#Overwatch stat update

[egirl4rent]

🚨 Galactic Frontline Update – Week 3: Jade Ann Byrne’s Juno Holds the Line

🚨 Galactic Frontline Update – Week 3: Jade Ann Byrne’s Juno Holds the Line 🛰️ Battletag: JADEANNBYRNE 🌌 Most Played Hero: Juno 🕰️ Total Time Played: 1 hour 14 mins 🧯 Matches Played: 8 📉 Stat Changes Since Last Week: | Metric | Week 2 | Week 3 | Change ||-------------------|------------|------------|--------------|| Damage Dealt | 25,944 HP | 22,173 HP | 🔻 -3,771 HP || Healing Done | 24,577…

[watchpoint76]

Welcome to Watchpoint: 76!

The one-stop place for all things Soldier 76! Whether you're here for the pulse rifle stats, deep-dives on the lore, or just want to see every piece of 76 merch ever released, you're in the right place!

This blog is dedicated entirely to Overwatch's own grizzled vigilante—Soldier: 76. From patch notes, fanart, POTGs, lore, skins & much more; this is your hub for everything to do with Jack Morrison!

Stick around for updates, discoveries, and maybe even some surprises along the way! Because when it comes to this vigilante, there's always more to uncover!

[virocci]

harro silly ppl in my phone

once again we got another life update starring me 🤩

winter break finallyyyy started but i skipped my last day of school so teehee 😋 i acc kinda hate school rn sm, like my math teacher sucks ass and my classes are just ugh 😞. i rlly hope semester 2 wont be as bad 🙏

its so snowy outside <3 i love when its snowy during christmas. its so funsies and cozy :3 i have been absolutely DEVOURING hot chocolate lately. like its prbly a problem but who cares 😝

i’ve planned to meet w/ some friends from school after christmas but idk if i rlly wanna go cuz we r going to end up meeting after i have work 😭 im gonna be soooooo tired and im not rlly looking forward to it but we agreed to see wicked and i also rlly wanna see it as well 😞

also i have been playing alotta strinova recently. it has A GRIP on me rn lol. i rlly like maining eika and fuschia usually but reeeeeeally want to try playing galatea. if you like valorant or overwatch i highly recommend trying strinova ya’ll :3 its like anime val but you can turn into paper. it also runs on my crappy laptop v smoothly so yeah :D

i also STILL have not built my sunday. like istg hsr HATES me rn. I KEEP GETTING THE RIGHT STATS ON THE WRONG RELICS. like i got the perfect substats ON THE WEONG SPHERE. i was farming the entire time i was at work AND GOT NOTHING. i swear im literally going to LOSE IT if i cant get him good relics 😭

i’ve also yet to play the new update for zzz. ik we get a new character for free but other than that idrk what has been added :,) i’m rlly looking forward to it tho so yippee!!!

also, i’ve been wondering if i should try out infinite nikki, ik its supposed to be rlly cozy and cite and i think itd be right up my alley its just that i dont usually like open world games 😭 i always find open world games to be super daunting and always get tired of having to run around to do things :,)

another series i rlly wanna get into is persona, i recently (not so recently) bought persona 3, 4, and 5 on my switch but havent really gotten a chance to play :( (or am just too lazy to turn on my switch lol) but ill definitely get to it… eventually.

otherwise, i have been mildly chilling!! lately i’ve been getting the random weeks where i feel shitty all week and then at home i just start crying. like uncontrollable and unstoppable crying. but it hasnt happened in a while so i hope whatever is happening in the brains is calming down :3

anyways, rant over

ty for reading :3

pretty pintrest pic just for you <3

[aceofbooks-creative-anthologies]

The Librarians' Desk

A quick run down of the Self-Inserts that I use in my Selfships! Also provided are some basic stats about me, the IRL Ace! Will be updated, and I might change the formatting depending on how long the post gets.

Tidbits: X X

Ace:

IRL

Birthday: June 28th Star Sign: Cancer Age: 29 MBTI: INTP Height: 5'10" Hair: Light Brown, mid-back-length; three-ish inches shaved off on the back of neck Eyes: Grey/Blue depending on lighting; glasses! Skin: Pasty White & Lots of Freckles Profession: Proofreader; Bad Housewife; Amateur Renovator; Cat Mom (x2)

Ace Chishiki:

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Profile: Overwatch

Lover(s): Keigo; Oboro; Aizawa

Stamps: #acawks; #acehirakumo; #acezawa; #hacezawa

Stats Changes:

Age: 32 (lore largely takes place during Class A's second year and forward, but there are "flashbacks" to age 15–18 especially where Oboro is involved; there is established lore for ages 18–32, but it's mostly background info); skipped a year in school, so was in the same year as the Rooftop Trio Height: 5'9" Hair: Naturally White, regularly dyed vibrant colors, mid-back-length; usually worn in two braids Eyes: The same Blue as when your computer blue-screens; also features a kind of "scrolling" animation filter laid over her pupils Profession: Pro-Hero; Teacher; Quirk Tech Developer; Occasional Military Contract Work

Ace Dokusha:

Fandom: Tokyo Revengers

Profile: Toman's First Lady

Lover(s): Mikey; Rindou; Takashi; Baji; OC

Stamps: #mikace; #rindace; #mitsace; #acebaji; #keitakace; #rincemakasuke

Stats Changes:

Age: 28 (lore largely takes place (so far) between the ages of 16–19, starting in June of Mikey & Takashi's third year in high school; I have vague ideas of the lore that happens between 19–28.) Height: 5'8" Hair: Light Brown, a little past shoulder-length; will occasionally dye it bright colors Profession: Owner/Founder & Drafter/Technical Writer of Contracts for Haitani Consulting Firm; Owner/Founder & Social Media Promoter of Naito Haitani

Ace Plicarta:

Fandom: Black Clover

Profile: Black Bull's Mom

Lover(s): Yami; Fuego

Stamps: #aceyami; #acefuego; #acamifue

Stats Changes:

Age: 29 (lore largely takes place during Asta's second year with the Black Bulls. Plenty of established lore between the ages of 15–28.) Hair: White Blonde, grey streaks running throughout; mid-back-length but a good two-three inches on the back of the neck have been shaved off Eyes: Brilliant Blue Profession: Co-captain of the Black Bulls; Glorified Secretary to the Wizard King; Engaged to Fuegoleon Vermillion as part of a plot™

Ace Henshuu:

Fandom: Haikyuu (1)

Profile: Underpaid Editor

Lover(s): Ukai

Stamps: #ukace

Stats Changes:

Age: 32 (most of the established lore takes place during Hinata's first year at age 26; there is background lore for ages 15–26 and less so for ages 26–32.) Hair: Light Blonde, hits just above the shoulder in length Height: 5'8" Profession: Editor for a large publishing company; English teacher at Karasuno High School; Sponsor for Karasuno Volleyball Club (boys and girls); Occasional Coach for liberos on Karasuno VB

Ace Wright:

Fandom: Haikyuu (2)

Profile: Ace of Books

Lover(s): Suga; Daichi; Tanaka

Stamps: #acesuga; #acedaichi; #daisugace; #acanaka

Stats Changes:

Age: 28 (most of the established lore takes place during Hinata's first year at age 16; there's plenty of other lore between the ages of 16–22; not so much for ages 22–28); skipped a year in elementary, so she was in the same year as Tanaka; was also placed in the grade above for English and Literature classes starting in middle school—was in Suga/Daichi/Asahi's first year classes in these subjects during her last year of middle school Height: 5'8" Profession: Stay at Home Wife; Founder and President of the Alumni Association at Karasuno; Recreational Matchmaker

Ace Drucker:

Fandom: Haikyuu (3)

Profile: ?

Lover(s): Osamu

Stamps: #asamu

Ace Kamikaku:

Fandom: Dr. Stone

Profile: ?

Lover(s): Senkuu; Ryuusui

Stamps: #senkace; #ryuusace

Stats Changes:

Age: ???? (at least 23) (petrification makes things weird, okay) Eyes: Suffering (no real glasses in the Stone World; eye issues reoccur after a few years because it's ~genetic~) Skin: Petrification Scars (??) Profession: Official Scribe™ for the Kingdom of Science; Generally spends a lot of time transcribing and preserving Senkuu's notes for his experiments/inventions; In Charge™ of the printing press (and every step that goes into it i.e. paper, inks, binding materials, etc.); Not technically one of the Five Generals, but she is at every meeting and is involved in every decision

Ace Mine:

Fandom: Fairy Tail

Profile: Duplicated Light/Purple Smoke

Lover(s): Laxus; Loke; Max; Hibiki

Stamps: #aclaxus; #lokace; #laxelok; #maxce; #hibace

Stats Changes:

Age: 27 (if my math is right 😬) I don't have any canon thoughts about what happens between 25 (100 Year Quest Arc) and 27, just that Ace and Laxus get married at some point Eyes: Has Eye Magic like the Thunder Legion; sclera turns black and pupil glows white Skin: Fairy Tail guild mark is a steely-purple on the left ribs (placement matches Laxus' shhhh) Profession: Guild Mage

Ace Kyori:

Fandom: Blue Lock

Profile: The Blue Distance

Lover(s): Chigiri

Stamps: #hyoumace

Stats Changes:

Age: 25-ish (most of the lore takes place from ages 18–20) Hair: Sometimes dyed Blue Lock™ blue, but otherwise Blonde Profession: Ex-Olympian; Endurance Coach for Blue Lock; Athlete Mental Health Advocate; Endurance Training Consultant for Other Professional Teams/Sports

Ace Genjitsu:

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Profile: ??

Lover(s): Tachihara

Stamps: #tachihace

Stats Changes:

Age: 19 (there's no lore based around canon events yet) (subject to change as I develop more lore) Height: 5'8" Hair: Curled and/or otherwise styled every day; Lots of hair bows Profession: Librarian Aid; Part-time Student; Government Secret

Ace Flam:

Fandom: Fire Force

Profile: ?

Lover(s): Benimaru

Stamps: #benace

Ace de Grantaine:

Fandom: Ouran High School Host Club

Profile: ?

Lover(s): Kyouya

Stamps: #kyoace

Ace Kakari:

Fandom: Wind Breaker

Profile: ??

Lover(s): Togame

Stamps: #togace

Stats Changes:

Age: TBD Eyes: Lean more grey in color Skin: Just absolutely covered in scars; (Tattoo maybe? TBD) Profession: Girl Gang Member; Trust Fund Baby

[communist-zombitch]

LCP 0.1.3 (Draft of the Hannibal and Yeti licenses and some much needed wing clipping)

Major Updates:

completed the current drafts for the HA Hannibal and the HORUS Yeti. 

HA Hannibal:  The Hannibal is an artillery mech that is capable of permanently breaking armour off frozen enemies, 

HORUS Yeti: The Yeti is a support mech with a wide range of systems to reduce Heat from allies.

Content Changes: I've altered some existing content after some build testing on my side and some feedback I noticed in Pilotnet.

Toad License Omni-Propulsion Gear: Changed it to instead let you move any of your Drones to move 1d3 spaces in normal environments and 1d6 in zero-G or underwater.

Salamander License Napalm Launcher: Changed the range to 10 and the damage to be 1d3+1 Burn. Also added an effect from attacking to deal 1 heat to anyone adjacent to the attacker, including the attacker themselves, if they fail an Engineering save.

Wasp License Venom Sting: Added the requirement for enemies to make a systems save before you apply an invade option.

Wasp Mech:Base Stats: E-Defense down from 8 to 6, Sensor Range down from 10 to 3, Target save up from 11 to 12, Speed down from 8 to 5 Traits: Nanoweave wings has been changed from the Wasp always Hovering to instead need to use a quick action to start Hovering and gain +2 speed. Mechanosensory Escape Planning has been changed to be that the Wasp does trigger overwatch but instead counts as Invisible instead of flat immunity. Fragile has been renamed Fragile Wings and now has the added effect that when the Wasp loses structure it must stabilise before it can use it's Nanoweave wings trait.

Core Bonuses: Overclocked Motors: In order to take Overclocked Motors you must now have 7 or less speed and you are only able to move 5 spaces with boost.

The next update will likely be after I have had art of the Hannibal and Yeti commissioned and will also contain the draft compendium descriptions for the Hannibal and Yeti. Thank you for all your support so far and I hope you all enjoy what you have seen so far. Even if some of it is balanced by someone who really should stop doing only night work.

[enterprisewired]

Level Up Your Fun with These Top 15 Gaming Platforms for PC

Source: rocketbrush.com

If you love PC gaming, the right platform can change everything. Gaming platforms for PC are where you get your games, play with friends, grab special deals, and build your dream game library. But with so many options out there, which one should you pick? 

In this article, we break down the top Gaming Platforms for PC, what makes each one special, and how they can take your gaming experience to the next level.

1. What Is A Gaming Platform?

A gaming platform for PC is a software service called a launcher or store that handles everything from a digital storefront and game management to social features and updates. These platforms simplify launching games, patching them, organizing your library, cross-platform access, and connecting with friends. 

Examples include Steam, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect.

Top 15 Popular Gaming Platforms for PC:

Below are the most widely used Gaming Platforms for PC, 

1. Steam: The leading platform with the largest PC library

Performance & Compatibility – Solid performance, works on Windows, macOS, and Linux via Proton.

Key features: 

Massive game catalog

Social/Community tools

Workshop/mod support

Cloud saves

Frequent sales

Visit Website

2. Epic Games Store: Free weekly games, exclusives

Performance & Compatibility – Great speed, light on the system, and Supports Win/Mac

Key features: 

Free weekly title

Developer-friendly cuts

Cross-platform syncing

Mod support

Basic social

Visit Website

3. GOG Galaxy: DRM-free library, retro titles

Performance & Compatibility – Fast and light, Supports Win/Mac/Linux

Key features: 

DRM-free games

Old title supports

Optional client

Integration with others

Mods friendly

Visit Website

4. Ubisoft Connect: Ubisoft’s launcher with in-game rewards

Performance & Compatibility – Moderate resource use, Optimized for Windows

Key features: 

In-game challenges/rewards

Uplay to connect and upgrade

Social stats

Cloud sync

Storefront

Visit Website

5. Battle.net: Blizzard/Activision games management

Performance & Compatibility – Lightweight, Fast on Windows

Key features: 

Access Diablo/Overwatch/CoD

Cross-game chat

Auto-update

Easy installs

News hub

Visit Website

6. Origin (EA App): EA exclusive and third-party titles

Performance & Compatibility – Efficient, Supports Windows/Mac

Key features: 

EA titles + others

Subscription (EA Play)

Early trials

Social/chat

Cloud saves

Visit Website

7. Microsoft Store/ Xbox App: Microsoft-curated store and Game Pass

Performance & Compatibility – Smooth on Windows, UWP format

Key features: 

Game Pass integration

Cross-platform Xbox sync

Cloud storage 

Social/chat

Frequent bundles

Visit Website

Similar Article:

The Best Gaming Websites for Gamers of All Levels

Boost Traffic with These Smart Gaming Website Design Tips

8. itch.io: Indie games hub, pay-what-you-want

Performance & Compatibility – Lightweight Windows and web client

Key features: 

Indie discovery

Custom pricing

Developer support

Tag/search

Simple installs

Visit Website

9. Amazon Games: Amazon’s PC storefront

Performance & Compatibility – Standard Windows client

Key features: 

Prime member benefits

Free titles

Game streaming (Luna)

Auto-update

Cloud saves

Visit Website

10. Bethesda Launcher (merged with Steam): Older Bethesda titles, updates via Steam

Performance & Compatibility – No longer active, legacy Windows support

Key features: 

Official updates

Mods support

Community hub

Auto-patch

License management

Visit Website

11. EA Play (via Steam/Epic/Origin): EA’s subscription game hub

Performance & Compatibility – Hosted in the existing launcher, normal performance

Key features:

Unlimited EA games

Early access

Cross-platform cloud saves

Discounts

DLC access

Visit Website

12. Humble Bundle: Bundle deals, DRM-free + Steam keys

Performance & Compatibility – Lightweight API app

Key features:

Charity bundles

DRM-free or Steam keys

Library tool (App)

Cross-platform support

Cloud sync

Visit Website

13. Google Stadia (legacy): Cloud streaming on PC (soon retired)

Performance & Compatibility – Web browser-based, no hardware needed

Key features:

Stream full-quality

No install

Cross-platform play

Controller support

Instant access

Visit Website

14. Nvidia GeForce Now: Cloud gaming using its library.

Performance & Compatibility – Great on any device, needs a fast net

Key features:

Game streaming we own 

RTX/4K support

Multi-source linking

Free tier

Cross-platform

Visit Website

15. Amazon Luna: Cloud stream subscription platform

Performance & Compatibility – Smooth if 20+ Mbps internet 

Key features:

100+ game library

Prime perks

Multi-device

Web/PC app

Up to 4K resolution

Visit Website

Similar Article:

Popular Free VR Games: The Ultimate Guide for Virtual Reality Enthusiasts

The Best Football Games for PC: A Thrilling Dive into Virtual Pitch Battles

Play These 8 Free Online Games without Downloading 

Comparing Features: What to Consider

When choosing a Gaming Platforms for PC, prioritize these features:

Game Library & Exclusives – more titles and unique deals matter.

Pricing & Freebies – free games and sales add value.

Client Performance – Lean launchers run better on older PCs.

Compatibility – OS support matters; native Linux/macOS vs compatibility layer.

Community & Social Tools – chat, friends, achievements, and workshops enhance the experience.

Gaming Platforms Revenue and Popularity

Image by primipil from Getty Images

Steam dominates revenue share, with annual game sales of ~$1.5 billion by 2014 and 90M monthly active users by 2018,

Epic Games Store grows fast via weekly freebies and steep dev revenue share.

GOG appeals via DRM‑free and retro titles; it maintains a loyal niche manuel depaz.medium.com+5 en.wikipedia.org+5 thesun.co.uk+5.

Microsoft, EA, and Ubisoft log strong downloads tied to exclusive franchises plus subscriptions.

Cloud platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and Amazon Luna gained ground, thanks to accessibility and streaming tech.

Players stay loyal to Gaming Platforms for PC that offer the best catalogs, pricing, convenience, and social gaming.

Future Trends in PC Gaming Platforms

Cloud Gaming Takes Off: Streaming services now dominate as hardware barriers fall. Platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass expand offerings.

Cross‑Launcher Integration & Library Unity: Clients now integrate across platforms. GOG Galaxy leads this by unifying libraries from Steam, Epic, Ubisoft, and more. 

DRM‑Free & Consumer Control: Demand rises for ownership and offline play. GOG’s model pushes others to offer DRM‑free options.

Subscription & Bundled Services: Game Pass, EA Play, Ubisoft+, and Humble Choice highlight a shift from single purchases to game libraries-as-service.

Enhanced Social and In‑Game Features: Expect deeper social tools: cross‑platform chat, built‑in streaming, game matchmaking, and community features across Gaming Platforms for PC.

Source: How to have your videogames in one place?

Tips for Optimizing Use

Image by Dean Drobot

Use GOG Galaxy to centralize your libraries.

Claim all free offers (Epic weekly, GOG monthly).

Subscribe to bundles that fit your style (e.g., Game Pass for variety, EA Play for EA catalog).

Track deals via Humble Bundle or Cheap Ass Gamer.

Test cloud options like GeForce Now for hardware‑light setups.

Prioritize DDR‑free options if you prefer ownership, like in GOG’s model.

Conclusion

Gaming Platforms for PC offer more than just game install systems; they shape how you buy, play, share, and manage titles. From the vast reach of Steam to the niche appeal of DRM‑free GOG, and from publisher launchers like Ubisoft Connect to cloud giants like NVIDIA GeForce Now, each platform brings unique value.

Your ideal Gaming Platform for PC depends on your priorities: 

Is it game variety? 

Cost savings? 

Owning your games? Or 

Streaming flexibility? 

The future promises better integration, richer social tools, and less hardware dependence, making gaming platforms for PC even more accessible and engaging.

[waytosmurfwaytosmurf]

Unlock the Competitive Edge: Exploring the Benefits of Buying a Valorant Account

The Growing Popularity of Valorant

Valorant, Riot Games’ tactical first-person shooter, has taken the gaming world by storm since its release. Blending the precise gunplay of CS:GO with the unique agent abilities reminiscent of Overwatch, Valorant offers players a highly competitive and strategic gaming environment. Its rapid rise in popularity is not surprising, as players around the globe continuously look to sharpen their skills, rise in rank, and engage with a dynamic and ever-evolving meta. The game’s regular updates, seasonal content, and competitive ranking system create a challenging and addictive loop that keeps players coming back.

With such competitiveness baked into the core experience, many new and returning players often find themselves at a disadvantage. Whether it’s due to smurfing, high-ranking opponents, or skill gaps, the climb up the Valorant ladder can be frustrating. In these scenarios, buying a pre-leveled or ranked account becomes an appealing alternative. These accounts allow players to skip the grind and jump straight into their preferred rank or tier of gameplay, which brings a new level of excitement and motivation. As demand grows, marketplaces for these accounts are expanding, catering to different budgets and player preferences.

Understanding Why Players Buy Valorant Accounts

In any competitive online game, player progress and rank can become sources of both pride and pressure. For Valorant, where progression involves hours of gameplay and consistent performance, many players feel limited by their current standing. This limitation drives a growing trend: purchasing Valorant accounts to enhance the gaming experience. By doing so, gamers can avoid the stress of playing on their main accounts or restart their journey with fresh stats and better matchmaking opportunities.

More importantly, buying a Valorant account can also be a strategic move for those wanting to practice specific skills in different ranks without affecting their main profile. Whether it’s aiming for high-tier gameplay or simply experiencing the game from a different perspective, alternative accounts give players flexibility. When searching for a platform to Buy Valorant Account Cheap, it’s crucial to select reliable vendors that offer security, quality customer service, and transparent information about the accounts being sold. This ensures not only value for money but also a smooth and safe transition into higher levels of gameplay.

What to Look For in a Valorant Account for Sale

While the idea of purchasing a Valorant account is enticing, buyers need to be aware of several key factors before making a purchase. First and foremost, account security is non-negotiable. An account should come with complete access details, and ideally, no prior bans or warnings. Secondly, the rank and match history should align with the buyer's expectations. Some prefer unranked accounts to start fresh, while others might be looking for a high-rank Valorant Account For Sale to jump directly into competitive matches at a high level.

Additionally, buyers should look into the region lock of the account, as it could impact matchmaking and gameplay latency. Other considerations include the presence of exclusive skins, battle pass progress, or unlocked agents, all of which can significantly enhance the gaming experience. Reputable marketplaces usually provide detailed descriptions of what each account includes, allowing users to make informed decisions. Avoiding suspiciously low prices and unknown sellers can help prevent potential scams or account bans, which remain risks in the underground trading market.

Risks and Ethical Considerations in Buying Game Accounts

Though buying Valorant accounts is becoming more common, it’s important to consider the risks and ethical implications involved. Riot Games has strict terms of service that prohibit account trading and sharing. If detected, this can result in permanent account suspension. Therefore, while many players enjoy the benefits of purchasing a new account, they must also weigh the possibility of losing access if caught. That’s why it is critical to only purchase from reliable sources that offer verified accounts with clean histories and provide buyer protection.

On an ethical level, some players believe that buying accounts undermines the fairness of competitive play. Smurfing—using lower-ranked accounts to dominate less skilled players—can ruin the experience for newcomers. However, for serious players who want to explore other ranks, practice, or avoid burnout from their main account, purchasing a secondary account can be a legitimate and useful option. As the gaming community continues to evolve, the demand for account marketplaces grows, making it essential to approach this space responsibly and respectfully.

Choosing the Right Marketplace for Your Valorant Account

With the proliferation of online account sellers, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. However, selecting the right platform can make all the difference in your experience. Look for websites that prioritize transparency, have strong customer reviews, offer instant delivery, and guarantee account safety. Trusted platforms not only streamline the buying process but also provide a layer of assurance that your investment won’t go to waste. Moreover, some sites offer dedicated support teams to help with any issues that may arise post-purchase.

Whether you are a casual gamer looking to try a new rank or a competitive player aiming to bypass early matchmaking hurdles, buying a Valorant account can offer a worthwhile solution. For a secure and affordable option, consider visiting waytosmurf.com, where a wide range of verified accounts is available to suit various gaming needs. Always remember to review the site’s terms and conditions and play responsibly, keeping both your enjoyment and the integrity of the gaming community in mind.

[geoffrey]

updating overwatch 2 to check my stats before i. sigh. give marvel rivals a chance

[draugsresurrection]

About Abilities

I'm currently on the home stretch of programming in all 223 Abilities. It's still going to be a couple more months til' I'm done and sufficiently happy that it's tested and stable. I figured I'm due for an update regardless, and I've realized that I never really explained that well what Abilities are. So let's fix that a little.

Each character has 16 pre-determined Abilities they can turn on or off at any time. They require AP (Ability Points), which are earned one per level up. Abilities vary in AP needed, but are generally between 4 and 14 points. All Human enemies have 2 Abilities, by the way, so they're more varied fights than ever. Here's 25 of what I think are the most interesting or indicative Abilities in Draug's Resurrection:

Backstab Increases user's Direct damage by 0.3x when another Ally is on the opposite side of the enemy. Very straightforward, and probably the most globally practical Ability. It encourages you to dive into the enemies' side of the field, so using this well might mean some creative strategies. Stylish Assault +0.3x Multiplier while not repeating a Skill or Spell for four or more consecutive turns. Sounds complicated. And it is. Basically, motivation to keep switching moves like it's Devil May Cry. Thankfully, a sidebar popup will mention what your recent attacks were if you have this active and nothing else takes priority. Front Guard If an Ally behind you is attacked by an Indirect or Ranged attack, they take -12 damage. In a game where you're almost always under threat from some distance, attacks can come from any angle. This makes you back row a ton safer.

Crusader's Armour Negate damage less than 5% of your total HP. Sounds underwhelming, but this also applies to multi-hits. This Ability can completely shut those skills down.

Partner Shift Movement with Allies takes no Charge.

Stance Perception Enemy's Counter-based Enhancements will now display as themselves, instead of being masked as Defend. As suggested by the text, enemies 'lie' about when they've got Counter, Deflect, etc. on. If they didn't, you'd probably never be dumb enough to attack them. This unhides the state of those moves.

Freeform Tactics Increase a random stat by +15 when starting a battle (+5 for Speed, +40 for Accuracy/HP/MP). If HP/MP, gain that amount at fight's start.

Medical Mist Potions and Elixirs used by this character affect the entire party, but at half effectiveness. No item naturally heals more than one person, so this is a massive boon for dealing with Field attacks.

High Confidence Raise your Luck by +10 until a Potion or other Item has been used by your party in combat. There's a few Abilities that give a bonus for NOT doing an action. If you feel winning by relying on items feels dirty, this is your Ability.

Potshot Basic Attacks do increased damage to those with negative charge; the higher, the more damage When enemies do a big attack, this lets you get in some pretty big damage for very little cost.

Restless Mana Regain 3 MP after a Basic Attack. Using basic attack as a Mage is pretty awful in most games, but between MP potions having massive recharge penalties and basic attack generally being above average in Draug's Resurrection, this might have more use than it first sounds.

Overwatch While Defending, automatically perform a basic attack on any enemy in range that attempts to move. Probably should've been a standalone Skill, but I think this is a much more interesting implementation. Archers rarely benefit from Defending, so let's turn it into something completely new.

Biding Vengeance When Defend is active, raise Attack by 2 after being hit by a Magical attack. Raise Magic by 2 after being hit by a Physical attack. Increase your attack by getting hit.

Spectral Shot This user's attacks are guaranteed to hit Foes with Vanish, Wraith, or Cyclone Shield active, and do 1.5x damage to them. Massively punish enemies who are trying to be tricky and evade oncoming damage. Not frequent, but very useful when the situation arises.

Full Force All Weapon Skills do 0.3x more damage, but also take 15 HP to use. Note it's specifically Weapon, so Spells are fine.

Wild Swings Momentum and Impulse Slash are 0.2x stronger per swing, but also self-inflict Confusion. Many Weapon-Specific Abilities tend to have a downside or otherwise make a move 'spicier', or have fairly specific requirements to be useful.

Shackle Shot Single-Target, Single-Hit Bow/Crossbow Skills have a 25% chance to inflict Rooted on their targets.

Barrier Shards Barrier Buster and Bombard will transform the Target's removed Enhancements into a Terrain Effect, hostile to the Target. For instance, if an enemy has Frost Mail on, then they get whacked while this is active, it'll create a set of Ice Spikes underneath them, jabbing them for damage. They'll be treated as though the Barrier Shard-user cast the Spell Ice Spikes, essentially.

World Ablaze Increases damage of Heat Wave and Ashfall by 0.3x for each tile currently on fire by Scorched Earth. Here's a skill that really wants multiple Fire users to get the full benefit from. Setting everything on fire's gonna take an awfully long time for one person. And, hey, the other Fire-user is probably really resistant to Fire, so they don't really mind the flames everywhere.

Altered Earth User's Luck raises by 4 whenever anyone on the field casts Terra Shield or any Earth-based Field, Beam, or Wall Spell or Skill.

Enhancement Theft When using Wind Dagger or Cutthroat, also steal an Enhancement the target has, if available. Won't steal Deflect/Counter/etc. Pretty obviously designed for specifically Rem. Her gimmick is of a thief, but her stealing options were limited. While mostly a reskin of the Fire Spell, Will o' Wisp, it suits Rem very nicely.

Pincer Formation If the enemy occupies all four center tiles, increase Atk/Mgc by +4 and Luck by +10. There's a variety of Formations, but this is the most straightforward. Corral the enemy to the center, and reap big stat boosts.

Fusillade While another Bow or Crossbow user is also in the back Column, decreases Recharge time of Bow/Crossbow Skills by 33%. Likewise, most weapons have a paired partner for Abilities like these. Hopefully, they should make using multiple characters with the same weapon more viable.

Unarmoured Blitz Increase Speed by +2, but decrease Slash resilience by -40%. Most characters have two 'negative' abilites. They give some small benefit, but the penalty should make you think carefully if it's really worth it. Some of these imply things about the characters who have access to them, like Lucy being afraid of water.

Runic Awakening Increases Magic by +15, but start battles fully Silenced, and renders User unable to be cured of Silence by Herbs/Potions. Good for someone with good enough Attack to be useful until the Silence wears out, and they can go wild with Spells.

[jikookiekosmos]

Pick Your Fighter || jjk (Part 1)

➥Pairing: gamer!jk/gamer!reader, fuckboy!jk

➥Summary: Jeon Jungkook has it all - talent, charm, and the looks that have every girl falling at his feet. Add being the Arcade Champion of 5 years to that list and he feels like he’s on top of the world. He’s in for a rude awakening, though, when he’s faced with his greatest challenge yet: you.

➥Genre: enemies to lovers, (attempts at) humor, angst, smut, fluff

➥Rating: 18+

➥Words: 13.5k

➥Content Warnings: fuckboy!jk (I feel like that’s a warning on it’s own), mentions of insecurity, cursing (fuck is like jk’s fave word lmao), jk doesn’t like to share, yoongi has to put up with a lot bless him, mentions of gaming (particulalrly Overwatch and Mortal Kombat which I’ve played before so I felt like I knew enough to include them), jk likes to tease the reader, mentions of a blowjob, reader gives back what jk dishes out, jk is a sore loser, alcohol consumption, the word ‘whore’ is used once, jk handles jealousy the only way he knows how: fucking (not the reader this time but don’t worry we’ll get there), oral (m. receiving), protected sex, penetration, rough sex, somewhat dom!jk? (he gets a little rough and kinda mean so), hair pulling, crying during sex, oral (f. receiving), jk can’t get reader out of his head

A/N: ok so I know I said this would be my next one shot but I decided to split it into multiple parts instead! I figured it’d be easier that way since there’s a good bit I have planned for the over-arching storyline. This part is more so to introduce everyone to the characters, things will start heating up in the following chapters. I don’t have any kind of specific update schedule but ideally I’d like to get updates out every few weeks at the latest!

Forever giving a special thank you to @dntaewithluv​​ for being my biggest supporter here and my best friend. You always help me stay motivated during my writing processes and I love you so much ❤️ also thank you for beta-reading for me as usual, you’re the best~

I hope anyone who reads this enjoys it! Please let me know what you think, if you’d like~

taglist: @inlovewiththemoonn @min-nicoleee @fan-ati--c​ @sugaslittlekookies @1-in-abillion @yopjm @emsuzz @dreamsindreamss @justvibingsblog 

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

“Jungkook, I don’t care how good you are at this game,” Yoongi started as he rubbed his temples, “you still need to listen to me.”

Jungkook groaned. “I’m listening, alright? Damn, lighten up, Yoon.”

He was currently sitting with his feet propped up on Yoongi’s desk tossing a small rubber ball in the air, looking bored out of his mind. Yoongi glared at him once more before sighing and turning back to the board he was writing on.

“The tournament is a little different this year, they have more contestants-”

“More people for me to beat, then.” Jungkook smirked and tossed the ball once more with enough force that it hit one of the ceiling tiles before returning to his hand.

Yoongi could feel a headache coming on. Jungkook was his best friend and he loved him to death, but times like these made him wonder if becoming Jungkook’s sponsor may have been one of the worst decisions he’s ever made.

“Please pay attention,” Yoongi croaked. After staying up most of the night talking with other sponsors about tournament planning, he really didn’t have the energy to deal with Jungkook being uncooperative.

Jungkook must have been able to detect this since he pocketed the ball and sat up straight, now focusing all his attention on his tired friend.

“Alright, you’ve got my undivided attention. I’m all yours.” He motioned to the board before crossing his arms over his chest. Yoongi sighed, running a hand through his brown hair and shooting a grateful glare Jungkook’s way before he picked up where he left off.

“Ok so as usual, you’re in the fighting division. Most of your competitors are repeat contestants, but there will be a few new names. Would you care to know anything about them like their stats, years of experience, all that?”

Jungkook simply shook his head, much like he always did every time Yoongi presented him with this question. If there was something Yoongi would never understand, it was the fact that Jungkook had the inside scoop for this every year, but he never took advantage of it.

“You know I don’t care about all that. Not like it matters anyway, my skills don’t depend on anyone but me.” He ran a hand through his unruly dark hair before letting it settle back in front of his eyes.

Yoongi nodded. “Fair enough. Figured I’d try anyway in case you changed your mind.”

Jungkook flashed him a brilliant smile. “Since when do I change my mind on anything? You of all people know just how stubborn I can be.”

Yoongi chuckled as he started writing on the board again. “That I do, Kook.” He finished filling in the initials of the contestants in the different branches, Jungkook’s eyes watching him the whole time. When Yoongi was finally done, he capped the blue marker and laid it on the table next to the board. Jungkook hopped up out of his chair, rolling up the sleeves of his black hoodie before he placed his hands in his pockets.

“Wanna hang out tonight? You’ve been pretty busy lately; it’d be good for you to blow off some steam.” Jungkook could be cocky, arrogant, and was considered the epitome of a fuckboy by most people, but he definitely had a soft spot when it came to Yoongi. A decade of friendship tended to do that to people sometimes.

Yoongi smiled as he stretched. “Sorry kid, I can’t tonight. Already got plans.”

Jungkook frowned. He hadn’t been expecting that.

“Can I ask what those are?”

Yoongi snorted as he grabbed his bag from his desk. “What are you, my keeper?” Jungkook huffed in frustration when Yoongi passed him. They were walking out of the arcade now, having used the back staff room for tournament planning.

“If you must know, I’m hanging out with Y/N tonight.”

At the mention of your name, Jungkook could feel himself bristling. It didn’t have anything to do with you specifically, it was more of the fact that he had to share his best friend with you. Jungkook was a selfish person and he hated sharing anything, which of course included his best friend who was probably the most important person to him on this miserable planet. Yoongi knew this but he never backed down, always telling him to ‘suck it up, Kook, because she’s not going anywhere.’

You and Yoongi met a few years ago when you both were baristas working at the same café and an instant friendship formed between the two of you, much to Jungkook’s dismay. He could avoid you much easier now that he was living in his own apartment, but during those years he shared a space with Yoongi, he saw more of you than he preferred to.

And that wasn’t even taking into consideration the fact that you both annoyed the fuck out of each other, so a hang out session with all 3 of you posed a slim chance of being successful.

“Ah, again? What’s that, like the third time this week?”

Yoongi turned slightly so he could pat Jungkook’s cheek, making the younger boy duck before he could continue. “Aww Kook, are you jealous?”

“Absolutely not,” Jungkook grimaced, delving his hands further in his pockets. “Just don’t see what you find so fascinating about her is all.”

Yoongi frowned. “Jungkook, she’s really not that bad if you give her a chance-”

“Yeah, well, maybe I don’t want to.” He kicked at a stray pebble on the street as they continued walking in the direction of their apartment complex.

“Then that’s your loss. Which sucks because, regardless of what you believe, she doesn’t have a bad opinion of you.”

Jungkook snorted. “Bullshit. Everyone has a bad opinion of me. Even you sometimes.” He finished his statement with a grin and Yoongi hoped that meant he was joking.

He wasn’t.

Jungkook knew there were 2 things in this world he was an absolute beast at: gaming and fucking. He was aware that most people didn’t like him beyond his gaming ability and, at least where women were concerned, how he was in bed. When he wasn’t making other Overwatch players scream at him through his headset because he was winning, he was making women of his choosing scream into his mattress.

And that was exactly how Jungkook preferred things.

Yoongi knew this as well, and he’d witnessed Jungkook go on this self-destructive spiral over the last several years with him being one of the only people Jungkook could count on. It pained him to see Jungkook have such a low opinion of himself regarding most things, and he hoped that in time, Jungkook would be able to see just how great of a person he truly was.

A deep sigh escaped the older man as they rounded the last corner before their complex came into view. “We can hang out tomorrow, Kook. Promise.”

Jungkook was still frowning but it seemed to soften a bit at Yoongi’s offer. He couldn’t really be mad at Yoongi for wanting to spend time with other friends when he had his own as well. Maybe he’d call up Tae and see if he wanted to play a few matches tonight if he wasn’t too busy.

Which is exactly what Jungkook did once he was settled for the night. He and Tae played Overwatch for a few hours, swapping plays of the game (POTGs) between each other and laughing at the distress from the opposite team members after each round.

These two were in their element here, and it made sense considering Tae was actually entered into the PC games portion of the arcade tournament where he’d been champion for the last few years. Both of them carried their division titles proudly and had grown a lot closer because of their mutual interest in gaming and other things they found out along the way.

Basically, Tae was probably the second closest person to Jungkook behind Yoongi, but even that was a stretch. Jungkook didn’t allow people into his life easily, and it took years for Tae to break down those barriers.

He didn’t see that happening with another person anytime soon, and he was completely fine with that. 2 people was enough to keep up with, anyway…at least, that was how Jungkook viewed it.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

You were in the zone, tongue gently peeking out of the corner of your mouth as you focused on the TV in front of you, expertly pressing the buttons on your controller to land a perfect combo. The timer had barely even started and you already had your opponent’s health down to a third of what they started with. Of course, competing against AI opponents had nothing on those in the real world, but hey practice was practice, right?

You’d just managed to K.O. your computer counterpart – raising your arms in a tiny victory pose as you did – when you heard the doorbell ring. You hopped up and jogged to the door, opening it without another thought. There was only one person it could be; you rarely had company, and when you did it was typically always the same person.

Yoongi grinned, arms full of bags that you knew had to contain yours and his favorite snacks. It was customary whenever you would spend nights like these together, either he or you would stop by the grocery store before convening in one of your apartments, having made purchases of snacks and goodies galore.

“Yoonie!” you greeted him cheerfully, reaching out to take a few of the bags so he could enter your apartment properly. When the two of you had everything set on your dining room table, he pulled you into a hug.

“Hey there.” His glance drifted over to your living room area where the TV was projecting its light throughout the otherwise dimly lit room. “I see you’ve been busy.”

You shrugged. “I had a couple of extra hours to kill after my shift ended earlier. Besides, the tournament is only a few days away. I need to be in the best shape possible for it.”

It was a Wednesday night, but neither of you had work the following day, so you offered for Yoongi to drop by and help you with some pointers for the competition since it was your first time entering. That invitation had now turned into the usual sleepover you were accustomed to, but Yoongi still kept his word on helping you out.

With the tournament happening Saturday, you didn’t have many days left to train and get ready. You didn’t doubt your ability – you knew you were good at games, despite the stereotypes that say otherwise – but it never hurt to practice.

Yoongi interrupted your thoughts by ruffling your hair, chuckling when you swatted his hand away. “If you ask me, I think you’ve prepared enough. I’ve seen what you can do and you’re honestly one of the best I’ve seen at this particular game.”

The game in question was Mortal Kombat II, one of the games in an old school fighting series that you grew up playing with some friends from many years ago that you didn’t talk to anymore. And while you may have drifted from people during different stages in your life, your love for gaming was one thing that remained constant throughout.

“Thanks, Yoongs.” You couldn’t help but crack a smile at his praise, especially since you knew it was genuine. And high praise it was, considering he’d seen a lot of expert players in his time of helping with the tournaments.

“Anytime. Now,” he plopped onto the couch and you resumed your seat on a cushion you placed on the floor in front of your coffee table, “let’s talk strategy.”

You had picked up the controller to start the next round, but at his words you laid it in your lap instead and cocked your head to the side while giving him a confused look. “Strategy?”

Yoongi nodded. “Strategy. You’re gonna need at least a semblance of one if you want to stand a chance in this competition.”

You gulped. “I-I thought I’d just go in and give it my all.”

Yoongi smiled gently, reassuringly. “I know. And that is what you need to do. But you also need to consider every possible scenario. This isn’t just playing against a friend you know or a random person through a server. You’re going up against other trained experts, with some who have been doing this for years.”

You looked down at the controller in your hand, unconsciously squeezing the plastic. Strategy? You hadn’t really put much thought into it, outside of perfecting your skills and just doing your best. Above all, this was supposed to be something fun for you. Just an extra outlet and a way to maybe potentially make more friends who shared your interest in this hobby.

But with the way Yoongi was talking, it sort of just scared you.

“I’m not trying to scare you,” he continued. Sometimes you swore he could read your thoughts, but that wouldn’t surprise you, seeing as he is your best friend, after all. “I just want you to go in with the right mindset for what to expect.”

“I appreciate it,” you mustered up what you hoped would be a convincing smile. You could tell Yoongi didn’t buy it, but he didn’t press further.

“Ok, new plan. I’ll watch you play a few rounds and then give you my opinion on anything I think you might could change to improve what you’re doing. Sound good?”

You agreed, genuinely smiling this time. “Sounds good.”

After almost half an hour of you playing while Yoongi quietly observed you, he finally spoke up again.

“Alright, I think I’ve noticed something that you can work on.”

You paused the game and turned toward him, giving him your full attention while your hands rested in your lap.

Yoongi leaned forward so that his elbows were on his knees, hands clasped together while he pursed his lips. “You have this…thing you do. Right before your K.O. combo. It’s almost like you hesitate for a second.”

You blinked a few times, trying to recall when you might have done that. “Really?”

“Mhm. I’ve never picked up on it before, but then again, I’ve also never watched you with a critical eye before now either.”

You frowned, forehead creasing with the effort. When did you hesitate? You pretty much went in for the final blow as soon as you were able to-

“I know you’re probably trying to remember when you did it, but I’m telling you it’s always that split second right before you go in for the kill. And that’s not really a problem, except…” Yoongi trailed off, leaving you nearly bouncing on your cushion with the curiosity that consumed you.

“Except what?”

Yoongi brought his eyes up to stare into yours, and the seriousness you found there made you gulp again.

“Except there is one player I know who only needs a second of hesitation to turn an entire match around.”

You understood immediately who he was talking about.

“Jungkook.”

Yoongi nodded in affirmation. “Yup. Kook is the undisputed king of turning around an entire game within a pivotal moment all because someone hesitates. And it doesn’t even have to be a conscious thing, a lot of the time they do it without realizing. But he can pick up on it nearly every time, and it’s always something he uses to his advantage.”

Honestly, you weren’t surprised. Jungkook wasn’t the reigning champion for just any old reason. He had the skill and the talent to outshine everyone who had faced him in the past.

This year, however, you were a new challenger. And the idea of taking him down a peg from actually beating him at his own game excited you more than it probably should have.

Still, you couldn’t help but wonder…

“Why are you telling me this though? Aren’t you rooting for him, too? I mean – you’re literally his sponsor so that has to be against a code of ethics or something along those lines.”

Yoongi’s laughter took you off guard, but the sound made you smile nonetheless.

“You’re right. I probably shouldn’t be telling you any of this or helping you out at all. But,” he leaned forward more so he could boop your nose from where you were still seated in front of the coffee table. “You’re my best friend, too. And that matters more to me than any sponsorship or shit like that. I’ll be rooting for the both of you equally.”

You scrunched up your nose a little at the contact before you beamed at him. Never had you expected to have a friend as amazing as him in your life, but you were grateful for it every day.

“Besides,” Yoongi went on, straightening his posture again before sinking back into the couch, “I also did offer to tell Kook about his competitors and their strengths, weaknesses, all that.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what happened with that?”

A gummy smile spread out across his face. “He didn’t wanna know. So, it’s his loss.”

You hummed as you thought it over. “That makes no sense, why wouldn’t he-”

“You’ve known him long enough to realize that he is perhaps one of the most stubborn people ever, maybe even the most stubborn. He’s too prideful to accept ‘handouts’ of information like that. One day I think that pride of his might be his downfall,” Yoongi started trailing off near the end there, but you could still just barely make out what he said. You didn’t feel like you were supposed to have heard it, though, so you didn’t ask for him to elaborate.

“Well, I’m not too prideful to ask for info. Are there any other tricks or secrets you can let me in on about our boy Mr. Jeon?” Your tone was teasing but you also wouldn’t turn down any additional info Yoongi could offer you.

Yoongi groaned. “God, do not let him hear you call him that. I swear it’ll go directly to his head and make his ego swell even larger.” You giggled and Yoongi smiled.

“But no, I can’t give you any more info beyond that, because that would be basically violating my terms as sponsor. Can’t give you everything now, can I?”

“I meeean, you could…”

He chuckled. “But I’m not going to. End of discussion.”

You pouted lightheartedly and Yoongi simply shook his head, his smile growing wider.

“Honestly, what am I going to do about you two? You know, you’re both more alike that either of you want to admit-”

You covered your ears. “Sorry, can’t hear you over how ridiculous that sounds.”

“Case in point,” Yoongi replied as he pulled your hands away. “What you just did is a very Jungkook thing to do.”

You clutched at your chest in feigned horror. “Min Yoongi, you take that back right now.”

He laughed at your distress. “Nope. Now, show me what you’re going to do about that habit of yours. We have all night to figure it out.”

A grateful smile stretched across your face as you saw him settle in and get comfortable. He was rummaging through one of the snack bags, and the familiar warmth you always felt around him blossomed in your chest once more.

You really loved Yoongi so much, and not at all in a romantic way, but very much in the ‘you’re my best friend and I’ll protect you with my life forever’ kinda way. And you knew Yoongi felt the exact same about you.

So you did as he said and picked up your forgotten controller again, spending the next several hours perfecting your technique until you both agreed it was acceptable.

You were ready for the competition.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

Meanwhile, in the apartment complex down the block from yours, Jungkook was laughing at Taehyung’s screams of disbelief as their opponent took him down a third time during that round.

“What the fuck?!” drifted through his headset and Jungkook could only chuckle. He knew Tae was good, of course; he was great at the game, actually. But it was times like these where he somewhat enjoyed seeing Tae crumble a bit when he lost. Tae liked to walk around as if he was the god of Overwatch himself, so it was nice to occasionally see him shaken up.

Yes, Jungkook was a hypocrite, and yes, if anyone ever beat him at his best game, he would be pissed off as well.

“Fucking Mercy, they aren’t supposed to be offensive, stop shooting at me and heal your party members!”

Jungkook took out the other team’s healer just as Tae was finishing his cry of rage. He could hear Tae’s breathing then, followed by him clearing his throat before speaking again at a more normal volume.

“Thanks, Kook.”

“Don’t mention it, I do need you back here to cover for me, though.” Jungkook was playing as Widowmaker like he usually did, so he was set up ready to snipe the other team’s members whenever they appeared in his line of sight. Of course, Jungkook was more of an offensive player, so he didn’t stay in one spot for too long.

“On my way, just keep an eye on that bitch Mercy for me, will you?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jungkook muttered in response. “By the way, how are you feeling about the tournament?”

It was the question Jungkook asked every year in the days leading up to the competition, so Tae always expected it.

“I’m feeling fine about it, I know most of the players since a lot of them are repeat competitors from last year.” He stopped speaking for a moment to focus on shooting down and enemy who was trying to sneak up on Jungkook, making Jungkook hum in appreciation as he did.

“My sponsor got me inside details on those I didn’t know, too, so I feel more prepared. What about you? Did Yoongi give you the hookup?”

“Nah, I turned it down.” For a few seconds, the only sounds that could be heard were the clicks of their mouses and keyboards.

“Dude, you have probably the best sponsor for this kinda shit, why do you always say no? Seems dumb if you ask me.”

“Good thing I didn’t fucking ask you then, dick.” Jungkook wasn’t actually mad at Tae, this was just how they liked to tease each other; lighthearted banter sprinkled with vulgar language. Jungkook figured it was somewhat poetic if you really thought about it.

“Seriously, Kook, I don’t get you sometimes. And we’re on the same wavelength a lot.”

Jungkook sighed. “I just don’t feel the need to know, alright? I like going into it blind and coming out on top. The victory is sweeter that way.”

He could hear Tae’s noise of disapproval just before he got another headshot. His last shot ended up being the POTG, bringing a smile to his face as he watched the video playback.

“I mean, I get that I guess. I did hear a rumor though that we got some chicks joining this year, so that ought to be interesting.”

They were in the queue now waiting for the next match to start. Team members from their previous game asked if they could stay on their team, but Jungkook and Tae both declined the invites as usual. They preferred to keep to themselves, even though some of their prior teammates were damn good.

“There’s no way, we’ve never had that before.” Jungkook readjusted his headset, carding a hand through his dark mop of curls before rolling his head around on his shoulders, stretching to get more comfortable.

“Well, there’s at least 1 for sure. I know that much because my sponsor confirmed it.”

At this, Jungkook’s curiosity was piqued. “Oh? Did he say what division?”

“Nah, it’s not mine and that’s all the info I got. Wouldn’t it be something though if they were going up against you?”

Jungkook laughed loudly in his empty apartment. “Me? A girl facing off against me? God, you’re fucking hilarious, Tae.”

“I’m being serious though! We don’t know yet-”

“I’ll humor you for a second then, alright? Say I do go up against a girl. We already know what that outcome will be. And I do hate seeing women cry, especially at my expense, but I’m not going easy on anyone I compete against.”

Taehyung hummed on the other end as 30 seconds left on the countdown timer signaled another match was about to start. “I know you won’t, but I do think it would throw you for a loop, so it’s better to mentally prepare for that kinda curveball now.”

Jungkook scoffed, getting ready for the next round. “Yeah, sure, alright. I’ll ‘prepare’ for it.”

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

The next few days flew by thanks to your work shifts and you practicing pretty much every night leading up to the tournament. There wasn’t a reason for you to overdo it, but you liked to compete against others and do your best, so you practiced whenever you had the chance.

And it had paid off. Yoongi told you he could definitely see an improvement in the way you played.

“If I’m honest, I think you have a really good chance of going far. Not that I thought you didn’t before, but it’s even more evident now.” He gave you his signature gummy smile while the two of you were seated in the competitors waiting area.

“Thanks, Yoonie. By the way, where’s Jungkook?” You craned your neck to look around Yoongi, but the tall, dark-haired boy was nowhere to be seen.

“Ah, he’s probably chilling in the back. Says he has no interest in seeing other competitors play besides the ones he’s facing against. He does this every year.”

“Interesting,” you mused. “Does he know I’m competing this time?”

Yoongi shrugged, moving to stand. “Dunno. He didn’t say anything about it, so I doubt he knows. To be completely honest, I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he finds out.” He grinned.

You followed suit and stood from your spot, since you were in one of the first matches. “Bold of you to assume I’ll even go up against him.”

Yoongi’s grin widened. “Something just tells me you will. Call it divine intuition.”

“If you’re wrong, you owe me a coffee,” you suggested. It pulled a chuckle from the boy, which is what you had hoped for.

“Deal. But if I’m right?”

“Then I owe you a coffee. Or whatever beverage of your choice.”

“Sounds good to me,” Yoongi replied, leading you to where your match was set to start. “Best of luck, just remember what you’ve been working on and I’m sure you’ll be fine.” He gave you one last pat on the shoulder before leaving to go find Jungkook, or at least that’s what you assumed.

His first match wouldn’t be for a little bit, you knew that from the roster, but you didn’t want to focus on him right now. Your priority was pushing your nerves away and embracing the adrenaline rush that always came to you when competition was involved.

It was that kind of mindset that got your through your first match with a flawless victory. You took that feeling with you the rest of the way through your matches until the final one, where you knew you were going to need all the motivation you could muster.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

Jungkook miraculously somehow didn’t run into you at all during the tournament. This was probably because of 2 reasons:

1) He had no idea you were there to start with and 2) he didn’t stick around long enough to see who else was competing in his division whenever he finished his matches.

As soon as Jungkook defeated his opponents – which generally happened within the first minute or so of playing – he would make his way to the back room where he would scroll mindlessly through his phone until his next round time approached.

He blew through all his matches, ignoring Yoongi’s encouragement to stick around and watch the rest of the games unfold. Occasionally he would check in on Tae and watch him play a few games, but he knew Tae was bound to win so there wasn’t really much of a point to.

At last, it was time for the final match. Jungkook stretched as he was leaving the back room of the arcade, walking confidently with his hands in his pockets. He smirked the whole way there, admiring the looks he got from patrons who had been viewing the tournament the whole time with excitement.

He made it to the arcade machine before his opponent did, but he didn’t mind it at all. He rolled up his hoodie sleeves and ran a hand through his hair before letting it slightly fall back into his eyes. He peered over the heads of those in the crowd, looking for Yoongi since he was supposed to be around for every one of his matches.

When he spotted Yoongi, he smiled, watching as the man weaved his way through the thickening crowd. Jungkook’s smile faltered, however, when he saw who was following behind his friend, their hand wrapped up in Yoongi’s own.

“What the fuck?”

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

“No fucking way,” you heard Jungkook exclaim when you got close enough. You rolled your eyes as you settled into your spot beside him, and he was still staring at you as if you had multiple heads.

You were growing impatient with his gawking so you whirled to face him. “Can I help you, Jungkook?”

He cracked that stupid, shit-eating grin you were unfortunately used to. “Nah, just wondering why you’re here. You lost, babygirl?”

“Ugh, do not call me that,” you answered immediately, focusing instead on Yoongi’s solemn face behind him instead of his words. “And no, I’m not lost. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

Jungkook looked genuinely confused, it was almost laughable.

“Uhh…you do realize you’re in an arcade, yeah?”

You just nodded curtly, looking at the clock on the wall. There were still a few minutes left before your match was set to start, but you seriously just wanted it over with already.

“Arcades are where people go to play games,” Jungkook continued, speaking slower as if to get the point across. You huffed and your grip on the joystick in front of you tightened.

“I’m aware of that. I’m not fucking stupid.”

Jungkook’s sudden laughter annoyed you further. He propped an elbow onto the machine, leaning over and almost closer to you. “Never said you were. But if you know that, then again, why are you here?”

You gestured vaguely to the arcade machine in front of you. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Jungkook’s face dropped and it finally looked like he was understanding.

“Wait. You play games?”

“It would appear so, yes.”

“And you’re here for the competition?”

“Yup,” you popped your lips on the ‘p.’ “Why else would I willingly be around you this long?”

You didn’t even know why you were saying those words and you could tell Yoongi was surprised as well. You and Jungkook teased each other, sure, but you never showed any real animosity towards him.

However, he was really starting to irritate you with his ‘you’re a girl so you obviously don’t play games’ bullshit. You never tolerated it from anyone else before and you certainly weren’t going to start now.

Your words didn’t seem to faze him, though; if anything, he got even more cocky because of it.

“Damn, I don’t remember you being this feisty before. I like it.”

You groaned before he continued.

“What’d you have to do to get in by the way, did you blow the guy at the door or something?”

Out of the corner of your eye you could see Yoongi stepping forward while others around you ‘ooooh’ed at Jungkook’s jab. You held up your hand somewhat so Yoongi would know you could handle this, and he stopped moving.

“Nope, I’m here because of pure skill. And unlike some people, my talents extend past gaming.” You crossed your arms and stared at the clock again, seeing there was less than a minute now until you both would be able to start. Amidst the murmurs of the crowd you two had drawn, you heard Jungkook’s boisterous laugh.

“Oh babygirl, if you wanted to see my skills outside of this, I would be happy to oblige-”

“That’s enough, Kook,” Yoongi finally made his way up to you two and clapped a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. “Let her be. Just compete against her and show good sportsmanship about it.”

Jungkook’s brows knitted together. “Wait…so she’s actually my final opponent? Like for real? Yoon, you gotta be fucking with me.”

“Well, I’m not, and you would’ve known that if you paid attention to the results at the end of each round. But you didn’t and you’re here so suck it up and play.”

Jungkook’s bewildered expression nearly made you laugh, but you almost felt bad for him.

Almost. He got himself into this situation by ignoring Yoongi’s help, so you wouldn’t feel too much pity for him.

“If that’s too much for you, forfeiting is always an option.” You busied yourself with readjusting your necklace you were wearing while you causally threw that offer out there.

Jungkook glared at you then, and the usual fire rekindled back to life in his eyes. This is what you liked to see, since you were competitive by nature yourself.

Now the real fun could begin.

“In your dreams,” he grumbled, moving back to a standing position and cracking his knuckles. You recognized this as his ‘fighting prep stance’ since you’d observed it in the years prior when you would watch the tournament. This way, you knew Jungkook meant business and you couldn’t be more thrilled about it.

The person who was in charge of tracking time signaled that the two of you could start, so you rolled your shoulders back and prepared yourself.

“Ladies first,” Jungkook gestured to the arcade machine as he let you have first pick from the character select screen. “It’d be unfair for me to put you at a disadvantage early on.”

“Wow, such a gentleman,” you rolled your eyes and selected your best fighter. You couldn’t wait to wipe that stupid, smug smile off his face.

Jungkook only shrugged. “What can I say? Gotta make up for it now so I don’t feel too bad about the defeat I hand you later.”

“You sure talk a big game, now let’s see if you can back it up.” You crossed your arms while you waited for him to choose a character. He looked you up and down once before he gave you a lopsided grin.

“With pleasure.”

Jungkook looked at your character choice and scoffed, making you feel hot with exasperation.

“Kitana? Really? Well, guess that makes sense, seeing as you’re a girl and all.”

You bristled at the comment but quickly shook it off, fingers flexing around the joystick. You were both playing Mortal Kombat II, much to your delight, seeing as this is the game where some of your favorite characters had been introduced. You loved the classic first game, but you were more in your element with this one for sure.

“Pick someone, Kook. Don’t keep me waiting.”

He grinned and chose a character, clearly wanting to say more but deciding against it.

“I’ll go with Sub-Zero. He’s not my best character, but I’ll consider this a special match and go easy on you just this once.”

If you’d been gripping the joystick any harder, you’re sure you would have tore it off.

“Just fucking fight me already,” you grumbled, determined to not let him get the best of you. He was eating it up however, taking his sweet time choosing the stage for the two of you to fight on.

Once the stage was chosen and the game countdown ended, you got to work. The arcade combos were a little different than what you were used to, seeing as you generally played on a console with a controller, but you were a fast learner.

Unfortunately, you weren’t fast enough, seeing as Jungkook beat you in the first round. You had already known his gaming skills were impressive, but even he surpassed what you thought he could do.

“Aye, way to go, Kook!” You heard someone cheering from the crowd, and when you turned to look you could see it was Taehyung, who you knew solely by association. Jungkook turned too, giving his friend a thumbs up before returning his attention to the screen again.

You could tell from the corner of your eye that he was fixing his gaze on you, that ever present cocky grin at home on his face. You didn’t give him the time of day and instead looked to Yoongi in the crowd.

Yoongi was looking at you with soft eyes, and you saw him mouth ‘Proud of you.’ which reinvigorated you with a newfound confidence.

There were still 2 rounds to go, only 1 if he beat you again, but you had faith in yourself. If you could beat him even once just to see him squirm a little bit, then you’d be happy.

The next round started and this time, you chose a different technique. You worked on getting behind him at every opportunity so you could attack that way.

You heard Jungkook let out a surprise gasp beside you when you landed a combo that took out a significant chunk of his health. His movements started faltering and you used that to your advantage, landing more combos until finally, you had his health down to the last little bit-

You finished him off with a K.O. and the entire crowd quieted down. No one had ever beat Jungkook in any of the rounds he played during his 5 years as champion here and you had just put an end to that streak.

Behind you there was a cheer and you recognized who it was immediately. Yoongi was cheering for you, clapping his hands. You gave him a bright smile, noticing how Jungkook beside you had whirled around to also face Yoongi. You chanced looking and flinched at the pure venom Jungkook was sending Yoongi’s way with his glare.

Yoongi didn’t care, though. He told you he was there for both of you and supported you both equally, and he intended it to stay that way. A few other people in the crowd cheered now, and you noticed how Taehyung was staring at you with his jaw slack.

You swallowed. Was this really that big of a deal?

According to Jungkook it was, because he was starting the next round before you were properly situated. You worked fast to get your bearings about you and just barely avoided his first hit.

Your strategy from the previous game wasn’t going to work this time, that much you knew, since Jungkook was countering everything you’d thrown as him so far. You were almost sure you heard him actually growling as he ducked closer to the machine, as if that would help him play better.

As much as he was deterring your attacks, you were doing the same, and the countdown timer for the round was down to 30 seconds before either of you had gotten the other’s health down halfway.

Then, for reasons you were unsure of, Jungkook had faltered yet again in his technique.

It could’ve been because he was still flustered by your previous victory, but you weren’t letting the chance go to waste. You snuck behind him and landed your most powerful combo, getting his health down to a tiny sliver.

Jungkook looked absolutely defeated, trying his hardest to block your attacks and save his last little bit of health. It was to no avail, however, and the final round ended just as the previous one had.

You did it. You beat Jungkook. The Jeon Jungkook. You beat him at his own game.

The two of you had garnered quite the crowd during your match. There was a moment of pure silence before they erupted into cheers loud enough to almost make you want to cover your ears. Yoongi was rushing forward to congratulate you, and the smile on your face was widening by the second before you could even attempt to stop it.

Or at least it was until you looked over. Jungkook was bracing himself against the machine, staring at the screen with sheer incredulity, jaw clenched and looking like he might fall over any second.

You reached out a hand. “Jungkook-”

“Don’t fucking touch me,” he growled. You retracted your hand and took a step back. Tae was approaching him from the other side, a look of concern on his face. He looked up at you, eyes unreadable, and all you did was nod before you turned away to try and find Yoongi.

When you did, you were met with a hug so tight it knocked the breath out of you.

“You did it, you actually fucking did it! I still can’t believe it. I’m so proud of you!” Yoongi was beaming at you so brightly you couldn’t help but smile back, even though you were still worried about Jungkook. When you looked over your shoulder, you noticed he and Tae were both gone now.

You didn’t know why, but something about that caused a dull ache to gnaw away at your chest.

“We need to go celebrate. Let me call Luna and see if she wants to go out for drinks.” Yoongi was raising the phone to his ear before he asked “You down?”

You nodded, always happy to spend time with Yoongi and his girlfriend who you had also grown close to. You bit your lip as you continued to think about Jungkook, not used to this newfound worry.

“Perfect. We can get together in a few hours at the bar down the street.” He started talking through the phone receiver and you scanned the crowd one last time, hoping to see that unruly dark hair somewhere in the sea of people.

But you couldn’t find Jungkook. And that shouldn’t bother you, but for some reason, it did.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

“Jungkook, slow down!” Tae was jogging after Jungkook in an attempt to catch up to him. Jungkook had started speed walking away from the arcade, hands deep in his pockets and hood pulled up over his head. He didn’t even stop to get his second place prize because the very thought of it made his stomach churn.

How the fuck could something like this happen to him? And why did it have to be you who did it?

He was cursing your name under his breath when Tae finally managed to make it to his side, catching his breath as he held onto Jungkook’s sleeve.

“Kook, wait,” Tae said in between breaths. “Talk to me. What’s wrong-”

“Don’t you dare ask me that when you know good and fucking well what’s wrong.” Jungkook sneered and it made Tae cringe. He’d never seen Jungkook seething like this in all their years of friendship, and quite frankly, it made him feel unpleasant.

“Ok, so you got beat. Not a big deal, alright? Stop acting like it’s the end of the world.”

Tae’s attempt to lighten the mood did the exact opposite. Jungkook whirled around, eyes swirling with emotion, almost as black as obsidian.

“Not a big deal? Not a big deal?! How about you,” he stopped for a moment to poke Tae squarely in the chest, “get defeated and then come tell me how it fucking feels.”

Tae frowned, shoving Jungkook’s hand away. “Kook, in case you’ve forgotten, I did get beat. My first year in the tournament I got my ass handed to me during the last round of the last match. Do you remember what you told me? Hm?”

Jungkook stiffened because yes, he did remember, and now it was coming back to bite him in the ass.

“Firstly, you laughed and said I needed to suck it up and ‘get good.’ Granted, you were 19 then, so I let it slide because maturity and all that. But it’s basically the same thing, you lost and you need to take it in stride-”

“Tae, this shit isn’t supposed to happen to me. It’s me. I’m not supposed to be beat like this.”

“You’re not fucking perfect, Kook!” Tae had raised his voice in exasperation, but he took a deep breath before he continued. “Look. I’m going out tonight with a few others to celebrate me winning my division. And I’m not inviting you so I can rub it in your face, but I am inviting you because I think going out would help.”

Jungkook didn’t respond, instead choosing to stare at the pavement underneath their feet. They were only a few blocks away from the arcade but they had stopped beside one of the downtown restaurants.

“In fact, I’m highly encouraging you to go out tonight. Get tipsy, maybe meet someone and fuck all that frustration out of your system. You seem to be pretty good at that, from what you always brag about.”

At this comment, Jungkook cracked a tiny smile. Tae was right; maybe going out would be good for him. He needed some kind of stress relief after what he had just endured, and if that entailed drinking and fucking someone until all they knew was his name, then so be it.

“Fuck it, let’s go then.” Jungkook shrugged his hood off of his face and fixed Tae with his signature smirk.

Tae wrapped an arm around his shoulders and they continued walking. “That’s my boy! We can get ready at my place, unless you wanna head back and change first-”

“Nah, I can pick up chicks just as easy in this as I can anything else.” And it was true; Jungkook’s success rate with picking up women was relatively the same regardless of what he wore. His outfit of choice usually consisted of what he wore now: dark hoodie, fitted jeans, and some style of black combat boots to complete the look.

Tae nodded. “Fair enough. Off we go then!” He chatted the entire way back to his apartment, and Jungkook was only half-listening. The other parts of his brain were preoccupied with thoughts of someone it shouldn’t have been.

He found himself thinking about you, and your crestfallen face when he had snapped at you back at the arcade. He felt like maybe that should bother him-

-but every time he thought about the utter and humiliating defeat he suffered at your hands, he just got mad all over again.

So now, the only thought he would allow to enter his mind that pertained to you was a simple one: fuck you.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

Yoongi texted you to let you know he and Luna were waiting outside your apartment to drive to the bar. You had changed into something a little more on par for the occasion; a dress that hugged your figure and was long enough to reach mid-thigh, but still modest in the way that it left plenty to the imagination. Luna had actually bought this particular dress for you during one of your many shopping trips with her, so you knew she’d be delighted to see you in it.

You were proven right when you heard the excited squeal coming from the window of the passenger seat as you carefully stepped down the stairs outside your apartment.

“You look hot, that dress suits you so well,” Luna gushed to you as you got in the backseat and fastened your seatbelt. Yoongi chuckled from the driver’s seat.

Luna playfully smacked Yoongi’s arm before he put the car back into drive. “Yoonie! Doesn’t she look great? You better tell her right now.”

Both of you laughed at Luna’s persistence and then Yoongi locked eyes with you. “Yeah, you do look good, Y/N. You usually do though, so I don’t know why you,” he broke off to tickle Luna, making her giggle, “forced me to say that.”

“Because she should hear it from everyone!” Luna huffed as if to say that should have been obvious. Yoongi looked at you through the rearview mirror.

“Sorry, she’s already had some to drink tonight, so she’s a little more eccentric than we’re used to-”

“You love it and you fucking know it,” Luna cut him off with a kiss on his cheek. He smiled and returned it with a quick peck on the lips. You heart soared at the scene in front of you.

You were one of those people who ‘loved love,’ despite not being in a relationship yourself. You weren’t ready for something like that again, not after how your last one ended, but you could always be happy for those people who were in loving, healthy relationships. Especially if you were close to them, like you were these two.

“Alright, should we be off, then?” Yoongi put the car into drive and glanced once more at you and Luna in case either of you protested. You simply nodded and Luna was looking at her phone now, so Yoongi took that as his cue to leave.

The three of you arrived not much later since the bar wasn’t far. Your apartment complexes were thankfully located in a good part of town surrounded by popular venues so there was always something to do.

When all of you were seated and had drinks of your choice, you finally chose to ask the question that had been plaguing your mind.

“Has anyone checked on Jungkook?”

Yoongi’s face dropped a little bit and Luna just rolled her eyes.

“Yoongi tried to but Kook is being a giant baby and won’t accept his calls. He’s probably out getting trashed or something.”

“Luna,” Yoongi said with a little bit of a stern tone.

“What? It’s the truth. And I’m tired of seeing you two sulk about him. We are here to have fun. Jungkook can be a problem for tomorrow.”

Luna made it clear the situation wasn’t up for debate as she raised her glass. Yoongi looked at you and shrugged before doing the same, and you joined in, clinking yours against theirs in a toast for…something.

You weren’t really sure. Luna didn’t say anything, so maybe you thought it was for forgetting about Jungkook.

That was, unfortunately for you, easier said than done. It was made even harder when you saw that familiar head of curls walk into the bar several feet away.

“Fuck,” you said under your breath, chugging down the rest of your drink which admittedly was probably not your smartest idea. Yoongi pursed his lips and followed your line of sight. His eyes widened when he saw Jungkook.

“Well shit, who would’ve guessed he’d come here, too.”

“Certainly not me,” you let out a nervous laugh, feeling the alcohol finally start to settle in.

Luna was just coming back from the restroom and when she noticed Jungkook too, she rolled her eyes and grabbed your wrist. “You. Me. Dance floor. Now.”

You didn’t have time to protest, nor did you really want to. You knew Yoongi wanted to talk to Jungkook, and this would give him the perfect chance to.

“We are getting as far away from that asshole as possible,” Luna grumbled. When she had secured a spot on the floor, she started dancing, helping you move in time with the beat as she kept her hands on your waist.

Your anxiety was ebbing away slowly, thanks to the combined effort of Luna’s distraction and the alcohol finally taking effect, and you eventually forgot about Jungkook altogether for the time being.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

Jungkook walked into the bar behind Tae, a little less cheery about the outing than he had been a few hours prior. He just wasn’t really in the mood to mingle and would much rather sulk on his bed and re-watch old episodes of his favorite anime shows.

“Kook, find us somewhere to sit, I’ll go grab some drinks. You want your usual?” Tae was doing his best to help liven the mood and Jungkook really did appreciate him for it. He offered a small smile, even though it didn’t quite touch his eyes.

“Yeah, thanks TaeTae.”

Jungkook maneuvered himself through the slew of people standing around, trying to find an empty table that could seat a few others since he wasn’t sure how many would be joining him and Tae tonight. On his way to a free table he froze, recognizing the man sitting not 10 ft. away from him instantly.

Jungkook wasted no time walking over and spinning their chair around, met with a flustered Yoongi as he did.

“Jungkook, hey,” Yoongi managed to get out, clearly caught off guard since he’d been facing the opposite direction.

“Hey,” he said flatly. He didn’t take the time to think about why Yoongi might be at a bar alone and instead opted for getting straight to the point.

“You abandoned me.”

Yoongi’s face fell. “Kook-”

Jungkook held up a hand. “No, let me finish first, then you can say your piece.” He took a deep breath and Yoongi waited.

“You were supposed to be on my side, you know? Like fuck dude, I already have to share you with her in all other aspects of my life, but this was the one thing that was supposed to be sacred, supposed to be mine.”

Jungkook knew deep down he was acting like a child, but the image of Yoongi cheering you on while you defeated him would forever be burned into his brain and he couldn’t help but think of it as some form of betrayal.

Yoongi waited to see if there would be more before he straightened up in his chair. “Look kid,” he started, seeing Jungkook flinch at the term. “I know you’re upset, and you have a right to be. You feel like this is the end-all-be-all but it’s not. And regardless of how you feel, that’s no reason to take it out on me or Y/N just because she beat you.”

Jungkook backed up a step at Yoongi’s words, the hurt written all over his face. What hurt the most, though, was he knew Yoongi was right. It wouldn’t be fair for Jungkook to realistically hold a grudge against him or you.

But dammit, right now he was going to try.

“So you are taking her side. I should’ve fucking known,” Jungkook muttered. Yoongi took a deep breath and placed a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder, half expecting him to move, but slightly surprised when he didn’t.

“I’m not taking anyone’s side and I know you know that.” He squeezed Jungkook’s shoulder for emphasis and Jungkook gulped. Yoongi was right, yet again.

Sometimes he really hated just how much Yoongi was right.

“Why are you here anyway? And why are you by yourself?” He was changing the topic, a typical Jungkook move to deflect attention away from what was bothering him. Yoongi wasn’t a fan of it, but for right now he didn’t want to fight back about it.

“I’m not by myself, Luna and Y/N are here too, we’re celebrating-”

Jungkook cut him off with a groan. “Of fucking course she’s here too.” He threw his hands up in exasperation and walked away from Yoongi, ignoring the call of his name as he got further from his best friend.

Jungkook parked himself at the table he’d found previously, turning all the way around so he wouldn’t have to see the table with Yoongi. The table where you would eventually find your way back to.

Honestly if Jungkook had to see you one more time today, he thought he may genuinely lose it-

“Yo, is that Y/N?” Tae’s voice cut through his thoughts and he gritted his teeth together.

“I don’t know, is it,” Jungkook answered in a mocking tone, ignoring Tae’s look of confusion while he took a sip of the drink now in front of him.

“I mean…pretty sure it is. You know her better than I do, but if that is her, she’s kinda really hot.”

This comment made Jungkook’s eyes dart up and look around, although he wasn’t sure why. Maybe he just wanted to confirm that Tae was looking at someone completely different.

But as he followed Tae’s line of sight, his eyes fell on you, and for a moment his breath was stolen from him.

He’d never seen you quite like this before, letting yourself go as you danced, seemingly not caring about the fact that your dress had hiked up high on your thighs, barely covering your ass now-

Tae was right, much to Jungkook’s disappointment. You looked good. Really good.

And he really fucking hated it.

“Yeah, that’s uh- that’s her.” He downed another quick gulp from his glass, shaking his head as the liquid surged down his throat.

“Holy shit,” Tae responded as he also took a drink from his own glass. “She’s by herself too; wonder if she’s here with a date.”

Jungkook looked at Tae with eyes full of horror, as if Tae had just admitted to committing one of the worst possible crimes. “You cannot be fucking serious right now, dude.”

Tae swirled his glass as he stared at it, the ice clinking against the sides. “So what if I am?” He brought up his gaze to pierce Jungkook, his eyes unreadable. “What does that matter to you? Last I checked, you pretty much despise her.”

Jungkook swallowed. Tae had a point – if he went and hit on you, it shouldn’t matter to Jungkook in the slightest. But for some reason the very idea of it made his blood boil, and he tried to drown that feeling in more alcohol.

“It doesn’t matter to me specifically, I just don’t know how you could consider sleeping with the enemy.”

Tae erupted into roaring laughter, patting the table with his hand as if Jungkook had just told him the funniest fucking joke. Jungkook grimaced.

“Oh man, ‘sleeping with the enemy,’ that’s a good one, Kook.” When Jungkook didn’t join him in his laughter, he rolled his eyes. “For fuck’s sake, she beat you in a video game. Lighten up and let a man get laid, yeah?”

Jungkook thought the burning sensation of anger that befell him now was from Tae’s proclamation of you having beaten him earlier. When he realized it was what else Tae had said, he downed the last of the contents in his glass and slammed it down onto the table.

“Fuck,” he cursed out, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked out at you in the crowd once more, painfully aware yet again of how attractive you looked tonight, and how much it was driving him crazy that he noticed.

It really pissed him off that you were out here having fun, looking this good, and his friend was fucking fawning over you as if you didn’t just ruin part of his life earlier.

He needed to find a girl and fast.

Luckily, he managed to spot a familiar face near you on the dance floor, currently cozied up to another girl. Tae had already started making his way to you – or at least that’s what Jungkook assumed he was doing – so he followed suit and strolled into the thicket of people himself.

As Jungkook passed by, he could see Tae was already putting the moves on you, and you were smiling so sweetly at him that it almost made Jungkook’s stomach flip. He tried to avoid you, but you weren’t letting him off the hook that easily.

“Jungkook,” you called for him as you tugged on his sleeve. With a frustrated sigh, he turned to face you and immediately regretted it when he did. Tae had moved slightly off to the side, chatting with someone else now, but still in your general proximity.

This close to you – and it was pretty fucking close considering you were both standing in between a sea of other dancing bodies – he could see just how plump your lips were and how much your eyes still managed to shimmer in the dim lighting of the bar.

Jungkook’s breathing was stuttered, but he quickly regained his composure.

“What do you want,” he asked, tone dripping in pure malice. You frowned and he almost wished he could take it back-

-but his brain reminded him he’s supposed to be pissed off at you, so he didn’t do that.

“I just wanted to make sure you’re ok is all. You rushed off before I could talk to you-”

“Why the fuck would I want to talk to you after you humiliated me like that,” he was having to raise his voice to be heard over the music, but it must’ve looked to you like he was getting angrier, if the way you slightly cowered was anything to go by.

Nonetheless, you turned your chin up at him in defiance, and that stirred something inside of him, but he chalked it up to the buzz setting in.

“For the record, I never intended to humiliate you. And despite what you may think, I don’t dislike you. I actually really enjoyed playing against you-”

“I don’t want to stand here and listen to this,” he tugged his sleeve from your grasp and started to walk away, but not before he added over his shoulder “Have fun being a whore for someone else tonight.”

He didn’t dare look at your face and he was mentally kicking himself for letting those words fall from his lips. He’d never treated you that way before, and now wasn’t a good example of a time to start when you were just trying to check on him.

Sober Jungkook would have handled that much differently, but Tipsy Jungkook?

Yeah, he could be a bit of a prick sometimes.

He managed to make it to the other girl without much trouble, only bumping into other dancers a few times. When he was in front of her, she blinked her eyes and her smile stretched slowly into a grin.

“Well, if it isn’t Jungkook,” she said in a neutral tone. “It’s been a while.”

He nodded to the other girl who was still clinging to her back, looking a little worse for wear. “Yeah, it uh, it has."

“So what brings you over here then? Surely you didn’t come all the way across the dance floor just to see me?”

He gave her his best confident smile, and the way she melted under his gaze he knew he had her hooked.

“That’s exactly why I came over here,” he ducked down to continue speaking to her where only she would hear, his lips ghosting along the shell of her ear. “I remember how good you feel wrapped around me and I just couldn’t stay away.”

He pulled back to see the way her eyes widened and her breathing quickened.

Oh yeah, she was going to end up in his bed tonight.

“I-I um…I need to make sure my friend gets home safe first. I’m DD tonight so-”

“Not a problem, baby. You still have my number, right?” She nodded, clearly affected by his voice that was oozing charm and sounded as sweet as honey.

He flashed her another dazzling smile. “Great. Just text me later and I can send you my address again.”

He was going to have her text him and make it seem like he was being considerate, but in actuality, he forgot her fucking name and wasn’t bothering to try to remember it. Plus, her taking her friend home would give him a little more time to sober up so he could fuck her properly the way he wanted to.

As the girl moved to get her friend away from the crowd and outside, Jungkook was confidently strolling back to his table, making sure he double-checked that he had everything before calling an Uber. He also needed to let Tae know he was dipping out.

Unfortunately, Tae was still enamored by you, so Jungkook was forced to see you in some capacity at least one more time before he left.

“Hey, Tae, I’m about to get an Uber back to my place. You gonna be alright?”

Jungkook tried his hardest to ignore the way your arms were wound around Tae’s neck and how Tae had his hands practically digging into your waist, holding you flush against his chest. From where Jungkook was standing, he could see the cleavage spilling from your dress now since you were squished up against Tae.

He shut his eyes quickly and looked to the side. Not for your modesty or anything like that, but because he was getting turned on by fucking cleavage of all things, and not just any cleavage, but yours.

“What? Oh, Kook, hey! Yeah, I��ll be fine. Y/N offered to give me a ride home.” Jungkook saw Tae wink at you and his jaw clenched.

“Yeah ok whatever, just get home safe.” After that he strolled back to the table and confirmed he hadn’t left anything before stepping through the door of the bar out into the cool night air. An Uber arrived to pick him up a few minutes later, and Jungkook was just thankful he was still wearing his hoodie because he’d never live it down if a fucking Uber driver of all people noticed he was somewhat hard.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

Hours later he was hard again, but this time he had his dick shoved down the throat of the girl from the bar.

She had dropped to her knees almost immediately after making it to his bedroom, and he wasn’t going to complain. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, still mostly clothed, as was she, but the way she was taking his cock had her makeup smearing as tears rolled down her face.

“Fuck, just like that,” he praised her, grip tight in her hair as he pushed her down further. He could hear the choked gasp when he hit the back of her throat, and he at least had enough of a memory to know that this girl in particular liked choking on his cock.

Nonetheless, he still let her know that if it was too much she just had to tap his thigh and he’d release his hold on her. She hadn’t yet though, so he picked up his pace as he began thrusting harder into her mouth.

“Shit, baby, your mouth feels so good,” he was letting out soft moans, not quite worked up enough to be loud, but thoroughly enjoying himself still. Getting sucked off was probably one of his favorite ways to relieve stress.

Everything was going fine until he looked down again-

-and instead of seeing her face, he was picturing yours.

“Oh shit,” he exclaimed, and the girl thought it was because of what she was doing, so she moaned around him in her mouth, the vibrations bringing him more pleasure.

He closed his eyes tightly, swallowing once before moaning again. He figured it was just a fluke, a one-time thing, it wouldn’t happen again-

But when he looked at her a second time, your face was still all he could imagine.

And that got him a lot closer than he wanted in that moment.

Picturing you instead of the girl on her knees in front of him had his high approaching faster and he was severely confused by it. Maybe he was still too tipsy to really differentiate what kind of images should and should not be arousing him?

Well, he knew that was a lie; Jungkook had very much sobered up so he couldn’t blame what was happening on the alcohol.

So he instead decided to place the blame on you and your outfit choice for the night. It wasn’t his fault you chose to go out dressed up like that, drawing the attention of plenty of other bargoers, he was sure.

And the idea of you taking Tae home had him tangling his fingers in the other girl’s hair so hard that she actually whimpered, which was something he had not heard from her before.

He had enough of a mind to check on her, pulling her off of him to make sure she was alright. She simply pouted and nodded her head before he guided her back and she swallowed him down in one go.

Her throat constricting around him again had him focusing on her and what her sinful lips can do.

Maybe if he tried looking down just one more time…

He did and immediately had to pull her off. Because she had just hollowed out her cheeks and holy fuck imagining you like that for him almost had him blowing his load-

Yeah, this could not be healthy for him. He needed to fuck her and come back to his senses.

“What’s the matter,” she asked and he almost cringed at the sound of her voice. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, who he wanted to hear.

“Nothing, I just really wanna fuck you now,” he pulled her in for a kiss before asking “Do you want me to?”

She nodded her head vigorously, making him smirk. He started shedding his clothes and she did the same. Jungkook got off the bed to find a condom, and when he returned she was already on the bed in the position she knew he liked: face down, ass up.

He figured that he really must have left an impression on the women he fucked if they remembered all the things he liked.

He settled in behind her and ripped the foil with his teeth, putting the condom on a second later. He smacked her ass, relishing in the sound she let out when he did. He had the decency to make sure she was wet enough too despite her practically begging for him, lunging two fingers inside of her and stretching them out. The feeling of her slick walls told him she was more than ready to take him.

He pushed in slowly at first, inch by inch so she could get adjusted to the stretch. She was holding onto the bed sheets, sighing out his name, begging for him to move. Once he bottomed out, he swiftly pulled back until just the tip remained sheathed in her heat, before ramming into her all the way.

“Oh fuck, Jungkook,” she moaned out, his thrusts moving her more up the bed and almost making her collide with the headboard, if it hadn’t been for his forceful grip on her hips pulling her back. He grunted with the effort, pleased that now he could stare at the back of her head instead of her face, and maybe now he wouldn’t be thinking about you-

Well fuck. He was still thinking about you while trying not to think about you.

When had you invaded all the corners of his mind? And how the fuck was he going to get you out?

He was pulled back to reality when the girl let out a whine, noticing that he had slowed down somewhat.

“Jungkook, fuck me, please,” she begged for him and he felt his cock twitch. What he wouldn’t give to have you underneath him begging like that-

It was obvious to him then that maybe what he needed was to just fuck and get it over with and then the thoughts of you would disappear, too. Clearly trying to fight it wasn’t getting him anywhere, so he let it consume him instead.

And it certainly made a world of difference.

If he closed his eyes, he could picture you laid out underneath him, ass up in the air and screaming for him to pound into you until you couldn’t walk anymore. And God, the sounds you would make, he could just imagine it now-

“Jungkook,” the girl moaned out his name again, pulling him out of his reverie. He didn’t want that, didn’t want to hear her calling out his name.

“Shut up and take it,” he gritted, not really caring about being mean since again, he knew that she was one of the ones who liked it. The excited whine he was met with further confirmed that, and he kept fucking into her faster. He flexed his fingers, digging harder into her flesh when he felt her walls tighten around him.

He was focusing on you again, thinking about what you sounded like, wondering whether you would moan or whimper the harder he fucked into you, picturing how you looked when he had you completely fucked out. Each image that flashed through his mind made his release seem more and more inevitable until-

“Go harder, Jungkook, please,” the girl practically screamed from under him. He smacked her ass again, harder this time, making her whine.

“I told you to shut the fuck up and take what I give you,” he growled. “And since it seems you can’t listen,” he continued, pulling her up by her hair, “it looks like I’m going to have to make you.”

His hand that had wound its way into her hair snaked around and clamped over her mouth, muffling her cries as he fucked her harder and deeper. The new angle with her up almost flush against him had his hips almost stuttering.

“Fuck, that’s it,” he moaned out, letting his head fall back and his eyes screw shut from the ecstasy he was feeling in this moment. His long hair was damp with sweat, and his abs were flexing with the exertion as he somehow again managed to pick up his pace. The girl was screaming into his hand now, her tight walls clenching around him and coaxing out his orgasm much faster now.

“Holy shit, you feel so good around me--” he had just enough of a grip on himself to stop before he continued, because he knew the next word that was about to come flying out of his mouth was your name, and that would be a bit hard to explain to the girl he was fucking into oblivion right now.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum soon, fuck, shit,” Jungkook was getting more vocal now as he felt the coil in him threatening to snap, not sure if she was also close yet, but using her to get himself there anyway. He’d return the favor, of course, but he needed to get off first and get you out of his mind.

“Gonna let me use this pussy however I want?” he moaned by her ear, being rewarded with another loud scream and the flutter of her walls around him. “Yeah? Gonna let me fuck you the way I like? Fuck you hard enough you can’t walk for days?”

The girl was nodding behind his palm, tears running down her face again. Fuck, what he wouldn’t give to have you crying from pleasure, pleasure he was giving you.

She reached a hand around and tugged on his locks, pulling a loud groan from him and providing him with the last push he needed to drag him over that edge.

“Fuck, I’m cumming, ah-”

Moments later he filled up the condom, listening to the girl’s continued cries behind his palm and still imagining she was you as he thrusted a few more times to ride it out. When he was done, he removed his hand from around her mouth and pulled out of her carefully, letting her fall back onto the bed, her breathing rapid.

He had just experience what was easily one of the best orgasms he’d had in a while, and he was still breathing pretty hard himself.

After he disposed of the condom, he crawled back into the bed, flipping the girl over and surprising her. He pulled her down the bed to where his face was in between her legs, spreading them wide for him. He looked up at her fucked out expression, pleased with himself that even though she hadn’t cum yet, he had still managed to ruin her this much already.

When her eyes landed on him, she moaned again. He gave her a smile and simply said “I’m not done with you yet,” before he attached his mouth to her clit.

The reaction was immediate, the girl nearly screeching as her hands found purchase in his hair again, tugging at the dark strands and making him groan in return. He flicked his tongue across her clit fast and with enough pressure to have her squirming, and when he plunged two fingers inside and crooked them just right, he knew it wouldn’t be long before she’d be falling apart.

“Jungkoo-”

He placed a smack on her thigh, making her stop herself with a moan.

“Just moan for me. Don’t speak, just wanna hear all those pretty sounds you can make,” he instructed her before he continued his ministrations against her cunt. She obeyed him and he was grateful for it.

He didn’t want to hear her talk, because whenever she did, it messed up the illusion that it was you. He blamed his continued thoughts about you on him still being in his post-orgasm high, picturing you as the one squirming with your hands buried in his hair as he had you exploding all over his tongue again and again.

The vision made him shut his eyes with a grunt, causing his dick to twitch again. Before he could get lost in the idea further, he felt the girl clench harder than she had the whole night, followed by a loud scream and gushing of her release around his fingers. He continued to fuck into her with his fingers at a rapid pace, collecting every bit of her release with his tongue before she pushed him away due to oversensitivity.

When it was all said and done, they were laying beside each other in the bed, the only sound being their shared labored breathing as they both stared up at the ceiling. The two of them knew how this would go: either she would ask to stay the night, or she would leave. Jungkook always left the decision up to his guests unless he just didn’t vibe with them like that, so he didn’t make any moves to ask her to leave or help her get comfortable. The choice was up to her, and she knew it.

Instead of voicing what she wanted, however, she did something unexpected.

“Where the fuck did all that come from,” she asked, still somewhat breathless. Jungkook propped himself up on an elbow so he could look down at her, relieved now that he was actually seeing her face and no one else’s.

“What do you mean? You know I’ve always fucked you good.”

She chuckled at that. “No, I know, believe me. You’re still one of the best I’ve ever had.” He smirked at that while she continued. “But something about it was…different tonight. It’s a good different but still different.”

Jungkook’s brows furrowed. “Care to elaborate?”

“Well,” she thought about it for a second, “for a little bit it felt like you were just using me for your own pleasure, instead of simply acting like you were. Like, you were basically fucking me to get out something that had you worked up. Not that I’m complaining,” she added when she saw Jungkook’s expression, “I just thought it was interesting. That’s all.”

Jungkook nodded curtly, not even reacting when the girl placed a gentle kiss underneath his jaw. When she leaned back, she patted his cheek.

“I’m gonna head home, but maybe I’ll see you around, yeah?”

Jungkook nodded again, giving her a parting kiss before watching her gather her things and leave his bedroom. He heard the click of his front door being shut once she exited, and suddenly his apartment was much too quiet for him.

Hell, maybe he should’ve asked her to stay this time around. At least that way he’d have some company that could keep him out of his head where his thoughts were still filled with you.

He sighed heavily and got up to take a shower, scrubbing the events of the night away and hoping that with each second he spent under the waterfall, he could wash away those pesky lingering thoughts about you. He soon realized that was just wishful thinking and when he laid down in bed once more, now clean and in fresh clothes, his mind was running rampant.

He didn’t like it. He was supposed to hate you, like utterly despise you. But for some reason, he felt like he couldn’t do it anymore, and he didn’t know why.

And that terrified the absolute fuck out of him.

⊱──────── ✬ ✬ ✬ ────────⊰

➥Part 2

➥PYF Spotify Playlist (songs I listened to for inspo)

➥Series Masterlist

➥All Works Masterlist

[kittymsmithwritesstuff]

Writing Commissions are OPEN, also current story status/projects at the bottom!

Hey y’all! My commissions are ongoing for writing at the moment. I have a link to my AO3 below so you can look at any examples of my writing, below that is what fandoms I’ll write for, what I’d like from you, where to contact me, and then price and payment info. 

Thanks for taking the time to read and if you don’t mind, reblog or pass it on <3

AO3 LINK: https://archiveofourown.org/users/kittymsmith

How to contact me?

Please DM me through Tumblr. I also have a Twitter @TheLorehound. I’m willing to talk through Discord if you prefer that for whatever reason, but you’ll need to DM me one of these two places first. 

Please don’t be shy at all messaging! Even if you don’t end up commissioning me or anything I’m happy to answer any questions or whatever, lmao.

What fandoms will I write for?

Essentially I’ll write for just about any fandom, but these are really ones that I’m the most familiar with and enjoy writing the most for-but you can ask for any, I’ve been in fandom a long time and there’s certainly some I’ve forgotten about, lmao.

Main fandoms:

Apex Legends

Overwatch

Avatar: The Last Airbender 

Avatar: Legend of Korra

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Horizon: Forbidden West

Hades (game)

Assassins Creed: Valhalla

Borderlands (1-3, Prequel)

Frozen/Frozen II

Cyberpunk 2077 (Game, haven’t seen the show yet though I WILL)

What do I need from you to write?

-Main character(s) and, if you have a preference, secondary characters.

-If applicable, any characters you do not want mentioned or present in the fic.

-Ships, if applicable (FusexBloodhound or KyaxLin for example)

-General idea of how many words you want, though this can be figured out when we discuss the fic.

I’ll write pretty much anything, but here’s a short list of hard no’s:

-Fetish stuff

-Certain NSFW (I’ll get spicy but I personally do not write porn....currently.)

-Super heavy themes, violence, gore, etc are typically fine, but there is a limit. We can discuss in DM’s. 

-Pedophilic shit

This about covers it on hard no’s. Most things are negotiable. 

Prices:

These are oneshot commissions only.

I take full payment up front through PayPal or Venmo.

If I write more than you commission for after the talking period is over, you do not pay extra.

Base commission is 2-2.5k words for $30USD.

Each additional 1k words: $10USD.  

Max words: 10k

----

Story/Project Stats 

 Progress of current and future main projects I’m working on when it comes to fanfic. I will actively be keeping this updated in addition to posts when a new chapter is out. 

I Am as Human as You - MoiraxMercy/Moicy - Chapter 25 in progress, needs finished and beta read. A holdover chapter from Moira's POV was published in July. Just moved, still job hunting so that takes priority. I am rearranging some of the timeline I have written out but hopefully once that's done I can get back to writing more consistently.

The Expedition - FusexBloodhound/Fusehound - Final Chapter in progress.

Soulmate AU or "Nightsound"- MoiraxMercy/Moicy - Published and being updated every 1-2 weeks. You can read 'Nightsound' here:

https://href.li/?https://archiveofourown.org/works/50187862/chapters/126751342

Untitled ATLA/LOK Fic - LinxKya/Kyalin - Good chunk written, timeline and character maps made, reconsidering plot. This one is on the back burner ATM.

[tigerkirby215]

5e Sona, the Maven of the Strings build (League of Legends)

(Artwork by Shilin Huang. Made for Riot Games.)

(Shit meme by yours truly.)

Revealing my Champion Mastery just to say that I play a lot of Sona. Don’t flame me for playing Seraphine and Yuumi I swear to god, and I have no idea why Teemo is in my top 10 highest mastery champs ngl.

Anyways you have no idea how happy I am as a Sona main that my girl is now top tier. I came to League of Legends from Overwatch (yes really) and I used to main Lucio in OW along with some of the more “techy” characters like Symmetra and Torbjorn. (Came to OW from TF2 where I mained Engineer and Medic.) Sona was a natural fit for me as a champion who was both easy to play and very similar to Lucio. It also helps that I joined the Rift during the single most engaging meta to ever grace this game. I was kinda too shit to play Janna but the Ardent Censer meta is also why I have such a high mastery on Lulu tbh.

But enough about my history with League: Sona! Honestly when I think of an archetypical support Sona pops into my head a lot sooner than Soraka: a champion based on empowering their teammates in as many ways as possible with heals, shields, movement speed, and CC to hold the enemy team down. I’ve always loved playing her because she feels like much more of a macro oriented character than other supports, with team-wide support as opposed to keeping one person alive like Soraka or Yuumi or focusing on CC like Morgana and Nami.

I’m going to build most if not all the champions eventually but man I am happy to tackle Sona now. She’s always been on my mind as my main but it was pretty difficult to think of how to make her. I think this build is good enough though!

Wow that was much longer of an intro than I’m used to. You can really tell which champions I’m excited for lol.

GOALS

Everything in harmony - Sona boosts everyone on her team with her songs as they fill the air.

Triple time! - Sona’s ability to boost her whole team into a good position is always beneficial.

Crescendo! - Fun fact: Sona’s ultimate is canonically extremely painful as she forces you to contort your limbs against your will. Why is Sona needlessly macabre? Well remember that Riot also wrote Volibear as an Eldritch old god.

RACE

Sona is Human but if you want to be cool you can make her a Kalashtar for resistance to Psychic damage and advantage on Wisdom saves. Regardless we’re going to be making what’s known as a dollar store Kalashtar with Variant Human. Increase your Charisma by 1 as well as your Constitution because we kinda don’t need much else. You also get proficiency in one skill of your choice which will of course be Performance, and a language which you can pick as you fancy: you won’t be speaking it anyways lmfao.

That’s because “Only you can hear me summoner; what masterpiece shall we play today?” Grab the Telepathic feat to complete this dollar store Kalashtar package. Increase your Charisma score by 1 and get a 60 foot telepathy to speak while being mute. You also learn the Detect Thoughts spell and can cast it once without using a spell slot. "Did he want... four autographs? I don't understand."

ABILITY SCORES

15; CHARISMA - Charisma is tied to performance and all the other stuff a Demacian noblewoman is expected to be good at.

14; DEXTERITY - Something something medium armor; even if you wear a dress there’s no reason you can’t have some padding beneath it!

13; STRENGTH - Hey this isn’t something something medium armor!

12; CONSTITUTION - Sona may be squishy in League but I value not dying more than good skill checks honestly.

10; WISDOM - Speaking of not dying: Wisdom saves are more common, and Insight is more useful than most Intelligence skills.

8; INTELLIGENCE - We had to dump something so unfortunately Intelligence gets the short end of the stick. You may have studied under the illustrious Buvelle family but most of those lessons were music classes.

If you want a better stat array going 13 / 14 / 12 / 10 / 10 / 14 with Point Buy is perfectly viable, and if your DM is cool enough to let you multiclass without Strength then you’re more than welcome to dump it.

BACKGROUND

There’s two obvious backgrounds that fit Sona: the first is Entertainer for proficiency with Acrobatics and a skill of your choice (since we already took Performance lol.) You also get proficiency with Disguise Kits and your Etwahl! (That’s what Sona’s instrument is called btw.) Your background feature By Popular Demand allows you to play any stage once. "Some, just the once.” You can perform in exchange for a place to stay, and when you do so the local people will remember your wonderful performance!

But making an Entertainer Bard is kinda cliché, no? If you want to lean into Sona’s Demacian heritage go for the Noble background. This gives you proficiency with Persuasion and History as well as a gaming set of your choice: unfortunately Tellstones isn’t an option (unless your DM decides otherwise!) so a Dragonchess Set will do well enough. Oh and you get another language that you won’t speak: fun! Your Position of Privilege makes it easy for you to arrange meetings with other important people, and the commonfolk will be kind and cordial with you.

(Screenshot from the Tellstones: King’s Gambit trailer by Riot Games.)

I personally opted to go for Noble when making this build, but if you want to choose Entertainer go right ahead! Backgrounds don’t affect too much overall and it’s up to you (and your DM) to make your own Sona!

(Artwork from League of Legends Wild Rift. Made for Riot Games. RIOT PLEASE UPDATE MUSE SONA ON PC I’M BEGGING YOU!)

THE BUILD

LEVEL 1 - BARD 1

I mean what else did you expect? Bards get proficiency in three musical instruments of their choice: a Lyre is the closest you’ll get to Sona’s Etwahl, though a Dulcimer is also pretty close. I’d also recommend grabbing a Lute since most magical instruments come in Lute variety.

You also get proficiency in 3 skills of your choice like Perception to watch wards, Insight to watch people, and Athletics for a bit of Tenacity to break out of grapples. (As well as potentially grab some people yourself! Although Acrobatics is also perfectly fine for escaping grapples.)

As a Bard you can boost your ADC with Bardic Inspiration, letting them add a d6 to attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws. You have a number of these equal to your Charisma modifier and they come back after a Long Rest.

But of course the main reason to play a Bard is to do Demacian-banned Spellcasting! You learn two cantrips from the Bard list like Vicious Mockery for some diminuendo, making it harder for the enemy to hurt your allies while also cutting them down to size. (I don’t know if your DM will let you slap your Etwahl angrily and then point at them judgingly, but you may have to break your vow of silence every now and then.) You can also learn Prestidigitation for all sorts of general magic stuff that you really shouldn’t do in front of anyone important.

You of course also learn 4 Bard spells like Cure Wounds and Healing Word for the atypical healing spells, Dissonant Whispers for some Hymn of Valor damage, and Detect Magic which you’ll likely be expected to cast as the designated support. *Sigh* Always gotta buy wards.

LEVEL 2 - BARD 2

Second level Bards could be called a Jack of All Trades, as you get to add half your proficiency bonus to any skill you aren’t proficient in. This means even if your ability scores are bad the skills you don’t have proficiency in are still good enough! You also get Song of Rest, letting your allies recover an extra d6 of health during Short Rests. And if you have Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything  Magical Inspiration will let your allies add their Bardic Inspiration to the damage or healing of a spell they cast!

And finally you can learn another spell: against as the designated support you’re expected to take Identify.

LEVEL 3 - BARD 3

Third level Bards get Expertise in two skills: Performance is an obvious must and Persuasion would probably be good as well.

But more importantly you get to choose your Bardic College and if you want to both shield your allies and speed them up look no further than the College of Glamour! That’s because Mantle of Inspiration grants 5 temporary hitpoints to a number of creatures within 60 feet of you equal to your Charisma modifier (which can include yourself by the way!) Additionally those creatures can move up to their movement speed as a reaction without provoking opportunity attacks, making this a great tool to reposition an ally who’s caught in a dangerous position!

You’re also capable of creating an Enthralling Performance: if you perform for at least 1 minute, you can attempt to inspire wonder in your audience. At the end of the performance you can choose a number of humanoids within 60 feet of you who watched and listened to all of it, up to a maximum equal to your Charisma modifier. Each target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by you.

While charmed in this way, the target idolizes you, and speaks glowingly of you to anyone who talks to them. They also hinder anyone who opposes you, although they avoid violence unless it was already inclined to fight for you. This effect ends on a target after 1 hour unless they take any damage, you attack it, or it witnesses you attacking or damaging any of its allies. If a target succeeds on its saving throw the target has no hint that you tried to charm it, and you can use this ability once per Short or Long Rest.

Finally you can learn second level spells like Hold Person, for a one-man version of your ultimate.

LEVEL 4 - BARD 4

Ah the first of many Ability Score Improvements. You may have noticed our deliberately uneven Charisma modifier: that’s because I’m going to be taking the Fey Touched feat for +1 to your Charisma, the Misty Step spell (for Flash, of course), and the Gift of Alacrity spell from Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount for a Song of Celerity! Accelerated movement? I concur.

You can also learn another spell as well as another cantrip! For your cantrip take Mage Hand for help warding those hard-to-reach areas, and for your spell take Lesser Restoration, because yeah it’s also your job to buy Mikael’s. *Sigh.*

LEVEL 5 - BARD 5

5th level Bards get a Font of Inspiration that lets their Bardic Inspiration come back after a Short Rest as well as a Long Rest. That’s good because your Bardic Inspiration increases to a d8, which also boosts your Mantle of Inspiration to grant 8 temporary hitpoints!

You can also learn another spell like Hypnotic Pattern: while it won’t do any damage and your allies can’t hit the dancing enemies it’ll still be the best recreation of your ultimate for now.

(Artwork by Katie “TeaTime” De Sousa. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 6 - PALADIN 1

I hope you weren’t expecting this to be a pure Bard build, because then I’d just be building Seraphine again! Grab your something something Medium Armor as well as a shield (well technically you need both hands free to play a musical instrument) it’s Paladin time, master of auras! 

Paladins get a Lay on Hands pool equal to 5 times their Paladin level for some more healing. You can touch a creature to give them any amount of health from your Lay on Hands, or use 5 hitpoints from your Lay on Hands pool to neutralize a poison or disease affecting them. You also get Divine Sense to locate any Celestial, Fiend, or Undead as long as they’re within 60 feet of you and not behind total cover. Don’t worry it gets a lot more exciting later.

LEVEL 7 - PALADIN 2

Second level Paladins can choose their Fighting Style and you’re still more of a mage than a warrior, so Blessed Warrior will give you two cantrips from the Cleric list that use your Charisma! Guidance is an obvious must for a support and Toll the Dead is a great option if you want to go full AP.

Should you have options for attacks to target enemies who have high Wisdom? Yeah probably: Sacred Flame might be a good choice.

Of course cantrips also imply more Spellcasting! You can prepare a number of spells equal to your Charisma modifier plus half your Paladin level (rounded down) which is currently a freaking lot of spells. Let’s just go down the list, shall we?

Bless is great to buff your team and make them harder, better, faster, and stronger.

Command is a mostly harmless Enchantment spell that will force your foes to do as you, well, command. I’d argue “dance” is a reasonable Command.

Protection from Evil and Good is never bad to have in your back pocket in case you’re fighting either Kayle or Fiddlesticks.

And Shield of Faith will let you boost your ADC’s survivability with Ardent Censer!

I know you can prepare more spells but there isn’t much I want from first level of Paladin. I am contractually obligated to mention that you can also turn your spell slots into a Divine Smite if you hit an enemy with a melee weapon, but you aren’t really going to be using weapons in this build. That’s right boys hop aboard the caster Paladin train!

LEVEL 8 - PALADIN 3

Third level Paladins get to choose their Sacred Oath and Oath of the Watchers may seem weird but it’s really good at defending your allies. That’s because you get two different Channel Divinity options: Abjure the Extraplanar works similarly to the Cleric’s Turn Undead feature except it affects Aberrations, Celestials, Elementals, Fey, and Fiends.

Watcher’s Will meanwhile lets you choose a number of creatures you can see within 30 feet of you, up to your Charisma modifier. For 1 minute, you and the chosen creatures have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws. This means that in a party of 6 this ability can give your whole party advantage on all mental saves, which is huge for keeping everyone alive against nasty casters! See? Demacia can use your magic!

Speaking of magic you get Alarm and Detect Magic as Oath spells. (Might want to swap Detect Magic from your Bard list with Mass Healing Word ty Tasha’s.) You can also use Harness Divine Power to regain a spell slot equal to half your proficiency bonus a number of times per Long Rest. And you get Divine Health, because you don’t take a sick day to stop complaining about Seraphine.

LEVEL 9 - PALADIN 4

4th level Paladins get another Ability Score Improvement: cap off that Charisma for maximum AP scaling!

(Artwork by Kelly Aleshire & Esben Lash Rasmussen. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 10 - PALADIN 5

5th level Paladins can finally prepare second level spells! As a Watchers Paladin you get access to Moonbeam as well as See Invisibility, both of which are very good for dealing with incoming gankers.

You can also prepare spells like Aid to boost your allies’ HP, Prayer of Healing (ty Tasha’s) for some out-of-combat healing, and Warding Bond for a Knight’s Vow.

Oh and you get an Extra Attack, which sure would matter if you were actually using weapons.

LEVEL 11 - PALADIN 6

6th level reasons get the main reason Sona’s a Paladin: Aura of Protection! All your saving throws are increased by an amount equal to your Charisma modifier, which is a full +5 currently! But what’s special about this ability is that it also applies to your allies within 10 feet of you, letting you give out auras a plenty to keep your allies safe!

You can also prepare another spell but again: not much I really want. So we’re going to be waiting a little while longer once again.

LEVEL 12 - PALADIN 7

7th level Watchers Paladins get Aura of the Sentinel, or as I like to call it: Song of Celerity. When you or any creature of your choice within 10 feet of you roll for initiative, they gain a bonus to initiative equal to your proficiency bonus. While this may make positioning a little difficult (everyone’s going to have to huddle around you) this ability guarantees that you can speed up all your important allies to make sure they get their powerful abilities off!

LEVEL 13 - PALADIN 8

8th level Paladins get another Ability Score Improvement or a Feat. You may have noticed your uneven Constitution score: grab good ol’ Resilient Constitution for a boost to your health and even more insurance on your Concentration checks. With your Paladin aura and proficiency you’d have a +12 total to your Constitution checks currently, meaning that if you take 24 damage or less you won’t even have to roll for Concentration!

LEVEL 14 - PALADIN 9

You are probably the only Paladin who cares about spells, so it’s nice that you get 3rd level spells now! Watchers Paladins get two very strong third level spells: Nondetection will help you deward and keep your allies safe from enemies that may try to sneak a peak at you, but Counterspell is the true best choice to stop danger from befalling your allies. What’s very good about Counterspell is that as a Bard you get to add Jack of All Trades to the skill check, meaning it’s far easier for you to deny an incomming spell than any other spellcaster! “Mages have enough problems without you.”

Of course you can prepare some more spells like Aura of Vitality for Aria of Perseverance, and Revivify for an ADC’s Guardian Angel. But having access to spells like Remove Curse, Dispel Magic, Crusader’s Mantle, and even Daylight on the Paladin spell list are all extremely useful to be able to prepare. Remember that you are doing yourself a disservice by not taking time to think about what the best spells to prepare would be for your current quest. "Every note is important."

(Artwork by Kelly Aleshire & Esben Lash Rasmussen. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 15 - BARD 6

Now that we’ve got all our auras it’s time to go back to Bard for Mantle of Majesty! As a bonus action, you cast Command without expending a spell slot as you take on an appearance of unearthly beauty for 1 minute. During that minute you can cast Command as a bonus action on each of your turns without expending a spell slot. Additionally any creature charmed by you automatically fails its saving throw against the command you cast with this feature. You do have to concentrate on this feature (like a spell), and once you use it you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

You can also learn another spell but there isn’t much I want from the third level of Bard, really. Oh and you get Countercharm which is awful and I hate it, but since you didn’t take a 10th level in Paladin I suppose you have to use it. Spend an action to give allies advantage on their saving throws against charms and fears, I guess.

LEVEL 16 - BARD 7

7th level Bard; 4th level spells. Freedom of Movement will let you help either yourself or an ally with Mikael’s Crucible, and Dimension Door is great to get into lane fast, or back to base fast!

LEVEL 17 - BARD 8

8th level Bards get another Ability Score Improvement, and if you don’t like the look of something something Medium Armor then the Eldritch Adept feat might be able to help. Take the Mask of Many Faces invocation to be able to cast Disguise Self at will to change your skins as you please.

Could you have taken this earlier? Absolutely. Are there better invocations? Yeah probably, but by level 17 you can make some of your own choices. Build your own Sona: this is merely a guide and you can make your own choices.

Speaking of own choices: take whichever spell you want at this level. There’s plenty of great ones for a 4th level Bard and I can’t recommend anything in particular to you. Every musician has their own style, and it’s up to you to find your own!

(Artwork by Yan Li. Made for Riot Games.)

LEVEL 18 - BARD 9

9th level Bards get to pretend that increasing Song of Rest from a d6 to a d8 by total level 18 is helpful.

You do get access to 5th level spells like Mass Cure Wounds, which is like Mass Healing Word but better! "Harmoniously."

LEVEL 19 - BARD 10

10th level Bards get Expertise in two more skills: Perception is an obvious must to watch over your wards but beyond that? Honestly pick your poison with whatever skill you want since by level 19 you can make your own choices. (Though my personal choice would be Athletics to hopefully give some more safety against grapples.)

But of course the main boon of reaching level 10 in Bard is the Magical Secrets! ...I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you again: there honestly aren’t any spells in particular I want as Magical Secrets. Sure I could recommend spells like Haste or whatever but are they really going to be that great by total level 20? To be honest even the spells on the Bard list like Animate Objects, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Rary's Telepathic Bond, Scrying, and Synaptic Static are very good (although I’d sooner replace some of your old spells with them.)

Again I know this is supposed to be a “guide” but most people won’t hit level 19 anyways, so I don’t think it’s that bad for me to recommend you take your own steps to make your own Sona. Hell, build some AP if you want! I know I would!

LEVEL 20 - BARD 11

Our final level is the 11th level of Bard and I’ll be honest: it’s just to add Otto's Irresistible Dance to your spell list. It can only affect one person but it’s still your ultimate by total level 20.

Oh and you were supposed to get a cantrip last level. Uhhhhh I dunno take Mending lol.

FINAL BUILD

PROS

The rhythm connects us all - You have dozens of spells to keep your team alive and active during a fight, not to mention that all your Paladin auras and abilities really help them give 110%. It’s worth mentioning that Gift of Alacrity combined with Aura of the Sentinel is a d8 + 6 to an Initiative roll, which will almost always guarantee that whoever you want to go first will be going first!

A true masterpiece should celebrate living - Despite your somewhat weird level split you maxed out the only stat which matters for you: Charisma. And woah holy shit turns out Paladins are really good with maxed out Charisma! +5 to all saves means even your lowest save is a +4, and the saves your proficient in vary between +13 for Dexterity and Constitution (both very common!) and a whopping +16 save on Charisma!

Curtains up; I'm ready - Jack of All Trades also does quite nicely to help your middling skills. Even though I dumped most of your mental skills you’re still proficient enough that you won’t be completely helpless when caught off guard. And when you’re in the zone with Persuasion or Performance you are easily the best girl around!

CONS

Don't make me get off stage - It was my intention to recreate Sona’s positional gameplay with this build but it does present some gameplay issues when trying to maximize your effectiveness. Where do you position yourself as a character who’s still primarily a squishy caster despite your good saving throws and AC? Can you give everyone in your party support, or are they too spread out to get value out of your 10 foot range auras?

Quiet, please! - You have a damn good concentration check, but what do you concentrate on? Not only do you have a ton of spells but they all scale very good with levels and you have spell slots that go far higher than your maximum level spell. It can be hard to choose what to do with those 7th and 8th level slots.

The world is cruel... Until that changes, I'll never stop playing - One of many “meta” problems with this build was my choice to focus almost entirely on support. Sure Toll the Dead is a great damaging cantrip but your only two damaging spells are Moonbeam and Dissonant Whispers. Again: you don’t have to follow my build point-for-point and while you’ll be flamed in League for building Sona full AP I don’t think your friends will mind if you take some damaging spells.

But if you can’t tell it was really hard for me to come up with those downsides. With the exception of the positional requirements a Bardadin is a very strong build and Sona is a very strong support. Boost your teammates with your own amazing power and make sure everyone’s alive and jamming! Your power may have been forgotten over the years but no one’s ever upset to have a great support at their side. And remember: Seraphine may be in K/DA but you’re in Pentakill, and you have your own label! No one can replace DJ Sona!

[smashmains]

Overwatch crosshairs

#OVERWATCH CROSSHAIRS PRO#

#OVERWATCH CROSSHAIRS FREE#

In default setting, only Show Framerate and Show Network Ping are enabled. Advance Performance Stats: There are 6 advanced options: Show Framerate(shown as FPS), Show GPU Temperature (shown as TMP), Show VRAM Usage (shown as VRM), Show Network Ping (shown as PNG), Show Network Round Trip Time (shown as RTT), and Show Network Interpolation Delay(shown as IND).Display Performance Stats: Display performance statistic on the upper left of the screen.Triple Buffering: Enable/disable Triple Buffering.VSync: Enable/disable Vertical Synchronization.Aspect Ratio: Choose the ratio for the display on-screen.Field of View: The field of view for your first-person aspect, ranged from 80 to 103.Resolution: Options with the asterisk symbol (*) is the recommended resolution.If the player only have one output, it will show "Monitor 1". Target Display: Choose which display output for the game.Display Mode: There are 3 options: Windowed, Fullscreen, or Borderless Windowed.The name of player's graphic card is displayed.Please note that all product links in the table above send you to Amazon and we receive a small commission for items sold. We use the following abbreviations: coach (C), manager/organization entourage (M), content creator/streamer (S), benched/inactive (B).

#OVERWATCH CROSSHAIRS PRO#

That is to indicate that the player in question isn't (currently) a pro player on the main roster but still part of the organization. In our list you will sometimes see a capitalized letter behind an organization. If you have any further questions, you can refer to our FAQ as well.

#OVERWATCH CROSSHAIRS FREE#

If we’ve made any mistakes, please feel free to join us in the comments to discuss these settings and their sources. The list is connected to our database which is continuously updated, as the scene evolves and new trends become standard. If that is the case, you can find the settings, resolution and sensitivity of the pros below. Instead of taking a data-driven approach, it might be that you want try out a favorite Overwatch pro’s settings like Seagull or Surefour. Averages of eDPI for example can be a great guiding tool in deciding which Overwatch sensitivity you want to use. In our articles we deliver an overview of what we consider to be the best Overwatch settings. This is for all players who want to add the perfect Overwatch settings to their arsenal. We’ve updated the list to reflect the Overwatch League by Blizzard in addition to a host of free agents that are looking to break-through in the scene. Our Overwatch Pro Settings Guide is a great place to start. Tuning your Overwatch settings is what takes you to the next level. We consider this our data-vault, our source to give you the Best Monitor and Gear for Overwatch. We also verified information on the monitors, mice and keyboards of these players as well. We researched the Overwatch settings like resolution, dpi and sensitivity for each individual pro. With big changes for Overwatch 2 on the horizon, the game has seen renewed interest and we can only hope that it returns to its former glory as Blizzard makes changes to the (competitive) multiplayer aspect. Overwatch might have passed the height of its popularity but it's still a game that's played by tens of thousands of people every single day.

[burningdarkfire]

i haven’t played overwatch much for years and haven’t followed the OWL for even longer than that but i regret being busy today and not watching the final OW1 finals. the nostalgia is hitting me so haaaard

i updated and launched the game to check my stats and i played a total of 759 hours. 521 hours were on mercy. the next highest is 50 hours on lucio. i was such a one trick lmao and the best part is i was actually pretty good by my own standards! i played 602 hours total of comp and i was plat for a lot of the earlier seasons and i even peaked at diamond in season 6

nyxl was my favourite team while i watched OWL because jjonak was my favourite support player, and honestly was there a support player who didn’t worship him during the inaugural season? him + ark was such a crazy duo to watch and it’s no surprise to me that my interest in OWL diminished a lot once ark left the team

but shanghai dragons was the team of my heart, because shanghai, because home, because of the 番茄炒蛋 colours. their first win after the 0-40 season has to be one of my favourite esports moments ever and that’s after watching league for eight years straight. i definitely cried. i am so happy to learn that they are the final OWL champions. what an incredible arc for this team!!

yea idk 2016 was the worst year of my life but i have nothing but happy memories of this game. it was the first shooter i ever played (not that i did much shooting) but some of the most fun i ever had. sometimes i wonder if i’m always going to be chasing how overwatch made me feel. i don’t know how much of overwatch 2 i’ll end up playing but i really do hope the game does well and the esport and community manages to thrive <3

[killscreencinema]

Doom Eternal (PS4)

Rip n’ tear!

Rip n’ tear!

Rip n’ tear!

5 stars.

End of review.

Nah, just kidding, but that does more or less summarize my feelings on Doom Eternal, the sequel to the masterpiece soft reboot of Doom that came out in 2016, other wise known as Doom 2016.  On a side note, who would have thought “Doom 2016″ would have ended up being an omen of the following four year?  Weird.

Anyway, speaking of Hell on Earth, Doom Eternal’s plot revolves around an all-out demonic invasion of Earth, with humanity’s only hope being the DoomSlayer (aka, the Doomguy).  A lot has changed since he last thwarted Hell’s efforts on Mars, such as the DoomSlayer’s swanky new mothership known as the Fortress of Doom.  Where did he get it?  That information is probably provided in the loads of codex pages you find throughout the game that fill in the gaps in the lore.

Which brings me to my first problem with the game - too much story getting in the way of my ripping n’ tearing.  I know, I could skip the cutscenes, but that ain’t really the point.  Part of Doom 2016′s charm was its middle finger to story intensive gameplay and obnoxiously extensive game lore.  What minimal story there was in the game was carried out organically during gameplay, similar to Half Life 2.  Nothing ever felt like a cut scene or a complete interruption of the game.  Also, the story pretty simple - you are a legendary badass who has been resurrected to save Mars, and by proxy the Earth, from the forces of Hell.

Doom Eternal tries to expand on the lore by giving Doomguy a backstory, involving him belonging to a race of demi-gods known as “Sentinels” who have stood in opposition to Hell throughout the ages.  That’s pretty lame, as the appeal of THE DOOMSLAYER to me is that he’s just a regular dude who is so good as slaying demons at will, they’ve built a mythology around him as an unstoppable killing machine and the only being demons fear.  That’s enough for me - I don’t need him to be part of a lineage of “Slayers” or some shit like that.  YOU’RE OVERTHINKING THINGS BETHESDA! 

I won’t lie though - there were some cutscenes I enjoyed, such as any time Doomguy interacts with other humans, who all scurry out of his way in fear or are just paralyzed in awe. 

Another issue I have with the game is THERE’S TOO MANY WAYS TO KILL THINGS!  I know, it’s an odd complaint, but bear with me here.  So you have 8 standard weapons, but each weapon, except the Super Shotgun and the BFG, have two mods each that fundamentally changes them into new weapons essentially.  So counting the mods, and the chainsaw, you have 21 weapons to choose from!  That’s... a lot of goddamn weapons.  I envision Doomguy comically approaching a demon fight, both hands full of so many weapons they clatter to the ground as he tries to pick the best one for the fight.  Then there are the frag grenades, the ice grenades, the flame thrower, the “Blood Punch”, and eventually the one-hit-kill sword.  All this results in me either pushing the wrong button for what I want (”Ah shit, I meant select the sword, but I accidentally switched my frag grenades to ice grenades!”) or getting pounded by projectiles in slow motion as I go through my weapons and try to figure out the best one for this particular encounter. 

Oh shit, and then there are the Runes, which give you different abilities while equipped AND you can upgrade the Praetor suit.  Oh, and you can upgrade your stats by finding crystals along the way.  It’s just too much, and a little overwhelming to juggle at first.  I just wanna shoot things, Doom Eternal!

Well, fortunately the game has plenty of that and then some.  The combat is just as intense and frenetic as Doom 2016, with “glory kills” still in full effect and a nice variety of demons to maul.  There’s nothing quite as satisfying as the visceral thrill of tearing a Cacao demon to pieces.  Doom Eternal can also be extremely challenging, especially if you dare to venture into the harder difficulty settings.  I tried playing through it on “Ultra-Violence” (the Doom equivalent of “Hard”) and got my ass humbled back into “Hurt Me Plenty” (aka “normal”) pretty quickly. 

While Doom Eternal might be a little too bloated, like a Mancubator on a Golden Corral binge, it’s still, at its core, every bit as fun as its predecessor.  The graphics are amazing, especially the lovingly crafted, ultra detailed level designs.  There were many instances, in between battles of course, that I would just stand there and take in the environments.  So if you loved Doom 2016, and current events make you wanna tear things to pieces, preferably virtual things, then Doom Eternal is a solid playthrough.

  UPDATE

Since posting this review, I have gone on to play the online “Battlemode”.  Normally, I don’t care for online multiplayer games.   Playing games have always been a solo activity for me - a way to take a break from people.  Also, playing online games seems frustrating in that you almost always start with a huge difficulty curve as you often play against people who LIVE AND BREATH the game 24/7, and therefor, have the uncanny knack to destroy you utterly and immediately before you have a chance to move, much less “get gud”. 

Anyway, I started playing Battlemode solely to pop the PS4 trophies associated with it so that I can Platinum the game.  I must admit, now that I’ve taken the “PS Plus plunge”, I’m curious to check out other online games people seem to be nuts about like Rocket League (which honestly looks fun as hell, I must admit) and Overwatch.  So I figured it was only fair to edit my review to include my impressions of Doom Eternal’s online mode, which is thus..

My usual gripes about online death match difficulty curves aside, “Battlemode” is incredibly lopsided with its premise of 2 player demons versus one player Slayer.  Not only are the odds stacked against you as the Slayer, but the demons also have the ability to summon minions to pester you, make your loot disappear (thereby making health replenishment a pain in the ass), and they respawn if you don’t kill them both within 20 seconds.  As the Slayer, when you are up against two players who are extremely good as demons, the round can be over in seconds, which is infuriating and not remotely fun.   

Meanwhile, playing as a demon is much easier for all the reason listed above, despite some demons handling better than others.  The only difficulty is that the Slayer is inherently faster and more agile than any demon you can choose, which is the only real advantage a Slayer has.  None of this would be a problem if you could just knock out the trophies as a demon, even though it’s a bit of an irritating grind, except one trophy REQUIRES you to be the Slayer - the Weapons Expert trophy, wherein you must kill player demons with each of the 8 weapons at your disposal, including the BFG, which you only have the option of using should you survive to Round 4 (which odds are you won’t).  It’s an incredibly frustrating task, but I got lucky and found a lobby where the player demons were either exceptionally bad or were away from their controller a lot.  So I was able to knock out this trophy at my convenience then, but only after several incredibly frustrating failed attempts.

The only other trophy where being the Slayer is ideal is the “Blood Bath” trophy, where you must kill 200 opponents.  This goes by a lot quicker as the Slayer if you can manage to consistently kill both player demons every round in every match, but you’ll be lucky to kill even one.  However, even then, that can work to your advantage because when they respawn, you can kill them again and rack up another point towards the trophy.  Trying to pop this trophy as a demon is less of a headache, but still sucks because it’s too slow and possible your demon ally will get the deathblow, thereby stealing your point.

So the point of all this is to say I hate Battlemode.  I hate it with a burning passion not unlike the fires of Hell.  I wish the online feature of this game could have just been a good ol’ fashion Death Match.  It’s also bullshit that the game even has trophies you can’t pop unless you play online, because what if you’re a late comer and nobody is playing Battlemode anymore?  Does that mean you just can’t Platinum Doom Eternal?  It’s also mild extortion in that it forces you to pay for PS Plus if you don’t already have it.

So there you have it:

Doom Eternal solo campaign = good

Doom Eternal Battlemode = bad

Happy slaying!

[exeggcute]

I can’t believe I have to be the one who looks like The Big Blizzard Shill but the amount of misinformation I’ve seen about overwatch 2 is laughable and it makes your (rightful) criticisms of blizzard look much weaker by comparison so here is the actual rundown with ow2. you don’t have to like it, you sure don’t have to support blizzard’s behavior in any other matters, but these are the actual facts about this particular phenomenon

overwatch 2 is less of a sequel and more of an expansion--it’s offering a new PvE (player versus environment) story mode that’s exclusive to overwatch 2

it’s also updating the game engine for multiplayer PvP (player versus player), but these updates extend to people on overwatch 1 as well--if you own overwatch 1, these updates continue to be FREE of charge

people who own overwatch 2 will be able to play PvP with people who own overwatch 1. essentially they share a multiplayer lobby

your skins, other cosmetics, ranks, stats, golden guns, and loot boxes carry over from 1 to 2. none of your progress is erased in any way

any new heroes and maps released for overwatch 2 multiplayer will also be released (free of charge) for overwatch 1 multiplayer, and this also extends to the new PvP game modes (iirc)

if you already own overwatch 1, overwatch 2 will be much cheaper than its retail price--it’s more like an expansion pack than a true sequel, but if this is your first entry into the series, it’ll be full price since you’re essentially getting two games for the price of one

overwatch 1, which has already been receiving free content updates for almost four years, will continue to be updated and supported in some capacity without costing players a cent (unless they’re interested in buying the expansion aspect of 2)

not explicitly related to overwatch at all, but the hong kong stuff is (1) not actually related to overwatch dev team in any way (not only are they not the ones making these decisions--it’s almost certainly the higher-ups and executives and PR people, not the game devs and the story writers and all those people--but the actual blitzchung incident was hearthstone specifically) and, (2) unfortunately not at all exclusive to blizzard because countless american companies (apple and google being two particularly prolific ones) are doing the exact same thing on even larger scales