#CASPER RADIO

[minzbins-moved]

JAEHYUN CASPER RADIO 190726

[en-somniac]

man there's something so painfully unique about the relationship with someone in your same system

like. hi. we're strangers. I know everything about you. I've seen you maybe twice in my life. I know every edge of your being viscerally. I've walked in the same skin as you. I love you inherently. I barely know you. I know you. more than anyone ever could. I'm walking the exact same existence as you. I've lived in your skin.

We've barely been introduced.

Here we are. In this terrible experiment. We're in this together, and fuck if that isn't terrifying.

there's something so painfully unique about the relationship with someone in your same system.

you know?

[mod-autumn]

Pride month/beach episode combo blast

[puns-and-musicals]

Rhys’s Pieces idk

[froggyfun365]

"Yes, let's make a series of rational decisions as we're careening through space-time in a diner that has wolves in the deep freeze and parmesan cheese without spatial permanence." ~ Casper, Midnight Burger "Chapter 26: Brunch"

[depravedmicrowave]

They could have Phantom Frequencies hour where it’s the melodies of banshees. Dead Air becomes the talk show segments.

Haunted Waves

surprise :]

[darkacademiaarchivist]

i love how incomprehensibly huge space is. (And I loved how this kids audiobook deals with it this existential question. They're just like "maybe for humans the questions are more important than the actual answers and that if we'd know more we'd still ask "and then what??")

[rins-batcave]

holy fucking shit its done

@ MY MOOTS

THERES SO MANY PEOPLE

AND LIKE IM REALLY WORRIED I MISSED SOMEONE CUS I GOT LOWKEY OVERWHELMED

BUT LET ME LNOW IF I DID MISS SOMEONE

below the cut is everyone's usernames <33333 (let me know if you wanna be un tagged or if i missed someone)

also sorry if your pfp is outdated

(updated as of feb 1st, 2025)

@antigerrymanderingspiderman @th3-r4t-48 @emdabitchass @asters-tempo @silly-fox-and-its-stuffies @imsooooooootired @thatonebitheaterkid @definitionoffuckup

@arandombiped @discocannon8002 @cactus-with-boobs @thatfantasyreader @randomravager @bucketsandraincoats @hershey-not-the-chocolate-maybe

@mun-urufu @stars-on-my-bedroom-ceiling @aesthetic-writer18 @thelovelyvie @groovyfandomhuman @xx-neuro-xx @k-is-for-potassium @quintessentially1 @silly-gizmo

@forestgromlin @rapidlydecayingcorpse @gone-in-the-woods @ivys-head-is-spinning @sparky4577 @unstableunicornsofasgard @evry1h8s-me @in-the-corner-reading

@theodditylacey @beetelz @mildlybizarrecorvid

@driftingqueer @dandelions-arent-weeds @fistfightinganxietyandlosing @calypso10191 @catinasink @raeprise @renskiii-10 @yuuricino

@justatiredlittlesnail @funz1es @flaming-cactus @augmentedchordsofficial @sharksandwaffles @themongosianhorse @voxxxlol @123letsgobestie @here-am-i-sitting-in-a-tin-can

@weirdo-of-the-woods @emilem-forevermore @lil-gay-tism-boi @demigod-jack-hearth @slightchanceofarson @blackbirdsinatrenchcoat @garden-of-runar @arcas-st @this-is-happening-kinda

@crowofthestars @matty-os-blog @enbypalsidk @holiday-spice @37x3 @qiscute @ms-macintosh @noahher @dustybookcover @gasolinehornet

@kreeative-error @shark-tranny @starcrossedmoony @notyourpainting @elyseomg @pennyroyald @thepiedcurrawong @kutie106 @foggyeyezz @olliegolliegee @thoughts-of-a-silly-goose

@more-mousebites @starcrossedloser13 @weird-kid-of-cringe

@bassguitarinablackt-shirt @just-another-hippie @who-killed-auggie @hi-imaflamingo @a-t1r3d-b1s3xual @weird-dork37 @eef--stars @s4ge-s4ge-s4ge @star1ite22

@pirulated @justagremlinoncaffeine @caramello-koalas-for-feminism @yams-and-toast @jademint766 @foxes81ofanimee @boughtmender @give-me-your-heart @chickencentaur

@shinunoga-ewa @mads-is-a-bit-strange @twinklefwinkle @gelnanapass @lavaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa @toyfii @tankerfishthesimp @orchardthieve @zithergilt @gay-little-isopod @goobsie0 @dustyoldclock

@aroaceloverofgarlicbread @rainystarssx @max-on-fire @sashathegirliepop @psychearrows @pocketsizedking @achilles-in-a-blanket-burrito @krevelaf @emipie07 @l0s3rb0y-hesfckingdead

@purfectmocha @duckieselz @tinyattack09 @weapproveadamandsteve @spooky-cryptid-friend @my-mom-named-me-duck @weridlittledude @your-local-lovergirl

@ihavenothingoops @peapea-0405 @radio-silence-fan @crowwolf18 @finleyforevermore @a-crazy-little-goblin @mossy-enigma @southerngothichorror08

@rarityrarely @sorryimsam @spookythensweet @captainjackscoat @nateski01 @agathokakolog1cal @someones-here-for-sure @ghost-y-toast-y

@n0b0dyukn0w @sage-way @yessignificantharassment @eclipserblair @kuraikocho @sunnywolfer @mrblazeflappybird @urgayoldercousinmags

@itsapollothething @charliepiperw @boy-oh-boyflux-bitch @chaoticandlucky @twohundredfiftynine @please-be-nice-im-sensitive @ham-cheese-toastie

@i-just-need-a-book-please @utterqueerdisasterthesimp @finla2 @casper-da-ghost3 @random-fandom-chaos @skelpiescool @patiori @real-alphas-be-changing-genders

@sirbellpepper @lianthestick @lemon-squezzy @imthat1boy @attackweeb @matthewlovesstardewvalley @blacklicoriceisgood @floofiefoxxie

@locothewolf @verirothestar @toooster @loveeletterlesbian @ethan-is-sleepy @ladyloss-blog @iliketoeatair @ambivertpotato2137 @whatsuplin

@evilrobertsmith @itsnotmyfaultimthisway @yourlittlefries @the-toaster-rat @blairreturns2day @bonsai-and-the-suns @someoneverypotter @caprisunstwin @kaylieiskrazy04

@starving-marauder-lover @unstable-cucumber @silly-activites @agentwaffle @r0nin-sleeps @my-packer-is-a-gun @ning-ningx300 @karmaajr @nixynixx @circe-butbetter

@kelpseahorse @chaos-gremlin @stuck-in-a-forest @xxxmilklavenderteepy666xxx @aidens-ocean-galaxy @preposterousname @sweetashe @qua-qua-qua

@afriendofblahaj @berblogs @maze-runn3r @idiot-squared @indecisiveness-incarnate @weewooooweew @mcshizzle-the-fire-boy @foralteregos

@biromanticacenerd @choucon @jamespotter-21 @purely-puppy-pawz @sorr1n3 @ariathecalico @justasillylittlehumanperson @pipsqueak317 @sunkistbutbetter @nariz-teatime @adhd3m0n91 @deadhighloser

[murphy-kitt]

danny fenton, (not) responsible adult

When things run askew in Amity Park, Danny is forced to step up as Fenton.

(AKA: a digital media retelling of Pirate Radio, S2 Ep3)

AO3

Prompts:

@ave-aria Rewrite an episode while using only written, digital, or physical media (texts, chatrooms, newspaper articles, voicemails, breaking news bulletins, employee emails, etc) to convey what's happening. Bonus: stick to outsider POV and use things penned by Danny, Sam, and Tucker as little (or as cryptically) as possible.

@hannahmanderr The kids of Casper High have taken notice of Danny Fenton's uncanny leadership abilities after the events of "Pirate Radio." Needless to say, he is taken by surprise when they come to him asking him to lead a student ghost hunting group.

-

Another HTML fic! Originally this was meant for phic phight but I didn’t get around to it, but here it is. Pirate Radio is my favourite episode, I just knew I had to merge both prompts.

[furiousladyking]

It's a Date - Part 3

Summary: Jake Seresin is feeling defeated. His youngest sister, Brooke is getting married in 3 weeks, and he has yet to find a date. While he loves his family, he can't say he enjoys getting those comments from his mother about when he is going to find a "nice girl" and settle down. In comes Y/N "Casper" L/N, a prime target to get rid of the one on Jake's back.

Warning: probably incorrect military information, not really proof-read. Also, finally decided what POV to put this in - RIP to previous chapters 

____

The ride to the Seresin family farm is anything but calm. Hangman asks his sister, Emily questions about her new job; Emily needles Hangman about locking Y/N away from his family for half a year; Alice chides the both of them for behaving like children in front of Y/N. In all honesty, it was nice to have the attention off of herself.

Sitting beside her, Hangman put a hand on her previously shaking knee. Y/N hadn’t even noticed it moving. She looked to the owner of the hand that was now warming her knee, and he hadn’t missed a beat. It seemed like Hangman would do a majority of the heavy lifting in this relationship. There were a few small-talk style questions thrown her way, but Hangman seemed to notice Y/N’s distance from the conversation, and did his best to steer the women sitting in the front to talk about themselves.

Mrs. Seresin - Alice, turned the car right onto a private road, surrounded by trees. The conversation in the car had silenced and the car was filled with a comfortable aura, the background being filled by Texas’ number one radio station playing softly in the back. Y/N watched as the trees blew past her window. 

She felt a squeeze at her knee. Her attention is once again pulled to the man sitting beside her. 

“Are you feeling tired?” He questioned.

“I don’t understand. It was only a three hour flight,” Y/N began. She rubbed her eye. “I fly planes for a living.” 

“To be fair, usually you go a lot faster. Those G’s help keep you alert.” Hangman used his elbow to poke her in the ribs lightly. He waited for a scoff to leave Y/N’s mouth, but instead he heard a soft gasp. He looked out her window. 

“This is your house?” 

____________________

The car pulled up and around the loop of the driveway to the Sersin family home. A large white canopy shaded the passengers as they exited the vehicle. Emily placed the car in park and everyone began to unload from the car.

Y/N reached into the trunk, only to be cut off by Alice’s voice.

“Jacob Seresin, don’t you dare let her get her own bag,” She practically hissed. Her arms were crossed and there was a scowl beginning to form on her face. Hangman shook his head. Y/N immediately retracted her reach and held her hands together at her chest. She sheepishly looked up to the taller man.

“Sorry,” she murmured. This was going to be a long weekend if Hangman already had a reason to be irritated with her.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Sweetheart,” he insisted, leaning into the back of the car before pulling out her luggage. “How else am I going to make you swoon if not for my southern chivalry?” Y/N snorted, before feeling the eyes of the Seresin women on her.

“Uh…, please, as if I haven’t already swooned.” A smug smile made its way onto his face, as if to say that’s all you’ve got? 

He lifted his duffle bag onto this shoulder, and began to lead the way up the stairs to the front door. Emily was pulling your carry on bags, Alice had insisted that company shouldn’t lift a finger, that she had taught her children better. 

“Ma, shouldn’t I be considered company at this point?” Hangman asked. 

“Nice try, Dear.” She looked at Y/N as they walked. “Be careful with this one, always trying to push buttons,” Alice said. 

“Trust me, I’ve noticed,” Y/N chuckled. Alice opened her mouth to speak again, but was cut off by her son.

“Can we try not to get me in the doghouse on day one of our visit?” 

“Yeah, I’m sure you’ll put yourself there in no time,” Emily interjected. A quiet ouch was muttered as her mother pinched her arm.

“Anyway, we can chat more once you feel situated.” Alice motioned up the staircase that took up about a third of their entryway. “Jacob, you know where your room is. Could you please show Y/N to her room? I made up the blue guest room for her.” Y/N let out a small breath of relief. Hangman had told her there was no way his mother would allow them to share a room, but hearing it had confirmed that a few of her anxieties were for nothing. Alice began again, “I’m sure you two have… shared a room before,” Y/N felt her cheeks flare up once again. “However, I can’t have you two together with little ears and -” 

“Ma,” Hangman tried to reason.

“No, Jacob, I know you probably think I am old fashioned but -”

“I was just going to say it was no big deal,” he said with a shake of his head. Despite the worry of having Alice Seresin go after one of her children again, Y/N grabbed her carry on and began walking up the stairs behind Hangman. Anything to get out of the conversation that could still threaten to unfold.

____

Downstairs, Y/N took in the room she was in. The living room was quite large. Windows decorated both of the exterior walls, and a large painting covered the other. Y/N sat on one of the beige sofas, tucked into the corner. As she waited for Hangman to bring her a glass of water, her gaze turned to the mantle on the stone fireplace. Pictures littered the surface, ranging from group pictures when the Seresin bunch were younger to graduation photos of the four children. 

Hangman walked into the room, with Emily, his mother, and another woman in tow. He introduced the woman as his eldest sister, Amanda. Sitting down beside Y/N, stretching his arm along the back of the couch, and behind her back. She was a bit taken aback by how easy it was seeming for him to already be acting the part.

“So, Y/N,” Amanda started. “What do you do for a living?”

“Oh, uh, I’m a Naval Aviator too, I work with H- Jake,” Y/N said, mentally hitting herself for almost slipping up. From across the room, on the other beige sofa, Emily gasped. 

“Do you have one of those nicknames too?” The aviators in the room laughed softly.

“Yeah, my call sign is Casper.” Cue another gasp. Y/N had to hand it to her, Emily had all of the energy and enthusiasm that an elementary teacher should have.

“You’re Casper?” Emily asked incredulously. Y/N’s eyebrows knit together.

“The Casper?” Amanda asked this time. “The Casper that Jake called us complaining about?” Y/N’s mouth dropped open. Had this thing failed so quickly? She had thought they’d last at least two days. She looked to Hangman, who looked a little… embarrassed? He brought his hand up to rub the nape of his neck.

“Like eight months ago he was so cranky because 'Casper' was doing better than he was at this training thingy that he had to do or something? All I can remember is that he needed to do like a hundred push ups because of you,” Emily said. 

“Yeah,” Amanda started. “He was all like ‘This new guy is giving me a run for my money’.”

“Okay, okay, let’s not get carried away here. Casper did better than me in one training simulation but that doesn’t mean-”

“And then it happened again like a month ago,” Emily began with a smirk. Hangman sighed, pushing away any possibility of a smile. “You are now one of my favorite people. Anyone that can put a dent in that ego is a friend of mine.” Y/N giggles from beside Hangman. 

“Maybe she is good at what she does,” He offers, looking to her. Y/N seems pleased with the response, putting it in her back pocket to bring out later, in private. “Can kick my ass any day of the week and I’d say thank you.” Emily begins to pretend to vomit when a whirlwind of pink and tulle enters the room.

“Jake! Jake! Jake!” The taller of the two girls begins to chant. Their eyes wide, bodies practically vibrating with excitement. It takes him only a second before he is scooping them both up. Giggles fill the room as he puts a girl over each of his shoulders. He spins them around once before digging his fingers into their sides. 

Y/N is surprised when he doesn’t get taken out by a kicking foot. He had seldom mentioned having nieces and nephews, but she could immediately tell how much he cared for them. 

Hangman brings the girls down to chest level and sits back down on the couch. They sit on his lap, looking entranced as he begins to speak to them. He asks about school, looking for an update on how they are enjoying it when the smaller of the two pokes him on the shoulder.

“Is that Y/N?” Y/N smiles as the girls look at her. 

“Yeah, Lex and Liv, meet Y/N.” Liv, the younger of the two, takes her small hand and cups it around his ear.

“She’s really pretty.”

@keyrani @djs8891 @mrsevans90

[softpine]

COCO ARIAS (nicolexxx099) accepted your follow request. Now you can see their photos and videos.

[transcript]

fun facts:

AVA (Adult Video Awards) is a spoof of the real life AVN (Adult Video News Awards). Best Blowbang Scene is a real category. The other award Coco won was in the following year, for Best Actress (which is not as coveted as Best Female Performer, but still an honor). She was nominated for at least 10 more.

Bounce FM is a fictional radio station in GTA San Andreas.

Bronzers is a spoof of Brazzers.

"amid energies of the cosmos, you gave as good as you got" is a partial quote from Eulogy from a Physicist – Aaron Freeman.

Credit for Coco's profile picture goes to clownne! I commissioned this artwork a while ago 💖

All other account names and references are entirely accidental! (Don't sue me.)

michelle.lovely (Shelly) is Coco's best friend and roommate. She was sitting next to Coco at the house party Casper attended. On the far left is rod_the_stallion (his real name is Anthony).

I'm not even going to begin to explain who real.g (G) is yet. But that's his irrelevant little brother (Jesus) on the couch between Shelly and Anthony. (I promise you don't have to remember any of these people, it's just fun to show off the side of Coco's life we don't get to see from Casper's perspective!)

Speaking of Casper, he's the one whose follow request was accepted by Coco's personal account. She only has 53 people following her, so, you know, it says something about how trustworthy she actually finds him to be, despite how much she keeps trash talking him every time they run into each other :P

I feel like I shouldn't spell anything else out or I'll ruin it, but feel free to ask any questions if you want to know more 💖

[hangingslothcentral]

looking for a new audio drama?

If you like weird philosophical sci-fi and cyborgs, and hate AI and capitalism, check out Clockwork Bird!! it's the first show I ever made so it's a bit rough around the edges but it's an exploration about the rights of the dead, the limits of science, and the nature of personhood. it's all told through scattered 'found footage' recordings as listened to by Shelly Croft as she looks for her missing journalist girlfriend, Alice, who disappeared whilst she was investigating the welfare of Robin Jaeger, the posterchild for advanced synthetic limbs who may be more, and less, than he seems.

Clockwork Bird as 30 episodes, each 10-25 minutes long.

If you like spooky stories with a lot of heart, long series with lots of moving parts and character arcs, check out Spirit Box Radio! This show has a ton of original music and an accordian cast which grows as the show goes on, topping out at about 27 VAs. Sam Enfield is the happy-go-lucky host of Spirit Box Radio's Enlightenment Segment in the absence of its previous host, but something fishy is going on, and Sam's actually at the centre of a plot with apocalyptic stakes. SBR is a show about grief, storytelling, and what happens when a people pleaser has potentially unlimited magical powers. Find it @spiritboxradio.

Spirit Box Radio has 93 episodes, each 15-30 minutes long, with season finales that are up to 50 minutes long.

Do you like vampires? Gay vampires? Gay vampires that suck (blood. and other, uh, things)? Not Quite Dead may be the show for you. Join Alfie, a former A&E nurse who's knee deep in horrors because of his boyfriend, Casper, who is a vampire. Cas is missing with no indication of when he will return, but without his blood, Alfie is going to die. As time runs out, Alfie records everything he can remember about the months leading up to this moment. This show is gory and horny. Season Two has a tiny blonde guy who sounds French but who is older than the concept of France. This love story bites, viciously, multiple times, for fun and profit. Find it at @notquitedeadpod.

Not Quite Dead has 40 episodes, each 20-40 minutes long. The final season will be out in 2025.

Are you into mysteries and characters who eat hot chip and lie? Do you enjoy listening to shows as they air? Are you a person who likes to have conspiracy-board-level theories about the media you engage with? My new show, Remnants, might be just up your alley. Remnants follows the Apprentice as he learns how to read the objects that come to the First and Last Place. He's watched over by Sir, but Sir isn't much help. Thier purpose is strange and confusing, and the more remnants the Apprentice reads, the more he wonders at what the meaning of it all is, and if there might be some connection he's been missing... Find it at @remnantspod.

Remnants S1 will have 30 episodes of about 30 minutes. S1 started airing in July, and will finish in March 2025.

[mod-autumn]

Various text posts

featuring:

@kopi-taocc (it’s implied), @the-bewitched-digital-kingdom, @dancing-with-the-breeze, @say-their-name

[graznot]

Midnight Burger theorizing and pondering post season finale in no particular order.

Spoilers abound

Little Brother makes the constructs. He’s who Croc is afraid of and who the fancy weapons are for because Croc has no idea how to kill him. Little Brother did something and he’s why existence is how it is now. Croc isn’t trying to save the universe, he’s trying to save himself. The idea that he could end terrifies him. His claims of saving the universe are justification.

Both Leif and David have had Buck Rogers references applied to them and other dimension David ended up with a robot arm like Leif.

The Sisters never talk about their moms and no one asks about their moms. They make a point of saying Croc left before they were grown and never knew him, so why do they never talk about their moms?

I’m so happy for Gloria where she ended up.

The constructs are never churches not because a church can be anywhere as the Mucklewaynes posed, but because a church automatically excludes people. It excludes those who are not of that faith, those who that faith say are wrong.

As fans we know the Mucklewaynes are friendly. But there are many people, who upon hearing a Christian radio station playing overheard at a business will default assume that space is probably not be safe for them. I think if David walked into the diner, not knowing Casper was there, and heard the Mucklewaynes giving a LORD heavy speech there’s a good chance he’d back out without ordering a meal.

Little Brother has been honing the constructs and then people he gathers for them. First he just let constructs gather whoever it happened to gather. That gave him data, a pattern of what the constructs like. 2 science people: 1 physical & 1 theoretical. 2 non-science people: 1 with a skill or knowledge set specifically related to the construct’s form & 1 wild card. There’s a lot of overlap in the functions of the non-science roles. The sciences people worked themselves out but to combat Croc’s bullshit Little Brother made it so the constructs could more actively acquire its preferred people . It should feel like the cat distribution system. The constructs need pets, those pets just happen to be people.

Either Little Brother doesn’t know about the Mucklewaynes or doesn’t know Chuck made them to keep Casper company. There’s been a few examples of the Mucklewaynes being a distinction of the diner among all the constructs. I think Little Brother does know something is different about the diner and has been trying to reconstruct it. I think he wires the constructs to specifically look for Casper since the diner.

[bumblesimagines]

Our Flickering Light

Part 3

Request: Yes or No

~~~

"Ugh! What the fuck is that?" 

Snorting softly to himself, (Y/N) glanced up at Ellie. She'd hardly wiggled out of her sleeping bag yet, her tired squinted eyes staring down at the brewing coffee with a small scowl. Her lip curled slightly and she flipped the lid back over to cover the bubbling black coffee, a soft huff escaping her before she dramatically fell back onto the ground, still bundled in her sleeping bag, and rested her head on her backpack-turned-pillow. Joel shook his head lightly, pushing his rolled-up sleeping bag into the truck bed and securing it. 

"Get up, Ellie." He called, earning a defiant groan in response. Joel rolled his eyes and sighed quietly, stepping over the dozing girl and crouching by the brewing coffee. He poured some steaming coffee into his thermos, swirling it around in thought before bringing it to his lips and carefully taking a sip. Smacking his lips and nodding approvingly, Joel poured the remainder into a spare cup and stood up with a soft grunt. He spared Ellie a glance, nudging her back with the front of his boot and stepping over her again to offer (Y/N) a cup. "You like coffee?"

"I haven't had it in a long while, actually." (Y/N) revealed softly, biting back the urge to yawn. He blew softly into the cup, feeling the steam rise and caress his face, warming his skin from the early morning chill. He pressed his lips against the cup and took a small sip of the black coffee, his nose immediately crinkling at the bitter taste that invaded his taste buds. Joel chuckled and continued to drink his coffee as if it were the sweetest thing in the world while Ellie sluggishly got up. 

Reluctantly drinking the rest of the coffee - and debating if he should've just chucked it away for the sake of his tongue - (Y/N) watched Joel move around their temporary camp, collecting the remaining things on the ground and packing them away in the trunk. He rinsed the cup and put it away along with the rest of their utensils before shuffling through some bags until he found an apple and a small bottle of water to give Ellie for breakfast. She accepted it without a word, eyes still squinty with sleepiness and her movements clumsy as she climbed into the truck.

Joel carefully drove them out of the forest and back onto the road, the smell of coffee from his thermos slowly filling the inside of the car and making Ellie crinkle her nose. She finished her apple in no time, chucking the stem out the window and wiping the juices off her lips with the sleeve of her shirt. "Smells like burnt shit," Ellie commented, unscrewing the cap of her water bottle and drinking from it. "Is that seriously what those Starbucks in the QZ used to sell?"

"Well, theirs was a lot fresher than what Bill saved up but, yeah, this is what they sold," Joel murmured, making eye contact with Ellie through the rearview mirror and loudly slurping from his thermos again. A quiet giggle slipped from (Y/N), his head snapping back to the map in hand when Joel glanced at him. "Eyes on the map."

"Mhm," (Y/N) giggled again, tracking the road they were on with his finger until he found the road they needed to turn onto. His seat shifted slightly when Ellie grabbed onto it, her head peeking over his shoulder to observe the map he held. "So, it's... 76 West and 70 West for a while."

"Huh... where in Wyoming did you say your brother was?" Ellie asked, strands of her messily tied back hair tickling (Y/N)'s temple.

"Last contact came through a radio tower close to Cody," Joel answered, sparing the map a glance. (Y/N) and Ellie scanned the map, looking for Cody in the sea of cities, towns, and street names. Cheyenne, Casper, Lander, Jackson, Pinedale, Fort Bridger... ah, there it was. Nestled along the Shoshone River and at the foot of some mountains sat the small town of Cody. It sat decently far from where they were. (Y/N) tapped on it on the map to show Ellie, her brows instantly lifting.

"Man, that is deep up in there," Ellie blew a raspberry. "And if he's not there?"

A flicker of a frown appeared on Joel's face. "Then... odds are he'll be near a settlement, probably close to another city out there. Ain't too many of 'em in Wyoming." He responded, and (Y/N) turned his head to look at him, catching the quick grimace. He'd never been told much about Joel's younger brother, only a few scarce facts here and there. Tommy Miller was Joel's younger brother whom he'd always recalled with a fond look. They'd survived the first years of the outbreak together before parting for reasons Joel never seemed too keen on recalling. He remembered Tess mentioned Tommy having been briefly involved with a Firefly, hence Joel wanting to locate and take Ellie to him.

"What's his name?" Ellie suddenly asked, sitting back in her seat properly and peering at Joel curiously. "Your brother's, I mean."

"Tommy."

"Younger or older?"

"Younger."

"Why isn't he with you?" 

"Ellie." (Y/N) piped in warningly, moving slightly around in his seat to look at the girl. His eyes flickered down to her waist and he arched a brow at the lack of a seatbelt. Ellie pursed her lips and slid back against the middle seat, tugging on the seatbelt until it reached its end before clicking it in. Smart ass. (Y/N) couldn't help but chuckle and roll his eyes, shifting back around to catch Joel taking quick glances at him. The ends of his lips shifted upwards slightly in the form of a thankful smile before his eyes flickered up to the rearview mirror to catch sight of the awaiting girl. He sighed, tapping his thumb against the steering wheel.

"Tommy's what we used to call a 'joiner.' Dreams of becomin' a hero. So he enlisted in the army right outta high school. A few months later, they ship him off to Desert Storm. It's what they called that war- it doesn't matter. Point is, bein' in the army didn't make him feel like much of a hero. Cut to 12 years later, the outbreak happens. He convinces me to join a group makin' their way up to Boston, which I did to keep an eye on him.. keep him alive. It's.. where we met Tess. And that whole crew, we-" Joel paused, taking a sip of the last few drop of coffee in his thermos and swallowing thickly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat at the mere mention of Tess. (Y/N) reached out, brushing his fingers over Joel's knee comfortingly. "For what it was, it worked. Then, Tommy meets Marlene. She talks him into joinin' the Fireflies. Same mistake he made when he was 18. Wants to save the world... pipe dream. Him, the Fireflies, all of 'em, delusional. 'Course, last I heard, he quit the Fireflies, too. Now he's on his own out there... and I gotta go get him."

A momentary silence followed as they took in the new information, the vulnerability from Joel by opening up about his beloved family member, about his past, even if just a brief mention. Ellie spoke first, softly as she stared out at the long road ahead of them. "If you don't think there's hope for the world, why bother going on? I mean, you gotta try, right?"

"You haven't seen the world so you don't know," Joel said with a hint of a bite. "You keep goin' for family. That's about it."

"I'm not family." Ellie pointed out quietly.

"No, you're carg-"

"You're the hope, Ellie." (Y/N) chimed in, his fingers running over the worn edges of the map in his hands. "Even if whatever the Fireflies have in store doesn't work, you're still immune. Your existence is evidence that we can evolve, that we can survive. Or at the very least, future generations have a chance at immunity. Humans have been around for hundreds of years. We evolve and change with time. Who knows how many people are like you, Ellie? Who knows how many there will be like you in the future? I... don't have family. My mother is dead, my stepfather is probably dead, my fathers.... but I have you two now. So, I keep going for both of you and the hope that comes with your immunity." 

Another silence, this one a more stunned one. (Y/N) gazed down at the map, looking at nothing in particular while their stares burned into the side of his head. He carefully folded the map so it wouldn't take up so much space and lifted his head, glancing at the time on the barely visible clock. "You should get some sleep, Ellie. We woke up pretty early." He said, setting the map on his lap and looking out into the vast openness around them. 

"You should get some sleep." Joel butted in softly. "You were up all night." 

"I'll try." 

                    ︽        ︽       ︽       ︽       ︽       ︽

The soft sound of the car door closing roused (Y/N) from his slumber, a quiet yawn leaving him as he pushed himself up in his seat. He adjusted the seatbelt digging into the side of his neck and took a quick survey of his surroundings, noting the station they were parked at and the view of tall buildings in the distance ahead. He glanced at the backseat where Ellie lied curled up, using her backpack as a pillow again and sleeping soundly with a line of drooling trickling down from her parted lips. He released a huff of amusement and glanced at Joel as he settled in his seat and started the car. 

"Stopped to get fuel." He told him, driving back onto the road and continuing toward the city. (Y/N) hummed quietly and took a peek down at the map still resting on his lap, searching the road they'd been on before he fell asleep until he found a name. Kansas City. He knew hardly anything about Kansas City besides the sports team his stepfather had often rooted for, but it seemed decently big based on the map. Joel glanced at him a few times, each glance lasting longer than the last until (Y/N) finally noticed. 

"What is it, Joel?" 

His lips pursed, arm propped up on the windowsill, and fingers lightly scratching the side of his head. Joel sighed quietly, taking another glance at him. "You're family, you know. I know we never spoke much or anythin' but you are family to me. I... care about you. Tess cared about you, too. I... listen, I ain't good with words but-"

"I get it, Joel." (Y/N) smiled gently, a warm feeling settling over his chest. He felt his cheeks tingle lightly with heat and looked forward again, fingers toying with the edges of the map. 

He watched the penned chickens, a handful of chicken scratch in his hand waiting to be tossed and gobbled up by the feathered animals. He hated the sight of them when they were ill. Sluggish, tired, barely moving. His chickens were always so alive, always acting up and getting into trouble, but now the four of them barely clucked. (Y/N) sighed quietly and sprinkled some of the chicken scratch in front of the rooster, Sir Plucks. The glutton pecked at the ground but made none of his typical moves to greedily defend his food. He simply ruffled his wings in a tired manner and made soft, quiet noises. 

"Come on, buddy." He murmured. Bill hadn't even shouted at the damned bird for weeks, the visible pity for it only solidifying its incoming doom. At least he'd restrained himself from talking about cooking them. "You need to wake us up every morning. You're our alarm, remember?"

The hens were no different. Eggatha, Henrietta, and Pecktunia huddled together, slow in their pecks at the food around them. They'd often push and shove over food, pecking at each other and circling his feet for more. They only stared at him when they finished, their once jerky movements dimmed with their lack of energy. He reached out, running his hand over Pecktunia's soft, feathery back. She'd always been his favorite. The neediest out of the four, always trying to follow him out of their pen and the first to greet him each morning and evening. 

"Hey, kid." The gruff voice of Joel greeted him and the chickens startled, their feathers puffing and heads turning to take in who they considered a stranger as soft squawks left them. (Y/N) straightened at the sight of Joel and dumped the rest of the chicken scratch where the chickens could reach it before wiping his hand on his pant leg and getting up from the ground. 

"Hi, Joel." He greeted, carefully stepping around the girls and slipping out of the pen. Joel eyed the chickens inside, his lips quirking into a faint grin when the rooster puffed his feathers at him again. His eyes slipped away from the animals and the serious, almost stern look returned to his features. 

"Heard about your chickens," He started, nodding toward them before lifting his hand and offering a book. "I, uh... I thought a new book might cheer you up. I wasn't sure what you'd like and we ain't got many options in the QZ but... here. I hear the author's good- was good, at least. If you don't want it, that's fine-"

"Thank you, Joel." (Y/N) smiled brightly, taking the book into his hands and brushing away some of the dust that had collected on it. American Gods by Neil Gaiman. His first official gift since the outbreak, and it'd come from Joel Miller of all people. A fluttery feeling invaded his stomach and he dug his teeth into the inside of his cheek, looking back up at him. He moved forward, enclosing Joel in a swift, quick hug. "Thank you... it means a lot."

He still had the book. He'd taken it from his bedroom shelf after Joel and Ellie's arrival and packed it into his backpack, both for entertainment and the memory it carried. Possibly the beginning of Joel viewing him as more than someone he happened to know outside the Qz, as more than the kid of his friends. But he knew for certain it'd been the moment Joel Miller stopped being just his fathers' friend to him. It was silly, stupid even. Joel was much older than him, a middle-aged man who'd be nearing his sixties in a few years and had enough burdens resting on his shoulders. A man like Joel had already experienced most of what life had to offer: he'd had a kid, found and lost love, made and lost friends, joined and quit jobs. After everything he'd gone through, he'd likely enjoy living the rest of his life in peace and solitude without some twenty-nine-year-old bothering him.

"Damn," Joel cursed softly, straightening up in his seat. Rows of abandoned cars were scattered across the road leading into Kansas City with a large truck blocking the road right before the bridge. It almost looked strategically placed, blocking anyone from entering or leaving the city. Or perhaps Bill's teachings on 'trust no one and question everything' were too engrained in his head to let him think clearly. Joel's brows remained in a fixed furrow, his eyes darting around to take everything in. He stepped on the brake, the corner of his lip quirking when Ellie's body rolled off the backseats and thumped loudly on the floor. 

"Asshole." She hissed, roughly grabbing the back of his seat and wiggling herself out of the tight space. Ellie huffed, blowing strands of hair out of her face and glaring at Joel through the rearview mirror as she picked up her backpack. (Y/N) dug his teeth into his bottom lip and snorted softly, adjusting his seating position and tugging his rifle onto his lap to check the rounds it had while Joel climbed out of the truck to inspect the area. "Where are we?"

"Kansas City." (Y/N) answered, rubbing his finger into the rough texture of the strap and watching Joel crouch down in front of the truck to peer underneath into the tunnel. "Home to the, uh.. Chiefs, I think. They were a football team from back in the day. Apparently, they weren't any good but people still rooted for them." 

Joel stood up, the frown on his face enough to tell (Y/N) they'd need to switch course and choose a different road. He hummed quietly and shifted his rifle around to expand the map out on his lap, feeling the car dip slightly as Joel got back in. He craned his neck to look at the map, his finger pointing to the road they were on and backtracking until they found another connecting road. Joel clicked his tongue and leaned back in his seat, staring forward in thought. "Screw it." He murmured. "We can jog right around this tunnel, take the next ramp, and we're back on the road. Minute tops."

The moment they entered the city, an uneasy pit settled in (Y/N)'s stomach, rising to his chest with a heavy weight that demanded attention. He'd seen deserted towns and cities before, sure, but something was gravelly off about Kansas City. No signs of infected or FEDRA or the people that once occupied it. It'd been years since his stay at the Baltimore QZ, and back then, he'd heard of the Kansas City being among the QZs up and running. If the QZ had fallen, there'd be signs of it, signs of infected roaming around ready to add them to their numbers. 

"(Y/N), eyes on the map. We need to find the highway." Joel's voice snapped him out of his racing thoughts.

"Right, sorry, I... I don't like this place." (Y/N) exhaled sharply, fumbling with the map and trying to track down the road they were on. So many roads, so many names. Why were maps so difficult to read? "Didn't they have a QZ?" 

"Is that it?" Ellie's voice prompted Joel to step on the brakes again, the abrupt stop lurching their bodies forward and making the seatbelt dig into (Y/N)'s stomach. He grunted softly and tore his eyes away from the map to look at the abandoned, ghostly entrance to the QZ. The doors were wide open but no signs of FEDRA or its residents having fought back against any infected. No bodies, no vehicles. "Where the fuck is FEDRA?"

"Hey!" A voice called out, bringing their attention back onto the road in front of them and toward a man staggering out onto the road. (Y/N)'s eyes dropped down onto the side he clutched. No blood. (Y/N) tucked the map away between his seat and the gear shift, his hands moving slowly to grab his backpack from the floor and slide it back on. "Please! I need help!"

"Ellie put your seatbelt on," Joel instructed sharply, fumbling for his own seatbelt and clicking it on. Ellie leaned back in her seat, her eyes jumping between the three of them as she clicked her seatbelt in and pulled her backpack onto her lap.

"Aren't we going to help him?"

"No." 

Stepping on the accelerator, Joel held on tightly to the steering wheel and made a direct beeline for the man. The man cursed and ran out of the way, shouting up to someone standing on the fire escape ladder who proceeded to drop a cement block down on them, successfully hitting the windshield but not enough to shatter it completely. Their luck proved shortlived when a row of barely visible spikes on the road popped all four of their tires and a man sprang out from the alleyway, gun in hand, and aimed at them. Joel swerved out of the way, crashing through the window of a convenience store. 

"Jesus," (Y/N) exhaled, unbuckling his seatbelt. 

"Ellie, you okay? You not hurt or nothin'?" Joel questioned, unbuckling his seatbelt as well and grabbing his rifle from the backseat. Ellie exhaled shakily and offered breathless answers before yelping at the sound of gunshots firing through the air. (Y/N) tossed the car door open and jumped out, ducking down to open Ellie's door and help her out. Her hands clung to him tightly, her body trembling like a leaf in a storm. 

"Get down." He whispered to her, feeling her flinch at each gunshot as they crouched down behind the truck, using it as a shield to protect them from the bullets.

"Give us your shit, you make it through this!" Raiders. (Y/N) had his knowledge of them, of their ruthlessness and greediness in taking anything and everything they could. A group of them had attacked them once, twice before back home. It'd been the first time (Y/N) had used his rifle on another human. The first time he'd shot at someone and hit his target. View them as infected, Bill had told him once, and it makes it a whole lot easier, kid.

"You see that hole, Ellie?" Joel panted, nodding toward the hole in the wall and swallowing thickly when Ellie nodded. She squeaked softly when a bullet shattered the window above them, her widened eyes full of fear. "When I say go, you crawl to that wall, and you don't come out until I say, okay? Look at me, Ellie! They're not going to hit you. You stay down, you stay low, you stay quiet." 

"Okay," Ellie whispered shakily. (Y/N) shifted carefully to get into a crouching position, turning his back to the two and eyeing the shelf beside the truck. He held the rifle tightly in his hands, setting his finger over the trigger and taking in a deep breath. The gunshots eased, signaling the men were reloading.

"Go!" At Joel's shout, (Y/N) darted forward to hide behind the shelf and lifted his rifle, aiming at the second man and taking a shot. The bullet whizzed past the man's head and he quickly ducked down behind a car. The gunshots between Joel and the first man continued until Joel took a third shot at them and the man collapsed onto the ground. 

"You motherfuckers!" The second man shouted and (Y/N) made use of his scope, turning his attention onto the first man's body and waiting. He watched a hand reach out toward the leg of the man and he pulled the trigger, a loud curse leaving his target when the bullet no doubt left a hole in his hand. 

His focus on his target was quickly disrupted when the door behind them swung open. He whirled his head around to look at the third raider who made a beeline for him but Joel charged toward him, slamming the back of his jammed rifle into the jaw of the man. The two got into a scuffle, falling onto the concrete floor and wrestling around. A cry full of rage and pain came from in front of him and he turned in time to spot the wounded man staggering toward him, one arm lifted toward him with a pistol. Before he could pull the trigger, a gunshot rang out from behind him, hitting the man square in the chest. (Y/N) turned to find Ellie with an all too familiar-looking handgun in hand, her widened eyes following the man as he collapsed on the floor with a wheezy, pained gasp. (Y/N) reloaded the rifle and put the withering man out of his misery.

A grunt of pain from Joel grabbed his attention and he moved quickly, slamming his foot into the guy's side to knock him off Joel before pressing his foot against his chest and aiming for the head. Joel gasped and coughed for air, bringing his hand up to his throat and pulling himself up into a sitting position. "Wait, wait, wait! My mom isn't far away! We could trade! Plea-" The raider's desperate babbling stopped, his youthful face covered in blood and brain that seeped onto the concrete beneath him. (Y/N) released a heavy, tired sigh, his eyes wandering over the limp body below him. Too young to be recklessly swinging around guns and running at people. Too young and too dead to know any better. 

"Get back in the wall and open the door," Joel told Ellie, taking the gun from her trembling hands and watching her weakly nod. The girl turned on her heel and slipped back into the other room, her soft grunts and the sound of something heavy being dragged echoing into the room. (Y/N) slipped the rifle's strap over his shoulder and approached Joel to get a closer look at the gun.

"Bill gave it to Frank for protection."

"She took it without permission," Joel muttered, sucking his teeth and slipping the gun into the waistband of his pants. (Y/N) grabbed his arm before he could move, his fingers raising to gently grab Joel's chin and tilt it so he could take a peek at his throat. He spotted the slowly forming bruising but found no other signs of any real damage. He released Joel's chin and lifted his gaze to look back at the older man staring at him.

"She also saved me from getting hurt, Joel. The day's gonna come when she'll be out on her own and it'll be better for her to be caught with a gun she knows how to use rather than with nothing." He told him softly, giving his arm a squeeze and stepping around him to walk toward the office door. He pushed it open and stepped inside, waiting for Joel to follow before shutting the door and watching them push the long desk back up against the door. 

Setting her backpack on the table and shuffling through the contents, she pulled out a flashlight and handed it to Joel. "What now?" She asked, zipping the backpack back up and slipping it back on. 

"We go up and hopefully spot a clear route out," Joel responded, walking toward the back door and turning on the flashlight as he peered into the darkness. Once checking it was safe, he looked at them over his shoulder and raised his brows. "Stay close."

The dark hallway led them out into an alleyway, the distant sound of a car nearing them reaching their ears. Joel and (Y/N) exchanged a look and (Y/N) carefully moved Ellie to keep her between them as they quietly stepped out into the street and ducked behind a car. They waited behind the car, listening to two vehicles pass them by and the sound of a man shouting for one of the deceased. Joel crossed the street, slowly opening the door to the building and nodding to them once he checked it. (Y/N) gave Ellie a light nudge and she sprang forward, hurrying over to Joel and dipping inside with (Y/N) hot on her heels. (Y/N) shut the door behind them, mindful of keeping the noise minimal before following Joel as he led them through the building. They could hear the sound of screeching tires when the vehicles sped off, likely returning to wherever their camp was. 

"If they have cars and guns and so many men, what are the chances they're from a community? Survivors that stayed when their QZ fell?" (Y/N) quietly spoke, squinting through the dim dust-filled air. Joel answered with a shrug, taking them into another building and motioning for them to settle down and rest. He pulled back a bit of the newspaper stuck to the windows and looked out, remaining by the window as the sound of multiple vehicles speeding down the roads got closer.

"Are we okay in here?" Ellie asked, fidgeting with her fingers and glancing between them, her eyes still wide with worry. (Y/N) frowned and reached out to wrap a loose arm around her shoulder, She smiled weakly and let her head drop onto his shoulder, her shoulders sagging when a heavy exhale escaped her. 

"For a little bit, maybe. Looks like they're checkin' out apartment buildings first. But they'll be comin' through these places soon enough." Joel stepped away from the window, giving Ellie the space to peer out of it herself. His features returned to that familiar fixed brow and scowl he always wore, his eyes lifting from the ground to look at (Y/N). "There's a building close by, maybe four blocks away. As soon as we don't hear a truck, we move. Thoughts?"

(Y/N) blinked owlishly at him, his brows lifting at Joel's curious gaze. "Uhm," He began, clearing his throat. "Yeah, yeah... the- uhm. Nightfall's probably our best bet, to be honest. They'll get tired eventually, and even if they still send out men, they'll have to use flashlights so we'll see if they're coming or not. Easier to move in the dark, anyways." 

"Yeah, you're right." Joel nodded, lowering himself down into a seat with a soft grunt. Ellie stepped away from the window and carefully plopped down on the dusty floorboards, bringing her knees up to her chest and resting her arms over them. She sighed softly, her eyes flickering toward the window when a truck passed by before slowly wandering back to Joel. (Y/N) leaned back against the table beside Joel, closing his eyes and rolling his head back, feeling exhaustion take the place of adrenaline. 

"Are you okay?" Ellie asked softly.

"I'm all right." Joel paused, swallowing thickly. (Y/N) peeked down at him, watching him purse his lips and motion vaguely with his hand at her. "Are... are you okay?"

"Yeah." Ellie smiled. Joel nodded, swiping his tongue over his lips and dropping his eyes onto the floor. He stared at it, shoulders rigid with tension, and (Y/N) doubted his body didn't ache from the tumble he took when wrestling with the young man. (Y/N) breathed out through his nose and tilted his head down to look at him, his hand reaching out to tentatively run his fingers over the top of Joel's graying waves. Joel flinched, barely noticeable but enough for (Y/N) to retract his hand.

"What's on your mind?" (Y/N) murmured, feeling the skin along his neck and skin warm with embarrassment. 

"I..." Joel trailed off, his lips pressing together tightly as he slumped back in the creaking old chair. He cleared his throat, fingers grazing over the top of his hair and eyes resuming their staring contest with the floor. "I didn't hear that guy comin', neither of 'em. You could've gotten hurt, real hurt, and Ellie wouldn't have had to... you know?"

Ellie's arms tightened around her knees. "But, it's a good thing I did, right?" 

"You're just a kid. You shouldn't know what it means to... it's not like you killed him. But... shootin'... I know what it's like... first time you, uh, hurt... someone like that." Joel said shakily, the hint of guilt laced in his voice making (Y/N) frown. The older man's gaze jumped up to (Y/N)'s face briefly, and then swiftly turned toward Ellie. His jaw clenched and unclenched before he spoke again. "If you, uh... uh... I'm not really good at this."

"Yeah, you really aren't." (Y/N) couldn't help but snort at Ellie's words, bringing a hand to his mouth and whispering a soft apology when Joel huffed at him.

Joel cleared his throat again. "What I'm sayin' is... it was my fault. You shouldn't have had to.. and I'm sorry." 

Ellie stared at him, her mouth twisting up as tears flooded her eyes. Joel grimaced, watching her desperately wipe at her eyes and nose with the sleeve of her jacket before the tears could start rolling. (Y/N) pushed himself off the table and walked toward her, crouching down beside her and curling his fingers around her hand. Ellie sniffled, tightly squeezing his hand in return. "It- It wasn't my first time." She revealed quietly. (Y/N)'s brows softened and raised slightly, his lips parting with his sharp, quiet inhale. Jesus.

(Y/N) tilted his head toward Joel when a bullet clattered onto the ground and rolled near them, noticing the handgun he held as he stood up from the chair and kneeled by Ellie's other side. She watched him curiously and lifted her brows when Joel offered her the gun, carefully taking it and glancing up at him.

"Show me your grip," Joel instructed, resting his arm over his thigh. He met (Y/N)'s gaze, the ghost of a smile appearing on his lips before it disappeared when he addressed Ellie again. "Finger off the trigger." 

Unable to resist the urge, (Y/N) smiled widely as he watched Joel instruct Ellie on how to properly hold her gun. A warm, sweet sensation spread across his chest when Joel shook the gun in Ellie's hand and she giggled, keeping her grip tight on it just as she'd been told. They were sweet when they got along, and entertaining when they didn't. Like a real... family. (Y/N) liked the sound of that.

[z-and-the-space-child]

my half fanon theory for me to not loose my mind to put together how the diner can be a point of null entropy and the crew's external bodies not changing (not aging) while they still go through entropic processes (memory formation, im assuming digestion, etc) is that they do age, but only when being observed. Caspar didn't age 100+ years because for the most part he wouldn't acknowledge effie or zeb, (if they were even there. maybe he couldn't get the radio to work for a long time) and it's like a wave collapse kind of thing. When an electron is observed (by humans, or any kind of optical medium) it 'knows' it's being observed and it's waveform collapses. it becomes a particle. This could be caspar. so if the three sisters thing happened after the 100+ of Not Remembering, his 'waveform' collapses, allowing him to form memories by Being Observed and Being Conscious, and Leif shows up not long after. We don't have any flashbacks of him, alone, quite yet. They're always with other people it's also worth noting since these guys are all older, they might not age as noticeably. it's been 4 years. David has also never pointed out that Casper looks. significantly. younger than he would have had he been on earth this whole time. they also might just be less stressed out (in certain ways!) with no need to worry about money and food (most of the time, at least), and they still do all have a good support system and people that love them, which can make tons of difference.