even before we read kieron gillen, jamie mckelvie, and matt wilson's phonogram: the singles club, we found a lot of joy in of making playlists. we'd flow songs together in a way that swept thoughts and emotions along with them, and oftentimes looped well.
we tried making playlists for people we had feelings for, but we got shamed out of it quickly. at that point, the magic faded, and we became one of those people who largely listened to albums from edge to spindle.
time passed, we figured out we're plural, and our system grew to a point where people needed to find a way to stay in front.
so they made playlists.
they wove magic.
phonomancy is what it sounds like: music as magic. as we practice it, it doesn't utilize creating our own music. songs are spell components, woven together in a way to make a coherent whole that evokes at least one emotion.
for our system, our playlists are spells that ground them in front, that keep the spotlight on them so they can continue piloting the body and being themselves. these songs can be anything that makes them feel like them. they can evoke their purpose in the system, the emotions they exemplify, or (in the case of fictives) their source.
we didn't think about these as magic until we started talking with @artemis about magic. we've always had a hard time belief, writ large. church didn't exactly land for us (except the guilt and self-flagellation. thanks catholicism!), and there are experiences partners and friends describe that we can't wrap our heads around.
but @artemis talked about magic, and their belief in it, in a way that finally made it click.
and also made us realize we've been casting magic for a while.
it took a while to build up the courage to cast a spell on anyone but ourself.
but inspiration struck.
• • •
[transcription of above postcard. all dialogue is by seth bingo, a black-haired man wearing a light-blue t-shirt with 5 red exclamation marks on it]
- you there! with the ears! what are you doing on saturday?
- don't answer. don't you dare answer. i'm reading your mind.
- you are coming to a club night. (our club night.)
- we have three rules. three amazing rules. you must not request any records with boys singing. that's our "thing".
- if you have legs, you must dance. (if you don't have legs, rhythmic rocking will suffice.) most importantly...
- NO MAGIC! i repeat: NO MAGIC!
- this is going to be a lovely time, yes! a lovely, lovely time!
- you will come.
seth bingo and the silent girl begrudgingly invite you to: phonogram: the singles club. (there will be magic.)
seth, sticking out from the bottom right corner: and if you say girls aloud aren't a real band I WILL DESTROY EVERY THOUGHT YOU'VE EVER HAD.