slightest bit of reprieve as he gets up. On shaky legs, you follow after him, head downcast. Fixating on the tops of your shoes, you wonder if distracting yourself might do anything to ease your tormented soul. The events of the day have left you thoroughly exhausting, and nothing sounds better to you than sleeping for as long as he’ll allow you.

“Alright, alright. Let’s head on back,” he snakes an arm around your waist, pulling you close to his side. No longer having strength to muster up in retaliation, you let him do as he pleases, still fighting down sniffles. “Don’t bother your pretty little head about this.” 

You don’t bother honoring him with a reaction. 

Dabi takes a final glance over his shoulder, spotting the pesky man from before, who is still waiting against a wall. He takes a mental picture of the notable features, lips settling into a deep frown. How troublesome. Before you notice anything, he picks up his pace, continuing the walk back to his apartment. Ideas and resentment swirl within his mind like a tornado, pent up frustration begging to be released. 

All in due time, he thinks.

#Dabi #dabi my hero academia #dabi headcanons #dabi imagine #dabi x reader #yandere dabi #yandere dabi imagines #yandere dabi imagine #yandere dabi x reader #my hero academia #my hero academia imagine #yandere my hero academia #bnha #bnha imagine #yandere bnha #bnha x reader #bnha imagines #yandere #yandere x reader #my stuff #commissions

[neko-shinigxmi]

   My self-inserts for Bendy and the Ink Machine~! Let’s go! Thanks for asking me about this, @robotarmjokes!!

HUMAN VERSE

Your average animator named Rachel. Glasses-wearing, brown hair that parts down the middle, dark green eyes...and often found in their work outfit. (Hair in a bun and casual clothes- t-shirt and pants- with an apron over it. For the ink stains, of course.)

Joey Drew accepts just about anyone...provided they’d want to work with him in the first place. When they begged him to look at their portfolio, well... A look through ended up assuring a job, much to their delight.

Works among the inking section of the cogs that are Joey Drew Studios. Thus, their apron that’s often gently splattered with the dark liquid.

Tends to be lowkey and not very talkative, but gets along with Henry Stein, Allison Pendle, Shawn Flynn, Ernest Craft, and Daisy Lindel. (The latter two being OCs of mine.)

Their favorite creation of the studio’s? Probably Alice. “I like the way she sings... She’s got such a lovely voice to her! Like a songbird.”

Also has a crush on Sammy Lawrence... Though with the guy being such a shut-in, you’d be hard-pressed to find them together.

...Though the more Rachel protests to wiggling into his time, the more they hang out, later down the line.

It turns into Rachel showing him their personal projects, even allowing him to flip through their sketchbook freely. (Though he’s never seen their notebook, filled with notes, more art...and drawings of him, as well as love notes.)

Sammy gets to vent to them about music, often getting to be the one who sees the idea or clarity for a project strike him, urging to finish that old one or start up a new one. It’s their great pride to help him, as they’ve said a few times before.

They do end up dating later down the line... Though most at the studio didn’t know it, even after they started coming to work together. They kept their private life, well, private.

Though they were living together and even bought a house together with their pooled savings; the extra rooms were morphed into an art room and music room, to settle with their interests.

Both of them credit each other as the other’s muse. That’s where the rumors began that the two might be dating. (Though they were behind on the news, of course.)

Joey Drew Studios collapsed not long later, much to Sammy’s frustration. Both were worked to the bone, but also had to make payments, so... A potential job-hunt wasn’t up either of their alleys. Though Rachel was determined to try, despite the odds.

One day, he snapped. Said he wouldn’t come back until he figured out what happened to the studio.

...He never did.

Depending on the timeline, Henry might find Rachel, lost in the studio, trying to find Sammy. In others, they’re the one who Joey called back...and now have a few time-loops of their own.

TOON VERSE

In another world, they are someone different... Meet Kathy the Clumsy Kitten! A creation of Joey Drew Studios (specifically by Ernest Craft, but Joey Drew has since taken all the credit for her creation, much to Ernest’s chagrin) and one of the more...quietly loved characters of the series.

Kathy started out as “Kitten” and with the design below:

In these early days, she had no voice to use. Instead, sound effects would play to denote her emotions; like soft chimes when she cried or the zing of a piano when surprised.

However, people thought she was another demon with her ears looking like they did! As well, despite her feminine appearance, a lot of comparisons between her and Bendy soon arose...

To combat this, she was quickly redesigned to look more...original. The design settled on this less than a year later:

...and that’s the design that’s always been used since!

Update notes: inside of ears drawn, fur tufts on face, and a tail added.

It was also with this design that Joey gave Kathy her now-defining character trait: being a literal scaredy-cat. Easily spooked and, of course, very clumsy.

She’s known to be bullied by Bendy, terrified of Boris, and good friends with Alice, despite the fact her clumsiness has inconvenienced Alice quite a few times in the various episodes that the studio has produced.

She also considers Joey Drew a father figure, Daisy Lindel a mother figure (especially since Daisy would end up being Kathy’s first VA), and Ernest someone spooky....!!

She does also have quite a bit of trust with Sammy Lawrence, though; his music and ramblings often lull her to sleep.

There’s also ANOTHER toon-friend she has named Aki... Aki the Grimmest Reaper, as they call her. (Joey Drew Studios did a trade with a Japanese animation studio at the time. Not only did they work on a short for the other studio, but made a character for the other studio to use; Aki was from the Japanese animation studio.)

Though... The biggest problem by far? Kathy’s got a crush on Bendy.

And now, we get verse dependent~! As there’s two ways things work out......

With Bendy: It takes some vague scolding on Aki’s behalf and clarification from Alice before Bendy realizes that Kathy isn’t as much of a welcome mat as she is just a pushover to the person she likes. Which is. Him.

It’s embarrassing on both sides, but hey~! Bendy’s got charm, yeah? He does his best to lessen the tricks and instead provide little hearts he cuts out of pink (or red) paper and flowers he steals under other people’s noses.

It’s made her a good bit more clumsier at first, what with all the surprise flattery from her crush, but once Bendy finally went all out with asking her to be his lil lady... Well, she actually got better. Still clumsy, but not as bad as she used to be.

They’re a heartrendingly sweet couple. She showers him in praise and affection (which he adores) and- once the show’s all said an’ done- spends time cuddling with her after. It’s...really nice and something Kathy loves to do with him.

However, this has not stopped Bendy’s love for dancing. He even purposefully got thicker shoes so he could waltz or dance in any way he pleases with Kathy. So why thicker shoes? So that way, when she inevitably steps on his feet, he won’t feel it as much!! (It’s embarrassing, but that did make her laugh, much to his delight.)

--------------------------------

With Alice: ...Or on another hand, Alice ends up gaining a crush on her best friend and shy little kitten. And you know what? If Bendy won’t treat Kathy right, then Alice will!

So she does, finding Kathy, taking her to the best spot Alice knows, and holding both of her hands as Alice confesses to liking her. It surprised the life outta Kathy to hear, but-!! .....Well, it’s not like she doesn’t want to date her...

It’s an uncertain thing at first, with Kathy getting to see Alice in a new light. Alice takes it slow in response, though in what feels like no time at all, they’re one of the cutest couples of the studio!

It’s not uncommon for Kathy to still try to help out with Alice’s performances, mostly in regards to setting up. Though her clumsiness still makes Alice pretty nervous... It’s too easy for her to trip up on a stray rope and make everything fall apart like dominoes!

Though on a sweeter note, it’s not uncommon to hear Alice singing and find her cradling Kathy, singing the kitten toon to sleep and guaranteeing only the kindest of dreams.

Alice has mentioned matching outfits someday... Kathy’s still flustered by the idea but very, very much up to it.

Finally..... Some additional notes. ;>

INK DEMON VERSE: Daisy eventually gave up her role voicing Kathy, giving it to her daughter, Clara Lindel. However, the young woman didn’t work as Kathy’s VA for very long. The character was her favorite of the show, so it was incredibly heartbreaking for it to end so soon... However, when Joey Drew sent that letter, asking for a callback? Of course she wanted to go!

...Not knowing what awaited her when she got to the studio.

She’d awake later, no longer a human. But a mix of ink and soul.

She’s more “Clara” at first. But as time goes on, that personality- that person- melts away, more and more becoming “Kathy”... Neither of them want this. But neither of them can stop it, either.

Though it’s also why they try so desperately to help Henry to escape; if they can’t be helped, hopefully he can... Right?

-----------------------------------------------------

Though there is technically a thing where I ship Bendy with literally me. No universe-fitting self-insert stuff.

This started due to needing to get my teeth worked on and me being super anxious about it. I needed someone to be with me. Someone small, protective, easy to hold and with wit to make me feel better when scared... I latched onto Bendy, since BATIM happened to be my main special interest at the time.

It’s also where this artwork came from: 

So... That’s a thing, too! So it doesn’t quite matter if you call me Rachel, Aki, or Kathy to him, technically.... Though you do get a different answer during F/O Takeovers when asked about him and Kathy!

Have one more art for reading all of this, slkfdjsk

#self insert #self ship #self insert community #self ship community #batim self insert #self shipping #Information on the Inserts #Aki Does Art #THIS ONE HAS SO MUCH ART IN IT #I'VE DRAWN....A LOT FOR BATIM #WHICH I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE #so that's kinda cool actually!!!

[pearlsartblog2019]

Monster Verse AU: Part Five

SPG Monster Verse AU: Part Six Notes: Notes: Don’t own SPG… all of those lovelies belong to the bennetts and co. I just do strange things in stories with the characters for fun. 

Don’t own Sprocket  Or Dex they be long to the very awesome: https://spg-fanbot-cousins.tumblr.com/

Pearl is my own character and is used in this and several other stories. Time period note : This is the start of the part of the story which is set in modern times.. The year is about 2018-early 2019. Hope you like! Enjoy the show.

   Sprocket slithered around the corner and was headed back to her sisters room secret weapon in hand. It had really been a day from hell and finding out more of the details had made things that much worse. 

 Upon getting the lights on and managing to get a good look around it was clear that more than just what appeared on the surface  had been going on. Her sister had not only not been eating but it was clear from the shape of the bathroom, everytime she TRIED to eat, she was throwing up.  So she had two days into this apparently just stopped trying and hid in her room. It was a good thing they had gone in there on the third night to find her because she had been almost at death's door. 

Now the clamor had died down and Pearl was at least awake now, but still retching any time she even so much at took a conscious swallow of food. This left Sprocket determined to get something down her even if it took right out lying. Tho she would just rather tell her the truth about what was in the thing she had for her. 

She stopped outside the door and knocked. 

 "Come in" A very hoarse voice rasped. 

 She poked her head in and found Pearl propped up on what looked like every pillow in her room looking too miserable to even draw. Staring out the window with an expression on her face that spoke to the condition of the poor thing's throat after having thrown up about 20 times. 

 "Hey" Sprocket glided in and shut the door behind her, "where'd dad go?"

 Pearl looked at her sister, "Talking to peter, Maybe they can figure something out. " She sighed and flopped back. "Ya know sis.. maybe i should just have you bewitch me.. If i don't know what i'm swallowing maybe I won't gag."

 Sprocket frowned, "I am NOT going to do that to you Lil sis. I won't take your free will away but I had an idea for  something that  might help. If yer half human maybe you can eat human food. I mean we can all eat a lil, but maybe you need it more now that your body is changing?"

 Pearl looked over at her, "Seriously? You think that might be it?" 

 Sprocket lifted one carrti'ed shoulder in a delicate shrug, " It's better than you throwing  up every time you think about it. And we can try mixing some blood in with the human food. If you don't know its there, if i can hide the taste. It might work."

 Pearl looked down, " I feel like this is all my fault somehow. It's possible I might even be the reason mom ...."

 Tears welled up in the other girls eyes and Sprocket sat what she was carrying on the nightstand to wrap both arms and her coil around her sister. The other girl still felt like she was made of ice. Sprocket desperately wanted to warm her sister up or at least make her feel a lil  better.

 "Listen to me," She took one finger and coaxed her sister to look up at her, "Do not EVER think that your mum dying was yer fault kiddo. YOU didn't ASK to be brought into this world. Dad and yer mum knew what would happen and they took that chance. NONE of it is your fault. Dad will never blame you for this and when he knows you feel this way, I am pretty sure he will go out of  his way to say he’s sorry."

 Pearl shook her head, "I don't want that.  I don't want him to feel bad because my brain decided to lose its mind, ugh." 

 Sprocket snorted, "Well you have Dad's way with words thats for sure. Listen.. we WILL figure out a long term solution sis. There has to be some way to solve this, in the meantime, " Sprocket turned and grabbed what she had set on the night stand. 

"I got Specter to show me how to make Chocolate milkshakes , strawberry and Vanilla too. you absolutely can ONLY taste the chocolate in this.. I promise."

 Pearl looked at the glass a bit but shrugged, "Well the worst thing that can happen is I vomit again. At least we will have tried. "

Sprocket smiled, "Yep.. so , " She held it out to her, "Wanan try?"

 Pearl nodded and took the glass outta her sisters hand, " here we go."

 She took a drink and Sprocket sat there and stared at her, "Anything?"

 She could tell pearl's throat hurt like crazy just swallowing it from the wince, but when nothing bad happened after about a minute and a half, the Lil Naga watched as her Dhampir sister took another gulp and came up for air. 

 "OMG it tastes like you put the whole bottle of chocolate in there, Its ice cold," She flopped back on her pillow, "OH that feels so good to keep something DOWN!" 

 A few more gulps later and Sprocket was grinning ear to ear as her baby Sis flopped back onto her pillows again and looked if not happy at least not starving to death any more. 

 "I KNOW I can't eat that all the time, But holy snot, " She looked about to fall asleep, " My neck feels so much better."

 Sprocket Smiled, "Glad it worked kiddo, " She petted her sisters dark hair affectionately. "I know it's barely one am but do you think you can actually sleep some? You don't really need to be out prowling."

 Pearl sighed, "I'd love to sleep sis. But when I try .... "

 "you remember being sick? " Sprocket finished. 

 "Yah," The other girl told her, "Throwing up hurts... and not knowing why... it was pretty frightening."

 Sprocket's tail twitched from side to side a bit. She normally never liked using her abilities to entrance people on her family or anyone really. The idea of someone being trapped with no way out, no free will, icked her out beyond belief due to what had happened to her.  But she realized Pearl NEEDED to sleep if what she had just ate was gonna do her any good. 

 "Want a lil help?" She offered shyly. 

 "I'm not gonna make you do that Sprock..." Pearl told her, "I know you don't like it. I was being sarcastic to myself before. "

 "I know," The naga girl told her sister, "But I'm offering, you need sleep kiddo.  And yes, I know it would work cus you aren't in any condition to stop it. "

 The other young girl closed her pink eyes for a second and then sighed, "Yes please. I can't take the night mares tonight. .. Thank you."

 Sprocket hugged her sister, "Your welcome, get up on your pillows.  They said you were still having trouble breathing cus of that sore throat."

 Pearl nodded a bit and schooched up further on the pillows. Then turned back to look at her sister and was caught almost instantly by the lil sliver Naga's stare.  

" Go to sleep Pearl," Sprocket told her. 

 Between that and the finally full stomach, it only took seconds for the lil Dhampir to completely give up and doze off. 

Sprocket blinked and rubbed her eyes a bit, Smiled and fished out one of pearls books from the shelf to sit there and read.

She was flopped on the bed, keeping her warm coil draped over her still cold sister when their father finally returned . 

 Spine stopped and just stared. Finally managing, "She's asleep. "

 "Yah," Sprocket told him looking up from her book, "I FINALLY got her to keep something down Dad. I thought she might..."

 "You what?" Spine stared at his older daughter in disbelief, "HOW? " 

 Sprocket smiled, "Well i thought since she's half human.. maybe mixing it with human food would work... "

The Silver Vampire Lord Stared at his Naga daughter for a second and blinked a time or two as that sunk in. 

 "That's BRILLIANT!" he blurted.

"SHHH.. " Sprocket warned, " Dont wake her up dad. She didnt wanna sleep so..."

 He nodded, " No I understand but that's just brilliant. I would never have thought of that! how did you?"

 She shrugged, " Well I mean her mum needed human food.. Right? And I don't think  you would cus.. your full blooded. So it probably never occured to you."

 "NO I am ashamed to say, " Spine admitted, "No it didn't. I am so glad it did to you tho. What did you get her to eat?"

 "A milkshake," She motioned to the glass, "Specter showed me how."

 Spine nodded thoughtfully, "It's not the best solution, but it's a start. At least we got her fed tonight."

 Sprocket nodded, "Want me to keep thinking about it ? Maybe I can come up with something else?"

 Spine smiled, "Please. And  I want you to know you probably saved her life tonight. She wasn't going to last much longer without food."

 Sprocket blushed and smiled back, "Well something had to give.  Humans have been nothing but nasty to me father. BUT if something as sweet and precious as her can come from them. THey can't be all bad, Same for specter. If those two can come from those people, SOME humans at least must have redeeming qualities. So i asked specter his fave food and he helped me.  I'm just glad it worked, we.... " She trailed off for a second and got tears in  her blue slitted eyes, 

 "We can't loose her Dad."

 Spine came over and sat down next to his daughter and hugged her, "We want baby, i promise i will find some way to help her for good. "

 "Thanks," the lil naga sniffed, " I know this is going to be ok now. "

 Spine smiled back at her, "Me too."

[strawberry--sunrise]

Shadow Girls

This part may be the shortest one yet. Two more to go until the shadow girls come out of the woodwork.

Part One: Roots // Part Two: Stamen

Part Three: Stem

I didn’t bother knocking on Lil’s door. I swept right in, taking off my shoes. Warm and spicy notes drifted from the kitchen; promises of that night’s dinner. But even Mrs. Martinez’s cooking couldn’t calm the frenzy in my brain, and I only offered her a quick hello and thank you.

“Lily is in the shop,” she replied simply.

I nodded, making my way through the cramped house. I took the small path that connected the backyard to the main building, picking up the large rock beside the back door. I plucked the hidden key from beneath it, the ring of the bell announcing my arrival. Lilian’s father, tall and thin, appeared in the doorway of the back room.

“Ah, Hana,” he said, inclining his head. “Everything alright?”

My breathing hadn’t leveled out. I still looked a mess. But I smiled. “Couldn’t be better. Could I borrow Lil?”

Mr. Martinez shrugged. “Ah, I suppose. Could even keep her. She barely worked an hour. Slept in all morning.”

“I’m a teenager,” Lil huffed, coming up behind him. “And I’ve never restocked or mopped that fast.” Her bright eyes found me, nervous and flitting all over my body. “Han? You okay?”

“I...” I gripped my bag, a shaky breath escaping me. “I messed up. I got in a fight with my mom. I’m gonna be in a lot of trouble.”

Lil crossed the distance between us, hands gentle on my arms. The shirt I picked didn’t cover my bruises. She brushed my hair back, a sympathetic whine in her throat. “Papi?” she asked.

Lil guided me back down the tiny path, sitting me on the living room couch. Toys littered the floor, and children bounced between the rooms, cartoons playing on the small TV. Lil’s family screamed greetings as they zipped past.

Lil took out every pin in my head, grabbing a hairbrush that had been discarded on the coffee table. She brushed out the strands and sang me a song. Her father returned from the shop to hand me a large mug of his spicy-sweet hot chocolate.

I sat there sipping until I calmed down, feeling less like a boat in a hurricane. Then I turned to Lil, who had fetched baby wipes from the bathroom. She wiped the make up from my eyes as I spoke.

“Thomas isn’t so bad,” I began, voice croaky.

“I’d say Thomas is one of the goodest boys in the county,” Lil joked.

“He was really bashful and cute. He loved the ducks. I feel bad for him.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah,” I said, rubbing at my freshly cleaned cheeks. “He’s like me. Stuck in someone else’s web.” I glanced over to make sure Mrs. Martinez was still in the kitchen, then urged Lil closer. I whispered in her ear: “His father sent a car to pick him and his mother up. I looked at the license plate, and Lil...it was the same partial.”

Lil sprung back, mouth open. “Woole?” she asked.

“Or maybe, maybe someone on his private detail? Another relative?” I shook my head. “It could just be a coincidence, but... My dad and Woole haven’t been friends for long. And the disappearances started six months ago.”

Lil looked at me for a long while. “Do you think your father has something to do with these girls?”

I clutched the empty mug, studying the remains like tea leaves. “My father is not a good man. But I can’t say he’s responsible. Not...yet.”

Lil took a deep breath. “Okay, okay... So what happened with your mom?”

I explained the outburst, leaving out the part about the Martinez family. I’d never heard my mom so angry. The door had actually splintered down the middle. “I’m afraid she might call the cops,” I said. “I don’t want them showing up at your house, but I also don’t want to go back. I’m scared she’ll--that he’ll--”

“You don’t have to,” Lil cut in, her hand over mine. Her lips flattened into a thin line, her brow drawing together. “You don’t have to,” she repeated, firm.

She drew me into a hug, and we stayed like that for a while. I didn’t notice when I dozed off, and Mrs. Martinez draped a blanket over us. I opened my eyes to the blare of the TV, my cup on the table, and a warm body sleeping next me.

For a moment, I could forget. For a few hours after, I ate dinner and laughed and felt better. I sat on the porch with Mrs. Martinez and her kids, listening to the faint conversation coming from the shop. Cigar smoke mixed with cortadito, and the sound of dogs barking down the street.

Though I feared the red and blue lights washing the houses, no police cars came. I tried broaching the subject of the license plate with Lil in her bedroom, but she refused. She also didn’t want to talk about our unfruitful hunt in the marsh this morning. She treated the night like any other sleepover, playing games with me and painting my toenails.

“What about Talia?” I whispered. “Saturdays are your...get-together nights.”

Lil paused midcoat. “Talia knows how important you are to me. And she would feel guilty kissing me, knowing you were crying. I couldn’t even think of it.”

Sunday came and went, most of the day spent at church with the Martinez family. But by the afternoon, I knew I had to go back. Several times, the phone rang, with the caller hanging up as soon as someone answered.

Mr. Martinez gave me a long look. I adjusted my bag, Mrs. Martinez’s care package secured inside. “Are you sure?” he asked, blocking my path out the door. “One more child is nothing. Ah, you could even replace Lily.”

“Hey!” Lilian protested.

I smiled, quelling the nerves fluttering my chest. “I’ll keep it in mind. For now, I might as well face the music. I’m sure my mom’s had enough time to cool off.”

“I’ll keep an ear out for the phone,” Mr. Martinez promised. He laid a large hand on my shoulder, his touch comforting. The difference was startling.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

Mr. Martinez allowed me past, and, at a much slower pace, I started cycling.

The house announced my arrival, the front door swinging open to an empty hall. The floorboards creaked with every step, laughing at the disgraced daughter. Potbelly stayed hidden as I walked the rooms, looking for my punishment.

I found my mother in the front parlor, by the window. She looked out at her garden, face half covered by fern leaves. Dozens of plants filled the room; dangling from hanging baskets, and guarding the walls. My mother sighed, surrounded by green.

“Hana what kind of girl are you trying to become? At this rate, you’ll be nothing respectable.”

I’d come to stand silent and accept my fate. But all too quickly, my voice unlocked. “And do you want me to be like you?” I asked.

Her head whipped toward me, lips thin and eyes ablaze. “Excuse me, young lady?” she asked, teeth bared.

I stepped back. The light shifted, my mother’s shadow chasing me across the room. “I’m trying to understand,” I mumbled, “exactly what kind of girl I should be.”

Her glare simmered to a slow burn. Weariness ebbed into her voice. “The kind who listens to her mother. Who obeys her curfew. And who offers thanks when they’re due.” She gestured at a chair by the fireplace. “Your father wanted to sit in this chair, ready to shake a fist at you when you returned.” He would certainly have done more than that. She tugged the edge of her sleeve further down. “You shouldn’t stress him like this. It’s already been stressful enough.”

I wanted to tell her that that wasn’t our fault. That dad had made his own choices, and he would’ve had to pay for them sooner or later. It was a storm always bound to make landfall.

Her eyes returned to mine, subdued and pleading, a sign of peace. She wanted to make the best of a sinking ship. And in that moment, I realized: She knew. She knew there was no turning back. That she would either see her husband succeed, or follow him to the depths of the tempest. The same as her mother before, and her mother before. It was all she had been taught.

But the world was no longer as it was once. And I wasn’t bound to the fates of my elders.

“Thank you, Mother,” I said. Her shoulders stuttered at the formal speech, then sagged. She crossed her hands, one palm over the other, and nodded.

“Of course,” she murmured to the garden. “Anything for my daughter.”

I crossed the room and kissed her forehead.

“I’m sorry,” I said, for a different reason than she wanted to hear.

“I’m sorry, too,” she said, apologizing for the wrong sin.

“Where’s Dad?” I asked, as she resumed watering the fauna.

“Community business,” she answered, reaching to grab a spider plant.

I was sure she didn’t have the faintest idea what that meant, just as I didn’t. But if he wasn’t home, that was fine. I wasn’t ready to crash myself into the rocks a second time today.

“And honey,” she added, back to me, “your room was relocated while you were away.”

My breathing stopped. “What?”

She turned and smiled at me. “Daughters who exhibit good behavior get the finer things in life. Until you can prove you’re worth our trust, we’ve enacted certain limitations on your freedom. You’re a runaway risk--a danger to yourself--and we can’t have that. We took the liberty of removing any unhealthy propaganda from your possessions. We’ve got to protect you.” She blinked big eyes at me, kind yet firm. “I’ll do anything to keep my daughter safe.”

The bag on my back burned with all the heat of a wildfire. The room tilted, and I lowered my eyes. Submissive. I had to yield. Or I was about to lose everything.

“You’re right,” I said, voice husky. “I’ve been...erratic. I’m sorry. I just...needed some time to think.” I took a breath, hoping it would steady me. “May I go lie down?”

“Yes,” my mother tutted, pleased. “You may. Welcome home.”

I turned and walked out, the floorboards silent. There were two empty rooms in the house, and only one that I was allowed in.

I opened the door to the cramped former study, coughing at the dust that still lingered. Briefly, my heart sank at all that had been taken from me. I stared at a bare bed, a dresser with a bible on top, and a plain desk for schoolwork. Not a single poster. No longer a towering bookcase. My guitar was missing, my closet was downsized, and my radio had been tossed in the trash.

I swallowed a scream and tried to tell myself that they were just things. That this was the latest in a long line of unfathomable, but predictable, power grabs. Hana Liftgate had overstepped her boundaries, and so new ones had to be drawn. They’d tightened the noose on me before. I’d made the same mistakes in the past. A lady was supposed to act in accordance with her stature, and do nothing else. A lady was only born to further her family, not her personal worth. She was nothing but a pawn in a centuries-old game of chess, to be traded, sacrificed, and used for the sake of the players.

But the match was only won on the backs of rooks and queens. And, finally, I was a few moves away from checkmate.

The door didn’t have a lock, so I sat against it. I was grateful that they had left it there at all. I held my head in my hands, the windowless room lit by a single floor lamp. I needed to figure a way out of this. My parents had swept through my old room. They had to have found everything: The magazines from out of town, with clipped articles by an unknown author. The multiple rejected submissions to the Gazette. The half finished drafts for new stories, and a single page filled with leads on the missing girls.

I hadn’t been careful enough. And now this bag was all I had left, stuffed with theories and snacks.

I hid the bag under my mattress as best I could, even as it formed a noticeable lump. I’d have to give it Lil as soon as possible tomorrow. I had all the information in my head--somewhere--and that would have to be good enough.

My new room didn’t have a mirror. If I wanted to see myself, I’d have to go to the bathroom. If I wanted to make myself up, I’d have to get permission from my mother, to whom all my tools had been given. So I went to dinner barefaced, hair combed by fingers, in the same clothes I had arrived in.

Mother said nothing, but that wasn’t anything new. Father’s seat sat unoccupied, and we ate in silence. I was ordered back to my room, if I didn’t want to watch the evening news with my mother. I accepted the invitation, which seemed to surprise her. I was just tired of the same blank walls, not feeling safe enough to gather my own thoughts.

We sat beside each other on the couch, cool blues and greys washing over us, mugs of tea in our hands. Somehow, it wasn’t as warm as being with the Martinez’s. But I sipped my tasteless leaf water, too done up with cream, and tried to pretend. The sooner I got my mask back, the sooner I could find my own freedom again.

I tried to go to sleep that night, but the new mattress was too firm. The sheets had been starched, and rubbed coarsely against my arms. I sat up, sick of the uncomfortable fit of my mother’s hand-me-downs. I could hear her saying something about a young woman should dress traditionally. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as I stripped, searching for familiar fabrics.

My parents had spared me one dress, and though it was far from my favorite, the touch of it was smooth. The scent was clean and comforting, a welcome turn from musty and old. I slipped it on, as well as a pair of shoes. I knew I couldn’t leave the house, but the yard was part of our property. A stroll through the gardens could hardly be called sneaking out.

I was several feet from the lake when a bark shot through the night. I turned my head, finding a dog at the top of the path, tail wagging and tongue lolling. Their collar glinted in the moonlight, as they trotted toward me. I stayed still, nervous but curious. And as the dog drew closer, I realized that I recognized her.

“Hey girl,” I said warmly, kneeling down and petting her. “Long time, no see.”

She barked again, excited, and started running circles around me.

“Shh, shh,” I said. “What is it; how did you get here?”

She gave one more bark, then bolted back up the path. Without thinking, I followed, kicking up dirt. I couldn’t let her get hit by a car, or more lost than she already was.

She easily cleared the jump over the border fence. I unlocked the swinging gate, throwing it back in place. I raced across the lawn, beneath the oaks, down to the main road. The dog galloped, half seen in the blackness, showing up under the streetlights every few seconds.

I watched her bank right into a local park, and stopped just short of hopping the log fence. She had stopped in front of a dark figure, sitting at his feet obediently.

My hands clenched on the wood. I should’ve known it would be him.

#cliffhanger #whoops #shadow girls #mystery #fiction #1970s #writeblr #this story is actually a novelette #guess who just found out that was a word

[tinymixtapes]

Column: Favorite Rap Mixtapes of October 2017

With a cascade of releases spewing from the likes of DatPiff, LiveMixtapes, Bandcamp, and SoundCloud, it can be difficult to keep up with the overbearing yet increasingly vital mixtape game. In this column, we aim to immerse ourselves in this hyper-prolific world and share our favorite releases each month. The focus will primarily be on rap mixtapes — loosely defined here as free (or sometimes free-to-stream) digital releases — but we’ll keep things loose enough to branch out if/when we feel it necessary. (Check out last month’s installment here.) --- Trippie Redd - A Love Letter To You 2 [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] All those Lil Uzi Vert comparisons notwithstanding, Ohio’s Trippie Redd is doing a fine job carving out his own lane as hip-hop’s closest thing to an opera singer. I mean, sure, there’s crooning, but then there’s Trippie Redd’s emotive bellow that erupts like a bat out of hell on the pre-hook for In Too Deep (I see the future in my plans / I’m gonna be good, it’s in God’s hands). Redd’s consistently ariose flow is the major draw for me: he’s got an amazing ear for melody, particularly those that instill sadness. While not entirely morose, the tape does embody themes of loneliness, nostalgia, and heartbreak (Baby wish me well / You know that I live in hell / I’m hellboy, I live in hell). Using autotune and endlessly-alluring, eerie, and ambient instrumentals as his brush, Trippie paints a world of vivid, lush euphony. And he does it effortlessly, with genuine affect. –Alex Brown --- Antwon - Sunnyvale Gardens [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] There’s a lot of talk about potential in the rap game these days. With infinite, uh, clout at stake for those early champions of the next to claim their fifteen minutes, rap nerdery can feel more than a little obsessed with the obscure. But what exactly are we hoping that these teenagers might turn into? With Sunnyvale Gardens, underground veteran Antwon provides one possible answer, summarizing the year in Soundcloud while retaining the form of an actual, polished album. It’s a reassuring step forward, a promise that the genre’s core tenets - unabashed emo influence, guitar front and center, gargled autotune melody - can carry weight even in the absence of minute-and-a-half runtimes and blown out mastering. In spanning seemingly the entire history of rap since 2010, Sunnyvale Gardens can certainly feel a bit uneven; more often than not, however, it’s worth your while - Antwon is the ideal auteur for the goofy sincerity of rap’s current moment. –Corrigan B --- Grandmilly & Shozae - Motel Six [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] The desk clerk hardly takes her eyes off the TV, absolutely never shoots you a straight glance, but make no mistake, she’ll scan her peripherals enough times to piece together a mental image. So it pays for you to look around too, giving her as little as possible without making it obvious. The game plays out perpetually. That’s what passes for hospitality here — that and musty carpets and buckled wallboards and busted heat pumps and penitentiary-level shower pressure and springy mattresses and HBO — because they know you’re only here on business. Bring your own amenities. –Samuel Diamond --- Evil Haze x CowboyKiller - Western Haze EP [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] Cowpokin’ ain’t a far cry from trappin’. Texan/Pennsylvanian tag-team Evil Haze and CowboyKiller ride foreign horses and tote big irons, shooting hissed bars from the hip atop oppressively crusty bass lines. Their first three-track collab, Western Haze is a desert heat wave, warping its cracking samples on the scorched horizon: it stifles in the biblical sense, drying my throat like baked clay as my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. Lay me in the dust of death and ride off, pistols blazing. I hear the whine of slide guitar against the lens flare in the pale blue sky. “I’m causing damage while you on the internet spamming,” CowboyKiller whispers from a distance so great that I’m unnerved to hear him at all. It cuts deep. –Jude Noel --- YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Ain’t Too Long [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] Ain’t Too Long, the latest chapter in Baton Rouge rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s rapid ascent to hip-hop’s front page, arrived early October in peculiar form: a playlist of 8 YouTube videos on YoungBoy’s official page, not accessible via the usual mixtape sites nor the main-channel streaming services. This very unceremoniousness is exactly what makes the 18 year-old rapper so refreshing: his melodic, repetitive storytelling bears equal imprints of gen Z stylistic cues and Kevin Gates-esque confessionalism, and this latest tape finds him pensive and morose even in the face of great success. “Pour One” and “Better Man” start at the origin of his struggle and tell a story elliptically, looking back on betrayal and past selves with equal parts disbelief and gratitude. The circular melancholy in YoungBoy’s grates on the listener, at times unrelentingly sad even as the beat continues to bounce and fade out. What else are you looking for? –Nick Henderson --- Gunplay - Haram [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] There’s not good reason that Gunplay isn’t one of the biggest rappers in the world. He has more than enough intensity, talent, grind, uniqueness and hit-making ability to get over. Crossover appeal? C Monster and I saw him rock a noise showcase during Red Bull music week a couple years ago! Plus, Gucci Mane and DMX sustained careers through worse recidivism. Regardless, a couple years removed from a debut album that was understandably underwhelming (in that it was so needlessly belated and highly anticipated), Gunplay has sounded reinvigorated throughout 2017, powdery explosiveness complemented by a sensibility that was at the heart of his finest early works and now feels more attuned. Gunplay with precision and consistency. –Samuel Diamond --- Injury Reserve - Drive It Like It’s Stolen [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] God, these three will never get the credit they deserve. Drive It Like It’s Stolen is everything Injury Reserve fans have come to expect: beat-heavy, lyrically conscious songs drizzled with some of the silkiest flow in the game. The 23-minute mixtape showcases the dichotomy of the trio in a short amount of time. “See You Sweet” and “Boom (X3)” are tough enough to “have the landlord knocking like a burglary,” while “North Pole” and “Colors” sway slow enough to swing a room into a smoke-sesh. Jokes aside, Drive it Like It’s Stolen has moved Injury Reserve to a more permanent position in rap and lets the world know that the trio has finished flossing and is ready to eat again. –Sam Tornow --- araabMUZIK - One of One [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] In 2010, Dipset Trance Party was, as far as I was concerned, one of the coolest and most confounding things in music. Hosted by someone calling themselves “Your Boy SK,” the series of beat tapes, somehow inspired simultaneously by vocal trance and by the rhythm-focused, high-fidelity Dipset production aesthetic, introduced the world to araabMUZIK. Since the release of his debut album Electronic Dream one year later, in what was surely the biggest Dipset Trance Party success story, we haven’t heard very much from the producer, known for feverishly punching out drum sequences on his MPC as if it were a live percussion instrument. At six tracks, One of One feels like the perfect serving of his simple yet intoxicating blend of beats and emotional dance music. Nevelle Viracocha’s vocals on “Lock and Load” and “Wanted,” seated in the middle of the mix and shrouded in delay, take me back to the bygone Trance Party even more effectively than araabMUZIK’s studio efforts, while the drums hit with the swinging, hand-plucked weight I’ve come to expect from him. One of One is a nifty, powerful little collection of beats, as ready for SoundCloud freestyling as for home listening. –Will Neibergall --- Future & Young Thug - Super Slimey [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] According to the October 2017 edition of Physics Today: Allison Sweeney and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania now report that they may have a solution to the long-standing puzzle of how the squid lens establishes its protein-density gradient in a way that maintains uniform transparency. They found that cells at different radial positions within the lens produce different ratios of some 40 subtly different variants of S-crystallin. All the mixtures form gels — or at least a volume-spanning protein network — but at varying densities. The gelation prevents the proteins from aggregating into opaque clumps and damps local density fluctuations that could distort vision. –Samuel Diamond --- Lil Durk - Signed to the Streets 2.5 [STREAM · DOWNLOAD] I guess Lil Durk and Dej Loaf aren’t together anymore. I hope they’re ok! Really. Though never short on flexes, Lil Durk’s music has always had a believable earnestness far beyond that of his peers, neither cartoonishly immersed in his feelings nor insistent that they don’t exist. Despite never quite breaking out beyond Chicago, Durk has enjoyed massive sustained popularity there since well before drill entered (and subsequently exited) the national stage. There was a brief period this summer when it seemed like Distance was going to break through, and practically every track on Signed to the Streets 2.5 is similarly easy to imagine as a hit. Then again, that’s been the case for most of his career. –Corrigan B http://j.mp/2hruY3A