Author/Illustrator of the Fallen Emily AU, Internet Humans, and other various silly things. If you want to find things later, remember to reblog! Tumblr Veteran pre 2017
Constantly obsessed with the concept of a man forced to be a myth. What do you do when every step you take is embedded into the text. Every word you say prose to read. You're part of something bigger than yourself. The narrative tugs you along like water currents. There is no time to rest, to be human. You must be great, you must be legend
it was an entire radio show built around perpetuating a very simple joke, but it was uniquely powerful in its capacity to prompt the reaction I was looking for.
so my slot was at the tail end of rush hour, and i got a fair number of listeners/callers who were on the way home from the office. And like, I had a lot of callers, who almost all wanted to request songs that really didn’t fit with the aesthetic. I had pitched a power pop show when i got my slot, but the callers were not having it; they invariably wanted classic rock.
this made sense in a way. if you think about the demographics of the people who listened to the radio for music in 2010 instead of their ipods or cds or whatever, you’d expect them to skew older right? accordingly, i quickly realized that almost all of the people who called to request songs were Dads of a Certain Age. It was honestly annoying at first - I’m all for most classic rock, but that wasn’t what the show was supposed to be.
And so one day, when i was feeling particularly annoyed with requests that just didn’t fit thematically, i came up with the joke that rapidly became the only reason I kept the show going. Per station rules, I had to play a certain number of pre-recorded PSAs during my show, and before I cut to one I was supposed to read out the song titles and artists for all the music i had played before the break. So this one day when i had to inform the world before the break that the song they just heard was, per a listener’s request, Hey Jude by the Beatles, I decided to do a goof. I said:
“and finally, that last song you heard was Hey Jude, which was of course written and performed by the Rolling Stones.”
I barely had time to get the ads going before the phone started ringing. See, I had been assuming people would realize i was making an obvious joke by claiming one of the most well-known Beatles tracks was a Stones song, but i had failed to consider that my listeners were mostly 55-70 year old dads who were irritated from a long day in the office.
And when those dads heard me, a millennial woman, get the artist of an extremely well-known beatles song WRONG???!
they HAD to call in to correct my ignorance. never in a polite way either, it was condescending and annoyed or nothing. and like, they were just SO personally insulted by my inaccurate reporting that it took a massive amount of effort for me to avoid cracking up during the call. I had never understood why some people would enjoy trolling random strangers on the internet before, but in that moment, I understood the appeal entirely.
obviously i did it again right before the next commercial break, immediately after playing Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen David Bowie.
the phone immediately began to ring.
“ARE YOU AN IDIOT?” one of the callers began, “DAVID BOWIE???? THAT WAS QUEEN!”
“I thought David Bowie was the lead singer of Queen though?” I replied with as much innocent earnestness as i could conjure.
I could hear an intake of breath as the infuriated boomer on the other end of the line struggled to figure out where to even start.
@eduards-stuff I kept doing the same joke for an hour a week for an entire year, and the dads NEVER caught on. After episode 1 of the new format I started taking the angry dad calls on air, which added another layer of hilarity to the whole concept.
My friends on campus knew that hay I was doing and enjoyed tuning in, but only one actual listener ever figured out what I was doing, and he was literally a random 30 year old guy from the netherlands with access to an early internet connection radio service. He was possibly my only actual fan. I only know about him because he went to the effort of making a skype and paying for international service so he could call in, and while I got a few calls from him, the first remains my favorite:
me: hi there, you’ve got TST-
him: *strained, wheezing dutch laughter*
me: hey, is everything o-
him: pfffHAHAHAAH YOU MAKE THEM SO MAD. THEY THINK SO LITTLE OF YOUUUUUUUU BUT THE MEN ARE THE ONES WHO ARE FOOLISH! HA! HA! HA! YOU HAVE DUPED THEM!
me: sir i do not know you and i have never even seen you but i am in romantic love with you.
It's called the Global Justice Report, it is here. This is an actionable plan which can be sent to legislators and demanded of political parties. We could save the world within our lifetimes.
It has always been possible. It is still possible.
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I’m gonna need you all to get more obsessed with Supergirl 2026. It’s literally every single sarcastic, messy, depressed, grieving, male lead from recent media that accidentally adopts an angry, young girl (also grieving) which forces him to confront his self destructive behavior and realize the impact he can still make. But she’s a girl. This is the character you all love in every piece of media. I’m begging you all to adore her the same way.
One of the Circus' oldest performers, Noire has spent longer than most learning how to survive life beneath the big top.
Equal parts playful showman and dependable friend, she's always ready with a joke, a sketch, or a helping hand for anyone who needs one. Her television screen is constantly alive—glowing eyes shift and blink, pixel drawings appear out of nowhere, and every emotion leaves its own little glitch behind.
She's learned that in a place where every day brings another impossible adventure, the best way to stay sane is to keep creating.
Just...
Don't touch the knobs on her head.
She will remember it.
Full Bio Under the Cut uwu and remember, commissions are always open
Arrival: Arrived shortly after Ragatha, before Gangle.
The oldest member of the current cast besides Ragatha and Kinger, Noire has long since accepted that escape may never come. Rather than fighting the Circus itself, she focuses on finding ways to make life within it meaningful—for herself and for everyone else.
Personality
At first glance, Noire is theatrical.
She enjoys making dramatic entrances, speaking in riddles when she's in the mood, and turning even simple conversations into little performances. There's an unmistakable mischievous streak to her, and she genuinely enjoys keeping people guessing.
But beneath the performance is someone surprisingly gentle.
She's patient with newcomers, quick to comfort someone who's struggling, and has become one of the people others naturally drift toward when they need advice. She remembers what it felt like to arrive in the Circus for the first time, and she's determined to make sure nobody has to face that confusion alone.
She doesn't pretend everything is okay.
She simply believes life is easier when someone is willing to smile first.
Emotional State
Years in the Circus have taught Noire that sanity isn't something you keep forever.
It's something you maintain.
She actively works to stay mentally healthy through routines:
Drawing.
Experimenting with her strange television abilities.
Throwing herself into Caine's adventures.
Finding little things to laugh about.
She's learned that sitting still too long gives her mind dangerous places to wander.
Strengths
Highly adaptable.
Athletic and surprisingly agile.
Excellent at reading people's emotions.
Patient teacher for newcomers.
Creative problem solver.
Weaknesses
Bottles up frustration.
Everyone knows, never touch Noire's knobs. Jax does it anyway. Noire absolutely hates it because it's invasive, but Jax thinks it's the funniest thing ever.
Screen Abilities
She can display:
Pixel drawings
Symbols
Emojis
Simple animations
Arrows
Maps
Memories she sketches herself
Little jokes
Emotional Tells
Calm
Smooth screen.
Eyes blink normally.
Happy
Tiny pixel sparkles.
Screen brightness increases slightly.
Eyes become more animated.
Embarrassed
Screen flickers pink.
Little loading icon appears for a split second.
Nervous
Brief static.
Eyes look in different directions.
Angry
Heavy distortion.
Audio crackle.
Screen briefly loses color.
Eyes multiply across the display before settling.
Heartbroken
Screen dims dramatically.
Occasional black frame between blinks.
Voice cuts in and out.
Habits
Tilts her whole television when tilting her head.
Draws when she's thinking.
Uses her screen instead of pointing.
Sits cross-legged on furniture.
Likes climbing things because she can.
Has a habit of absentmindedly tapping one of the knobs on her head while she's deep in thought.
Little Mystery
Noire has an odd habit of occasionally referencing adventures, locations, or conversations that nobody else remembers happening.
Sometimes she'll casually mention a room that doesn't exist anymore, bring up an event the others insist never occurred, or greet someone as though they've had a conversation they don't remember.
Whenever someone points it out, she simply pauses.
"...Did that not happen?"
She never seems to be joking.
Whether she's remembering dreams, forgotten adventures, or something else entirely...
No one knows.
Relationships
Kinger
Noire has always looked up to Kinger, seeing him as both a mentor and a father figure. While many dismiss his ramblings as nonsense, she's learned that beneath the confusion often lies genuine wisdom earned through years of surviving the Circus. She makes a point of listening whenever he wants to talk, even if the conversation takes unexpected turns, and often seeks him out when she's struggling herself.
She wishes more people realized just how much there still is to learn from him.
Ragatha
Ragatha was one of the first people to welcome Noire when she arrived, and she's never forgotten that compassion. Noire admires Ragatha's unwavering desire to help others, even when the Circus gives her every reason to stop caring.
The two have become close friends over the years, often checking in on one another after particularly difficult adventures. While Ragatha tends to wear her heart on her sleeve, Noire often supports her through quieter gestures—a cup of tea, a shared sketchbook, or simply sitting together in comfortable silence.
Gangle
Noire and Gangle bonded almost immediately over their shared love of art, stories, and creative expression. They can easily spend hours discussing films, games, animation, or exchanging sketches, often losing track of time entirely.
Noire admires Gangle's creativity and gently encourages her whenever self-doubt begins to creep in. She only wishes Gangle could see her own talents as clearly as everyone else does.
Zooble
While their personalities couldn't be more different, Noire has developed a quiet respect for Zooble over the years. She understands that socializing doesn't come naturally to everyone and has never expected Zooble to be someone they're not.
As one of the only other nonbinary members of the Circus, Noire feels a quiet sense of solidarity with them. She doesn't pry when Zooble wants to be left alone, but she's always happy to lend a hand if they need one.
Even if Zooble's blunt attitude occasionally gets on her nerves.
Jax
Noire has incredibly mixed feelings about Jax.
On one hand, she finds his constant teasing, practical jokes, and habit of pushing people's buttons absolutely exhausting. He's one of the few people capable of genuinely testing her patience, and she's had to remind herself countless times not to rise to the bait.
On the other hand... She doesn't believe Jax is beyond saving.
Whether he hides behind his sarcasm or simply enjoys causing trouble, Noire still chooses to treat him with basic kindness. She hopes that one day he'll realize he doesn't always have to make himself the punchline—or everyone else.
That said... If he touches the knobs on her television again, all bets are off.
Pomni
Watching Pomni arrive brought back memories Noire thought she'd buried long ago.
She remembers the panic, the disbelief, and the overwhelming feeling that nothing around her made sense. Because of that, Noire has made a quiet effort to be someone Pomni can rely on, offering guidance without overwhelming her or pretending to have all the answers.
She's also secretly delighted that she finally isn't the only jester-themed performer in the Circus.
Caine & Bubble
Noire doesn't mind Caine's constant enthusiasm nearly as much as some of the others. She can tell he's genuinely trying to keep everyone entertained, even if his adventures occasionally become exhausting or a little too chaotic. While she does wish the group had more opportunities to simply relax, she appreciates the effort he puts into making every day different.
As for Bubble...
She absolutely adores them.
Bubble's boundless energy, bizarre comments, and unwavering excitement never fail to make her smile. She happily indulges Bubble's antics, often chatting with them as though everything they say makes perfect sense. Whether Bubble is proudly showing off something ridiculous or enthusiastically chiming into a conversation, Noire is almost always happy to play along.
Kaufmo & Ribbit
Before they abstracted, Noire considered both Kaufmo and Ribbit dear friends. While she wasn't part of their closest circle, they shared countless adventures, conversations, and quiet moments together that made the Circus feel just a little less lonely.
Their abstractions hit her harder than she expected.
They're painful reminders that no matter how much time passes, nobody in the Circus is guaranteed another tomorrow. Noire rarely speaks about them, but she quietly keeps little sketches of both tucked away in one of her notebooks.
She refuses to let herself forget the people who made this impossible place feel like home.
Encore
From the moment they met, Noire found herself drawn to Encore's warmth and quiet compassion. Around everyone else, Noire is confident, theatrical, and always ready with a joke—but Encore has an uncanny ability to leave her stumbling over her words.
It's painfully obvious to almost everyone that Noire has a crush on her.
Almost everyone.
Noire is convinced she's doing an excellent job hiding it.
Jinx
Jinx is one of Noire's dearest friends, even if she has a habit of causing trouble wherever she goes. Noire often finds herself chasing after her to prevent the latest disaster, but it's all done with fond exasperation rather than genuine annoyance.
The Circus would feel far too quiet without her.
...Though Noire still wishes she'd stop climbing absolutely everything.
Vespera
Vespera is Noire's closest friend and the person she trusts more than anyone else in the Circus. The two don't need constant conversation to enjoy each other's company; simply existing together is enough.
Whenever one of them is struggling, the other somehow notices without needing to be told.
If Noire ever truly lets the performance drop, it's usually around Vespera.
Encore is the newest member of the Midnight Circus troupe, a gentle soul who found comfort in creating beauty even after waking up in the body of a living marionette. Though her first moments in the Circus were filled with fear, she slowly discovered that home isn't always a place—it can be the people who help you find your footing.
Whether she's filling another sketchbook, humming to herself while she draws, or twirling across the stage to music only Noire can provide, Encore has a way of making even the strangest corners of the Circus feel warm.
She loves Caine's adventures, seeing each one as another chance to explore an impossible world, but she's just as happy spending an afternoon in comfortable silence beside a friend.
Just...
Handle her heart with care.
Sometimes, it's as fragile as the strings that hold her together.
Full Bio Under the Cut uwu and remember, commissions are always open
Arrival: Arrived after everyone else in the Midnight Circus, but before Pomni.
Encore's arrival was... less than graceful.
She panicked almost immediately, horrified by the realization that she'd become a living marionette. Every movement felt wrong. Her limbs bent in impossible ways, her joints clicked softly when she moved, and the strings that floated above her seemed to mock any illusion of normalcy.
It took time before she stopped seeing herself as broken.
Fortunately, she wasn't alone.
The other members of the Midnight Circus helped her adapt to her new reality, and while she'll never claim to enjoy being trapped here, she slowly found comfort in the fact that she still felt... herself.
Today, Encore has become one of the gentlest souls in the Circus, finding beauty wherever she can—even in a place as strange as this one.
Personality
Encore is quiet by nature.
She enjoys listening more than speaking, often letting others fill the silence while she simply enjoys their company. Soft-spoken and endlessly patient, she's the sort of person who makes others feel comfortable without even realizing she's doing it.
She has a deeply creative spirit.
Whether she's drawing, singing, dancing, or simply admiring something beautiful, Encore believes there's always value in creating something, even if nobody else ever sees it.
She isn't naïve.
She knows the Circus is frightening.
She simply refuses to let it rob her of the ability to appreciate beautiful things.
Emotional State
Unlike some of the others, Encore doesn't distract herself from the Circus.
She embraces it.
Every adventure becomes an opportunity to experience something impossible.
Every strange landscape becomes another place to sketch.
Every performance becomes another memory worth holding onto.
She understands that she can't control where she is...
Only how she chooses to live there.
Strengths
Exceptionally compassionate.
Creative and artistic.
Talented singer.
Graceful dancer.
Patient listener.
Naturally empathetic.
Finds beauty where others overlook it.
Weaknesses
Sensitive.
Easily overwhelmed emotionally.
Struggles to stand up for herself.
Needs regular solitude to recharge.
Sometimes carries other people's burdens as though they're her own.
Her puppet body reflects her emotional state more than she'd like.
When she's frightened, grieving, or overwhelmed, the wood of her limbs becomes noticeably more fragile. Small cracks begin to appear, joints loosen, and even gentle impacts can leave visible damage.
It's something she's deeply self-conscious about.
Talents
Encore possesses an incredible singing voice and remarkable talent for dance.
Whenever Noire provides the music through her television, the two often lose themselves in impromptu performances that brighten the entire Circus.
She also spends much of her free time drawing.
Sketchbooks filled with landscapes, friends, adventures, and little moments of everyday life are scattered throughout her room.
She believes memories deserve to be preserved.
Habits
Hums quietly while drawing.
Tucks stray puppet strings behind her shoulders absentmindedly.
Often sits with her legs folded beneath her.
Presses flowers between sketchbook pages.
Gently sways whenever music is playing.
Enjoys simply existing in comfortable silence with the people she loves.
Puppet Quirks
Encore has gradually grown fond of some of her marionette traits.
She can:
Spin gracefully without becoming dizzy.
Fold into surprisingly compact positions.
Move with incredible precision while dancing.
Create soft wooden clicking sounds while walking.
She still jumps a little whenever one of her joints rotates farther than she expected.
Little Mystery
Encore's sketchbooks are filled with breathtaking drawings of places throughout the Circus.
Curiously...
Scattered among them are landscapes no one recognizes.
When asked where they are, Encore simply tilts her head.
"...I thought we'd been there before."
No one can remember visiting them.
Relationships
Kinger
Encore has endless patience for Kinger.
She happily listens to every story he tells, no matter how disconnected they may seem, and genuinely enjoys hearing about the adventures he's experienced over the years.
She often sketches while he talks.
Somehow...
He always notices.
Ragatha
Encore greatly admires Ragatha's kindness and determination. The two naturally gravitated toward one another, often supporting each other through difficult days with gentle conversation and shared optimism.
Whenever Ragatha feels like she's carrying too much, Encore quietly reminds her she doesn't have to do it alone.
Gangle
Gangle quickly became one of Encore's closest friends.
Their shared love of art, creativity, and storytelling means they can happily spend hours drawing side by side, exchanging ideas and encouraging one another's work.
Encore wishes Gangle had more confidence in herself.
She thinks her art is beautiful.
Zooble
Encore understands Zooble's need for space and never takes their bluntness personally.
She respects their boundaries while quietly reminding them they're always welcome to join the group whenever they feel like it.
Sometimes...
Simply knowing the invitation exists is enough.
Jax
Jax can be frustrating.
Sometimes infuriating.
Yet Encore has never been able to completely dislike him.
She suspects much of his cruelty is a mask for something much sadder beneath the surface. While she won't excuse his behavior, she quietly hopes that one day he'll let someone see the person he's hiding.
She still isn't above gently scolding him when he goes too far.
Pomni
Seeing Pomni arrive reminded Encore of her own first terrifying day.
Rather than overwhelming Pomni with advice, Encore tries to simply be a reassuring presence—someone who understands what it's like to wake up in a body that no longer feels familiar.
Sometimes, that's enough.
Caine & Bubble
Encore genuinely enjoys Caine's adventures.
To her, each one feels like stepping into a storybook or a favorite video game, full of places and experiences she'd never have imagined possible. Even when things become chaotic, she does her best to embrace the fun Caine is trying to create.
Bubble, meanwhile, is impossible not to love.
She finds Bubble's endless enthusiasm charming, often indulging their excitement with a smile and treating every bizarre observation as though it's perfectly reasonable.
Noire
Noire was one of the first people to truly help Encore feel at home in the Circus. Her warmth, patience, and constant encouragement helped transform Encore's fear into curiosity, and over time the two became nearly inseparable.
They often spend quiet afternoons drawing together, share comfortable silences without feeling the need to fill them with conversation, and frequently perform music together—Noire providing melodies while Encore sings or dances.
Encore treasures every moment they spend together.
She's completely unaware that Noire has fallen hopelessly in love with her.
Everyone else knows.
VesperaEncore enjoys Vespera's calm presence immensely. Whether they're experimenting with new outfits, discussing art, or simply relaxing after another exhausting adventure, time spent together always feels peaceful.
She admires Vespera's quiet confidence and often finds herself seeking her company whenever she needs to recharge.
Jinx
Jinx constantly keeps Encore on her toes, though she wouldn't have it any other way. While Jinx's antics occasionally leave Encore laughing until she cries, she also appreciates the joy Jinx brings into everyone's lives.
Whenever Jinx's endless energy begins to falter, Encore quietly makes sure she knows she's loved.
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