a puppet with no strings (there are no strings on me)

(do not repost w/ out permission)

[image id: traditional pen and ink drawings of melody pendras, suit/caroline, rat, daniel powell, and clara/jennifer from various angles.  end id.]

🎧 Clara's playlist, The Neighbourhood - Afraid.

I feel bad because in all honesty I picked this track as both a 'basic bitch' pick and a pick to help break up the monotony of instrumentals. I do feel that some lyrics are fitting though !

The overall sound is very spacious and I associate more spacious mixes with the City a lot. I think the intro feels more 'Dan' but maybe Clara feels weird waking up there too.

When I wake up, I'm afraid Somebody else might take my place

Now this to me can read as a sort of... capitalist feeling of being 'just another body' and how easy the system can replace you as a worker if need be. I think Clara knows that if she fails, LMG will just send in another.

You're too mean, I don't like you

I feel like these are things that have definitely been said to her.

You make me want to scream at the top of my lungs

She HAS done this.

Keep on dreaming, don't stop breathing, fight those demons

I have a lot of themes of fighting in her playlist because she does a lot of fighting, both in the physical sense and in the sense of her fighting against the odds.

Sell your soul, not your whole self

She does bargain parts of herself at points in the story: her memories. It's a bit overlooked to me. I stand by my belief that her loss of memories is what makes her connect to Dan faster. I have some headcanons about what those memories might be too.

The rest of the lyrics are honestly not very fitting to me, but they have a theme of being afraid of showing vulnerability which I do associate with Clara. She's not here to make friends and she is pretty cagey with the others at first. She does eventually open up to them, but I think she's still pretty quick to hide her insecurities and weak points for her own sense of comfort.

Sorry I don't have much to say about this track;; hopefully I'll find a better one soon and I can replace it !

Send me a 🎧 + a playlist/track from my Archive 81 master post and I'll dissect my reasoning for its choice

i know you listen to a lot of podcasts and ive found some of my favourites from hearing you talk about them! do you have any favourites?

under the cut! my top 10 podcasts at the moment:

Alice Isn’t Dead Genre: horror, thriller, drama, Lovecraftian, Americana Episode count: 30 (completed) Description: A truck driver searches across America for the wife she had long assumed was dead. In the course of her search, she will encounter not-quite-human serial murderers, towns literally lost in time, and a conspiracy that goes way beyond one missing woman. Thoughts: This podcast is, to me at least, completely flawless in every way. I would consider myself a person that listens to a lot of horror podcasts, but Alice Isn’t Dead takes the cake for its depictions of liminal middle America, the horror that is capitalism, and the most tender, realistic depiction of lesbians in any podcast. Anything else I could say would spoil it and for this, I don’t want to spoil it because I want every person alive that can stomach horror to listen to this.

Archive 81 Genre: horror, comedy, sci-fi, Lovecraftian Episode count: 35 (ongoing) Description: Archive 81 is a found footage horror podcast about ritual, stories, and sound. Thoughts: The latest podcast I’ve tried, and it’s definitely one that grows on you. The audio mixing is some of the best I’ve heard in any podcast, and every bump and scratch and hum of frequency weaves to form moments that are truly and viscerally gory. Season 3 and Left of The Dial are my favorites because again, I love Americana horror, and anything that involves family!

Artificial Ghost Radio Genre: non-fiction, discussion, comedy Episode count: 75 (ongoing) Description: Our Sisyphean music recommendation challenge with hosts Miles (he/him) and Jupiter (she/they) challenge each other to find songs based on arbitrary themes and to spin the WHEEL OF DISCORD to talk about a random song from their library! They can be found on twitter @artghostpod. Thoughts: Gotta plug my own podcast! We’re still small, but the people I’ve met from doing AGR has made my life richer and fuller, even through the ups and downs. I recommend starting with #58: Songs about Aliens ft. our friend Liz (@thescaryjokes)!

EOS 10 Genre: medical drama, comedy, sci-fi Episode count: 34 (ongoing) Description: Doctors in space, a deposed alien prince, a super gay space pirate and a fiery nurse who'll help you win your bar fight. Thoughts: It’s been a hot minute since I listened, but as someone that inherently loves things like Star Trek and procedural comedies, EOS 10 is a quick and hilarious listen! Fair warning some of the earlier stuff is a little bit ignorant when it comes to their LGBT characters, but it gets a lot better over time.

King Falls AM Genre: horror, comedy, Lovecraftian Episode count: 100 (ongoing) Description: King Falls AM centers on a lonely little mountain town's late-night AM talk radio show and its paranormal, peculiar happenings and inhabitants Thoughts: I’m a bit behind, but again, gotta love some Alpine American horror! King Falls AM perfectly captures the feeling and sound of listening to a small late night radio show with two bros, but it really goes from typical dude dialogue to heart wrenching found family alien conspiracy real quick. Same as EOS 10, fair warning for some ignorant language and LGBT stereotypes, but they address it and it gets better as it progresses.

Not Another D&D Podcast Genre: actual play Dungeons and Dragons, TTRPG, comedy Episode count: 128 (ongoing) Description: Welcome to the campaign after the campaign! Three unlikely adventurers attempt to right the wrongs caused by a party of legendary heroes who screwed up the world while trying to save it. Thoughts: I’m only like 40 episodes in because they’re thick, meaty ‘sodes, but god is NADDPOD fucking hilarious. I’ve tried a fair few TTRPG shows, but the chemistry and care that the cast has together is unmatched by others in the genre. I’m a complete sucker for shows that are so funny and so tragic in equal measures, and the entire concept of a D&D game set after the world has been so drastically changed by a different D&D game is so unique!

The Faculty of Horror Genre: non-fiction, horror, philosophy, sociology, feminism Episode count: 86 (ongoing) Description: Tackling all things horror with a slash of analysis and research, horror journalists and occasional academics Andrea Subissati and Alexandra West are your hosts for brain-plumping discussions on all things that go bump in the night. Thoughts: A little non-fiction in this list of fiction podcasts! The Faculty of Horror is a concise and educated intersectional feminist podcast, and it’s a breath of fresh air to listen to anyone that isn’t a cishet white guy talk about horror. I highly recommend the episode on Cabin in The Woods or Jennifer’s Body!

The Magnus Archives Genre: horror, office comedy Episode count: 180 (ongoing) Description: The Magnus Archives is a weekly horror fiction anthology podcast examining what lurks in the archives of the Magnus Institute, an organization dedicated to researching the esoteric and the weird. Join new head archivist Jonathan Sims as he attempts to bring a seemingly neglected collection of supernatural statements up to date, converting them to audio and supplementing them with follow-up work from his small but dedicated team. Thoughts: TMA is, similarly to A81, a bit of a slow burn to get into, but I think once you listen to a few episodes you’ll know if you want to continue. It’s a pretty standard prompt for a narrative, but the sheer amount of individual short horror stories they’ve managed to write is insane! And I love the slow break down between recording statements and the stuff happening within the archives. Also one of the best redemption stories in a character that starts off as such a grumpy fuck!

The Penumbra Podcast Genre: sci-fi, neo-noir, romance, comedy, found family, magic, medieval fantasy, adventure, mystery Episode count: 75 (ongoing) Description: At the Penumbra, you might follow Juno Steel, a brooding, sharp-witted private eye on Mars, as he tangles with an elusive homme fatale, tracks dangerous artifacts of an ancient alien civilization, and faces his three greatest fears: heights, blood, and relationships. Or you might enter the world of the Second Citadel, where the merciless Sir Caroline must corral a team of emotionally distraught all-male knights to defend their city against mind-manipulating monsters...even the ones they’ve fallen in love with. Thoughts: On god TPP was a life changing podcast for me. Having creators that are genuinely concerned with accurately representing minorities with care and dedication makes me feel spoiled when I try listen to anything else. The two main universes are so different with their own set of histories and cultures, but I love them both so completely. If you want LGBT+ representation, this is the seminal podcast for everything non-binary, trans, queer, and people that aren’t afraid to change and have that change be known! I haven’t listened to another podcast that actually depicts transitioning like they do, absolute king shit.

Wolf 359 Genre: space drama, comedy, action Episode count: 61 (completed) Description: WOLF 359 is a radio drama in the tradition of Golden Age of Radio shows. Set on board the U.S.S. Hephaestus space station, the dysfunctional crew deals with daily life-or-death emergencies, while searching for signs of alien life and discovering there might be more to their mission than they thought Thoughts: Wolf 359 is like if you fell down the stairs and at the bottom of the stairs was a bear trap, and then after you step in the bear trap someone helps you take off that beartrap, but then they kick you in the nuts. Just replace physical pain with emotional pain. It can be so funny but also so fucking stressful and sad – w359 isn’t afraid to kill its darlings, and it will break your heart but you will still say thank you.

Archive 81 Playlist Master List (YouTube)

Trying to make playlists for all of the cast of Archive 81 and these are what I have so far! Feel free to come suggest tracks for them and also characters I haven’t gotten to yet. If you have enough for the ‘side’ characters, please throw those at me too.

These are all very much a work in progress and subject to change.

[ Spotify Versions Here ]

Character Playlists:

Daniel Powell Tanya Molova Mark to Dromen Liam Davenport Melody Pendras Alexa Kesslen-Pendras Tamara Morris Jesse Lewis Joshua and Victor Jacob the Rat Samuel The Visser Historical Society Gladys Craig Simmons Chris Gregory Baim Carlos Rolando Iris Vos Ratty LMG Chad Timothy Beth The Messenger The Choir Green Woman Caroline the Suit Jennifer “Clara” Martine Lou Kevin Benjamin RLR Productions The Gardener Professor Vandemeer The Curator The Representative Cassandra Wall The Boatwoman  Christine Anderson Nicholas Waters Michael Waters Aleister Kathy Quinn Hunter Penelope Winthrop Jerome Jeanette Jefferys Violet Vos Payphone Static Man Cindy Johannson Busby the Beekeeper Ms. Patricia Roland The Irons Crew Thomas Morgan the Clerk The Trucker Dr. Persimmons

Miscellaneous:

Songs to Cry About Dan to What it says on the tin- a mix of songs I listened to while thinking of Dan and started crying about it. Can’t guarantee results but if you are down for some good cries, be my guest! Shuffle-friendly.

Songs to Fall in Love With Your Muse to A mix of 80s/90s queer-coded (to me anyway) love songs that remind me of Jacob Lester (pre-Rat) from season 1. I just love some 80s and 90s songs, my dudes. Shuffle-friendly.

Songs to Ominously Warn Your Bandmates With An assorted mix of garage band-esque tracks. Loosely inspired by the band practice tape from season 3. Shuffle-friendly.

Instrumental Tracks to Contemplate Your Humanity Over A mix of ambient tracks that made me feel like I was walking through the City or holed up in a bunker in the middle of the woods or performing rituals or- just general ambient A81 energy tracks. Shuffle-friendly.

Dan’s Music Library I’ve seen a lot of people’s take on what constitutes a ‘hipster’ music taste and I’m a picky mofo so here’s my take on Dan’s music taste based on what he has been stated to listen to in the actual show- it’s awful and I’m sorry not sorry. Shuffle-friendly.

Train Loneliness This is straight up just a mix of songs about trains/subways. I love train sounds and the sound design in these is super fun. It’s in here because the Train Loneliness tape is my favorite and yes, I do cry about it daily.

And Everything Turned Out Alright If you didn’t know, I’m obsessed with post-s3 Dan and Clara being roommates; so this is a little playlist I made inspired by that concept. I hope it makes you as emotional as it does for me. I Don’t Have Much Time Season three flavored Dan playlist. A lot of instrumental and ambient tracks.

95.6QRSKLB22ROBBRX29900339UOBK2RNJKLSOKV49BQ42069NNNNNNEVIOJR The Wolf A Left of the Dial playlist. Based on the idea of a weird radio station. Experimental tracks with a healthy helping of metal and a sprinkle of odd picks that just fit to me.

Tea With My Marimo An ambient/instrumental playlist based off the idea of a post-s2 Caroline recovering and growing plants. Shuffle-friendly.

Songs From the Archive Dumping grounds for any tracks I feel might work for a playlist or just have A81 vibes.  Shuffle-friendly.

caroline a81,,

(Thomas Dolby Voice) Caroline

Sexuality Headcanon: Aspec !

Gender Headcanon: Nonbinary, leaning towards genderfluid cause I can really see that for her.

A ship I have with said character: Uhhh none? Maybe QPR with Jennifer ? Don't really have one, to be honest.

A BROTP I have with said character: Jennifer ! Also, Dan.

A NOTP I have with said character: If you ship anyone with Rat (my one exception is Samuel), I am smashing your shins. /g

A random headcanon: I think she really likes tea! I associate her heavily with porcelain tea cups with blue details.

General Opinion over said character: She leaves me with this sense of... bittersweetness? Like, her story is forlorn and I understand her wishes, but I wish we could have learned more about her. She deserves some peace, I think.

Send me a character and I'll share my opinions