Single is a bit of an assumption, don't you think? One of these ladies, at least, is spoken for.

Marlene Collins 2023/04/21(Fri)20:18 No. 1061892 ID: 11f77a
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This guy...

Marlene: First of all, we’re not alone if there are two of us. Second, you don’t even know if we already have husbands, or we’re a lesbian couple.

???: I don’t see a ring on either of your fingers~

Marlene: I have a boyfriend. You can leave now.

He faces Emmylou with a contented smirk.
???: How about you, gorgeous?

Emmylou: I’ll have you know every man I’ve been with has either gotten his heart broken, or died.

???: Oooh, if you’re interested in a man involved in dangerous work I’m your kind of guy. But I hope I do die before a sweet thing like you crushes my heart.

This is sooo bad. It hurts to listen.

Emmylou: Heh. You a cop?

???: Roofer. But hey, it aint no joke~ There are more deaths in construction than the police force. Usually from falling.

Marlene: You can start dropping dead, buster. She’s going back to work in a minute.

???: I would like to hear from the lady herself whether she is waiting for someone special to walk into her life~

Emm snorts again with a smirk.
Emmylou: Maybe I am. He could be walking through those doors any moment now.

???: Ooo, that’s not fair. How about I take you out for lunch while you wait? Say... at Fogertys? They have a killer shredded steak sandwich you absolutely must try. If it isn’t the best thing you’ve eaten--

Marlene: Welp, I gotta do it...

Marlene Collins 2023/04/21(Fri)20:25 No. 1061895 ID: 11f77a
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>If he persists, get loud, cause a scene, and tell him off.
This guy needs to leave. I’m standing straight up out of my seat with what little composure I can muster before I tell him to fuck off.

Marlene: Alright. That’s it! I wasn’t expecting to make a scene today but I’m left with no choice--!

Emmylou: Waitwaitwait--Marlene hoooold on. Hehe-heh It’s alriiiight. It’s alright. Hmmhmm. He does this silly crap all the time.

Marlene: You know this asshole?

Emmylou: It’s just Frederick.

He grins at that.
Frederick: Just Frederick~?

Marlene: And who the hell is Frederick?

Frederick: Yeah, I’m curious to know the Frederick in your eyes, Emmy~

Emmylou: Oh shush. We’ve been going out for a couple weeks. That’s all, Marley.

Frederick: That’s all? So tell me all about him! Is he a fun guy to be around~?

Emmylou: Ptth, Fred, stop thaaat. And I guess you’re legit. You need to work on your approaches. My girl almost kicked your ass.

They both chuckle. Frederick looks to me, hoping to ease the tension. I dunno--I get a disgusted look with all the gushy back-and-forth sweet-talking.

Frederick: There’s the heartbreak she warns about. Heh heh--I’m sorry. I guess she hasn’t talked about me yet. I shouldn’t have assumed.

He reaches a hand out to shake, smiling with pearly teeth.

Frederick: Frederick Glaser. So, you’re Marlene? You’re the artist, right? Or you work with computers or something? I think Emm may have mentioned you.

>>1061895
Nothing bad, I hope.

(Oh, he likes to joke? Jibe a bit yourself.) Pff, nice to know you're as good with details as you are at first impressions. Still, a few weeks? Why'd you never mention him, Emmy? Afraid of letting me know you're dating an asshole, or just didn't want to let on that I was now the third wheel?

>>1061895

I'm not sure which was worse, the scripts we've been reading or his approach.

Anyway, I guess we can be civil. Mostly.

You're a wonderful artist! An artist who paints with her words onto a paper canvas.

Marlene Collins 2023/04/26(Wed)12:39 No. 1062150 ID: 11f77a
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Something doesn’t prompt me to shake his hand. Maybe I’m still registering this guy’s first impression. It certainly wasn’t how Seb and I first met. I look at Emmy with a squint.

Marlene: Nothing bad, I hope.

She smirks. He quietly slinks his hand back down.

Marlene: Well--yeah, you could say I’m an artist. Writing is as much of an art as painting. It’s just... a thing I do. I write. Nothing major yet.

Marlene: Uh--how’d you two even meet?

Emmylou: Right here--

Frederick: There’s a hardware store just down the street where we get most of our supplies. So... I come on through here while my coworkers make the order.

Frederick: I’ve seen Emmylou work behind the counter a few days. She must’ve given me more reason to visit the hardware store any chance I get. So I thought I’d shoot my shot one morning~

Marlene: And you’ve been dating for a few weeks? I surely would’ve expected to hear all about him after the first date. Were you afraid of letting me know you were dating an asshole?

My attempt at jibes isn’t that fluent. I think Emmylou knows me well enough to pass it off as one. Frederick looks a taaad uncomfortable.

Emmylou: Oh you know how it is. Every time I get excited about a man something abruptly comes up or it just doesn’t work out. I’ve been saving my breath until the right one came along.

Frederick: You can finally breathe easy~

Emmylou: I didn’t mean to sound anxious like that, Fred. Please forgive me. You seem promising enough~

Frederick: We’ll look back on this and laugh, I’m sure. Heh.

Marlene Collins 2023/04/26(Wed)12:40 No. 1062151 ID: 11f77a
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Emmy wipes her apron down and stands.

Emmylou: Well I’ve stayed on break long enough. I’d love to keep talking but I have to get back behind the counter and kick Jason’s ass when he arrives. I’ll just leave you two at it then~

Frederick: Fogertys, though?

Emmylou: Alright, sure! Fogertys it’ll be. I’ll text you, I have a feeling it’ll be later than planned.

Frederick: No problemo! I’ll see you then ♥

She fixes her hat--keeping the curls out this time--and walks off, leaving me with him. He looks to me.

Frederick: So, uh... I see you have a lot of work. Those, uhm, papers there. You write all that?

Frederick: I’m just here to see Emm for a coffee before I have to go back to my guys. Uh. Yeah, sorry about the whole... greeting and all.

Frederick: It was good to meet you, though!

There’s that slight pause; he might leave if I say nothing or very little. I could talk with him a short while, I suppose. I also need to think whether I’ll keep working here for another hour or perhaps visit The Mnemonic Gaps.

Look. I get I've been a bit cold and standoffish to you. Let's just say there are personal reasons involved. I am, honestly, open to making new friends, and being involved in various wacky shenanigans. Just... now is a bad time.

Then, visibly center yourself, look aside as if haunted by something for a moment, and then, "Can we agree to try this again sometime, with no hard feelings, and have a no shenanigans for now agreement?" and only THEN offer your hand, "Truce?"
If he agrees, than say you really have to get back to your work.

>>1062151

Hey, at least he apologized. Probably realizes how he came across, so that's good.

Let's just tell him we probably need to get going as well, unless we'd rather just hang out and read more awful scripts (and that he seems nicer than he seemed).

Yeah, sorry if I gave you too much shit for that approach. In my defense, you've got to learn to take as well as you give! Still, I'll forget the first impression if you do as well.

Well, maybe we can try again some other time. Gotta get heading out as well.

Move on to the The Mnemonic Gaps

Marlene Collins 2023/04/29(Sat)19:43 No. 1062371 ID: 11f77a
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I rub the back of my neck.

Marlene: Hey, uh, I know I’ve acted a bit... standoffish and all. I’ve just been involved in some wacky, personal things lately and it’s just been a rough time so...

Marlene: We can try this again properly sometime. I’ll forget this first impression if you do for me. Cool?

I set out my hand to shake his, and he accepts. Pretty strong grip there.

Frederick: Yeah-yeah, no problem! I’m sure it won’t be the last you’ve seen of me.

Marlene: We’ll see Emmylou about that.

That was another joke. I think he got it.

Marlene: I’m about to leave as well. I’ve been reading scripts for two hours. With several more scripts to skim over.

Marlene: I help out friends at Silenus every now and then. I may get a-hundred bucks if I find a diamond in the rough.

Frederick: Oh neat--that movie studio? I had a roommate who worked there. He doesn’t now, but that’s the only degree of separation I have with the place.

Marlene: I was a secretary. It just didn’t work out for me.

Marlene: Well, I guess I’ll see you later. I have a band to catch. They need a songwriter and my eyes could use a break from reading garbage and let my ears listen to garbage.

Frederick: Heh heh--cool cool. See ya later, then!

Marlene Collins 2023/04/29(Sat)19:44 No. 1062372 ID: 11f77a
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I stuff the unread scripts and begin heading out to Maebe’s. The downright stupid ones are discarded in the trash. They aint company property or anything--they would’ve been tossed into the shredder after the logline. This will also make my backpack much lighter; the straps have been digging into my shoulder.

I took a scenic route to reach her house. I dunno, it’s a good day to keep walking. I have a lot of time in the world so perhaps I could use it to think a lil’ more. It’s also to listen to music to help. I’m just flipping through my current roster to see if I can find songs that could help explain the dream I’ve been having.

45 minutes later and I reach Maebe’s door. I’m anticipating terrible jams this time.

...

Sounds like they’re not shredding something awful in there. I carefully open the entrance.

Marlene Collins 2023/04/29(Sat)19:44 No. 1062373 ID: 11f77a
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Oh! Maebe and Nick are chilling by the door, actually. I don’t see Robin--but some kind-a noise is playing in the garage. A strum of some bass notes.

ThruummmmmmmmmmMMmmmm ThruummmmmmmmmmmmMMmm

Nick: Oh hey! Marely’s here.

Maebe: Mind keeping the door open for a bit? I need to smoke.

Well, better outside than inside. Pull up some chairs on the porch and see what's up today.

Only if you're sharing.

>>1062462

Nah, you dont share tobacco cigs. Now pot? Those are sharable.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/02(Tue)14:26 No. 1062568 ID: 11f77a
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>Only if you’re sharing
>Now pot? Those are sharable.
I’m not much of a smoker. Maebe would be surprised if I asked, even nonchalantly. As for pot, I’m sure the boys have some but I just never got into the stuff. If it didn’t smell like a skunk’s ass I’d totally be into it. I shift aside while holding the door open.

Marlene: Yeah, sure. I actually walked over here--I could use a sit-down myself.

The three of us walk back out to her front porch; there’s a couch underneath the awning. It’s a bit beaten up and intentionally kept outside against the elements. If I recall correctly we picked this up from a roadside dumpster. Maebe lights her cigarette and flicks the lighter closed with a cool metallic clink. There aint enough room for Nick but he doesn’t mind sitting on the floor against the railing.

Marlene: Where’s Robin? ‘He playing in the garage?

Maebe: Yeah. He’s acting weird though.

Nick: Nooo, he’s not being weird. He’s been playing only one chord that he really likes this entire session. Last night he was figuring out a sound and must’ve just clicked with it.

Maebe: He never used chords before so it opens up a new realm for him.

Marlene: There are chords for a bass guitar?

Nick: Yeah but you gotta be careful with ‘em. Because bass notes are so low a cacophony of them may overshadow the other instruments. That’s why it's best if bassists use arpeggios.

Marlene: Did you tell him to stop?

Maebe: We try and he listens but within two minutes he’s back at it. It hasn’t ruined the vibe or anything but it interrupts some things.

Nick: So now he’s just... strumming.

Maebe: Maybe you could talk some sense into him, Marley. You’re the songwriter, you made your demands last time and all.

Nick: Write anything good yet at least?

>>1062568

Wait, totally chaotic thought, but ... what if we worked around it? I mean, most stuff doesn't use chords, right? It'd really set the band apart to weave that in and make something out of it.

Sure it means compensating with the other instruments at opportune times, but it's possible, and could have a really cool effect if done well.

we need more cowbell

Dub-folk is a thing.

Has he been acting weird in any other ways? Or just by focusing on the one chord? Maybe we shocks talk to him to see what’s up and hear the chord ourselves, especially with the weird stuff that’s been happening in our dreams. It might be a stretch but maybe something else is at play

Marlene Collins 2023/05/05(Fri)08:13 No. 1062752 ID: 11f77a
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>Dub-folk
>Need more cowbell
I don’t even know how to address any of that to Maebe even if it was just a humorous thing to bring up. I’ve already decided on dream-pop and shoegaze anyway.

>what if we worked around it?
Marlene: Well, if it’s not so common--perhaps we can take advantage of it. It can separate us from other bands, ya-know? Do you think you could work around it?

Maebe: I guess. It just sounds like he doesn’t know what he’s doing is all.

Marlene: Those boys always sound like they’re butting heads though. Robin does his own thing for a while, and then goes back to normal. Nick tries to get you guys to play another Chili Peppers song. He gets over it the next day.

Nick: We got about 3 weeks--I'm sure he’ll pull through.

Marlene: Yeesh, and y’all are worked up about him on day one?

Maebe: Siiiigh no. He’s just being weird. It’s nothing, I guess. Forget it.

>Has he been acting weird in other ways?
Marlene: Is that it or is he acting unusual than normal lately?

Maebe: I dunno. He’s... Robin. He’s fine. What about you, Nick? ‘He acting different?

Nick: Naw, he’s cool. Far as I can tell.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/05(Fri)08:13 No. 1062753 ID: 11f77a
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We sit silently for a moment. The breeze feels nice. Nothing prompts me to bring up much for these two--maybe because I spent so much energy just walking around. I heard Nick’s question but I don’t have the energy to answer the same thing to each person I meet. Sorry, Nick.

Marlene: I’ll go check him out then; I need a break from the sun.

Maebe: Alrighty. You go do that.

She exhales a stream of smoke.

I step inside. Even past the front door I could feel the bass-y resonance through the hallways. Are they sure he’s playing in the garage?

My ears may be a little sensitive today. Perhaps it’s like what Nick said, too many low notes and there’s a mash of fuzziness. There’s a tinge of disorientation in the air and I can see how it may be annoying to the others.

It’s not just the same chord over and over. There’s some experimental notes included--but it’s always back to the original euphony of notes. I’m no musician so I can’t tell if it’s like... G major or whatever.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/05(Fri)08:16 No. 1062754 ID: 11f77a
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That sound... It's... interesting.

>>1062754

Be cautious. Weird alien machinery is known to make powerful noises in completing its eldritch work. He might have heard that in his dreams and his chord resonates with it somehow. It doesn't seem threatening yet though, and he might have some clue about what's been happening. Just proceed with caution and... you might already be dreaming.

Also f*ck you dub-folk is the best music ever: objective fact. COUNTRY ROOOOADS...

Oh, hey! The sense of one of the other reality layers is leaking in. Neat. Remember how in The Matrix, the red pill was specifically a sort of stimuli (well, druuuuugs) that locally disrupted the interface between the different reality lairs? Maybe this is something similar.

>>1062754

Listen in for a little bit, then give a quick peek. Hopefully he's not rockin with it all out, you know?

(Nah, Robin's probably not THAT weird. Is he?)

But yeah, give that a listen. It looks familiar.

Is something strange again? Go, observe, listen, but don't lose your senses to this noise. Steady yourself with other sensations, a pinch if need be. Stay analytical.

What makes the noise interesting? You heard it earlier, it didn't quite affect you quite the same way then.

I think it's lulling you to sleep. Lay on the couch and just let it play for a bit.

>>1062792

No, you go in, you talk to him, you encourage him, and if it seems a good idea to try and get to the other realm, you sit and meditate or whatever and bask in the effect and try to tunnel to the ugly cyborg layer and get some answers!

Oh, Heavens, fire!
Fire! Fire!
Call Maebe and grab the extinguisher!

>>1062811

Do you smell fire? Is there smoke? Heat?

Go inside. Lay down and vibe to the tunes. Unless that's actually a fire.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/08(Mon)15:04 No. 1063061 ID: 11f77a
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>Oh, Heavens, fire!
>Do you smell fire? Is there smoke? Heat?
I don’t smell anything burning. And there’s no intense heat radiating from there or crackling of fire. I think it’s safe.

>Just proceed with caution and... you might already be dreaming.
>The sense of one of the other reality layers is leaking in. Neat.
>Steady yourself with other sensations, a pinch if need be. Stay analytical
I’m so tired of feeling conflicted about this; I really hope my life isn’t fake. I’d sooner declare myself a schizo before accepting all this as a simulation. I know, I know. That’s what they’d want me to think. It aint fair is what I’m sayin’.
But you’re right; I should make an analytical approach. While it doesn’t freak me out at all, it lulls me somewhat. I observe my senses and the room around me as I gradually step forward.

>[…] his chord resonates with it somehow
>Listen in for a little bit, then give a quick peek.
>Go, observe, listen, but don’t lose your senses to this noise.
The noise amplifies in my head. Not in a way to burst my eardrums but like goosebumps to a melody or lament. It reminds me of the dream, oh yes, which makes me miss being there. While weird (with occasional sudden nightmares at the end) I still want to go back. ‘See if Carter is alright, too. It’s a feeling best described as looking forward for the coming weekend.
The thought of taking a nap is enticing, but it’s not out of my control. I can remain awake and listen for a little while.

Listen...

And listen...

I fear once I finally see through--it’ll be gone again. Otherwise I’ll be staring at this door like an idiot when the others come back around.

But it’s time to see the other side. I gently push my hand to open the door wider.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/08(Mon)15:05 No. 1063062 ID: 11f77a
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Hrmmgh... well... it was nice as it lasted.

I see Robin next to his amp, leaning against it. He strums his bass guitar. Again. Again. Slow. It’s still a nice chord. A warm thrum. It’s like he’s trying to feel the vibrations while adjusting the little knobs on his instrument. I don’t know what they’re called. I attempt to pop in a word when I can.

Marlene: Yo. Uh... everything cool?

He peeks an eye open and is pleased to see me.

Robin: Oh! Hey Marley! Everythin’s cool. What’s up?

Robin: I brought along my old keyboard if you want to fiddle around with that. I’ve yet to hook it up and all.

Robin: Did everyone go outside? Anyway, I think I’m onto something here. The others are tired of it but I’ve been thinking of the kind of sound you want.

Robin: Sometimes the riff is so good that you just want to hear it over and over again. Maybe for 32 minutes!

Even if you don't know for sure if you believe it, you could use the language of the relevant context to explain your actions, his actions, and the weirdness.

"You were totally onto something... but not a song, more an effect. I think we both were having a weird reaction to that, like, you were tapping something cosmic. Could you start up again while I try to meditate on it? I swear you were making a musical redpill to see another layer of the Matrix. Dude!"

A good riff is like a warm bath washing over you. You don't wanna leave the tub, but if you don't open your eyes and something horrible is happening to wake you screaming out of your own nightmares then... wait that metaphor got away from me.

>>1063062
Ask him to play it again.
Maybe ask him if he's seen the dream.

>>1063062

Tell him it reminds you of something, but you're really not sure what. Not like a song or anything you've heard before, but a feeling.

See how he replies.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/10(Wed)18:43 No. 1063392 ID: 11f77a
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Marlene: Yeah... and to be honest I think you’re totally onto something. More than a song but it really shook something up.

Robin: You think?

>Maybe ask him if he’s seen the dream
>Tell him it reminds you of something […] See how he replies.
I try to be a bit low-key when asking.

Marlene: I dunno how else to explain it, it seemed a bit cosmic is all. Where’d you learn that--in a dream? Can you, uh, visualize it and all? Colors and bubbles and things?

Robin: Huh? Nah I was just... fooling around and really liked it last night before bed.

Marlene: No dream?

Robin: Nope. Why?

>Tell him it reminds you of something, but you’re really not sure what
Marlene: Oh... maybe I heard it in a dream once. Thought it would be, ya know, funny. Coincidence. Maybe nostalgic, I dunno. It’s not just the sound but I’m really feeling something from it.

Marlene: If I could describe it--it’s like... taking a warm bath and slowly dunking your head under.

Robin: That’s a good thing I assume. I can totally dig it that way.

Marlene: Play it again?

Robin: Oh, this?

He strums. I can tell there’s less treble the way he adjusts the sound so everything melds together into a happy bloom. It’s not so intense when I was approaching the door--but maybe something triggered my brain to reminisce the dream.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/10(Wed)18:45 No. 1063393 ID: 11f77a
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Marlene: Look, I really like it and you should experiment some more. But you ought to play around with it later at home. I get that it’s a neat little riff you discovered but the other guys are beginning to lose their patience.

Robin: Well... yeah I s’pose. I was hoping maybe they’d just catch on.

Maebe busts in with Nick behind her. She flicks what remains of her cigarette butt on the stone floor. Nick picks up his guitar.

Maebe: Alright, dickholes. It’s time to play something!

Maebe: So you gonna join us Robin or what?

He stands up from his spot, stretching his back.

Robin: Yeah sure. I... guess I can take a break from something.

Maebe: Good. Which song? Ya know what? I’m choosing the song. Richter Scale.

Nick: Richter Scale!

Robin: Alright, Richter Scale.

They adjust their amps and settings. I could attempt to write lyrics again as they play. Well... not lyrics but jot down notes with a fresher mind. I think I have a bit more to go on. I’ve thought of the idea to just meditate and let sound flow through me.

I know I tried writing last time and took a nap. Maybe this’ll be different. There could be other options I could do.

• I could jot down rhymes for a new song
• Meditate and enjoy listening for a while
• Fiddle around with the keyboard (I aint so good, I'll keep it simple)
• Read the rest of my scripts, get those shitty stories over with

>>1063393

Completely miss that they call their song Richter Scale and settle down for a nice peaceful meditative daydream. And then the music starts, and you realize there will be no napping within the nearest 3 blocks for some time.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/12(Fri)09:42 No. 1063599 ID: 11f77a
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>And then the music starts, and you realize there will be no napping within the nearest 3 blocks for some time.
Riiight. I might need to pop my earbuds in just in case. I settle in a corner and chill out a moment as they tune their guitars.

Maebe: One, two, three, four..!

--

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
Hey there little ol’ man
Why don’t you tell me your master plan
And even if you don’t think so
I could tell that it’s workin’

I’ll draw a line in the sand
You’ll draw a little line in the sand
Say the name that you’ve given me
And I’ll be right over

--

While they’re often a loud bunch, they can be a decent loud bunch. The song aint annoying at least. I kind-of focus on Robin and his bass notes first. It fills the background with a rumble as Nick plays a post-rock strum. I take my small notebook out to scribble on: sometimes I can write with my eyes closed so I can meditate a lil’ bit. That’s totally a talent I have. Yeah...

>>1063599

Let's keep listening and give that cool talent a run. See what happens.

>>1063599

wuh oh looks like one of those slots is you. Be ready to meditate... to the beat!

Marlene Collins 2023/05/12(Fri)16:01 No. 1063642 ID: 11f77a
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>Be ready to meditate... to the beat!
>Let’s keep listening and give that cool talent a run.
Scribble away I go. Their lyrics may distract a little, such as a few lines I may need to dissect. But I go on a roll with writing.

--

[Verse 2]
Here you’ve fallen again
It took a while for you to stand
You’ll make a pedestal out of me
So you can do it all over

A-hundred memories then
How could we’ve known what could’ve been
Have you wondered what kind of name
I have given you, little man

[Chorus]
And it never would’ve crossed the mind
I don’t think it
Ever will
It was another day at the time
You’re still the same as
Ever been
Let’s go off in the wood to find
Another gift for
You to steal
You can laugh at me all the while
And I’d still do it
All again

Marlene Collins 2023/05/12(Fri)16:15 No. 1063645 ID: 11f77a
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[Interlude]

[Verse 3]
Here comes trouble again
I could lead if you grab my hand
In that moment you were still
There was only that blank stare

In the middle of it
You’re made a little fool once again
In the midst of that blank stare
I saw that moment it settled in.

[Chorus]
And it never would’ve crossed the mind
I don’t think it
Ever will
It was another day at the time
You’re still the same as
Ever been
Let’s go off in the wood to find
Another gift for
You to steal
You can laugh at me all the while
And I’d still do it
All again

--

No real prompt; respond freely however you like for now

Marlene Collins 2023/05/13(Sat)10:07 No. 1063688 ID: 11f77a
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[Solo]

[Breakdown]
Hey
What’s going on with your mind?
You gotta pay attention to this Richter--
Scale
Hey
What’s been going on with your mind?
You gotta pay attention to this Richter--
Scale
Hey
What’s going on with your mind?
You gotta pay attention to this Richter--
Scale
Hey
What’s going on with your mind?
You gotta pay attention to this Richter--
Scale
[x2]

[Outro]

--

The notes hold until they distort into a soft burble.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/13(Sat)10:09 No. 1063689 ID: 11f77a
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Maebe throws her sticks up and they clatter against the wall behind her.

Maebe: Fuck yeah. Finally...

Nick: Yeah, baby!

Maebe: I need another smoke...

Marlene: Those were some... interesting lyrics. I thought the ‘richter scale’ would have something to do with shaking the entire block.

Robin: Was it good, though?

Marlene: Hmm...

Marlene: It wasn’t bad~

Nick: Damn straight. I told you we’ve been practicin’! Steele City is going to be our ticket out of Springford so I’ve been digging in our old notes and demos waaaay far back since middle school.

Marlene: Sounds like you’re coming along just fine without a lyricist, then.

Nick: Well, uhm, I mean, we got some good songs and all but... maybe a little advising could help.

Robin: Yeah I’ve noticed you’ve been writing some things too, Marley.

Nick: Hey, lemee see what’chu got.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/13(Sat)10:11 No. 1063690 ID: 11f77a
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Nick yanks the notebook from my lap. I aint mad, but I’m closer to being miffed. I mean, I could’ve given it to them if I rechecked what I’ve written.

Marlene: Oh, yeah. Sure. I guess. Go nuts...

Nick: *ahem*

Nick: I’m lying floating like eyelid movies through viscid air descending in a gradual dive we can fall for a million days as the brightness within overshadows me in the company of absence where we become real but neither there or here between calliope and pluto and drowse in a sun-stained grass and reed field bathed in happy tears and from the sky leaks a great noise dripping bittersweet distractions of a tether that is leading clearly feeding all--uh...

Nick: Hold on... I lost myself...

Robin: Uh--what?

Nick: --feeding all the things I don’t believe in and I’ll drift again in the soft metallic yawn of a faraway sentimental bloom as you stop time managing to somehow find a way to turn my head into beautiful sound and color whispering every autumn to the young while I don’t know where I am but finally where I want in a euphoric lament of epiphany--

Nick: Marlene, what the fuck am I reading? You really wrote this stuff?

"Eh, I've just been having some really kooky dreams of late. You should see my dream logs. Though, uh, you can't actually see my dream logs. Though this was more of a daydream sort of thing, so it's more coherent. What, my notebook writings aren't purple enough for you? I can make it more purple..."

(this more purple thing is meant to be an amusing sort of friendly threat)

"What? I needed to get my emotions on paper in time with your pace. Needs revisions."

Realize that normal people can't generally write well with their eyes closed. Automatic writing typically requires some level of seeing or being aware of the location of the paper so the script doesn't distort down the page. Hey, possibly being an ugly cyborg on one of the levels of reality has cognitive benefits, hooray!

“The eyes are but a guide, my hands know the way.”
…
That makes me wonder…
How well can you echolocate?
It might be asssociated with bats but people can and do that. The trick is getting good enough to be able to navigate with your eyes closed…

>>1063690
Tell them it's stream of consciousness, you need to edit it into something sensible.

>>1063690

Wow, uh, maybe you should actually look at what you're writing. Those are terrible lyrics. They don't even rhyme!

Seriously though tell them it's random; you just write with your eyes closed to ease your mind sometimes. It's like doodling. Most you could get out of it is the song was making you feel sentimental.

It's more, just thoughts and feelings. Doodling words with your mind. You've been having some weird dreams lately and just wanted to get some feelings down on paper.

>>1063707

They are not terrible lyrics, lyrics don't have to rhyme in particular, they need to be appropriately poetic and rhythmic in the right way.

There is more than the formulaic 3.5 minute pop song, sheesh.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/16(Tue)10:33 No. 1063893 ID: 11f77a
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>How well can you echolocate?
Not well, I assume.

>Realize that normal people can’t generally write well with their eyes closed
Well I’ve already known that’s a given. I, however, am (adequately) attuned to the motions of handwriting letters with my eyes shut--sort of like typing without looking at your hands. It was something I taught myself in high school when I was tired every morning at seven. I would sit up straight to give the illusion of being at attention, eyes would close, and I write. Yet I don’t think I can write in a straight line for long.

Marlene: What’s wrong? Are my writings not purple enough for you? I can make it more purple.

Nick: Eh—whuh? Purple?

Marlene: Uh... sigh nevermind about that. Look, I needed to get my emotions on paper before it lost me. Sure, it needs revisions but I can edit them into something sensible later. Mkay?

Marlene: Maybe I was looking for something sentimental-sounding. I haven’t written like that in months, you know; I’ve been having some weird dreams lately so perhaps I could jot them down.

Marlene: Unless you’d like to sift out the ‘good parts’ yourself.

He snorts and hands back my notebook.

Nick: Uhm. Uh. Ya know what? That’s fine. You can fine-tune it. Looks like Rob has his sound so I ought to find something to go along with it.

Robin: Those words still sound trippy as hell, though. I can... definitely like it! I’m sure it means a lot to somebody. I was never good at double-meanings and whatnot.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/16(Tue)10:34 No. 1063894 ID: 11f77a
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The boys would go off on their own discussion. Maebe’s back from another cigarette break and freestyles on the drums for a bit. Nothing crazy, just a bit of experimenting.

I think my work here is done for now. I can hang with them for another hour or so before returning home. The rest of the scripts in my backpack aren’t so good either. I don’t think the author thought hard enough about naming his story Golden Streams.

Among the rest is The Crackling, Mega Saturn, Apocalypse: Vulgar Storm, Order and Terror, and Countdown to Darkness.

I’m ready to head out whenever.

Maybe he knew exactly what he was doing. Check Mega Saturn next!

Mega Saturn then Countdown to Darkness!

>>1063894

Yeah, if there's nothing left to do, might as well head out and reflect on how our weird autonomic writing might just elaborate on the more subconscious aspects of the dream.

(I feel we should memorialize all these horrible show names as some kind of kind of warning on how NOT to do the thing.)

Marlene Collins 2023/05/19(Fri)13:55 No. 1064120 ID: 11f77a
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I say goodbye to the Gaps and take a long walk home. Skipping Silenus, I’ll be there a lil’ early. Seb won’t come in for another couple of hours (unless something real shitty happened with a repair).

I could give some of these a read. Let’s see...

Mega Saturn. Surreal Science Fiction. Amid a galactic expansion of humanity, cryonic technician Marat Bower discovers and is enamored by a strange alien artifact known as The Cairn.
Yeah. Enamored could be an understatement. Slow start; there seems to be very minimal interaction with the world outside our protagonist’s space condo. I skip through a few pages because it’s so bizarre. I guess it’s symbolism? There’s a device that spews pink syrup depending on its mood? There’s a beast the protagonist often sees (or hallucinates?) as a multi-limbed red wolf called the Hate Machine, who requests some drug called Nixchromo. He’s portrayed like the Wonderland Caterpillar. Littered around his domain are the ‘heads of fairies’ he’s bitten off while lying in a pile of pillows. I think Bower is just losing his mind as a monotonous worker in this futuristic gray space civilization.
In vivid detail by the end of the second act there’s a musical number when the main character gets... intimate with the Cairn. There aren’t exactly specifics when it comes to sex scenes in screenplays; usually in a script it would be abbreviated to ‘they make love’. But this cryogenicist does some kind of... ‘courtship display’ to the Cairn. It’s not even, uh, handheld-sized; it’s a monolith. Could it be the movie Silenus is looking for to bring it back to its prime? Beats me.

Countdown to Darkness is another Science Fiction film, but probably utilizes action more. In a world taken over by a race known as the ‘darkmongers’, Elias Bethesda is a one-man rebel tasked to save his village when it’s time for the culling.
It’s your basic action flick. The science-y stuff is just a backdrop. Bit campy. B-movie vibe with bad dialogue. The script goes back and forth from the hero to the villainous leader chewing the scenery. It’s surprisingly a lot of dialogue and not a lot of action. The author tries to make it some diplomatic space opera but falls flat. Elias is part of a desert village like Tatooine moisture farms. He pulls a Rambo basically and that’s it. They try to set up a sequel.

I stop by the grocer’s on my way home; I should plan what food to make as I look through these stories. Maybe other plans for the rest of the night as well.

>>1064120

Well Mega Saturn isn't crap, it's that kind of kooky low budget art house flick that never makes any money but could maybe win a lot of very niche awards? That's not actually useless to the right people.

Countdown to Darkness has potential, if they can figure out something less pathetic to name their bad guys other than "darkmongers." Considering the rest of the script is amateurish trash, it's not likely that potential will be realized. I'd tell them to resubmit their idea once they've mentally matured beyond the age of 12.

Mega Saturn seems really promising. The author sounds a bit sex deprived though, finding weird sideways approaches to obsessing over making love. If there was some sort of twist to it, like a dark secret to the Cairn or some greater meaning behind the protagonist humping the hallucinatory space rock, it might work. As-is, it just sounds like an excuse to get some actor pole dancing against a space rock.

Countdown to Darkness could literally take the timed mission approach and slowly decrease in quality as the timer approaches zero. Successful sabotages against the antagonists' plan to terraform reality would bring the quality back, meaning you get slow degradation of fight scenes into dim, gory blood-splattering battles between puppets that bursts into quality 4K victory scenes the moment the McGuffin device is blown up. This lets you save on the action animation budget and trick the audience into cheering for it!

>>1064120
So Mega Saturn just sound arthouse as fuck, which is fine if you like that sort of thing and have the right team to make it but at best it's going to be a niche cult hit.

Countdown to Darkness, swap some dialog for action and you've got solid B-grade sci-fi action. Not great not terrible.

Countdown to Darkness is serviceable, just needs some rewrites.
Make some soup. Tomato soup with something to dip in it is delicious.

>>1064191

Be sure to pretend you're a vampire. That's an important part of tomato soup.

Keep it cheap for dinner. Something simple like rice.

>>1064246
>>1064120

Why be boring when you can toss in some thyme, cayenne, and a bay leaf after sauteing onions, celery, and green bell peppers together with sausage (or mushrooms if you'd like to go vegetarian), then add a can or two of red kidney beans (mashing about a third) to make some delicious red beans and rice (and potentially have some leftovers)?

Marlene Collins 2023/05/22(Mon)12:59 No. 1064359 ID: 11f77a
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>Mega Saturn seems really promising
>Well Mega Saturn isn’t crap, it’s that kind of kooky low budget art house flick that never makes any money.
Hmm, I guess I could persuade Dolly to look into Mega Saturn, but she’ll think I’m a crazy person out for that $100. Which I am. I want that hundred! She never said Silenus had to actually make it a movie! The scripts will obviously be edited and handed off to several writers. The only obstacle is that Mega Saturn’s author will probably try to keep it to the original script to maintain his vision--meanwhile something like Countdown to Darkness can easily be reworked with the right people. This is kind of a best-of-the-worst situation and I could just hand in both anyway.

I’ve been walking all day so I’m very sweaty right now, especially from picking up the pace to get home before the grocery bags rip.

>Make some soup.
>Keep it cheap for dinner.
I couldn’t afford to purchase anything fancy like salmon or some ribeye. I’ve bought a plethora of ingredients for future dishes as well, something with red beans and sautéing onions perhaps. Got some milk. I’ll make something simple for now, like tomato soup. There were other things I needed to stock up on like toilet paper. $70 bucks spent, man...

My backpack is tossed onto a couch and I start putting food away. Turn on the television, play something over Netflix, and figure out what to do with the rest of my life.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/22(Mon)12:59 No. 1064360 ID: 11f77a
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Sebastian walks in the apartment tired as hell. But I’m there to sweetly greet him from around the kitchen counters.

Marlene: Welcome home~

Seb: Hello, hon. Huh, are you... you’re cooking something?

Marlene: I sure am.

Seb: And not take-out? Or UberEats? Or TV dinners? Or leftover take-out?

Marlene: Maybe I’ll just make enough dinner for one...

Seb: I’m kid-ding. It smells very ... tomato-y. What is it?

Marlene: Tomatoes ... uh, soup. Gonna try to make it from scratch instead of from a can. I mean, there are canned crushed tomatoes but you get the gist. Grilled cheeses to complement. May be ready in about 20 minutes though. (And some rice thrown in.)

Seb: Well then, before I talk your ear off about work I’m just gonna get naked and take a shower.

Marlene: You go do that, hun.

And there he goes; he smells like a cold garage and a hint of his coworker’s cigarettes and vape pens. In other news: makin’ soup is easy; I can pay half-attention and throw away the last of the terrible scripts while keeping a few candidates.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/22(Mon)13:00 No. 1064361 ID: 11f77a
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Seb: You got some red on your lips.

Marlene: I’m a vampire, couldn’t you tell?

Seb: Oh? Have I been fooled into eating some blood soup or something?

Marlene: I read a terrible script this morning about a fat vampire. He becomes some kingpin pimp nicknamed ‘Blood Sugar’ by the end.

He snorts and chuckles for a while. I guess he finds that pretty goddamn funny.

Seb: Horhorhohoho *snort* Sorry~ eh-heh heh That was so out of left field. Did you approve it?

Marlene: I dunno. They were all terrible to be honest. A few might raise some eyebrows. I hear Silenus aint doing so hot so it sounds like they need a golden script to bring them back on top.

Seb: You gonna write them one yourself?

Marlene: Don’t I wish. I can write better than any of these amateurs.

Seb: I’m glad you’re doing something, though. Even if it only happens today, ya know? I haven’t seen you ... ‘sure’ about something in a while, ya know? I dunno what.

Now might be a good time to come clean to him.

What did you have to come clean to, again?

Also what is a sheep doing eating a ribeye steak?

>>1064371

There are obviously SOME sort of domesticated animals in this universe. And it's difficult for pure herbivores to have the caloric energy density in their food for full sapience. And she needs to come clean to her boyfriend that she had a steamy kiss with a guy who wasn't him, before she came to her senses and pulled back.

>>1064372

But perhaps... she really is a vampire!!!?!

And oh right, her old boss. He is a handsome devil. Can't say she was wrong about kissing him, but I also can't say that her relationship with Seb could last if she worked at that place again. She can’t go back to that place so it's probably safe to just... it was just one time, nothing to bother him about.

>>1064373

Wow. Every single part of that message was wrong. She was absolutely wrong to kiss him, regardless of how handsome he is or isn't, that is NOT how committed exclusive relationships are supposed to work, AND she needs to tell the person she is in a committed relationship with about the indiscretion ASAP. And what does keeping her relationship with Seb have anything to do with what white collar place in the area she works at?? The two concepts are entirely unrelated. Also, delaying increases the negative ramifications of the eventual explosion when he inevitably finds out AND will eat at her!

>>1064378

OK MOM

>>1064372
>>1064373
>>1064378
>>1064380

Please take it to /questdis or the IRC channel Discord server. You are encouraged to create a thread if one does not exist.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/25(Thu)12:47 No. 1064546 ID: 11f77a
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>Now might be a good time to come clean to him
>It’s probably safe to just... it was just one time, nothing to bother him about.
I choke on my soup! Have I forgotten about that already? Just when the day was starting to feel like things aint so bad.

Seb: Whoah! Hey, hey. You alright?

Marlene: hnnk--coofcoof--yeah! ... It was a hot spot I guess. Hnk! You liking your soup?

Seb: It aint bad! It’s real good, Marley ♥

Seb: Drink your milk.

Marlene: Yeah-- thanks.

Oh man, why bring that up? I mean--of course it needs to be brought up. Does it have to be brought up at all, though? I’m willing to dismiss that kiss yesterday due to some weird supernatural shit going on in my brain. He’ll ask why I did it and I can’t respond with ‘lol, I dunno’.

Nonono. Not until I get to the bottom of this strange behavior. I just have to be more aware of what's happening to me. It slipped through once and never again.

Seb: You sure you’re good? You just got quiet all of a sudden.

Marlene: I’m fine! Tongue burnt. Will recover. Yes.

Marlene: Please tell me about your day at work!

Seb: Oh? Eh, it was nothing special. A bunch of cars to be inspected so it’s monotonous stuff. I replaced an oil pressure sending unit. That was fun. Not really. Work aint ever fun but I’m good at it. Or at least every project done feels good.

Seb: Say, is there anything you’d like to do tonight? We haven’t been out of the apartment for a while--I mean we can still stay in if you want. I just don’t know what I’m in the mood for. That’s all.

I've been really stressed, my mind has been going weird places of late. Think you could pamper me for a bit, then you could help me banish my sorrows with under a wave of orgasms and some happy exhaustion?

>>1064546

>Getting out of the apartment
May have done that all day, but ... why not? Anywhere around to take a leisurely walk? Maybe a park or just some quiet street or something?

Just somewhere to talk about nothing and cool down, at least mentally.

boink his brains out!

>>1064546
Been stressed if you dont have any ideas on where to go or do we could just spend some quality time as i fuck you up with fucking you will be like a mountain goat after i take you down brokeback mountain

>>1064616

Let's try to not be too cheesy in how we let him know, hahaha. Unless you have a specific way to be cheesy that you two enjoy?

Marlene Collins 2023/05/27(Sat)16:45 No. 1064671 ID: 11f77a
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Marlene: Oh, I dunno--I’ve been out walking all day. I know you mean out of the apartment together. My legs are just aching a lil’. I ought to ride the bus tomorrow if they still hurt.

Seb: Fair enough.

Marlene: While today was a little better than usual, my mind has still been going to weird places. Think you can pamper me for a bit?

Seb: Oh, sure. Let me help with the dishes and we could just chillax on the couch.

--

Ah, that’s better. Not much to pamper other than brushing my horns or massaging my head. Seb’s catching up on a show where he’s a full season behind--I already know what’s happening so there’s less need to be invested. Gives me a reason to be invested in something else~
Other than the occasional quick handjob there hasn’t been much intimacy in the past month-and-a-half due to the unsynchronized lows we’ve been going through. Ya know: he arrives home tired and is quick to doze off one day--or I’m depressed and don’t have the will to initiate sex on another day.

Marlene Collins 2023/05/27(Sat)16:45 No. 1064672 ID: 11f77a
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Somehow, I’ve segued away from pampering. We transfer to the bed, Seb’ll have to watch the rest of the episode later--he’s got other things to tend to.

Undressed, I slink my body over the cool bedsheets and present myself. A single hand grabs a cheek and the other guides him to my waiting slit.

Seb: Ahh~

Marlene: Hmm, missed it~?

Seb: It’s been for-fucking-ever.

Marlene: Just make it last.

Marlene: For me~

He slides in like he’s testing my depth; a careful rocking to agitate his nerves. He thrums. I coo. And I feel myself stretching to fit his girth. With two warm palms resting on my hips (as those thumbs nudge into my softer rump) he picks a tempo to fuck me to. And he's hilting me with each full thrust.

Damn this feels fucking good.

Keep it up, keep at it! You want to end up with both of you as exhausted puddles of goo at the end! ;)

tell him how good he feels and how thick he is and how deep he's going, it'll drive him nuts

Hold him tight with everything you have; he's wonderful

Wait
Did you forget the condom?

>>1064676

She might have an implant, at her age. That'd make sense.

Yeah, take it! Seriously though, that's pretty much all you can do unless you change positions.