Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
@therisingtithes.bsky.social
🇹🇹 Poet, SFF writer, TTRPG designer. Worldcon 2025 Poet Laureate.
@rascal.news columnist. Podcaster @speculate.bsky.social & @skiffyandfanty.com.
Author of CAN YOU SIGN MY TENTACLE? and other things.
Thank God for words.
https://www.brandonobrien.xyz/
@rascal.news columnist. Podcaster @speculate.bsky.social & @skiffyandfanty.com.
Author of CAN YOU SIGN MY TENTACLE? and other things.
Thank God for words.
https://www.brandonobrien.xyz/
Pinned
Brandon O'Brien's Afternoon Tea
Thoughts on media, the curiosities of our world, and things that may make us smile. I made this cup just for you.
brandonobrien.xyz
If you're new here:
Hey folks. I'm Brandon. I'm a poet, science fiction writer, and TTRPG designer from Trinidad. I have a lot of feelings about elegies, lagahoos, and Kamen Rider.
Find out about my writing and game design, and sign up for my very infrequent newsletter, here: brandonobrien.xyz
Hey folks. I'm Brandon. I'm a poet, science fiction writer, and TTRPG designer from Trinidad. I have a lot of feelings about elegies, lagahoos, and Kamen Rider.
Find out about my writing and game design, and sign up for my very infrequent newsletter, here: brandonobrien.xyz
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
Written by the man behind Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, and Promare!!
A reminder to the world that if you like superhero stuff, like heartfelt teen drama that doesn’t paint high schoolers as reckless terrors but as kids trying to make it through their youth, & also like SPACE & the power of friendship—
Kamen Rider Fourze is very good and you should watch it
Kamen Rider Fourze is very good and you should watch it
a person is flying through the air in front of a building while wearing a jetpack .
Alt: A gif from Kamen Rider Fourze: a figure in a white rocket-shaped spandex bodysuit raises both of his arms to the sky. The camera then swiftly zooms out from his overhead view to show his street, his city, the country of Japan, and then the entire Planet Earth, before rapidly zooming back in on the figure.
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Written by the man behind Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, and Promare!!
A reminder to the world that if you like superhero stuff, like heartfelt teen drama that doesn’t paint high schoolers as reckless terrors but as kids trying to make it through their youth, & also like SPACE & the power of friendship—
Kamen Rider Fourze is very good and you should watch it
Kamen Rider Fourze is very good and you should watch it
a person is flying through the air in front of a building while wearing a jetpack .
Alt: A gif from Kamen Rider Fourze: a figure in a white rocket-shaped spandex bodysuit raises both of his arms to the sky. The camera then swiftly zooms out from his overhead view to show his street, his city, the country of Japan, and then the entire Planet Earth, before rapidly zooming back in on the figure.
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
A reminder to the world that if you like superhero stuff, like heartfelt teen drama that doesn’t paint high schoolers as reckless terrors but as kids trying to make it through their youth, & also like SPACE & the power of friendship—
Kamen Rider Fourze is very good and you should watch it
Kamen Rider Fourze is very good and you should watch it
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
Uchuu Kitaaa, motherfuckers
A part of me is thoroughly enamored to see Fourze so high on this chart 🚀
November 26, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Uchuu Kitaaa, motherfuckers
A thought:
Someone who is displeased by the emergence of ‘6-7’ should be able to tell me with facility what the meaning and etymology of ‘fuckin’ A’ is.
Someone who is displeased by the emergence of ‘6-7’ should be able to tell me with facility what the meaning and etymology of ‘fuckin’ A’ is.
November 26, 2025 at 1:23 AM
A thought:
Someone who is displeased by the emergence of ‘6-7’ should be able to tell me with facility what the meaning and etymology of ‘fuckin’ A’ is.
Someone who is displeased by the emergence of ‘6-7’ should be able to tell me with facility what the meaning and etymology of ‘fuckin’ A’ is.
A part of me is thoroughly enamored to see Fourze so high on this chart 🚀
November 26, 2025 at 1:00 AM
A part of me is thoroughly enamored to see Fourze so high on this chart 🚀
I haven't felt this good about emergent theme in a Kamen Rider series in a long while
so either Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (affectionate)
or Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (derogatory)
so either Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (affectionate)
or Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (derogatory)
November 25, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I haven't felt this good about emergent theme in a Kamen Rider series in a long while
so either Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (affectionate)
or Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (derogatory)
so either Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (affectionate)
or Zeztz is going to be my new Wizard (derogatory)
Kamen Rider is at its best when its stories about humanity revolve around how we are emotionally volatile but not innately evil, just easily instrumentalised by evil, and I think some of the Nightmares in Kamen Rider Zeztz prove that out astoundingly.
Excuse me while I thread:
Excuse me while I thread:
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Kamen Rider is at its best when its stories about humanity revolve around how we are emotionally volatile but not innately evil, just easily instrumentalised by evil, and I think some of the Nightmares in Kamen Rider Zeztz prove that out astoundingly.
Excuse me while I thread:
Excuse me while I thread:
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
The Histories is at 30k words and counting! It features time travelers, vampires, space pirates, Caribbean wizards, weird scientists, and more!
The stories are probably true, and they're about people you might know!
Learn the truth. Read and spread the word! #writing
shaunduke.net/thehis...
The stories are probably true, and they're about people you might know!
Learn the truth. Read and spread the word! #writing
shaunduke.net/thehis...
November 25, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The Histories is at 30k words and counting! It features time travelers, vampires, space pirates, Caribbean wizards, weird scientists, and more!
The stories are probably true, and they're about people you might know!
Learn the truth. Read and spread the word! #writing
shaunduke.net/thehis...
The stories are probably true, and they're about people you might know!
Learn the truth. Read and spread the word! #writing
shaunduke.net/thehis...
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
There’s so much to unpack in the wake of #PAXUnplugged, but what I want to do most is shout out these wonderful TTRPG designers from the Pax Together BIPOC Demo Days program: Nigel, Brandon, Kyle, and Eli.
@robotcowboysofmars.bsky.social
@therisingtithes.bsky.social
@blackmarketpress.bsky.social
@robotcowboysofmars.bsky.social
@therisingtithes.bsky.social
@blackmarketpress.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 2:58 AM
There’s so much to unpack in the wake of #PAXUnplugged, but what I want to do most is shout out these wonderful TTRPG designers from the Pax Together BIPOC Demo Days program: Nigel, Brandon, Kyle, and Eli.
@robotcowboysofmars.bsky.social
@therisingtithes.bsky.social
@blackmarketpress.bsky.social
@robotcowboysofmars.bsky.social
@therisingtithes.bsky.social
@blackmarketpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
I'm particularly pleased that people are taking so well to this piece, in part because I've recently been thinking a lot about how politics & TTRPGs intersect--not just how games perform politics but how we perform politics within them
so suffice it to say that ✨there's more where that came from✨
so suffice it to say that ✨there's more where that came from✨
"It's arguably most productive to view public action against an oppressive force specifically as a game — not as a trifle, but as a series of moves with an end state."
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
What does Session Zero of a protest look like?
Games as rehearsal for the streets.
www.rascal.news
November 25, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I'm particularly pleased that people are taking so well to this piece, in part because I've recently been thinking a lot about how politics & TTRPGs intersect--not just how games perform politics but how we perform politics within them
so suffice it to say that ✨there's more where that came from✨
so suffice it to say that ✨there's more where that came from✨
every time someone of any other marginalisation compares something to antiBlackness without once considering the perspectives of Black people who share that marginalisation with them, I become feral
maybe not everything is comparable to BLACKFACE dawg
language itself is more versatile than this
maybe not everything is comparable to BLACKFACE dawg
language itself is more versatile than this
November 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
every time someone of any other marginalisation compares something to antiBlackness without once considering the perspectives of Black people who share that marginalisation with them, I become feral
maybe not everything is comparable to BLACKFACE dawg
language itself is more versatile than this
maybe not everything is comparable to BLACKFACE dawg
language itself is more versatile than this
that moment just before clicking the blue button on a Bluesky post when you go,
"is this actually a thread... or is it really another column?"
🤔
"is this actually a thread... or is it really another column?"
🤔
November 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM
that moment just before clicking the blue button on a Bluesky post when you go,
"is this actually a thread... or is it really another column?"
🤔
"is this actually a thread... or is it really another column?"
🤔
PAX U, it’s been grand, but now I have to do this harrowing travel thing the other way round. Not all the way home, but hopefully the next week will be full of writing and resetting my brain.
If I said hello, i miss you already; if we didn’t meet up, I wish we had; either way, safe travels, all!
If I said hello, i miss you already; if we didn’t meet up, I wish we had; either way, safe travels, all!
November 24, 2025 at 2:21 AM
PAX U, it’s been grand, but now I have to do this harrowing travel thing the other way round. Not all the way home, but hopefully the next week will be full of writing and resetting my brain.
If I said hello, i miss you already; if we didn’t meet up, I wish we had; either way, safe travels, all!
If I said hello, i miss you already; if we didn’t meet up, I wish we had; either way, safe travels, all!
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
So here's to Desert Bus for Hope 2025, where we raised over $1,048,000 FOR THE CHILDREN! We've cried, we've crashed, and we will miss you dearly. See you next year for our *20th* Desert Bus! And make sure to keep an eye out on our socials as we prepare for our big anniversary...
November 21, 2025 at 9:21 PM
So here's to Desert Bus for Hope 2025, where we raised over $1,048,000 FOR THE CHILDREN! We've cried, we've crashed, and we will miss you dearly. See you next year for our *20th* Desert Bus! And make sure to keep an eye out on our socials as we prepare for our big anniversary...
PAX Unplugged is a doozy, but it’s been going well so far! But if you like my work and want to support me while I’m still at the convention, a great way to do so is via my Ko-Fi!
Support Brandon O'Brien
Support Brandon O'Brien
ko-fi.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:54 PM
PAX Unplugged is a doozy, but it’s been going well so far! But if you like my work and want to support me while I’m still at the convention, a great way to do so is via my Ko-Fi!
ICYMI!
"It's arguably most productive to view public action against an oppressive force specifically as a game — not as a trifle, but as a series of moves with an end state."
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
What does Session Zero of a protest look like?
Games as rehearsal for the streets.
www.rascal.news
November 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
ICYMI!
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
If you're at @officialpax.bsky.social's Pax Unplugged this weekend, stop by the Demo Days area and check out the Grayshade TTRPG, based on my Grayshade universe, soon to be published by Alligator Alley Entertainment and designed by @therisingtithes.bsky.social -- who's also doing the demo! :D
November 22, 2025 at 2:10 PM
If you're at @officialpax.bsky.social's Pax Unplugged this weekend, stop by the Demo Days area and check out the Grayshade TTRPG, based on my Grayshade universe, soon to be published by Alligator Alley Entertainment and designed by @therisingtithes.bsky.social -- who's also doing the demo! :D
Are you at PAX Unplugged?
Do you wanna learn more about GRAYSHADE??
I’m running demos until 4 at the PAX Together Demo Days tables in Hall C of the Expo Hall until 4!
I’ll be back at 8:30 for more demos if you’re a late dice-roller, too!
Come say hi!
Do you wanna learn more about GRAYSHADE??
I’m running demos until 4 at the PAX Together Demo Days tables in Hall C of the Expo Hall until 4!
I’ll be back at 8:30 for more demos if you’re a late dice-roller, too!
Come say hi!
November 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Are you at PAX Unplugged?
Do you wanna learn more about GRAYSHADE??
I’m running demos until 4 at the PAX Together Demo Days tables in Hall C of the Expo Hall until 4!
I’ll be back at 8:30 for more demos if you’re a late dice-roller, too!
Come say hi!
Do you wanna learn more about GRAYSHADE??
I’m running demos until 4 at the PAX Together Demo Days tables in Hall C of the Expo Hall until 4!
I’ll be back at 8:30 for more demos if you’re a late dice-roller, too!
Come say hi!
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
"It's arguably most productive to view public action against an oppressive force specifically as a game — not as a trifle, but as a series of moves with an end state."
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
What does Session Zero of a protest look like?
Games as rehearsal for the streets.
www.rascal.news
November 21, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"It's arguably most productive to view public action against an oppressive force specifically as a game — not as a trifle, but as a series of moves with an end state."
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
Contributor @therisingtithes.bsky.social connects RPG prep with the increasingly vital labor of public protest.
Reposted by Brandon O’Brien | National Pray For A Bredren Month
So I am now in Philly but Ubers add up fast during one con weekend! A little bit of help goes a long way to make sure I can eat while I’m here!
So it would appear I’m headed to PAX Unplugged to promote GRAYSHADE! If you’re gonna be there, feel free to say hi if you see me!
But also: as this trip is kinda scuffed, I can use some help handling incidentals as I travel! Any assistance is appreciated! ko-fi.com/therisingtit...
But also: as this trip is kinda scuffed, I can use some help handling incidentals as I travel! Any assistance is appreciated! ko-fi.com/therisingtit...
Support Brandon O'Brien
Support Brandon O'Brien
ko-fi.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
So I am now in Philly but Ubers add up fast during one con weekend! A little bit of help goes a long way to make sure I can eat while I’m here!
So I am now in Philly but Ubers add up fast during one con weekend! A little bit of help goes a long way to make sure I can eat while I’m here!
So it would appear I’m headed to PAX Unplugged to promote GRAYSHADE! If you’re gonna be there, feel free to say hi if you see me!
But also: as this trip is kinda scuffed, I can use some help handling incidentals as I travel! Any assistance is appreciated! ko-fi.com/therisingtit...
But also: as this trip is kinda scuffed, I can use some help handling incidentals as I travel! Any assistance is appreciated! ko-fi.com/therisingtit...
Support Brandon O'Brien
Support Brandon O'Brien
ko-fi.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
So I am now in Philly but Ubers add up fast during one con weekend! A little bit of help goes a long way to make sure I can eat while I’m here!
Also:
I idly figured the farmers market in that one episode of PLUR1BUS was made up, but TIL Sprouts is real.
I idly figured the farmers market in that one episode of PLUR1BUS was made up, but TIL Sprouts is real.
November 20, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Also:
I idly figured the farmers market in that one episode of PLUR1BUS was made up, but TIL Sprouts is real.
I idly figured the farmers market in that one episode of PLUR1BUS was made up, but TIL Sprouts is real.
How can you tell that Brandon is now in Philly?
[nearby, a Black man is shivering his fingertips off]
Your intuition may tell you the answer.
[nearby, a Black man is shivering his fingertips off]
Your intuition may tell you the answer.
November 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
How can you tell that Brandon is now in Philly?
[nearby, a Black man is shivering his fingertips off]
Your intuition may tell you the answer.
[nearby, a Black man is shivering his fingertips off]
Your intuition may tell you the answer.