A Very Professional Broadcast
Let's Begin
by Weedwhackeraccident
Prompt: Professional
Day 30 of @Syas-Nomis's @Hypnovember 2025!
It's a Christmas miracle! I've finished Day 30 before 2026! And it's about as long as you'd expect! I'm honestly not quite sure why I had so much difficulty finishing this year. I think missing the deadline for Day 25 really threw me off my groove, and so it was just hard to get into the zone for finishing this one. Also, I did find out that while walking while writing does help me get exercise in, it also drains my energy REALLY bad, which led to my daily schedule getting thrown off and likely contributed to the burnout. And doing a massive commission all through October probably didn't help either lol. And speaking of commissions, obviously I won't be reopening them until 2026, but I'll make sure to announce when I do.
Anyway, the story itself! As you may recall, the stories I followed up on here were chosen by you via StrawPoll! When I selected which 3 to pick, there was actually a 5-way tie for 3rd place, but luckily the votes ended up with the 3 I chose being Top 3! I'm also pretty happy that Wildheart got (tied) 1st place, because I just like her and am proud that people enjoy reading her stories. It's also nice to provide a bit of a conclusion to Days 1 and 6 and those characters for this year, given the more down-to-earth, character focused vibe of that universe. And of course it's no surprise that Hypno-Hangover tied for 1st, because there's a lot of stuff to be explored in that universe (which is why it's about twice the length of the other sections here lol). As for the two runner-ups, The Plaything's ToyBox and Hypnosis isn't real, just like Magic (both tied for 4th), while I don't have any immediate plans for the latter, I can assure you that I do intend on writing something along the same lines as the former sometime in the future.
As for the framing device, I do definitely feel like Back and Forth (The hosts of Hypno or HypNot from Day 9) are a little too silly, but I thought it'd just make sense to have them "host" this year's day 30, given their entire shtick of looking at hypnotists throughout the multiverse. I'm not 100% sure what I'll be doing with them in the future, but I do have an idea I might try at some point (inspired by something someone on DeviantArt suggested on the original story).
I hope that the stories were worth the wait!
[The spiraling pattern of visual snow appears again, swirling to life all on its own. From within the smooth sound of static comes a beautiful and strange, yet oddly familiar song, accompanied by subtle yet alluring whispers promising entertainment, excitement, and entrancement. The spiral slowly grows color, and words flash within its hypnotic depths {WATCH, LISTEN, GET EXCITED}. The sound grows louder, and the visuals more mesmerizing, as a streak of gold appears within the center of the spiral. It whirls around faster and faster, growing larger and larger, before it nearly fills the entire spiral. 'Hypno or HypNot?' is displayed in a lovely swirling font, as the music grows stronger. The spiral slowly fades away, revealing two beautiful winged hypnotists bowing on a colorful stage.]
Hosts: "Welcome to 'Hypno or HypNot'!"
[The blue-suited lady on the left steps forth, brandishing her glimmering magic wand.]
Back: "We are your lovely Hosts of Hypnosis, Multiversal Mistresses, Travelers and Teachers of All Things Trance... Back and Forth~!"
[Forth twirls forward, her robotic wings reflecting the mesmerizing spotlight. Her visor flashes out a few subliminal messages too quick to read.]
Forth: "Thank you for tuning in to our wonderful episodes of Entrancement once again, dear viewers! Even if you aren't aware you've even done it before~!"
Back: "And we certainly have a wonderful episode for you tonight~! Far grander in scale than our usual fare!"
Forth: "Indeed! For instead of merely bringing in our contestants this episode, we will be watching them in action in their home universes!"
Back: "Each universe voted upon by you, our lovely viewers~! Which Professional hypnotists did you wish to see more of~? {giggle}"
Forth: "Oh, how gauche of you, Back~! Yes, all of our hypnotists will be quite Professional, as fits the holiday~!"
Back: "And us as well! Not a peep from us as we watch our hypnotists practice their craft!"
Forth: "But of course we will still be ranking them on the quality of their hypnosis! What would the show be without it~?"
Back: "So, without further ado, let us see our first contestant~!"
Forth: "Hailing from Universe HN24PL23, we have... Well, why ruin the surprise~? Watch and see~!"
[The hosts snap their fingers, and the static spiral returns as they dissolve into shimmering light. They fly up to their boxes in the top corners as the spiral spins faster and faster, turning a brilliant rainbow streaked with black and white. As the spiral spins faster, the center opens up, revealing the inside of an office building, people working tirelessly at their computers. A shimmering rainbow wing suddenly flashes through the center of the spiral, and it dissipates completely, showing a young superhero in battle with a supervillain...]