This Audio Drama Sunday, we have some new additions to our list of Podcasts Against Apartheid. As always, thank you for taking the pledge to make your podcasts into AFZs.
If you can, please donate to Gaza Funds and E-Sims for Gaza.
Pictured (clockwise): @theichorousrotpod | EART(h) FM by @aclickbaittitle | Working Tidal by @deactivated-fish | @spacespeckspod | @vestaclinicpod
Sixth Door To The Left by @divinerodentiastudios | Vigil by Button Pods | @hinaypod | @souloperatorpod | @re-dracula | @signedvenus
Moonbase Theta, Out and MonkeyTales (not pictured) by @monkeymanproductions
This week, we hit a milestone: 5000 listens! Thank you so much for listening and supporting us. It's already been a journey, but we can't wait for you to hear Part II!
Inside the Home of Signed, Venus's Elusive "Artist"
Have you all missed me terribly? I bet you have! What details about The Writer has Hayden been excruciatingly patient in withholding from us, you wonder…! After my last post, I'm sure you've all been waiting with bated breath to find out all about my conversation with The Writer's one and only confidante (besides us readers, of course, but if he were truly committed to telling us all I wouldn't be writing this…), The Artist!
You'll recall from my last post that The Artist is the illustrator of Signed, Venus, a figure almost as elusive as The Writer and the only one (that we know of) who knows The Writer's identity, whereabouts, and contact information. I was able to land an interview with The Artist at their very own home in Coast Venus, tell them about my plans to find The Writer, and ask them all about them.
Well, what did they say? I hear you asking, and we'll get to that, but first, let me set the scene…
I had found The Artist's address but it was my first time actually seeing their home. I don't know what kind of house I expected someone who uses an alias for their artwork to live in, but The Artist's abode is a bright, yellow-painted bungalow that seemingly overflows with flowers and plants. They're neatly arranged, so it doesn't seem like something out of a movie where they're trying to give visual clues that a reclusive witch lives here, but there was greenery in the windows, and potted flowers with buds of pink, red, and orange that I'm pretty sure don't usually grow in Coast Venus. The feeling I got looking at it reminds me a bit of my neighbour's house, honestly. His place used to be owned by a local who moved away, so you can tell it's a real Coast Venus house under there, but he painted it black and added this creepy metal gate and that's not really what this town thinks of as edgy, you know? Things like that just sort of make you wonder if the person who lives inside is an expat… not that I think The Artist is, but all the foreign plants would give you that idea.
We knocked on the bright blue door, and, although I half-expected them not to, the way you sometimes feel when something you want too much is happening and you can't really believe it and wonder if it's all a prank... the Artist opened the door.
I've been trying to think of a way to describe their appearance without giving away too much since they're fairly easy to find in Coast Venus, but I feel like I owe it to you all to say something. I think their most disarming feature is their eyes. I don't really know how to explain it, but they have a sort of Mona Lisa feeling, like they've seen enough in their life to be able to see through you.
They led us through their foyer, where everything in sight was either made of wood, green, a magazine, or a bird, into the living room. There were sun hats on the walls as decorations, and when they motioned for Kam and I to sit, I was almost surprised there weren't plants sitting on the yellow couches because they were present on nearly every other surface. There was even a vine dangling, I noticed with glee, on the easel The Artist had set up by the window.
"What brought you to come looking for me?" The Artist asked once we were situated. They wore a playful grin when they said it that probably should have warned me how things were going to go…
Kam and I explained our plan to search for The Writer, and The Artist listened thoughtfully with no trace of emotion in their expression except for amusement. Determined to stay true to the game of things, though, they told us apologetically that they couldn't give us any hints about The Writer's identity or how we could find them.
Now you might be wondering - Hayden, is it possible The Writer doesn't want to be found after all? If this were a scavenger hunt, wouldn't The Artist give you a clue? I understand where you're coming from, but The Artist was willing to look over our route, told us they were very impressed (while also making a small comment that Arabella seems like a detour… which, really, could be a hint in and of itself, but whether that means we shouldn't go or that it's very important we do go is a mystery… and I've elected that we're going to go because it's the iconic first destination The Writer went to and I vent possibly miss out), and they "sincerely wished us the best of luck."
Determined to press more, I did ask Mirah for one more favour… if they could read to us from Signed, Venus. Mirah knows The Writer and how they talk - they can convey the story with a level of insight no one else has. Their reading was, hands down, the most poignant I've ever heard - and we do a lot of Signed, Venus readings here in Coast Venus! I really felt a connection to The Writer hearing their words in The Artist's voice… and it really made it sink in how close we already were, sitting in their close partner's greenhouse-like living room.
Anyway, now that this is all written up… I have a trip to pack for! (Well, pack more for, I suppose. I've been packing all week!) I've never left Coast Venus before… I can't believe our first stop is Arabella!
finally started amc interview w a vampire and honestly im obsessed w the intro melody. the way it sounds like a typical scale warm up but holds on a note n my brain wants to instinctively finish that scale n then it sours into this desperate sinister tone…. my fave ever
