A Who's Who Guide to Screaming Down the Starlit Sky
In the process of putting together my Podfic Big Bang this year, eosrose asked, "So, I'm eying up your project... Is this something that someone who doesn't know the first thing about bandom (like me) could understand and get into?"
To which I replied, "I think so - when I first read this, I'd only listened to 2 bandom podfics previously, and read less than a handful of bandom fics. It relies heavily on the world created in the A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me music video, and populates that world with people who have the same names as all those Bandom folk. I guess it would make some jokes funnier if you know Bandom canon, but I first approached this series as an original fic of vampire politics and intrigue (and then picked up Bandom-y knowledge as I went along)."
But, to spare you folks the hassle of Googling as you listen, I've put together a handy guide to the faces and fangs of Screaming Down the Starlit Sky! (If I've gotten anyone's face wrong, please let me know! I've done it before, and wouldn't be surprised to do it again...)
Let's start with the music video. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me, performed by Fall Out Boy, is the inspiration for this entire universe, so you should go watch it right now! Look, it's right below this paragraph, for ease of viewing. Or, for people who have computers that hate YouTube, at least go read this primer. It's not as great as watching the vid (it's a lot harder to sing along to a primer), but it'll fill you in on all the vampire lore Pete Wentz made up.
Everybody watched the music video? Good! Don't you just love the Dandies? I'm a sucker for anyone in fancy hats... Here, take a look. Below, you'll find a choice selection of the Dandies (and their humans) of Beckett's City.
Brendon Urie: Dandy, ~30 years dead, Mesmerist, Ryan's Vampire Companion.
Ryan Ross: Human, 17 years old, developed precognitive dreams thanks to Brendon
Jon Walker: steals memories, ~275 years dead, Spencer's Vampire Boyfriend
Spencer Smith: 17 years old, Human, Ryan's BFF, Jon's guestage & kitten keeper
William Beckett: Leader of the Dandies, super speed, Sired Pete, raised Mike, bastard
Mike Carden: Mesmerist, cranky, would be Tom's One & Only (even though Tom ran)
Tom Conrad: Human, DNW vampirism, did love Mike, met a new Alexfriend at college
Andy "Butcher" Mrotek: Siska's Sire, possessive, holds a grudge, supported Jon's coup
Adam Siska: Butcher's Fledge, likes kittens, survived a staking from Pete's Hunters
Next up, we've got the Hunters. Technically, these guys are Dandies by blood, but it's like they're that branch of the family that never gets invited to reunions if anyone can help it.
Patrick Stump: Human, Pete's favorite friend, frequent kidnap/mind-wipe victim, clever
Pete Wentz: Vampire, should've been a Dandy, steals other powers, <3s Patrick lots
Andy Hurley: Human, pacifist, badass with swords, would make a very scary vampire
Joe Trohman: Human, Bob's unwilling snugglebunny/snack, good at drugging people
Then, we've got the Out Of Town Dandies. These guys are extra-scary, because they have the power to be scheming and plotting from beyond the borders of Beckett's City...and more than one unsuspecting vampire has fallen under their reach.
Brian Schechter: Head of the Dandy line, plays the long game, scary motherfucker
Gabriel Saporta: Schechter's Childe, Mnemetist, has his own City, not a fan of Pete
Cash Colligan: envoy to Schechter's City, dangerous, takes responsibility for Marshall
Alex Marshall: Sired by Schechter. got Turned wrong, smiled for Colligan, not a virgin
Alex Greenwald: Illusionist, Sired by Schechter, has designs all over Tom's virtue
Bob Bryar: Sired by Gabriel, nicknamed "Deimos", crushing on Joe, stirring up trouble
Mikey Way: abandoned by his Sire, adopted by Gerard Way, can see connections
Gerard Way: Expert tracker, lives in Gabriel's City, avenging Frank for over 70 years
Frank Iero: son of Hunters, beloved of Gerard, stolen by William, looking for revenge
And, for a little variety, we've got a Hood! But, there was that time that they allied with the Dandies, so....hmmmm.
Travis McCoy: Leader of the Hoods, allied with Beckett post-coup, enjoys violence
Ooooh, and some ladies to spice things up even more. Lady Dandies are the fiercest of them all, but all the women of herlovewasajoke's 'verse have important roles to play.
Greta Salpeter: Human, Tom's friend, kidnapped by Hoods, might be a Dandy one day
Lindsey Ballato: Lady Dandy, Pyrokinetic, remembers when Mike was a little shithead
Amanda Palmer: Vampire, oft-time kidnapper, likes torture & independence from gangs
Hayley Williams: Vampire of the Punk persuasion, mind-raping powers, has a spine
And finally, the out-of-town-and-out-of-fandom Dandies! That's right, the lone American Idol story in this 'verse also gets illustrations.
Adam Lambert: Vampire, chased his Human across America, recently in the doghouse
Tommy Joe Ratliff: Human, terrible at planning roadtrips and folding maps, likes towels
Well, I think that's everybody! But, again, if I used the wrong face for someone, please let me know. There's an awful lot of similar haircuts and nose rings....
<--Reader's Notes | Masterpost | I. (You) Belong to Me -->
To which I replied, "I think so - when I first read this, I'd only listened to 2 bandom podfics previously, and read less than a handful of bandom fics. It relies heavily on the world created in the A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me music video, and populates that world with people who have the same names as all those Bandom folk. I guess it would make some jokes funnier if you know Bandom canon, but I first approached this series as an original fic of vampire politics and intrigue (and then picked up Bandom-y knowledge as I went along)."
But, to spare you folks the hassle of Googling as you listen, I've put together a handy guide to the faces and fangs of Screaming Down the Starlit Sky! (If I've gotten anyone's face wrong, please let me know! I've done it before, and wouldn't be surprised to do it again...)
Let's start with the music video. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me, performed by Fall Out Boy, is the inspiration for this entire universe, so you should go watch it right now! Look, it's right below this paragraph, for ease of viewing. Or, for people who have computers that hate YouTube, at least go read this primer. It's not as great as watching the vid (it's a lot harder to sing along to a primer), but it'll fill you in on all the vampire lore Pete Wentz made up.
Click to viewEverybody watched the music video? Good! Don't you just love the Dandies? I'm a sucker for anyone in fancy hats... Here, take a look. Below, you'll find a choice selection of the Dandies (and their humans) of Beckett's City.
Brendon Urie: Dandy, ~30 years dead, Mesmerist, Ryan's Vampire Companion.
Ryan Ross: Human, 17 years old, developed precognitive dreams thanks to Brendon
Jon Walker: steals memories, ~275 years dead, Spencer's Vampire Boyfriend
Spencer Smith: 17 years old, Human, Ryan's BFF, Jon's guestage & kitten keeper
William Beckett: Leader of the Dandies, super speed, Sired Pete, raised Mike, bastard
Mike Carden: Mesmerist, cranky, would be Tom's One & Only (even though Tom ran)
Tom Conrad: Human, DNW vampirism, did love Mike, met a new Alexfriend at college
Andy "Butcher" Mrotek: Siska's Sire, possessive, holds a grudge, supported Jon's coup
Adam Siska: Butcher's Fledge, likes kittens, survived a staking from Pete's Hunters
Next up, we've got the Hunters. Technically, these guys are Dandies by blood, but it's like they're that branch of the family that never gets invited to reunions if anyone can help it.
Patrick Stump: Human, Pete's favorite friend, frequent kidnap/mind-wipe victim, clever
Pete Wentz: Vampire, should've been a Dandy, steals other powers, <3s Patrick lots
Andy Hurley: Human, pacifist, badass with swords, would make a very scary vampire
Joe Trohman: Human, Bob's unwilling snugglebunny/snack, good at drugging people
Then, we've got the Out Of Town Dandies. These guys are extra-scary, because they have the power to be scheming and plotting from beyond the borders of Beckett's City...and more than one unsuspecting vampire has fallen under their reach.
Brian Schechter: Head of the Dandy line, plays the long game, scary motherfucker
Gabriel Saporta: Schechter's Childe, Mnemetist, has his own City, not a fan of Pete
Cash Colligan: envoy to Schechter's City, dangerous, takes responsibility for Marshall
Alex Marshall: Sired by Schechter. got Turned wrong, smiled for Colligan, not a virgin
Alex Greenwald: Illusionist, Sired by Schechter, has designs all over Tom's virtue
Bob Bryar: Sired by Gabriel, nicknamed "Deimos", crushing on Joe, stirring up trouble
Mikey Way: abandoned by his Sire, adopted by Gerard Way, can see connections
Gerard Way: Expert tracker, lives in Gabriel's City, avenging Frank for over 70 years
Frank Iero: son of Hunters, beloved of Gerard, stolen by William, looking for revenge
And, for a little variety, we've got a Hood! But, there was that time that they allied with the Dandies, so....hmmmm.
Travis McCoy: Leader of the Hoods, allied with Beckett post-coup, enjoys violence
Ooooh, and some ladies to spice things up even more. Lady Dandies are the fiercest of them all, but all the women of herlovewasajoke's 'verse have important roles to play.
Greta Salpeter: Human, Tom's friend, kidnapped by Hoods, might be a Dandy one day
Lindsey Ballato: Lady Dandy, Pyrokinetic, remembers when Mike was a little shithead
Amanda Palmer: Vampire, oft-time kidnapper, likes torture & independence from gangs
Hayley Williams: Vampire of the Punk persuasion, mind-raping powers, has a spine
And finally, the out-of-town-and-out-of-fandom Dandies! That's right, the lone American Idol story in this 'verse also gets illustrations.
Adam Lambert: Vampire, chased his Human across America, recently in the doghouse
Tommy Joe Ratliff: Human, terrible at planning roadtrips and folding maps, likes towels
Well, I think that's everybody! But, again, if I used the wrong face for someone, please let me know. There's an awful lot of similar haircuts and nose rings....
<--Reader's Notes | Masterpost | I. (You) Belong to Me -->