A/N: Hey guys! Posting these back to back because this is not a new chapter. I (Alice) mentioned a podcast in the last chapter that I wanted to tell you about. Feel free to skip this "chapter", but I really hope you won't. Normally I wouldn't annoy you all with something like this, but I love this so much I couldn't help but give them a shout-out. I know fanfic doesn't really approve of this kind of things, but hopefully, no one reports this : )
XOXOXO
From their website:
WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE is a twice-monthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events.
I found this podcast part way through the first year (currently the show is on year 5). The first couple of episodes caught my attention because they were so bizarre, but intriguing. I do not regret anything. This show has done tremendously well (so well that if you remember Fischer's letter, they're starting to teach a class on it). It's completely free and no ads, solely based on donations, merchandise, book sales, and ticket sales from live shows. What started out as just some friends goofing around has turned into an entire franchise including new podcasts and all sorts of different things.
You can find out more at welcometonightvale dot com
I highly recommend checking this out. It's great writing and put together beautifully. You can listen to it on basically any app you'd use for podcasts, on their website, or on youtube (user: Welcome to Night Vale).
Here is an excerpt from the first episode:
Pilot
A friendly desert community where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep. Welcome to Night Vale.
Hello listeners. To start things off I've been asked to read this brief notice: the city council announces the opening of a new dog park at the corner of Earl and Summerset near the Ralph's. They would like to remind everyone that dogs are not allowed in the dog park. People are not allowed in the dog park. It is possible you will see hooded figures in the dog park. Do not approach them. Do not approach the dog park. The fence is electrified and highly dangerous. Try not to look at the dog park, and especially do not look for any period of time at the hooded figures. The dog park will not harm you.
And now the news.
Old Woman Josie out near the car lot says the angels revealed themselves to her; said they were ten feet tall, radiant, and one of them was black; said they helped her with various household chores. One of them changed a lightbulb for her, the porch light. She's offering to sell the old lightbulb, which has been touched by an angel. It was the black angel, if that sweetens the pot for anyone. If you're interested, contact Old Woman Josie. She's out near the car lot.
A new man came into town today. Who is he? What does he want from us? Why his perfect and beautiful haircut? Why his perfect and beautiful coat? He says he is a scientist. Well, we have all been scientists and one point or another in our lives. But why now? Why here? And just what does he plan to do with all those breakers and humming electrical instruments in that lab he is renting—the one next to Big Rico's Pizza? No one does a slice like Big Rico. No one.
Just a reminder to all the parents out there. Let's talk about safety when taking your children out to play in the Scrub Lands and the Sand Wastes. You need to give them plenty of water, make sure there's a shade tree in the area, and keep an eye on the helicopter colors. Are the unmarked helicopters circling the area black? Probably World Government. Not a good area for play that day. Are they blue? That's the Sheriff's Secret Police. They'll keep a good eye on your kids, and hardly ever take one. Are they painted with complex murals depicting birds of prey diving? No one knows what those helicopters are, or what they want. Do not play in the area. Return to your home, and lock the doors until a Sheriff's Secret Policeman leaves a carnation on your porch to indicate that the danger has passed. Cover your ears to blot out the screams. Also, remember: Gatorade is basically soda, so give your kids plain old water, and maybe some orange slices when they play.