#social thriller

[writemarcus]

Finalists/Semifinalists Revealed For 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival

The festival received 614 applications from playwrights across the United States.

By: Chloe Rabinowitz

Jun. 01, 2023

Playwrights Foundation, the West Coast's premier launchpad for exceptional new plays and playwrights, has revealed the semifinalists and finalists for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival, which will be presented in a hybrid festival (both in-person and streamed attendance options) April 12-21, 2024, per Playwrights Foundation's recent announcement to shift to a biennial festival structure. BAPF continues to uphold its legacy as one of the oldest and most successful new play festivals uplifting playwrights' new works early in their career.

The festival received 614 applications from playwrights across the United States. Applicants underwent a thorough evaluation process and were reviewed by Playwrights Foundation staff in collaboration with 189 committee readers-local and national theatre professionals serving as evaluators, with 57% who identify as playwrights. From this pool of 614 applicants, 148 semifinalists were carefully chosen based on the writer's voice, skills, and the play's potential. Applicants were narrowed down further to 45 finalists encompassing unique voices, under-represented narratives, and bold theatrical forms across various levels of experiences. Ultimately, five playwrights will be selected among the finalists and announced at a later point.

"The current landscape of contemporary playwriting is so vibrant. There is an abundance of writing which blooms with strong points of view, memorable plots and characters, and risk-taking moments of stagecraft." says Literary Manager Heather Helinsky. "Our community of readers were highly engaged by a wide range of theatrically innovative styles, compelling narratives, and poignant issues and themes. The semifinalists and finalists are deserving of reaching audiences in need of catharsis-from communal grieving to a good laugh."

Bay Area Playwrights Festival is one of the oldest and most successful new play festivals for new works in their early stages. Established in 1976 by acclaimed director Robert Woodruff, the festival has built a respected reputation for uplifting original and distinctive new voices in the theater, investing in the development of their work, and launching storied careers. Among the first writers developed at the inaugural BAPF was the young Sam Shepard. Since then, more than 500 prize-winning, nationally significant playwrights have received one of their first professional experiences at the BAPF, including Pulitzer Prize winners Nilo Cruz, Jackie Sibblies Drury, Paula Vogel, and Annie Baker; and acclaimed playwrights Lauren Gunderson, Rajiv Joseph, Katori Hall, Christopher Chen, Lauren Yee, and Marcus Gardley. BAPF's ongoing success in supporting and amplifying exceptional, newly emerging writers and launching their ground-breaking new work is its enduring legacy.

"We are excited to spotlight these talented playwrights and incredible plays in this year's BAPF semifinalists and finalists," says Executive Artistic Director Jessica Bird Beza. "There are an abundance of powerful narratives included on the list that made for an incredibly difficult selection process. We want to uplift and advocate for the dynamic work of this next generation of playwrights to other theatermakers and hope to see them on stages around the country."

After listening closely to playwrights and other constituents, Playwrights Foundation recently announced that the Bay Area Playwrights Festival model will shift from an annual festival to a biennial hybrid festival in order to expand the pre-festival program from 4 to 12 months. This change will allow staff to be more intentional and responsive to each playwright's needs and increase the amount of time, care, and resources dedicated to each playwright.

"The past few years have been a time for reflection and growth at Playwrights Foundation, resulting in newly expressed purpose, vision, and values," said Beza. "We move forward with a deeper commitment to center and empower the playwrights we serve, guided by a strategic plan co-created with significant playwright representation, and the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival program model changes reflect this."

45 FINALISTS FOR THE 46th BAY AREA PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

Calley N. Anderson, The Alligator

Jennifer Barclay, Behave Yourself

Nikki Brake-Sillá, ReWombed

Karen Marguerite Caronna, Dream of a Marginal Deity

Sam Chanse, Fellowship

Sean-Joseph Choo, otou-san

Avery Deutsch, The Last Beach Day

NJ Draine, The Housing Situation on Neptune

Lisa Sanaye Dring, Seven Hoshi

Jahna Ferron-Smith, Are We There Yet?

Noa Gardner, Nan

Sara Guerrero, Have to Believe We Are Magic

Mya Ison, Laure

Hasti Jafari, Superposition: A Crawling Play in Two Parts

Alicia Kester, Water Spirits

Garrett David Kim, Belligerency

Claire Koenig, DYKER BYKES

Molly Olis Krost, Nanay

Melissa Leilani Larson, A Form of Flattery

Minna Lee, My Home on the Moon

Jeffrey Lo, Balikbayan Box

Ethan Luk, Flight of a Legless Bird

Zizi Majid, They Came in the Night

Nick Malakhow, Optional Boss Battle

Divya Mangwani, Vigil-Auntys

Schaeffer Nelson, Hottest Church Dads

Miles Orduña, Lola

Rena Patel, Pyar aur Coffee

a.k. payne, Dwellers

Aidaa Peerzada, Children of the Wise

Phanésia Pharel, R&B

Eliana Pipes, Cowboy and the Moon

Christina Pumariega, Her Math Play

Ankita Raturi, Fifty Boxes of Earth

Aurora Real de Asua, The Pride Before

Harrison David Rivers, maybe the saddest thing

Nia Akilah Robinson, The Great Privation: How to flip ten cents into a dollar.

TyLie Shider, Whittier

DeAndre Short, At Ease

Phillip Christian Smith, Riverside Drive

Caridad Svich, Chelsea & Ivanka

Jason Tseng, Fear & Wonder

Emma Watkins, Elizabeth is Going into the Ground

Madison Wetzell, The Body Play

David Zheng, Ching Chong Maka Haya

103 SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE 46TH BAY AREA PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL

Ai Aida, The True Tale of Princess Kaguya

Boni B. Alvarez, Sticky Rice

Amanda L. Andrei, Lena Passes By

Brent Askari, The Refugees

Alayna Jacqueline, You Know I'd Never (Even If I Did)

Jen Browne, Standing in the River While the World Falls Down

Phillip Gregory Burke, The Suncatchers of Sahel: An Ancestral Tale Told To Today's Griot, Part II: The Two Twilights

B.J. Burton, Maddie on Her Way Home

Nora Sørena Casey, The Censorship of Dreams

Chima Chikazunga, 1 Letter Shy of Coincidence

Matthew Chong, Lessons

Xavier Clark, backstroke boys

Katie Coleman, The Madonna of Logan Square

Lynne Conner, The Mother

Samantha Cooper, She Lives with a Shrine

Kate Danley, Working for Crumbs

Angela J. Davis, Griswold

Maddie Dennis-Yates, We're Just Redoing The Kitchen

Nelson Diaz-Marcano, 1898 or How Sugar Conquered the Enchantment

Judy M. Dove, Shinsei (rebirth)

Sean Dunnington, The Children's Farm

Alisha Espinosa, The Dirt is Fertile

Helen Everbach, Tea Patches

Zachariah Ezer, The Stones of Life

Jeanette Farr, Hedda on Fire: A Play Inspired by Ibsen and Climate Grief

Gina Femia, the thing about air

Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend, Come Again

Elizabeth Flanagan, Meth

Jeremy Gable, Carpenter Gorge

Craig Garcia, The Here and Now

Taylor Dodd Geu, Passing Over

Ruth Geye, These and Those

Emma Gibson, Lumin

Maximillian Gill, Blank Slate

Mikki Gillette, American Girl

lily gonzales, my eyes are up here honey

Franky D. Gonzalez, Escobar's Hippo

Ahon Gooptu, Seasons of Love

Keiko Green, Hells Canyon

Malique Guinn, Bounty on Our Heads

Katherine Gwynn, All I Want to Do is Be Pretty Like You

Rach Harris, Trophically Cascaded

Andrea Hart, Mounds or Talking Shit about a Pretty Sunset

Alli Hartley-Kong, People Should Talk About What's Real

Steven Hayet, Hugo Saves Christmas...in May!

Howard Ho, Reset

Daniel Holzman, Me & Who

Poliento Ico, A Love Letter to Loss

J. Lynn Jackson, Lucía Fuentes

Keenya J. Jackson, The Return of the Shogun

KJ Jarboe, Soured Milk

Jen Jarnagin, demolition extreme

Jacob Juntunen, See You in a Minute

Lisa Y. Kang, American Migration

M.J. Kang, The Battle of Saratoga

Ambata Kazi-Nance, M Power: A (Re)Birth Story

Lisa Kenner Grissom, here comes the night

Alex Lead, Easter Eggs for a Statistic

Tracey Conyer Lee, The First Time

Matthew Libby, Sisters

Alex Lin, Bad Chinese Daughter

Alicia Louzoun-Heisler, Bashert

John Mabey, Desert Oceans

Gloria Majule, Uncut

Eric Marlin, AirSpace

Leigh M. Marshall, The Hunters & All the Haunted

C. Meaker, Ghosts in the Graveyard

Francisco Mendoza, Piggyback

Alison Minami, Sinkhole

LJ Morizono, Transcending the Belly of the Beast

Aya Sophie Nassif, Without Her

Asia Nichols, The Incredible Darling(s)

Cynthia Galaz Ochoa, Matriarch

Dave Osmundsen, More of a Heart

Novid Parsi, Remains and Returns

José Pérez IV, Very Berry Dead

Reynaldo Piniella, Son of an Unknown Father

Zahida Rahemtulla, The Frontliners

Andrew Rincón, El Mito or The Myth of my Pain

Colette Robert, [landscape play]

Jacob K. Robinson, The Lark Ascending

Kira Rockwell, Space Bound

Ashley Lauren Rogers, Don't Think About Elephants

Lisa Marie Rollins, Token

Madeline Rouverol, You're Not a Mystery to Me

Martine Sainvil, Indispensable

Marcus Scott, There Goes the Neighborhood

Mak Shealy, exceptional

Nic A. Sommerfeld, Pieces

travis tate, YOUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL

Sebastian Timpe, The House of Mulberry Street

Amy Tofte, The Rest of Us

Jackson Tucker-Meyer, The Perfection of the Donut

Josiah Thomas Turner, BECOMING!!, or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 2279 and All that Followed

James Anthony Tyler, Pranayama

Joseph D. Valdez, Warrior's Blood

Hope Villanueva, Brackish

Caity-Shea Violette, Rx Machina

Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters, Come to Me, Cling to You

LaDarrion Williams, Hurt People

Lauren Wimmer, The Cookie Institute

Susan Yassky, The Women's Center

Laura Zlatos, Show Trial

ABOUT PLAYWRIGHTS FOUNDATION

Playwrights Foundation, led by Executive Artistic Director Jessica Bird Beza, was founded in 1978 and is widely recognized as one of the top playwright service organizations and new play incubators in the U.S., dedicated to supporting and championing playwrights' artistic growth and careers while uplifting their voices on a national level. PF envisions a future where playwrights are radically centered as visionary leaders who transform the world through storytelling. Serving emerging and mid-career playwrights from the Bay Area and around the country, PF has identified over 500 exceptional writers early in their careers and given them space, time and professional artistic collaborators to explore new theatrical ideas free from the pressures of the marketplace for more than 45 years. Playwrights PF has worked with have won every award in the theater including the Pulitzer, the Tony, the Obie, the National Critics Circle Award, the Susan Smith Blackburn Award, and many more. On its 40th Anniversary, Playwrights Foundation was recognized with a Theatre Bay Area Legacy Award for its substantial impact on the field. PF has received two Glickman Awards for best new play to premiere in the Bay Area through its Producing Partnership Initiative. Among the many PF-developed works that have premiered across the country are Katori Hall's The Mountaintop, Rajiv Joseph's Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Jihae Park's Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, Lauren Gunderson's The Revolutionists, Lauren Yee's King of the Yees, Madhuri Shekar's House of Joy, Mike Lew's Teenage Dick, and Mona Mansour's We Swim, We Talk, We Go To War, and many more.

[linuxgamenews]

Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape is coming this fall

Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape social thriller game release is due to hit Linux via Proton with Windows PC. Dreamloop Games poured their heart and soul into this masterpiece. Due to making its way onto Steam in October. Alright, brace yourself for a wild adventure that'll get your adrenaline going. In Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape you're kidnapped and taken to a tropical island resort, but it's not all sunshine and sandcastles. Imagine, without warning you find yourself on an unpredictable reality TV show with 10 others. Where each of you will receive $500,000 at the end. But in Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape all of you have to stay alive while being the stars of a twisted Dark Web show. Taking place on that side of the internet where you were warned about. Now, here's a recap of Dreamloop's email reply.

Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape will run on Linux through Steam's Proton emulator. But we don't currently have plans to create native Linux builds. As for the game's engine, it's made with Unity 3D.

Unity 3D is promising, but a native build would help developers, especially with the rising popularity of the Steam Deck. However, there are no plans for native support yet. But plans could change, October 19th is a couple months off.

Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape - First Look

This is not just your regular vacation nightmare scenario. It's actually about human nature, fame, money, and, most importantly, choices. If ever wondered how far people will go when fame, cash, and unchecked desires? You're about to find out! With no rules to follow, things can either go chaotic 'Lord of the Flies' situation. They can also turn into a 'Love Island' scenario with romances. In Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape, you'll step into the shoes of a dude named Harrison, plus you're his moral compass. Since your decisions won't just lead to a simple 'good' or 'bad' ending. They shape the characters, twist the story, and even change how you interact with everything. Now, a heads-up for all the fans of rich storytelling. The Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape adventure boasts some viable features. Dive deep into multiple stories, connect with a diverse cast of intriguing characters. Each with their own secrets and stories. Take on countless hours of voice acted dialogues. Along with an amazing soundtrack. Including tunes from the minds behind Zero Escape — Shinji Hosoe and Matias Lehtoranta. Inescapable: No Rules, No Escape will be available this fall. Due to arrive on October 19th, 2023 for Windows PC. But due to be playable via Proton. So be sure to Wishlist the game on Steam.

[lonelysatoru]

random straw hat tweets pt2

[hangup119]

FEELS LIKE A THRILLER! ᯓᡣ𐭩

pining after hong seunghan has always felt like an unachievable reality; however, just a few months into your first year of college, it seems that the gods have finally listened to your prayers when news breaks out that your long-time crush is single once again.

PAIRING. non-idol!seunghan + fem!reader

GENRES. social media au, college au, unrequited love, one-sided pining, mostly shits and giggles (aka crack?), acquaintances to friends to lovers

WARNINGS. profanity, mentions of homewrecking/cheating, out of pocket jokes, mentions/consumption of alcohol

STATUS. on-going

PLAYLIST. love 119 by riize; thinkin bout you by frank ocean; but sometimes by boynextdoor; sucker’s prayer by the decemberists; YK by cean jr.; from the start by laufey

MAIN MASTERLIST here

hey so i actually have a big fat crush on seunghan and now we're here (bae pls come back)

PROFILES

jaesan shippers

riizelers

CHAPTERS

01. s3?n6h4n$

02. question for the ladies

03. cringepilled crushmaxxing

04. gundam 😕

05. it's not her it's me headass

06. @SMUbruhmoments

07. boy best friend activities

08. emily dickinson

09. all too well (taylor's version)

10. F word

11. sigma meal, skibidi slicers

12. #NOTACANNIBAL

13. dpmo

14. #smad

15. boy’s night

16. cool. cool. cool. cool.

17. #hopecore

18. all’s well that ends well

. . . & more to come !

story by hangup119. do not steal.

[assiraphales]

sorry but the funniest FUNNIEST part of thriller bark (a funny ass arc) is that perona's negative ghosts didn't work on usopp because he's naturally a pessimist. that's my secret, cap. i'm depressed

[horror-aesthete]

The Menu, 2022, dir. Mark Mylod

[theaspen]

summary : Jay seems to keep appearing in your alternate nightmares. He acts as your night in shining armor, always helping you in your sleep. But when you try to stop the nightmares altogether he doesn't like it.

Genre : Thriller, angst.

pairing : Jay x you

Warnings: Graphic descriptions of blood, death and suicide. If you are sensitive to these subjects please don't read!!

___________________________________________

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

____________________________________________

Authors note: It's honestly SO embarrassing that I'm posting this now LMAOAOAOA.

Uhm. I'm sorry. I hope you guys enjoy and leave some nice comments or feedback or anything tbh. And send me an ask, or comment below to be added to the tag list.

____________________________________________

Are you sure?” My uncle asks sceptically.

“Yes I'm sure.” I tell him firmly. 

This is the 10th time he's asked me this question today alone. What's a therapist gonna do? Besides, I'm sick of him pretending to care. 

“Uncle, I'm not really sure why you're so insistent on this. Is it because the press is outside? They want to interview you?”

It's a sharp dig at him and I know it. He's never cared about his own brother, never visited.

He scowls at me, “Careful, might I have to remind you that it isn't your father that's taking care of you, putting you in the best room with the best doctors.”

I glare at him as he walks away from the room. Well atleast the pathetic nice act is gone. 

Kyungsoo enters my room soon again, throwing a careful glance at my uncle. He was a big shot after all. With his more than successful firm.

“You good?” He asks.

“Yeah, um I think I'll just go for a walk.” I tell him rather shortly.

“Sure.” He says quietly, probably assuming I had an argument.

But truth be told, I'm avoiding him. I'm getting attached to someone who's just tolerating me for their job. It's not his fault I know but I can't get attached to those who won't stay once I'm up and gone. 

My mind goes to Jay for a tiny second. Hm. Maybe I should talk to a therapist. The dreams stopped for two days and usually I would be overjoyed at the idea of not just one but two full nights rest.

But I woke up feeling uneasy, I made a promise to Jay, someone who exists only in my head. But I made a promise nevertheless. 

There are so many things I want to ask him, so many. 

Why do I have no dreams? Why is it that I only ever have a blackout or nightmares?

Why is he saving me? 

I know I shouldn't, but my curiosity has gotten the better of me. I look down at my fisted hands and open them. There are two sleeping pills, I stole it from a nurse's bag when she wasn't looking. 

Sleeping pills and I aren't the best of friends. Sure they help me not have a meltdown from not being able to sleep for almost 20 hours but they also give me the worst types of nightmares.   Which right now happens to be something that I need. 

“Goodnight.”Kyungsoo tries to smile at me.

I meekly smile back , eager to down the pills and meet the one person who actually wants me to stay.

_________________________________________

The pills go down my throat ten minutes later. The small light creates a shadow of me in front.  The shadows shift, turning and twisting and I watch fascinated as they give a performance for me. 

I'm not afraid, a part of my brain thinks. What are the shadows going to do? They've been with me forever. Taunting me, trying to manipulate me. I've never given into any of their tricks. I've never trusted them. 

But when I'm all alone now, in a tiny closet peeking out from the hole and watching the shadows linger my heart picks up its beat. 

They come and they disappear again and again. I look through the tiny peep the closet gives and realise soon as they go behind every nook and creek that they are looking for none other than me. 

 

My hands reach out to clasp my mouth shut. My body folds itself as small as it can possibly go. Will the shadows think to look here too?

I shut my eyes forcefully. My other senses heightened until I could feel everything around me. The musty smell of the closet, my fingernails digging into themselves.  My feet numb, paralyzed. 

My breathing becomes slower, my arms start to unclench. I think they're gone. I think I can get out now. Escape to a place where they can't catch me. 

Before I know it, before I can even pull my hands away from myself. There's a strange hiss that comes inches away from me. A hand grabs my ankle and pulls me hard enough that I don't have time to scream. 

My head bangs against the hard wooden doors as I'm being pulled away. The impact is so hard that I can only clutch my head and groan as the hands keep pulling me away, dragging me on the rough wooden floors.

The splinters catch on clothes and skin. My chin is bleeding, but I can't even stop. Can't even catch a hold of myself as I try to catch myself breathlessly.  

There's a sharp turn to the right, and that's when I know that the shadows aren't just pulling me along aimlessly , they have a destination in mind. 

My eyes scan around desperately trying to catch hold of something to stop. 

Just then, a hand- a solid, real and warm hand catches me. A sudden stop to the journey. 

I know who it is before I can even look up. I clasp my hands with his. The shadows aren't pleased, they hiss and linger around My ankles. 

But when his hand keeps tugging me in, the shadows start to dissolve, materialise into nothing, losing their power. 

Jay's hands pull me again, even when the shadows disappear, he doesn't let go and I don't either.

When I gain a little strength into my limbs I finally pull away from the embrace. I look into his eyes, they are wide and scared, maybe even more than mine.

“Thank yo-”

“Why didn't you come?? You made a promise and you leave me all alone here?!” Jay yells angrily.

I pull away completely.  I was happy to finally see him again, but seeing his bloodshot face. The look of absolute rage in his eyes makes me stop. Brings the familiar uneasy feeling back into my stomach. 

“I'm sorry.” I mumble.

Jay looks at my crestfallen face, and immediately his face softens. 

“I’m sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you. I was just scared you left forever.” He says softly, “You're hurt a lot this time. Come here, let's clean you up.” 

He rips off a piece of his sleeves and starts dabbing it on my wounds.

His reassuring words don't chase away the moths in my stomach. 

“Jay..do you think I should see a therapist?”

Jay frowns at my words, “A therapist? What's that?” He asks curiously. 

“Umm. It's someone who helps you with your problems, like stress, anxiety…nightmares.”

Jay stiffens upon that. His hand paused on my chin. 

“But why…? I can save you. I save you every time.”

I shake my head,

“I can save you again, you won't even have to get hurt next time. Just trust me. That's all you need to do!”

I take his hands in mine, his eyes are trembling, 

“What happens when you can't?”

“..what”

“What happens when one day you can't save me? I can wake up, but what about you? What if something happens to you instead?” 

He shakes his head intently, “I don't care, I only exist because of you. If you're gone, then I'm alone again, I have no purpose.”

I stay silent at that, avoiding his eyes. 

The world around me seems to shift again, faster than it did before. 

“I think I'm waking up now.”

“Yeah.”

“Can't you…can't you appear in my dreams too? Not just nightmares?”

“I don't know.”

I can feel my resolve slipping at the sight of his tired face. He looks my age, but at this moment his face seems to have gone through a millenia worth of sadness. 

“I'll come back okay?” 

Jay just nodded. His fingers slip away from mine as he watches me disappear again. I never stay for long. He wonders whether it's because I can't or I don't want to. 

Jay fidgets with his fingers even after I'm gone. 

He thinks long and hard about how he could make me stay. Every time I've left, it's only because he saved me.

What happens when he makes me believe that she can't escape the nightmare anymore? 

________________________________________

Taglist : @sunjaylove @ryejigyu @keikeu

@excusemeimquirky @lollllllliiiiiiiiiiiipop

[every-sanji]

[thetruearchmagos]

Odd idea that came to mind, but for 'non-binary' (as a general term) people in the United Commonwealth, I wonder if an alternative to 'Mr.' and 'Ms.' might just be 'M.', and correspondingly be actually said as 'em' so-and-so

[mediamatinees]

Barbieland, Victory, and the Freedom That Comes With Women's Intuition

“It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong. . . always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. . . It’s too hard! It’s too…

[corvid-language-library]

Why do NHK dramas always sound like they're going to be funny and silly but then they punch you right in the feelings

[linuxgamenews]

Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue thriller meets Steam Play

Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue social thriller game aims at Proton for Linux with Windows PC. Dreamloop Games has crafted a truly unique and engaging creation with their upcoming title. Due to make its way onto Steam. There's a new game coming out soon Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue, which is about how people act when there are no rules. The game is a social thriller, which means it explores how people behave in social situations. Well, when pushed to their limits. So it's like a horror movie that you can control, but on Linux.

Inescapable will run on Linux through Steam's Proton emulator. But we don't currently have plans to create native Linux builds.

Although there's good news about Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue, there hasn't been any mention of Steam Deck support yet. However, note that the developers are focusing on Proton support for Linux support. Which could lead to exciting potentials in the future. The main character in Inescapable is Harrison, one of eleven people kidnapped and taken to an island. These people are forcefully taking part in a TV show being broadcast on the Dark Web At the end of their stay, they receive $500,000. How far will people go for social clout, wealth, and their own desires?

Inescapable: No Rules, No Rescue - Official Announcement Trailer

Inescapable social thriller is all about what happens when people have no rules to follow. It makes you think about how people get what they want, even if it means hurting others. One of the main features about this game is that you get to make choices that affect the story. So, if you choose one option, it might lead to an unique outcome than you might expect. It's like being the director of your own movie. The game is also all about the characters and their personalities. As a result, you get to learn about what motivates them to do what they do. Inescapable is going to release in the fall of this year on Linux (Proton) via Windows PC. The game offers a lot of voice acted dialogue. Due to immerse Linux players and make you feel like you're really in the story. The game's music is from Zero Escape's Shinji Hosoe and Matias Lehtoranta Inescapable social thriller game that makes you think about how people behave. Due to make its way onto Steam this fall. Coming to Linux via Proton with Windows PC.

[figurativepieceoftrash]

smile

Here's one from that post-war fic you beta'd yellow & thanks sm for sending so many asks my way, you da bestest, coolest, awesomest, most swagful, etc. etc. etc. 😎👍

[theothernads]

ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ³: 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐊𝐘𝐒<𝟑 ʏᴊᴡ

𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘴 Y.JW. By 𝙙𝙞𝙢𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩01 (wattpad)

-an 𝙀𝙉𝙃𝙔𝙋𝙀𝙉 fanfic

-𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 <3

Yn believed in logic. Jungwon believed in understanding his emotions. Their friends knew they would get into petty arguments. All in all, they desire a successful university life, away from their past and families. However, when murders appear in the premises of their own school, and the past comes back to meet them, they find a link and team up with their logic and emotions to find out the culprit and resume their normal lives. But, no one guaranteed their safety and their feelings for each other.

ʚɞ Pairing: Yang Jungwon × female reader

Ft. Enha, Le Sserafim, Bangtan, TXT, Newjeans

Smau+ written

⚠️𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜: swearing, murder, obsession, mental disorders +health, suicide, family problems, not all members are good, kys jokes, sexual jokes, suggestive lol.

ᵀᵃᵍˡⁱˢᵗ: ᵒᵖᵉⁿ

(just comment/ask)

3.9k words

< m.list >

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

THE THURSDAY MORNING YOU WENT BACK INTO SCHOOL WAS PEACEFUL.

Yunjin was at dance club this early in the morning, so you were walking into campus by yourself. English was in a few minutes, and so you decided to go pick her up from the dance studio.

You tried to drop the idea of the murder circulating on the news and sauntered through the halls whilst you gripped your phone.

Students chattered normally as you checked your phone, seeing an email saying, 'CLUBS'.

Curious, you tapped on it and it ended up saying how sign-ups for the clubs were happening tomorrow. It would allow some extracurricular activities which would 'bedazzle' someone's resumé, and also would help out at the fundraiser happening some point this month.

You sighed, shutting off your phone only to see the same exact message on the main school bulletin board, the poster summarising better than the email.

Perhaps a club wasn't so bad. Maybe it could decorate your skills. You shrugged and sauntered to the busy dance studio.

Music blared from inside, the melody becoming more audible the more you neared the doors. The Thursday sounded much more energetic that what you felt on this school morning.

Not 5 minutes after, the music absfuptly stopped; she came out whilst zipping up her crimson jacket and waving to you with an eye-smile.

"Let's go~," Yunjin sang and pulled you along with her.

"How do you even get energy to dance in the morning?" You sighed. She replied with a chuckle.

"Well, we have no other time where our schedules line up. I know Kazuha has law when we finish English," Yunjin said casually, and she started talking about her dance and the moves they were doing.

You were listening intently, you really were. However, you were pulled away from the course of the conversation when you saw a few intrusive gazes pricking your figure. Not just yours, but also Yunjin.

Glancing around, you then heard the whispers passing by the students and your heart felt a sting of anxiety. What the hell were they looking at?

"Yun?" You snapped her out of her talk, making her glimpse at your concerned expression.

"Call me crazy, but is everyone staring at us?" You asked her quietly, shying away from the gazes of others. With a swift look, she did indeed see that people were glimpsing at you and her, as if to confirm your identity before falling into complete shock.

"Yeah, you're not crazy. It's happening. But why..?" Yunjin replied, voice shrinking down as you listened. You gave a shrug and headed over to English, trying to block out the not-so subtle stares.

At least they could have been more secretive about it- this whole attention caused the type of warmth in your cheeks that came from humiliation. Something you loathed feeling.

Yunjin pretended not to notice as she linked arms with yours, wanting to also move on with the day without her ears tinting pink. You appreciated her comforting touch, and walked towards the English classroom.

Not before you turned a corner and bumped into someone. More like 2 people- ones that made you scowl.

Minhee and Han.

Both of them returned an insipid glare, making you step back from them, and Yunjin rolled her eyes.

"Well, well, well... if it isn't Yn... surprised to see you here," Minhee started, voice dipped in venom in an attempt to intimidate you.

Turns out that even university kids could be absolute pricks with their personalities being more thorny than ever.

With a sigh, you quirked an eyebrow at this sudden statement. "What do you want?"

"Hey- don't get sassy on me, I just wasn't expecting to bump into you and Yunjin."

Yunjin clicked her tongue, grinding her teeth before speaking. "What the fvck is that supposed to mean? Why wouldn't we be in school?"

Minhee and Han give a little face of realisation, fake epiphany as they looked at each other with a secret conversation between their eyes. Han turned to you, to both of you, to reply.

"I mean, after all that, I wonder why the school let you come back." Han smirked a little, causing the confusion to cloud your fraught thoughts.

"What do you mean?" You glared at him again with confusion. What did they even mean by that? What could they possibly be thinking of that made them conclude you wouldn't be allowed back at school?

Minhee chuckled and crossed her arms, brown eyes scanning yours meticulously to see that you were genuinely lost at sea from their words. Sighing, she stopped grinning.

"Don't act dumb. You were at the crime scene, right?" Minhee accused.

Your heart froze a little and Yunjin visibly stilled as if she wasn't breathing. With bewilderment, you just stared at Minhee.

This must be a joke...

"That must mean, yes?"

"How did you even hear-?"

"People talk," Minhee abruptly said, cutting you off. She scoffed. "Like you talked, didn't you?"

Fvck. Your eyes flickered, remembering you told Minji, Chae and Heeseung yesterday. It was the matter of which one actually revealed it. You still stayed silent, and you could feel Yunjin staring at you.

"Who the fvck told you anyway?" You snapped back at her, making her glare momentarily.

"Who? I heard it start in the computer science majors. They seemed hot about the topic, and I just couldn't help but stop by their table. And they mentioned the crime scene."

Now who the fvck was in computer science and how did they attain the information you passed on? The regret bit back at you harshly, gnawing at your brain as you kept your teeth clenched.

"Yn, you told someone?" Yunjin asked softly, not mad, but rather a bit apprehensive.

"I.. I told Minji, Chaewon and...." you stopped talking, and then your fists clenched.

"Heeseung."

For the life of him, Heeseung could never sew his mouth shut- why did you even trust him? He may not tell a throng of people through a megaphone, but he would run his mouth to one of his other mates in the other classes.

The betrayal anchored you a little before feeling your own fingers fiddle with the corroded surface of your green nails.

"I mean, why the school let you in? They haven't even completed the investigation and you're back in school? That's bizarre," Han added on, pondering with insincerity.

The urge to cuss at them shot up exponantially, but you kept your lips shut and now, you just want to get to class without the mass of people throwing their arrows of accusation at you.

"Maybe because we didn't do it?" you retorted to the two. They didn't make sense- at all. Oh gosh, this was everything you didn't want in the week.

Minhee and Han struggle to stop smiling and their grins stay prominent.

"Oh please, you just conveniently found a dead body?" Minhee taunted, stepping forward a little. You're not wavering and you stood your ground with the firm glare.

"Unfortunately so. But we didn't do it. There's no evidence to point to that. Thought you should know that from how much you run your mouth about taking law," you remarked, the bitterness stinging your tone.

Her gaze flashed with plain irritation at your words. "Watch your words with me- what are you? Some psychologist? A poet? I could be the one ruining your life later on."

"From what? Get a grip, Minhee," you muttered back to her, not leaving any stone of your anger unturned. Han and Yunjin watched whilst you and Minhee give verbal rebuttal to each other.

"Watch it, yn. You're getting so mad over the truth," Minhee scoffed, tilting her head. And it did piss you off, your chest tightening with curses and frustration.

"Well guess what? We're not suspects, none of us are."

And you nudge past her shoulder with Yunjin before turning around and saying one more snide remark.

"Oh, and no one likes lawyers anyway."

.

.

.

After that eventful affair of texting, you and Yunjin finally made your way to English. No doubt that people were staring at you, and unfortunately, the twitter post actually blew up.

So, you and Yunjin only attracted whispers and gazes as if you and her were magnets for drama.

Pulling silently on Yunjin's hand, you climbed the steps and went to your designated seat next to Jungwon and Sunoo. With the same bewildered gaze, Jungwon turned to you discreetly.

"So... everyone knows." Jungwon breathed next to you. You felt the tickle in your ear, but you were so anchored by the stress, that sensation was crushed.

"Yeah... I may have told my psychology friends."

"Yn, are you serious?" Jungwon raised an eyebrow, rosy lips in a slight frown.

"But, wait- i told them not to tell anyone," you remarked quietly before he could even let that anger hit you. Jungwon scoffed, looking briefly back at his computer.

"And how did that go because now we're trending on twitter." Jungwon gave a stern side-eye, to which you pursed your lips.

Regretfully.

You sighed before grabbing your laptop and nodding. "Look, I fvcked up because I told Heeseung. On that note, hold on."

You grabbed your phone from your pocket, and your main goal was to hunt down where the heck Heeseung was to have a courteous and firm conversation.

-----

The cafeteria was a nice place to relax after class, and you practically ran to the usual corner to avoid people's stares. It was like the walk of shame going through those hallways, even though you and the others haven't done anything remotely wrong- you guys weren't even suspects.

Even with that reassuring conclusion, your fingers couldn't held pick at your lip, peeling off the dried skin and then eliciting a sting in your flesh. And your nails were eroding from their pretty green colour.

Though, you didn't wince, you simply sat down and melted into the grey couch, and so did the others. Yunjin was next to you, leaning on your shoulder, and the boys were on the opposite side.

"I'm sorry, guys. I shouldn't have told Heeseung..."

Jay kind of snickers and shrugs, whilst Jungwon played with the sleeves of his black hoodie.

"I mean, it was bound to happen. You just catalysed it," Jay said, glancing at you for a moment, a small grin on his face.

Still, even if it was inevitable, your skin crawled with guilt: yesterday, you wanted to fully forget about it, but now it was practically being shoved in your face by other students because of your careless action. Not just you, but to all your friends.

"Not the day i imagined to be having," Yunjin chimed, looking at her phone, seeing that the 'meya' user got about five thousand interactions with her exposing post.

Meaning that five thousand (and more) saw you tell Minhee to kill herself.

You groaned into your hands, body slipping and slouching down the couch in pure embarrassment. The others chuckled.

"I mean, if you're worried about Minhee, she's a bitch anyway. That tweet was pretty deserved to her," Jay said, looking at his phone and snickering at the screen.

"Yeah, I know she is, but I acted out of impulse." You sighed, uncovering your face. Jungwon peered at you, mischief sparkling in his eyes.

"For once," Jungwon scoffed, giving a small smirk at you. Raising an eyebrow, you glared at him.

"What's that supposed to mean? You find it funny?"

"I mean yeah- you never go off on people like that. But this time you did, it's actually amusing."

Yunjin and Jay rolled their eyes at this arising bicker, already sensing the series of pointless insults about to be thrown.

"Are you saying I'm not funny right now?" You sat up in your seat, crossing your arms, to which Jungwon tilted his head, hid black locks sweeping over his head. And it made you want to grab his hair-.

Woah- that's another impulsive thought. Your neck crept with an unfamiliar heat.

"You said it, not me. You're kind of stuck-up, robotic, if you ask me," Jungwon remarked, the smug smile never leaving his festures even thought it was small. With a scowl, you glared more.

"Robotic? Bruh, I'm logical. There's a difference."

"Yet they sound the same coming from you," Jungwon retorted, challenging your word. If you weren't infuriated before, you were now. You saw him cross his arms, tipping his chin up at you in confidence.

As if he dared you to even talk back to him.

Before you could even throw another insult, Yunjin held you back. "Have you guys heard about the clubs?"

"Ah right, I mean it doesn't matter to us. We have dance," Jay said, finally remembering the email sent to everyone this morning.

You glanced at Jay and Yunjin, envious that they did have something to call their hobby.

"I want to join a club, but I don't know which one? It helps us look better," You said, giving one last glare to Jungwon as he rolled his eyes.

"I can help you find out tomorrow once the sign-up begins," Yunjin suggested, lifting her eyes to meet yours. Giving a smile, you nodded.

Whilst that talk went on with what clubs to even take, your phone vibrated in your pocket.

You excused yourself and stood up, taking your phone along and stood in a much quieter corner of the cafeteria and saw the screen before answering it.

"Hi, Abba." You chimed into the phone, already having a hint of what was about to happen.

"Hm- yn? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you." you chuckled softly. He clearly wasn't used to the call system on his phone. Your dad hummed in response, but he didn't laugh back.

"I called you because I heard that there was a really bad murder around the area? Are you okay- what happened?" Your dad asked repeatedly, bombarding you with questions, his worry becoming evident.

"Oh, you do know?"

"How would I not? It's all over the news, yn." Your dad sighed over the phone, already sensing his prickling stress.

"Okay, yeah there was a murder around," you breathed, and you bit back your tongue on telling that you and your friends were the ones to actually find the body.

If he found out that you discovered the body, he wouldn't hesitate to talk your ear off and coddle you with his protection; you know he would mean well, but that meant going back home instead of staying at your apartment with Yunjin.

"Why do you sound so casual. Apparantly he worked at your university- do you know how dangerous that is?" You heard him ramble on anxiously.

"Abba, I know. But the police are investigating it, okay? Nothing bad will happen to me," You reassured him, talking softly. Though you could sense your father's lingering worry over you.

"I know, but I don't want you to get hurt, okay?"

"Hm, I know. I won't get hurt," you said, smiling into the phone.

"Well, keep me updated. You know how much I care for your wellbeing," he said, voice soft and it pulled at your heartstrings.

"I promise to keep you updated."

"Okay... have a good day at school," your father said before ending the call.

With your shoulders deflating, you relaxed; that went much better than you expected. It wasn't as histrionic as you thought it would be and he took it well. At least.

Walking back to the others, Yunjin quirked an eyebrow. "Who was that?"

"My dad. He found out, about the whole incident" You answered her, plopping to the couch again and sighing.

"Does he know you and Jungwon found it?" Jay looked at you. Everyone glanced, and you only shook your head slightly.

"I know he would freak if he knew so I just told him there's nothing to worry about." You saw them fall silent a little. Yunjin lifted her gaze to you again.

"You sure? What if he finds out but not from you?" She uttered, leaning onto your arm again. It was a possible option, but you blocked that thought out your head.

"I hope not. And I'll keep it that way."

.

.

.

When you arrived to the cafe, it was quite busy since customers were scattered everywhere.You thought you would get a break just before starting, but that didn't happen.

Briskly walking to the back, you waved to Jimin and Taehyung, who gave a brief wave whilst arguing, and you went into the staff room to collect your brown apron.

When you tied back your hair, Mia, the general manager of the cafe was gathering her stuff, putting her apron off as she sent a smile.

"I'm off. Good luck with the two idiots," Mia said, referring to the two men arguing at the counter.

"Yeah, thanks, Mia." You sighed and walked out with her to the front counter where Taehyung was mumbling something and Jimin whirled around from where he was making coffee, and pointed a finger at him.

"Say that to my face, Taehyung, because you're shit at whispering," Jimin sneered, causing Taehyung to scowl before going to the till and taking someone's order.

You waved bye to Mia and then walked to the two.

"Good afternoon, you two," you said, walking to the bunch of papers at the corner of the counter. Jimin and Taehyung stopped fighting and bowed slightly with sudden cheerful looks.

"'Afternoon, manager," Jimin chimed as he cleaned the counter from some spilt coffee. You scoffed.

"Don't call me manager, makes me sound serious."

"Well you are, you just check on the face quality over our lovely café." Taehyung smiled.

The two were older than you, bickered a lot more, but they took care of you so much. You don't know why the two of them rejected the front of house manager position, but since they rejected it, you gladly took it as a way for extra money.

However, that meant having to work on late evenings on weekdays, which always left a little cloud of sadness over your head at the end of the day.

"Yeah, but it's not much. Anyway, when is Eunchae getting here? I was going to train her," you said, lifting your gaze from the papers and tapping your pen repeatedly on the surface.

Jimin looked around, and then his eyes lit up as he pointed towards the door, seeing a girl with black hair, doe eyes and a shy smile on her face.

You perked up, sending a smile to Eunchae. Another fun thing of possessing the 'manager' title, you get to train the new baristas or waitresses that signed up for it.

The 3 of you at front introduced yourself to her and she was just as polite. With her in your supervision, the day quickly moved on, the sky tainted a dark blue already, the sun long gone past the buildings as the street lamps shimmered.

Taehyung and Jimin were talking as they cleaned the coffee machines, whilst you were crouching in the floor, checking the stock and pots.

Eunchae brought a ladder, perching it next to you as she climbed up to get to the jars on the higher shelves.

"Thanks, Eunchae, just refill them for me," you said without looking, too busy in the pots beneath the counter.

Sighing to yourself, you kept looking at your phone, wondering when Yunjin would come and accompany you to the route home.

All the while, you continued shuffling the pots on the floor, and you felt all was peaceful.

Though, within a second, you gasped when a soft, grainy shower of powder floated onto your head. Out of instinct, you braced yourself, covering your hair, but feeling your nose tickle from the sudden substance submerging your whole face.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, Yn!" Eunchae gasped from above you, stepping down the ladder.

Briskly, you wiped your eyes and face, standing up slowly and turning with a dismissive wave of your hand. Raking a hand through your hair, you tried to blink.

"It's fine," you uttered, smiling weakly and tasting chunks of flour on your lips. But you could see Eunchae clearly distressed.

What you didn't expect to hear was Yunjin's shrill laughter along with someone else echoing through the empty café.

Instantly, you turned and your heart dropped when you saw Jungwon and Yunjin bursting into laughter, doubling over as they held their stomachs. The embarrassment flooded your cheeks as you quickly bent down behind the counter to conceal the shame that was your newly-white face.

And you're pretty sure Taehyung and Jimin were laughing to their heart's core, but you were utterly shocked.

"Shut up!" You snapped at all of them. They ignored you as Yunjin looked over the counter.

"I'm so glad you asked me to come today," she said, giggling. Jungwon saw you over the counter, bringing his phone in your face.

"Don't you dare take a photo of me!" You yelled, covering your face with your hands, aware that there was still some flour all over your face.

Though it was too late when the sound of the camera shutter went off, and you were horrified, immediately standing and trying to tackle for Jungwon's phone over the counter. In defense, he stepped back, still chuckling and showing the photo to Yunjin.

"Oh my gosh, Jungwon, delete it!" You exclaimed, exasperated at this. Your friends laughing at you after a long day of work was not something you needed.

Eunchae crept up to you again, bowing a full ninety degree angle and profusely apologising with red embarrassment across her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry," she meekly said, and you smiled at her with a face of white, and shook your head in another dismissal, even if you wanted to climb over the counters and whack your friends with a mug.

Yunjin and Jungwon finally stopped laughing, their gaze stuck on his phone before breaking into a fit of giggles. Sending a glare to them, you heard your phone vibrate, and a furious shudder runs along your body.

You're going to kill both of them.

✄┈┈┈┈₊˚⊹♡

A/n: finally a regular update. Also, wasn't feeling great writing this chapter but we move 🫶🏽 anyways, thanks for the notes on my last chapter 🥺🎀 see you in chapter 4 :)

ᵀᵃᵍˡⁱˢᵗ: @ilovejungwonandhaechan

[ak-harper-loves-fiction]

"Monster or anomaly? I think I prefer anomaly."

I wrote this line in a short story about alienation a while back. I'm not sure who needs to hear this but: If you're not what society wants you to be, you're not a monster. Some people will try and tell you that who you are is a problem, but the only problem is with them. 'Normal' is an excuse people use to shame others because, really, define normal. It doesn't even have a finite definition.

[smytherines]

thank god Corey Lubowich doesn't have cameo because I would go broke sending him questions like "is the year Owen dies a nod to the groundbreaking British film Victim??"