Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

@rheostatic.bsky.social

My fanfic for about the @/storysquadcast.bsky.social is finally done : ) Link to the fic: archiveofourown.org/works/74350836

If you haven't listened to the podcast you should!!!!! Find more about them here: thestorytellersquad.com

An image of a forest with a roof of a cabin barely visible in the middle. Text across the image reads "AT ANY COST" and "A STORY TELLER SQUAD FANFICTION"

Rogue Team is in trouble and it's up to Eastey Agents Syrus Holt and Kit Sparks of the Search and Rescue Division to find them. Armed with little information, but a lot of experience, these elite agents will stop at nothing to save Eastey Agency's most notable team. But something about this mission isn't adding up…

November 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Fit check to go to the birthplace of the Jersey Devil (I'm going for writing research).

A photo of me leaning in a dynamic pose that kinda looks like I'm walking and leaning at the same time wearing a tan corduroy shacket (yes that's a real industry for them) top over a seafoam coloured tee shirt with dark denim skinny jeans and matching mostly tan vans. The corduroy top has pine trees over one of the pockets and is branded with "Vans" and "Since 1966" embroidery

November 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

[It is whispered that any child who mistakes Drifloon for a balloon and holds on to it could wind up missing.]

#halloween #cosplay

A photo of me dressed in my Drifloon costume : )

October 31, 2025 at 11:48 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

👀 could I interest you in a cat boy?

October 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Thirty of #30dhs2k25: 121/100

I did a reflection/remake of last year's final piece and the difference I felt during 30dhs last year vs this year. I have been teary eyed for the last hour : ' ) I don't want this to be over, but like all good things... it must come to an end.

And so it ends.
Quite bittersweet, as the energy has been more than it has ever been. New faces, new stories, new people - an exercise in perseverance it seems. And yet I prevailed! With all the extra tasks I placed upon myself, with all the tiredness that accompanied it: I wrote. I wrote and wrote and wrote and the words came again and again and again.
In those moments of reading and writing, I feel at home. Writing still drives me, even on those long days and suffering nights. And now, surrounded by others who share similar passions, I find it even more true.
This journey was markedly rougher than before but absolutely a journey that I will make…
… again.
--A. Castle.
Journey’s End

October 1, 2025 at 12:05 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-Nine of #30dhs2k25: 895/100

This scene WENT places I was not thinking it was going to go but I'm happy it did. I just wanted to show Kai finally getting through to Ethan and it's... beautiful. It's like wrapping up a main throughline of Ethan pieces... I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying...

“Jesus fucking Christ, Ethan!” Kai pushed into the small bathroom behind him, quickly shutting the door. “What the fuck was that?”
The vampire looked at him through Kai’s reflection in the mirror before flickering his slate eyes back to his own injuries. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t worry about it? You just tried to jump two Fang members!!! Jack had to throw you against a fucking wall!” Kai was now at his side, also looking at Ethan’s injuries in the mirror.
Ethan didn’t respond, just wet another paper towel to mock up the blood that was leaking from the bite wound on his neck.
“Oh my god.” Kai sounded exasperated as he turned towards the vampire proper. “Please just fucking talk to me?”
That caused Ethan to pause, holding the paper towel to his wound and make eye contact with Kai. “I lost my cool, I’m sorry.”
Kai’s face calmed a little when Ethan gave him part of an answer. “I… I mean the Fangs are shit but they’re not someone you should pick a fight with!”

Ethan looked away again, back towards the mirror, moving the collar of his shirt out of the way to see how deep some of the scratches went. His eye was already looking puffy where he was clocked. “I knew them.”
“Jesus Christ, you were involved with the gang, Ethan? Why the fuck are you-”
“Kai.” Ethan’s eyes locked onto Kai’s in the mirror and shut his next ramble up with the firmness in which he said the siren’s name. “I knew them from a decade ago. I killed their boss.”
“...What?” Kai managed, despite his shock.
“It’s why they fuck with Jack.” Ethan paused with his wounds for a moment before slapping the blood socked paper towel down in the sink. He gripped both sides of the sink and refused to meet Kai’s eyes for a minute. “A decade ago… the Fangs were killing random humans. Just to show off, stick it to Spotlight, be fucking vampires, I don’t know.” A beat. “They killed someone who was… important to me. And Spotlight wouldn’t do a fucking thing about it. So I did.”
There was a long pause as Ethan just stared at the blood oozing out of the paper towel towards the drain before Kai found his voice and asked. “What was their name?”
Ethan looked up slowly, meeting Kai’s dark eyes in the mirror. “Jasper. His name was Jasper.”

With slow, deliberate movements Kai approached Ethan as if he was an animal about to startle. The vampire just watched him cautiously until Kai wrapped himself around Ethan to give him a little awkward hug. “I’m so sorry, Ethan.”
Ethan’s eyes slipped away from Kai’s in the mirror and he felt the wetness build up. As he shut them, it leaked down his damaged face cutting through the blood that had begun to dry. Kai squeezed him tighter from behind, likely feeling the slight tremors that went through the vampire as the kindness Kai showed him cracked a little into that aloof facade Ethan always put up.
They stood like that for a while: Kai burrowing his face into Ethan’s shoulder blades and just being a small comfort to the other man, letting him be vulnerable on his terms. When Ethan raised his head back up, he looked at the nearly hidden form of the other man hugging him and a memory rose unbid in his mind.
“God you always look so grumpy Ethan!” Jasper’s bright laughter rang out as he snuck a hug around his boyfriend’s waist. His head popped out from around Ethan’s midsection as he crinkled his nose in the mirror. “I swear you have the world’s worst case of RBF!”
“RBF?” Ethan couldn’t help but give a scoffing kind of smile at the mess of reddish brown hair that was now under his arm.
“Resting Bitch Face!” Jasper proudly explained. “Like look at that!” he jabbed a finger at Ethan’s face and the other man just laughed. It was a rich sound, accomplished by a smile that would look foreign to almost anyone else who knew Ethan. But it only made Jasper crack a wild smile “There! That’s much better!”

Ethan’s hand came to rest on the two that were encased around his waist. Said hands broke apart at the motion with a “Oh sor-” but Ethan just spun around and pulled Kai into a proper full hug. He held the siren’s face against his chest and kept him there for a moment.
“They uh…”Ethan’s voice broke a little when he spoke again and he took a moment to fix that before continuing. “They taunted me with his death. That’s why I hit them.”
Kai pulled away and looked up at the other man, his eyes were clearly filled with tears now too. “Then they fucking desereved it.”
Ethan reflexively laughed, the sound startling Kai whose face then broke into a wide grin at the noise. “Yeah, fuck them.” Ethan said, with the smallest ghost of a smile on his face.
Kai’s eyes sparkled, partly with the tears that were still in them and partly with something Ethan couldn’t quite place. “Let me help you get cleaned up, vamp boy. Gotta support my champion fighter.”
Ethan scoffed slightly at the comment. “I’m a fucking mess, Kai.”
“Glad messes are my speciality.” Kai winked.

September 30, 2025 at 12:39 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-Eight of #30dhs2k25: 284/100

Got inspired to write how emotionally constipated Ethan (hence the prompt). Autumn asks mostly like an older sister to him, but they're just friends. Will Kai and Ethan ever get out of the toxic situationship they're in? Say tuned!

“Are you able to stay tonight?” Autumn was frantically packing something in the background as Ethan lounged on the shop chair behind the register.
“Yeah…?” Ethan replied, brows pulled low in confusion.
“Well I just didn’t want to interfere if you had plans with that boyfriend of yours. I know you don’t stream tonight so I thought maybe you’d want to hang out with him.” Autumn didn’t even look at him as she continued to rummage through things.
“... What?” Ethan blankly looked at Autumn’s moving figure.
“I mean it is like your night off. I didn't want to assume that I could borrow you to watch the shop. So if you guys have plans I can call around to see if I could get someone else to-”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” Ethan cut Autumn’s rambling off with a blunt, flat response.
That caused the witch to look at Ethan for the first time in the last few minutes. “Sorry, what?”
“He’s… not my boyfriend. We’re just…” Ethan trailed off and looked off to the side.

“No, silly me. Ethan Peryal can’t have a functional relationship, has to juuuust be fuck buddies.” Autumn put her hands on her waist and gave him a look.
Ethan looked back with a sour expression on his features. “I’m not ready to-”
“Ah yes, allergic to feelings!” Autumn threw her hands up in the air. “Can’t risk having those again.”
“Shut the fuck up, Autumn.” Ethan snarled out.
The two of them just glared at each other for a moment before Autumn snatched her bag up. “Well thank-you for being emotionally constipated enough to watch the shop Ethan.”
Ethan rolled his eyes but gave nothing more than a “Hrmph.”

September 28, 2025 at 8:59 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-Seven of #30dhs2k25: 171/100

There were a ton of OCs I was picking between for a scene like this but decided I didn't do a lot of Isaac and Roderick so you get to have them : )

Consciousness returned to Isaac slowly, heavy and painful. He made to move before something pressed into his torso keeping him still. “Ah! No, no, no…” a familiar voice swam to his ears. “Stay still, Hunter.”
Amber eyes flickered open before shutting once more against the harsh light that bathed across his face. Everything felt like it was underwater, heavy and offkilter. “Crow?” Isaac’s own voice sounded broken as he tried to figure out what was happening.
“Shh, it is alright, Hunter.” It was said Crow that responded. “You are safe, I have you.”
“Wh-what…” even inhaling to speak felt painful.
“You were thrown from the guard's tower by a Beast - I have sent for the Herbalist, she comes soon. But Agape will not have you, this I know.” Isaac couldn’t quite tell if the Crow’s rapid talking came from the speed of his natural tongue or from some sort of panic in his voice. But everything was painfully difficult to keep track of… and Isaac slipped out of consciousness once more.

September 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-Six of #30dhs2k25: 873/100

The first piece in a REAL long time that I felt absolutely great to write. Where the descriptors were pouring out of me and the scene just kept going naturally. Probably because I was talking about my #1 blorbo through a cool creative lens ngl...

Dr. Emil Faust stared at the whiteboard in the middle of the bullpen as if letters were about to rearrange themselves into the answer he needed. He leaned against the - currently unoccupied - desk of one of the Detectives, arms crossed as he begged his mind to find something he was missing before.
When Emil blinked, he hissed slightly in pain, realising that the lingering headache behind his eyes was worsened by the dryness of staring. He took his glasses off with one hand and massaged his eyelids with the other.
“Figure something out there Doc?” The slightly blurry figure of Detective Nicolae Riviera sharpened when Emil put his glasses back on.
“I wish. Did Forensics have anything?” Emil looked at the file that was in Riviera’s hands which was being set down onto the desk he was leaning on.
“Nope.” Came the response from Detective Wesley Forbes, as he sat down at the desk butted up against Riviera’s. “Same as all the others, meticulously clean.” His sort of singsongy response was paired with a theatrical set of jazz hands.
Emil sighed, eyes flicking back over to the whiteboard. “The long cooling off period means he doesn’t get sloppy. I keep thinking the next body that drops is where he is going to make the mistake but… he’s not impulsive. Everything is so… planned, so calculated.” Emil forced the bridge of his glasses into his nose as he placed a knuckle there. “The victim is never a lead, the forensics are never a lead. It’s just… the crime scene.”

“Maybe the long cooling off period is because he’s planning.” Riviera suggested.
“Yeah but like… don’t serial killers get off to this shit? And then the cooling off periods get shorter and shorter?” Forbes rebutted, giving his partner a confused look from across their shared desks.
“Yes but… I’ve been toying with the idea that maybe killing isn’t the Headhunter’s main goal.” Emil didn’t look at either Detective but they both turned to look at the back of his head. “Every time a body drops… These scenes get more and more elaborate.” Emil pushed himself up from the desk to walk over to the whiteboard. He runs his finger across one of the crime scene photos - a headless woman suspended by wires lit by a single spotlight. “Maybe the excitement of building this idea in his mind keeps him satisfied. The planning is just as exciting as the actual execution and then… the release?” He turns his head to Riviera and Forbes “It’s the publicity. It’s the thrill of the victims being named, the press that comes out after, the scant details being released to the public and their reactions to it. And maybe - like with Emily Lewis - looking for the leaked photo of the crime scene.”
Both Detectives who were sharing a look, one that he was used to before Riviera spoke. “A serial killer that doesn’t… enjoy killing?”
“No he’d enjoy it, but… it’s a tool not the goal.” Emil tried clarifying. “This.” He pointed a finger at the crime scene. “This is the goal.”
“Like he’s looking for an audience?” Forbes asked, sounding slightly unsure of himself.
Emil snapped his head to look directly into Forbes’s eyes. “That’s it. That’s it, Wes. An audience.” Emil waves a hand to the whole board. “It’s theatrical, it’s macabre, it’s attention seeking. This is his work and he wants everyone to see it.”

“Yeah but why show the whole world his work and then go through all the steps to conceal his identity? Why not just go ‘Hey it’s me, I did this!’ and get the credit for it?” Riviera counters.
“Because if he was found, he couldn’t keep doing his work.” Emil sighs, pushing his glasses up and rubbing once more at his eyes. “And we gave him a name: The Headhunter. He’s not going to need a real one after that. That one is more than he could ever get with just being himself.”
There was a pause as everyone let Emil’s sentence hang for a moment. Then Forbes spoke up again. “So uh… any of that actionable or…?”
“It proves he’s a narcissist but we already knew that.” Emil responds, tiredly. “And it’s far too late with this body to hold back anything. Even if we could, I don't think that would… work. He’d likely leak the information to the press himself if he thought we weren’t giving them the info he wanted. There’s no… winning in this particular situation.”
“Well the goal isn’t ‘winning’, Doc.” Riviera sounds a little pointed in the way he talks. “It’s trying to make sure he doesn’t chop another girl’s head off and string her up like she’s a mannequin.”
Emil gives a harsh exhale and makes eye contact with Riviera. “I am aware of that, Detective.”
“Hey if Doc wants to be a little bit of a sore loser, I’d let him.” Forbes interjects, seemingly trying to bring some levity to the situation. “This shouldn’t go down without a little bit of a fight.”
Both of the other men turn to look at Forbes who grins at the attention. Emil seems to stifle a smile as he replies. “Well, a fight is what he’ll get.

September 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-five of #30dhs2k25: 280/100

I picked this prompt because work has been lousy for me the last few days and so I gave Emil a lousy day at work too : ) No one tell him that the serial killer he's chasing is his boyfriend sitting across from him!!!

“That bad?” Stefano gave a bemused smile as Emil pushed his glasses up into his hair to rub at his face.
“I have barely slept in the last 24 hours and…” Emil flipped his phone over to check the notifications before resuming rubbing at his eyes. “The M.E. STILL hasn’t gotten back to me for an identity.”
Stefano tsked, sipping at the wine he held in one gloved hand. “Idiots. How long could it take for them to run the DNA?”
“You would think not very long given the high priority of this case.” Emil let his glasses fall back onto his face before leaning back in his chair. “And now they’re forcing me out of the precinct because they think I can sleep. At a time like this?”
“Prehaps they think sleep will help you think clearer.” Stefano offered, nonchalantly.
“What would help is information. Not being treated like I’m incapable.” Emil gave a heavy sigh. “I’m so sorry, Stefano, you don’t need me ranting at you.”

“Oh, caro.” Stefano shook his head slightly. “As I’ve told you before, your work…?” he waved the hand with the wine glass around almost absentmindedly. “Does not bother me.”
Emil offered a tired smile back at his boyfriend. “Still…”
“Caro mio.” Stefano cut him across with a raise of his free hand. “Just talk. That is why you came here, no?”
Emil laughed, a little embarrassed. “Read me like you’re the shrink.”
“A photographer must know his subject to capture their essence fully.” Stefano offered a coy smile over the top of his wine glass as he went for another sip.
Emil smiled broader at that. “You’re too good to me.”

September 26, 2025 at 12:09 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-Four of #30dhs2k25: 153/100

This prompt was just made for my character Thomas (aka Ace). He's a lawyer on a council! A Counseling Counselor!

Anyway, this is just a fun interaction between him and Jack... I had to write at least one Jack piece, be unfair to leave him out!

“Why t’fuck do I gotta be there?” Jack sat up at his desk and looked over at Thomas who was leaning his face into his hand instead of looking back.
“Jack, you need to represent the Laundromat in front of the High Council.” Thomas’s voice sounded as if he had explained this six times already, and truth be told it might have been.
“Ya the fuckin’ lawyer! Why can’t ya do it, Counselor.” Thomas looked at him blankly for a moment, so Jack tacked on a “What?’
“You want me to represent the bar.”
“Yeah.”
“In front of the High Council of Nine.”
“Yeah…?”
“Of which I am also a member.” Jack fell silent after that.
There was a beat when both men were looking at each other before Jack spoke again. “Guess ya can’t do that, huh?”
“No.” Thomas gave a tired smile. “So please attend?”
“Aye, aye. Yeah, yeah. I’ll come.”

September 25, 2025 at 1:31 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-Three of #30dhs2k25: 374/100

Managed to crank this out while waiting 20 mins for food and I'm glad I at least got this done after this exhausting day! Kai and Ethan are just easy to reach rn, even if this piece is a nothing burger in their overall lore!

“Hmmm busy tonight.” Kai leaned across the counter, flashing Ethan a dazzling smile.. “Sorry I don't have time for you handsome.”
Ethan shrugged. “It's whatever.” But he held the eye contact of the siren who in turn didn’t make a move to continue whatever task he had interrupted.
“Awww don't be like that….” Kai started until someone slammed a hand down on the counter next to them.
“HEY you getting us that beer or what?” Ethan and Kai’s attention was turned to a man Ethan's right. The vampire’s eyes narrowed at the other man, part of the rowdy bunch from over the other side of the bar.
“Oh yes, sirrrr.” Kai purred out, all sarcastic charm. “I'll get right on that.” but he didn't move.
“Don't need you flirting with anyone else before taking care of me. Didn't anyone tell you to treat your customers with respect.” Ethan scowled at the other man, but before he could Kai spoke up
“Oh you know what, I think I missed that lesson. How about I get my boss and we discuss that with all three of us?” Kai's eyes looked all dangerously charming.
The mention of said boss sobered up the uncouth man. “Hey now, no need to get him involved…”

“Didn't think so. Now go sit down, Fang boy. And I'll get your beer when I can.” Kai's smile was all perfect customer service as the other man walked away with a scowl.
“Hmph. ” Was all Ethan managed as he watched the man walk away.
“What? Didn't like me setting that guy in his place?” Kai feigned hurt.
Ethan looked back confused, but shook his head.. “Why is Jack allowing Fangs in here?”
Kai sighs. “He really isn't. But if I call Jack to kick them out… it'll cause another fucking scene that Jack doesn't need.” There was a pointed look at him as Kai reached for a pitcher for the beer.
Ethan frowned, sucking his fangs in subtle embarrassment. “Right.”
“So don't put your nose in it again, OK?” Kai was filling said pitcher with beer. “I'll call him if they get worse, don’t you worry about me vamp boy.” And with a wink, the siren was off to give the men their drink.

September 24, 2025 at 1:24 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-two of #30dhs: 329/100

This scene came to be so fast I sprinted writing it this morning... just hadn't had the time to post it till now. I know Kai is a sassy brat and Ethan is too fucking broody, but I needed to show them both being a little soff for each other... PERCEIVE THEM!!!

“Oh we have to stop meeting like this, vamp boy.” Ethan looked up when Kai slid his way down the other side of the bar at him. The siren leaned on the counter and propped his hands under his chin. “First you show up at my house and now my work? If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were stalking me.”
Ethan sucked his fangs with an audible noise before replying. “You asked me to come over the first time.”
“Oh I did, you’re right.” A mischievous coy smirk that held Ethan’s eye contact a little too long. “Can’t get enough of me?” He reached a hand out and gently brushed Ethan’s cheek. “I mean I have a shift to work, vamp boy…”
Ethan set his jaw a little, and moved away from the contact. “I’m not looking for that.”
“No?” Kai feigned hurt on his face. “Well I know you don’t come here for the drinks Mr. ‘I don’t drink real blood’. That doesn’t leave you with many options.”
“Fine, whatever. I’ll go.” Ethan made to stand up but Kai rushed to put a hand on his shoulder.

“Wait.” Kai’s face sobered into something serious. “Are you just… are you just here to see me?”
Ethan met his eyes for a few seconds and then turned away. “It’s whatever, I can go somewhere else.”
“No, stay.” Kai said softly, squeezing that shoulder. His face seemed softer, warmer as he spoke again. “I’ll need a handsome face to look forward to between the usual crowd that comes in here.”
Ethan slowly sat back down at the barstool. “Thanks.”
“Mmm don’t go thanking me yet. You better not get jealous enough to interfere with my tips, vamp boy.” He slid back into the flirty demeanor so smoothly. “You might be the only one I have serious eyes on, but you don’t get to mess with my money, OK?”
Ethan had the smallest smile appear on his face. “OK.”

September 23, 2025 at 1:30 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty-One of #30dhs2k25: 482/100

Went from "idek what I'm writing today" to 400+ words REAL quick. Also spent 30 mins with my brother to figure out what sort of weapon Kit would have which was Too Much Info About Guns but at least I figured it out! Syrus and Kit make a good little team, imo.

Syrus could hear the movement of something in the shadows. He raised a hand up to his earpiece, “Slow moving, Sparks” he said in a hush voice “I don’t think that thing can see but it can definitely can hear-” but Syrus didn’t finish his sentence because at that exact moment he heard his own voice echoing back through static in the distance.
Shit. The older agent thought. They left the main comms on.
Whatever they were chasing made a sound something like a roar and went running towards the sound of the radio. Syrus’s heart leapt into his throat as he made off after the thing, clicking on his flashlight to not trip as he went.
“FUCK!” came the shout at the end of the hall followed by a few gunshots.
“FIND COVER!” Syrus shouted back causing the monster chasing his younger charge to whip towards him instead.
Syrus barely got a look at the wretched thing before it was leaping towards him. A few well aimed shots with his handgun before he was forced to roll off to the side. The damn thing didn’t even seem affected by the bullets, only the noise of the gun. The older agent barely got to his feet before the damn thing was running at him again.
“HOLT, DUCK!” Syrus reacted reflexively at the command, hearing rather than seeing something of the monster rip apart with the high caliber of his partner’s weapon.

He spun on a dime and rose to his feet, sidearm trained on the now unmoving heap of meat that was the former monster. “Good shot, Sparks” Came the praise as he kicked the monster to make sure it really was gone.
“Shit… Sorry, Holt. Didn’t realise the main comms were on.” Kit also had their weapon trained on the unmoving meat pile.
“Well, your marksmanship made up for the mistake you made. Consider it a learning experience.” Syrus offered the teenager a small smile.
“Can fire a M4 on a moving target but apparently can’t turn off a fucking radio.” Kit sounded mad at themselves.
Syrus holstered his weapon before walking towards his partner. “I’m just glad you can fire that M4.” He put a hand on their shoulder, forcing the kid to look up at him. “We were likely going to have to take that thing out whether it was your radio, me kicking an object, or the victims in here making a noise. You did great under pressure and that’s the right thing to take away from this situation. Shit will go wrong on this job, we can’t account for everything.”
Kit looked suspicious at first when Syrus started talking to them but as the older agent continued to talk, their shoulders loosened and their confidence replaced self-anger. “Thanks, Holt.”
“Anytime, kid.” a small shoulder squeeze. “Now reload and let’s move out again, we got people to find.”

September 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twenty of #30dhs2k25: 143/100

This piece started out sorta as a normal Castle piece and then went fully off the rails. It makes sense though, there's supposed to be multiple notebooks of Castle's where his poetry is chaotic, truly tortured poet (tm). And given the subject, it fits!

Our last goodbye was hasty, a regret I have to this day. That when I go to replay the images of that goodbye in my mind that I cannot remember the words you say. And it haunts my dreams that that last kiss wasn’t longer or with all the passion we both hold at bay. For my last image of you is far too fleeting, faded, and grey.
Did I even say I love you? I must have, I always do. But the memories of the moment are hazy making horrors rise anew. What if I forget your face, your smile, your sparkling baby blues? What if that moment finally fades with all I’ve done too?
We kissed under the departure sign, that much I know is true. But all the rest, maybe for the best, in these books is where they stay.

--A. Castle
Departure

September 20, 2025 at 8:16 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Nineteen of #30dhs2k25: 110/100

Poem verison of Castle writing because the first line stuck out so hard and then I realised it was metered lol. I think this piece has a lot of good bones that with a little more tweaking could get that meter and rhyme scheme sharper but it's still pretty good!

There is a weariness deep within my bones
that haunts my every step.
That behind the bright smiles are tired eyes
with nothing really left.

The world has overlooked the lack of light
that once was in my eyes.
But who of them would have noticed when
that part of me had died?

I often find myself beseeching the man
I once was, could have been.
But truly who am I to judge this man
for his past and present sins?

I have made peace with my weary self
And allowed him to be spent.
No longer will I speak of the “could have been”s—
I have become content.

--A.Castle
Weary

September 20, 2025 at 1:08 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

This is so BEYOND accurate for me it's not even funny. Pining is like... my favourite thing to write about. Especially if it's pining for someone who's gone....

Your Result:
mutual pining
yearning incarnate, you're addicted to listening to sad songs and daydreaming about your crush, and you definitely don't prefer delusional imagined relationships to real ones...

September 20, 2025 at 12:15 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Eighteen of #30dhs2k25: 243/100

The 18th of Sept is an important day in Castle lore and Castle is at his best here in melancholy reflection. "Make the painful words beautiful" is a line I always love to use about when writing in his style. Having fun with the journal styled piece : )

It was crisp this morning after a handful of terribly hot September days. It’s like the universe decided to make the weather your favourite to stir melancholy memories to the surface - I suppose that in and of itself is inspiring this writing. I sit here in the chair you used to read to me when I was a wee lad and pen this nonsense piece in your memory. I promised I would; every year I would stretch my writing muscles and make sure your memory was never forgotten. That even as I age and those fond moments of you fade into watercolour rosy pictures, they will being here in this journal for me to look back upon.
I read last year’s again this morning, hence the familiar start. I’ve noticed a pattern in these last few years, wondering if you both would be proud of me, proud of the man that I became in your absence. Perhaps I am still that wide eyed child looking for his parents approval when I read books beyond my years, stumbling over the words. For it might no longer be books but I am stumbling over the world just the same. And maybe if I pen down enough of my thoughts, your answer will be staring right back up at me.
Foolish? Maybe. But in these moments with your favourite tea, in your favourite chair, with my favourite journal, we are as close as we ever were.
--A. Castle
Anniversary

September 18, 2025 at 11:43 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Seventeen of #30dhs2k25: 184/100

Writing this scene is like pulling teeth. I'm just trying to get a sort of backstory for Syrus down talking about his partner (and the trauma that goes with it) but NOTHING is working. So have this glorified exposition : (

Monster hunting was always terrible business, especially when it was your nine to five. Even more so when it was a “Secret American Government Agency” - all the bureaucracy was enough to make anyone hate it. The DAP (Defense Against the Paranormal) was one Men in Black and one part military police - emphasis on military for this was America after all. Syrus Holt had gone into this thinking he could be providing a community service, helping the local people of New Jersey against the Paranormal threats they faced. Instead he got trained into a glorified coverup cop, with his main purpose to keep Americans from knowing the truth.
The only thing that kept him going after several years in this shitty job was his partner, Wyatt McAllister. Mac, as everyone called him, had actually been the one to train him. Apparently his training was to serve as some sort of punishment for the older Agent, but the two had clicked so quickly that it was hardly a punishment at all.
Now nearly a decade in and the two wouldn’t pick another partner for the world.

September 18, 2025 at 12:11 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Sixteen of #30dhs2k25: 360/100

More vague, technically fanfiction about my hyperfixation podcast. I think I did a good enjoy job about keeping it loose enough to stand alone, but it's there if you squint.

Not where I was gonna go with the prompt, but the other piece wasn't materializing...

The flat, red plains of the desert made seeing the small blip of the helicopter in the distance easier to spot. “On your feet.” Kit said to the older man at their side, despite the man already standing.
“The offer is still on the table.” The man began again as Kit slid their warm brown eyes to meet his. “The Agency will protect you and get you out of here.”
Kit scoffed. “If I leave here, they will kill me.” They roughly gestured to the others on the ridge. “They’ll shoot the helicopter down before it gets off the ground.”
“I would like to think your Colonel is smarter than that, Sargent.” the Agent replied. “I might not have as much military experience as him, but I have been in enough tactical battles to know that would be a mistake.”
Kit turned towards the man, their brows drawing down in part confusion, part defiance. “They would rather have me dead than your Agency having a drop of our knowledge.”
The older man set his face in a grim line. “I doubt they’d want the entire strength of ‘my Agency’ to be dropped on their heads in retaliation. I think that would be a ‘tactical error’, Sargent.”

Kit pushed the Agent’s shoulder and advanced on him. “Keep yourself in check, Agent.” That title was spoken like an insult.
The older man rolled with the hit and didn’t give the teenager the reaction they were looking for. Once Kit’s initial aggression wore off, a small flickering of consideration was appearing on their face; the tiniest of cracks in the mask they had been wearing this entire time. The helicopter was becoming more visible by the second, the sound of radio confirmation came in garbled on Kit’s shoulder where the walkie talkie was.
The silence stretched on between them as the sound of whirling helicopter blades started to fill the air. Then Kit finally spoke. “You better make trusting you worth it, Grandpa.”
It took everything in the Agent to not show an outwardly visible reaction to that, lest he trip off Kit’s fellow soldiers behind them. “You have my word, Sargent Sparks.”

September 17, 2025 at 1:40 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Fifteen of #30dhs2k25: 443/100

Literally an excuse to write about what kind of creature Kai happens to be. I'm sure I'll be more purposeful with his descriptors going forward but I wanted to give another chance at guessing to the people interested lol. Happy guessing : )

The door of the Laundromat opened with a loud creak as both Ethan and Kai ushered themselves into the dingy alley. “The side door?” Kai said with a mischievous look in his eyes. “Well, well, well vamp boy… I think-” but the man cut himself off, eyes going wide.
Ethan reflexively looked over his shoulder, seeing two men aggressively moving from the mouth of the alley towards them. He made to move in front of Kai, to bare fangs and tell the others to fuck off, but Kai had him beat.
“Hey, we don’t want trouble.” He stepped to the side and showed his hands. The two men stopped in front of them, but from the way they held themselves (and, ironically, their smell) Ethan could tell they were both vampires.
“Kai, get behind me.” Ethan replied, voice taking on a more growling edge to it.
“It’s alright, vamp boy, I got this.” Kai murmured only low enough for the vampire to hear him. Then he raised his voice to address the other two. “Seriously, if this is your alley we’re just leaving.”
“Yous ain’t going nowhere.” Said one of the men, taking a step towards them. “This alley is in our territory, you’re trespassing.”

Fangs, the vampire gang that had its teeth in this part of Brooklyn. Ethan would consider ripping them apart just on principle, let alone in self-defense.
“No worries…” Kai was now walking around him. Ethan’s eyes flickered over in disbelief, ready to grab the other man and pull him back but Kai was… pink?
A weird magenta glow had started to emit from the other man’s eyes and when he opened his mouth to speak again it was also coming from his mouth. “How about you just leave us alone, OK?” There was a different edge to Kai’s voice that Ethan picked up on and as the light continued to shine an irresistible smell started to come from the other man. Ethan had to clamp down his jaw to stay focused. But clearly, whatever Kai was doing was having an effect on the other two vampires too.
“Uh… yeah? Yeah that actually sounds like a good idea…” One of them said, looking towards the other.
“Yeah we should… go.” The other responded. And as if compelled, the two vampires left the alley without much further ado.
Ethan stood there dumbfounded for a moment, eyes darting from the retreating vampires and then back at Kai. “The fuck was that?” he gritted out, that smell was still lingering on the other man.
Kai’s face split into a wide grin showing razor sharp, sharkline teeth in that still glowing mouth. “Magick.”

September 16, 2025 at 12:03 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Fourteen of #30dhs2k25: 107/100

Being meta as fuck today, apparently. Sat here for a solid fifteen minutes looking at a blank page till I wrote the poem. Castle has always been the personification of my writing muse so only fitting that I use him as a placeholder for me.

There’s a quiet contemplation,
when one is finding the words to write—
thinking hard with concentration
to make sure they craft just right.
Castle placed his pen down next to the few words he had written in the journal and then placed his head in his hands. He let out a deep sigh at the irony of his writing today. Of course he would have days where nothing was inspiring except the lack of inspiration itself. He couldn’t help it, the chuckle bubbled up through his chest, shaking his shoulders as it went.
He supposed by definition he accomplished what he set out to do: He wrote.

September 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Thirteen of #30dhs2k25: 391/100

Normally don't write about Castle the person outside of Castle's style but this felt more fitting as a storybook piece. Thought I was going to use Emil but scrapped that for this after a two sentences lol. Castle's muse just comes all too easy.

Spring was late this year; it was well into April before the temperature deigned to raise above forty degrees. So when the high of fifty-two wormed its way into the forecast - along with no more rain - Castle decided today would be the day he’d let fresh air into the library.
“Library” is what this room had always been called and it met the definition by having wall floor to ceiling book shelves lining the walls, but it wasn’t as big as one would normally associate with a proper library. It was effectively a book themed office with a lovely high ceiling and a gigantic window at the far end to give the perfect amount of daylight. That window only had part of it that opened, but it was enough to get the stuffy room some clean and somewhat warm air into it.
Castle sat on one of the two well worn leather chairs that were grouped with the window - as opposed to the desk that was near the door - and gazed out unto the lake that was a little ways in the distance. Picturesque was an understatement. This room almost felt built for that view, and Castle was almost certain whomever designed this house had that in mind.
But being in the room didn’t always bring up the best of memories, despite its incredible charm. Castle leaned his head back in the chair and shut his eyes. The crisp air made him shudder a little and small fleeting memories of worse days and nights spent in this place rose unbidden.
He could see himself hunched over the desk, a bottle of god knows what two-thirds empty next to him as he penned endless pieces into his journals. Some were poetically written pieces crying out in pain, others were nonsensical wording of a man too far in his cups, but they all had one throughline: him.
Castle opened his storm-coloured eyes and gazed back across the lake. Fourteen years later and he still didn’t have the answer. Perhaps the wistful longing that he would come knocking on the door had died the moment he let himself live again, but the haunting lack of answers alwa…

September 13, 2025 at 3:50 PM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Twelve of #30dhs2k25: 618/100

I know we've been a bit on a Jasper and Ethan motif lately but this conversation only works with Kai... Kai is big whiplash from Jasper and I adore putting them together like this. Bonus points if you can figure out what kind of supernatural creature Kai is!

The quiet of Ethan putting his clothes back on was interrupted by the large dramatic noise his bedmate made while stretching.
“Damn, vamp boy, do you ever run out of energy?”
Slate eyes flickered down to the other man. He didn’t say a word, but his expression very much said ‘what?’
“I mean… I know you guys don't have to sleep and all… but you're the damn energizer bunny.” Kai made a vague hand gesture to the fact that Ethan was vertical right now. “Is it the virus that does that? Just makes you guys always feel awake?”
Ethan stared at him blankly for a moment, mid putting on his shirt. With a sigh, he finished the action and spoke. “No, not really.”
“Well whatever it’s like it’s gotta be better than this.” Kai flopped dramatically on the bed as if he was incapable of moving. “I’m about ready to pass the fuck out.”
“You can.” Ethan was putting on shoes at this point.

Kai continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “You vampires got it fucking made. Never aging or getting sick… never having to sleep?” A deep and wistful sigh. “There would be so much I could get done if I never had to sleep. You’re one lucky sonuvabitch, vamp boy.”
Ethan’s mouth set in a firm line as he was apparently keeping himself from reacting. At this point he was shrugging on his jacket.
“And you don’t even have to fucking breathe. Look, breathing underwater is a fun trait and all but… not having to breath at all is really fucking handy.” Kai wasn’t even looking at him, just up at the ceiling. “And don’t get me started on how much easier it is to source blood rather than any sort of flesh… Like, honestly…”
Ethan’s jaw made an audible click which caused the other man to look over towards him. Ethan had his arms folded where he stood, looking a cross between upset and annoyed. “You done?” he stated gruffly.
Kai slowly pushed himself up in bed, wincing a little. “Uh… yeah? You alright?”
A slow, deep inhale followed by a rather impatient exhale. “You don’t want this.”
“I don’t want to be the most catered after supernatural creature under Spotlight?” Kai laughed as he replied.

Ethan’s next exhale had a bit of a growl underneath it. “Immortality is dogshit.”
“Oh that’s the part we’re upset over.” Kai fixed him with a look. “Can’t a boy dream about being pretty forever without the debbie downer ruining his fun?”
Not the reaction Ethan was expecting, evident by the rare surprise that flickered across his features. “It’s not-”
“Not all that it cracked up to be? Oh yeah, for sure.” Kai shrugged. “You get to watch every mortal human get old and die around you; see the passage of time for better and for worse; live through more technological marvels than any one human is supposed to be able to process. Yeah it sounds like it sucks, you’re right.” There was no sarcasm in his tone, he was being genuine. “But you know what? I’d take that over the bullshit I’m putting up with. Bloodlust can’t be as bad as what we go through!” The other man flopped back down into his bed.
The seconds stretched on as Ethan stood there, just staring at the - once again - dramatically laid out man on his bed. A complicated emotion, one very difficult for the vampire to place, wormed its way into his chest. He slowly unfolded his arms and went. “...Can you even be turned?”
“I took the vaccine, vamp boy.” A grin passed over Kai’s face. “But thanks for the offer.”
Ethan’s jaw clicked again. “Wasn’t an offer.”

September 13, 2025 at 1:13 AM

📸「 rheostatic 」

@rheostatic.bsky.social

Day Eleven of #30dhs2k25: 711/100

Well this piece got away from me. Not where I was planning on going and all that dialogue makes for too many line breaks. I did, however, follow my prompt of "Turmoil" three times over. So mission accomplished? Even if the scene is kinda eh once they start talking.

The waiting area for Naio’s office was obstinately nice. The couch and chairs were pristine but still comfortable and there was everything from magazines to one of those calming sand things to waste your time with. But Ethan was sitting there, staring into the middle distance as still as a vampire with no need to breathe could be.
There was clattering on the other side of the door and at least one raised voice but Ethan wasn’t giving enough of a shit to pay attention to the words. He just sat there, numb and empty, waiting for the next moment in time to move him along.
The door opened and Ethan’s slate grey eyes snapped towards the movement. In the doorway was Morgan, a small petite man with a pale face and stark white hair. His flat expression was partly obscured by his thin round glasses and he spoke calmly to the younger vampire. “Come in, Ethan.”
Behind Morgan, at the desk in his own office was a much more animated and much more chaotic Naio. He contrasted his former lover with his expression of contempt clear upon his face as well as the dark black hair that was on his head. The only thing these two had in common was their height and well… that they looked like teenagers - a trait that all three of them shared.
Morgan stood next to him as they approached the desk, clearly trying to be a sort of peacekeeper to the conversation that was forthcoming. Naio rubbed his face slightly before speaking. “Mr. Peryal. When I said that nothing was going to be done about it, I did not mean that you could do something about it!”

Ethan stared at him, expression nearly as blank as the petite man beside him. He wasn’t going to grace that sentence with a reply.
Naio didn’t need it, he just barreled on with his rhetoric as always. “You do realise the mess you’ve caused? What do you think will happen when his people realise that one of my sireline killed their boss, hmm? The amount of damage you have done to Spotlight, to Bedrock? We could be set back decades because of what you’ve done!”
Ethan’s jaw audibly set, his fangs grinding into his lower teeth made an awful sound. He shook slightly with the jolt of anger that coursed through his body but he just tightened his fists at his side and glared daggers into Naio.
“Do you even have anything to say?” Naio’s tone took a more singsong, taunting tone. As if he was egging on Ethan’s anger.
Morgan softly said “Naio…” in warning from Ethan’s side but the older vampire once again spoke.
“If he wants to act like a petulant child being caught, then I will treat him like a fucking child.”
“I’m the fucking child?” Ethan managed through gritted teeth. Morgan’s hand barely brushed his arm and for a moment Ethan’s entire body locked up - Morgan’s warning to him.

“Naio.” Morgan said more resolutely. “You are making assumptions again; none of this has happened.”
“As if his actions bare no-”
“No.” Morgan’s tone was still flat, but louder than most times Ethan had ever heard this man speak. Slate grey slid down to look at him but the man’s expression was ever so slightly defiant as he looked at his sire.
“Excuse me?” Naio’s tone was beyond incredulous.
“I said no.” There was a pointed tone to that often flat voice that Ethan found strangely terrifying on a rather expressionless man. “A mess you refused to clean up got messier. Accept it.”
Ethan’s eyes darted back between the two vampires, he had never seen Morgan act like this before or Naio look that wickedly upset. Something in their shared history was being relived but that something Ethan wasn’t privy to.
Naio looked like he was going to speak again but Morgan broke eye contact and looked over to the youngest vampire. “Go.”
“Morgan I am not done-” Morgan raised a hand and Naio suddenly stopped speaking. Ethan looked back at Morgan with open confusion, he didn’t think the other vampire could stop his sire from moving just like he stopped him.
“Go.” Morgan repeated. “Now.”
Ethan only needed to be told twice.

September 12, 2025 at 12:54 AM

Add to Home Screen

Light up
your news

Add to Home Screen

Light upyour news

Sign in to Lightnews

Sign up to start reading

Connect Bluesky

Connect with Bluesky

Light up
your news