yesdoubt | Noctium

鎖縛パラドックス2_mixdown v2.wav

Thank you kindly for your previous suggestions. I've adjusted the EQ based on your comments.

Notes:
-brightened the tone of sucking noises around 6:05
-smoothed reverb and manually synced breaths at 8:15-8:27
-manually adjusted panning at 5:04 to match mic 2's L->R movement
-rerecorded squelching (may be too dry – please give me your thoughts in detail)
-dampened sibilance at 1:22 (7000 Hz)
-de-esser bumped to 47%

I'm considering cutting the instrumental 1 to 2dB to better match the movement at 8:55. I tried my best to make the breathing sound more natural, but I'd be happy to do a quick run of extra heaving if needed. I look forward to hearing your reply.

Best regards,
Kobayashi S.

Edited 2021-10-06 11:29 (UTC)

[Momo has had his share of embarrassing misfires with this going on, but at least it was things he didn't really mind having his name attached to. This? Considering the editing description and the use of an alias, if the title wasn't enough of an indicator already, Momo can already make a pretty educated guess at what the content of this recording is going to be, but he plays it anyway. Partly out of curiosity, and partially to consider exactly how much Sougo is going to be flagellating himself for sending it to him.

The answer seems to be a lot, and Momo isn't quite prepared to resort back to text for this knowing that he might just get a single letter and then an hour of silence while Sougo engages in extreme Sougolike reactions. So at an interval of time just a little longer than how long it would take to listen to the recording, Momo calls him. The bonus of this being that it doesn't draw extra attention to the misfired text, so Momo can ambush him with the terrible truth of what happened properly.

After, of course, a totally normal and cheerful introduction.]

Hi Sougo! I got your message, so I thought I'd help you out a bit! [Vague enough to sound like it's something entirely different. As he goes on, though...well, if this was a wired phone, he'd be coyly twirling the cable around his fingers, with the intentionally almost demure and innocent tone he takes.] I'm just thinking that with a title like that, shouldn't all the sucking and squelching and stuff sound a little more...forceful? I get you're probably using your fingers for the mouth parts, but surely you've got some stuff big enough to choke on that you could use.

[Momo is making Some Assumptions about the kind of sex toys Sougo keeps.

Or maybe he's just projecting.]

[Voice messages may be commonplace over the network, but it's still rare to get an actual call over a text, and receiving one from Momo seems especially unusual.]

Momo-san?

[It really does start innocently enough, and Sougo slips his editing headphones off to set them on his desk as he listens. Message? Help him out?

...

......

.........Ah.

Sorry Momo, but that's 100% the sound of his phone clattering to the floor.]

[Even with his phone on the floor, there's probably something audible from it a moment later - it's Momo laughing fit to take out a lung, as distorted and odd as it probably sounds coming from the floor. He knew Sougo was going to react, but he usually gets these types of reactions by text, so it's nice to know what the actual phone handling equivalent of that is.

Still, it's the reaction he's laughing at over anything else, so once that settles, he tries to draw together a wheedling, coaxing sort of tone hopefully loud enough for Sougo to...maybe hear it. Or at least hear that his cadence has gone from laughing to talking.]

Come on, Sougo, you know you can be honest with Momo-chan about this stuff...!

[Look. Sougo's phone may be on the floor, but given that he drops to his knees almost immediately after, Momo's awful laughter is still hauntingly audible. No, no, no... there's no way this is happening. Please just end him now.

Momo has the brilliant opportunity to fill in the blanks about exactly how much Sougo's dying, but after a while, he barely manages to squeak out from a distance:]

Thank you for your mentorship up until now!!!

[Because he's sure as hell never facing Momo ever again!!!!]

[It's almost possible to hear Momo puffing his cheeks out at the implications of that, because...well, he can't say he wasn't expecting a similar reponse, but that doesn't mean he has to let it fly.]

What do you mean, "until now"? I'm still offering to help, aren't I? If you turn down my offer, I might just come over there and do it in person!

[Sougo not letting him in is apparently not even on his radar. Maybe he's planning to sneak in.]

[The good thing about Momo knowing Sougo well is that it's probably incredibly obvious how many ridiculous doomsday scenarios and abrupt conclusions he's jumping to in his mind. Likewise, Momo probably also knows that he's not going to actually commit seppuku or plan the quickest escape route from here to the window or begin life as a runaway and change his name and appearance, but that's absolutely where his mind is right now as he tries not to scream into his hands.]

With all due respect, I'd rather die on the spot than let you see my face right now!

[It sure is, but that gives Momo some leverage. Maybe. Sort of.] So that means you need to take my help over the phone, doesn't it? Otherwise you'll have to see me. Momo-chan doesn't give up that easily when it comes to helping out his sweet juniors.

[Momo is not necessarily above monster amulet-ing himself into a Sylph just to turn himself into mist and walk through Sougo's walls unexpectedly in the day or two after the amulet kicks in, which in this case is definitely what he means by "doesn't give up that easily".]

Momo-san?!

[It's honestly kind of astounding how panicked he sounds through voice alone.]

It's fine, you don't need to say anything more! It's only audio mixing, and... [God, he's going to be sick.] Please, please let me try to retain what little is left of my dignity.

Dignity is overrated! [Momo says that perfectly cheerfully, because he accepted long ago that he only has dignity when he feels like it. Sometimes it just gets in the way.]

I just want you to get more comfortable with these kinds of conversations, Sougo. It's kind of wild that we've already had sex, but you're flipping your lid at the idea of talking to me about a fake sex scene...

This can't be happening...

[It's half mumbled, like he's hoping to wake up from a bad dream. But no, life isn't anywhere near that easy. How terrible can his luck be?! Don't mind Sougo nearly choking on absolutely nothing as Momo continues.

They did... They did, but hearing Momo say it is enough to end him.]

I didn't write the script. [If absolutely nothing else, at least he can say that much with confidence.] And that... that may be the case, but I'm still humiliated beyond words. I can explain, but...

[Don't mind him going dead silent for several seconds before finally starting again in a much smaller voice.]

...Did it sound realistic?

[Momo could chime in about how this is very definitely absolutely happening, but he has to give Sougo at least some time to recover himself, so he waits. At least they're making some progress now, though Momo hums thoughtfully at the idea of who else might have written the script for it.

The question makes him grin a bit on the other end of the phone, though.]

It sounded fine to me! Like I said, the only thing that really came to mind was that I was expecting something a bit rougher from the title, but that might just be me being presumptuous, you know? [Presumptuous and excessively horny.]

I'm guessing this isn't your first outing doing this stuff, though, because Momo-chan knows beginner work when he hears it!

[And this is not beginner work.]

Ah, um... This is only one of the tracks.

[His voice sounds so defeated. In other words, it only gets worse from here.]

But I... appreciate your feedback. I could consult with the studio and other actor about rerecording on my own and seeing how it turns out, considering that I have the means to do so.

[And no, he isn't planning to elaborate on that in the slightest. Momo already mentioned choking on something bigger... God, just end him.]

It's a long story, but I wound up doing recordings like this by chance, and it just... ended up happening this way.[Don't mind him heaving an audible, heavy sigh.] I'm begging you, Momo-san, please don't tell anyone else about this or look into it any further.

[Momo hums in agreement to the first suggestion, the tone so exaggerated that it's almost possible to see the dramatic nodding going on along with it. The next bit isn't something he's going to be quite so obliging about, though, and in much the same vein, one can almost hear the mischievous grin sliding onto his face as Sougo asks that.]

You know Momo-chan's not a gossip! But call it professional curiosity to know what my juniors are getting up to, you know? I have to make sure I'm keeping a few steps ahead, and all.

[Does this imply Momo would potentially be willing to do material like this if the chance arose? Maybe. Does it imply that he's absolutely going to look further into this as soon as he gets off the phone? Definitely.]

That may be the case, but... Would it be too much to ask you to put your professional curiosity aside? I would really, really, really rather you not look into it or think about how it's recorded or anything...

[The way he slumps and (intentionally) hits his head on the wooden floor is probably audible, given that his phone hasn't been touched.]

Just ignore everything! There are plenty of Kobayashis in the world, aren't there?!

[Probably not here, and the kanji for the first name of his alias being 紫音, "violet sound," is going to give him away in a heartbeat if Momo finds it, but... it's easier to ignore that part.]

[It is definitely audible, and Momo has to resist the deep urge to laugh at the melodrama before he answers in a chirpy, cheerful tone.]

Not in this world! And professional curiosity is a necessity, you know? This world has all kinds of markets we could never get into back home. I've already done a little bit of extra modelling and photography that might've been a little too spicy for our audiences at home...so it's only right to explore the possibilities once I find out about them!

[He's at least aware of these kinds of CDs and recordings, it just hadn't entirely occurred to him as an option before now in terms of work. Possibly because, despite his pretty substantial acting ability, he never really thinks of himself as an actor in all seriousness, given Yuki is the one most known for that.]

[Sougo certainly doesn't consider himself an actor either, given that the vast majority of his creative work is rooted in music, but... the prospect of exploring different markets is intriguing for more than one reason.]

If you're so insistent on finding out, then I'm unfortunately not sure I can stop you... but in return, I'm not going to say I wouldn't be interested in looking into your own creative endeavors.

[Momo laughs a little at that, something inviting about his tone when he speaks again. Or it may just be outright a little goading, like Momo wants to see his reaction to whatever he finds.]

Oh, sure! It's not gonna be that fun if I give you the business name upfront to look up, but it shouldn't be too hard to find if you do a little digging.

[His initial contact on the network regarding working with Worst Dragon was private, but it's also definitely the most prolific Gembonded adult store that he's aware of, so not exactly a difficult find.]

Don't underestimate a fan's willingness to find what they're looking for.

[There's at least some part of him trying to sound confident about the one thing he's sure he can do, but at the same time.... this is Momo he's talking to. If anyone from their group can expertly "do a little digging," it's the two of them and Nagi.]

I'm sure that you'll find me humiliatingly easily, but if nothing else, I've only done audio dramas. And none of them have been recorded, um... authentically. It's all acting.

[Just to, you know. Drive that home once more.]

Noctium - IC Inbox

text, un: sougo_i7 (September misfire; I'm only marginally sorry)

and of course this becomes voice because momo wants to end sougo's life

Misery at its finest.

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