parasitical-if

[parasitical-if]

I'm so sorry, English is not my first language, so when I read "Ads" in the snippet of your other ifs. It took me one too many re-read of that phrase to understand that you weren't saying "advertisement"😞✊

Oh no, I’m sorry lol! It truly does get confusing at times. Fun fact, her original name was Emmaline, short version Em(from the original short story), but when I was doing an IF adaptation I was like I can’t possibly have an IF with an El and an IF with an Em….

[parasitical-if]

For any curious souls...

[Redacted] is going to reveal [redacted] had a hand in [redacted]!

Oh, for anybody curious...

[redacted] fucked [redacted]

[parasitical-if]

Thanks for the tag, @islandwhispers-if!

Tagging, in turn, with no pressure, @reinekes-fox, @cosmic-writes-if, @whentherewasatime-if, @partyof4game

In lieu of sharing a Parasitical snippet, since I do that every month(and I don't have much to share yet, lol) I'll put forward a bit from my Dreamland IF! Sidenote about that, thank you to everyone who has been giving me their thoughts about potential release - I'm keeping a lid on it for now, mostly to polish it, but the future remains open....

The hotel room is carpeted and worn and boring, which might just be exactly the thing you need. The same odd pattern-not-pattern spiraling about on the floor, a single couch and TV inset into the wall, cordoned off from the bed by a wall. A single painting on the wall, some abstract number with colors bursting from a dark center, lines twisting and bending like the corona of the sun.

The blankness reminds you of $!{s_name}'s living room, in a way, but you don't like that comparison much. That brings back to mind $!{s_name}, and with that, $!{e_name}, and with that all the rest, and an ever-growing dread of seeing them again.

When you step into the bathroom, you see that it's clean and the towels are fresh, which is good enough. Quickly, you strip your clothes, step in. The water's lukewarm, but you let it dribble off your curved back, the grime of the day swirling down the drain. Scrub extra hard where it feels like there is extra buildup, until the skin hurts, taut and raw.

Then, out, machine movements. Brush your teeth, spit it out, watch the foamy toothpaste go much the same way that everything does, down and downer. Once, you'd thought Dreamland was a sewer—not for long, given—but you remember in those early days, watching things swirl down the drain and wondering if it all went to pool down under Clarity Park.

If that was why people'd condemned it, maybe, not for Kelly or for the forest or anything like that, but because they could hear, always, the great rushing of a stream below. That sort of unique silence that deep water gives, a hum only acknowledgeable by the deepest parts of the brain. Unnerving.

It's not a sewer, it's worse, but the logic still stands. You pad over to the bed, suddenly exhausted. When you crawl between the sheets, you're still damp from the shower, but eager enough for sleep not to care.

As you lay there, ensconced in blankets,

*if (broughtteddy = true)

    teddy bear tight in your arms,

there is the brief notion that sleep, in Whistlewood, will not be easy.

*page_break And it is not.

[parasitical-if]

End-of-month update: August 2025

Busy, busy month for me, mostly concerning school and adjustment and the like. I have managed to sneak in as many snippets of writing as able, but as could be expected, not much. On non-Parasitical news, I did get a short story accepted for publication in an anthology! Exciting!

Besides that, I have little to report from the month besides thanking you all, again, for reading. Snippet under the cut, as always.

[parasitical-if]

One Knight Stand Update 6

Chapter 2 Part 4 - The Free Time Hub

As this hub will become available once every chapter from this point onwards, you'll be able to run through it around 1 – 4 times (depending on if you're slothful, if you had to take a detour on the road, if one of the ROs triggers an additional scene with you etc.) before the game moves on.

I advise players to make a save file right before entering Free Time so you can try out the many, many, many different options and see which ones you'd like to keep for your canon run, particularly if you're not getting the full four slots of free time.

Also, keep in mind that certain choices need to be triggered by previous flags (i.e. to have the extended discussion with Merlin about the First or Second Circles requires you to successfully research them in the Internet Hub first)

Make sure to clear your cache for the oneknightstand.co website and check that the start page is displaying Version 0.24. Then check the Status menu to make sure your stats haven't been reset to default.

If your stats have reset to the default ?¿?¿?¿ values, it means that particular save has corrupted, and you'll have to use another one (as proceeding with a corrupted save will just give you a bunch of nonexistent error messages).

Play the Updated Beta Test

(Since there were bugs & typos fixed throughout Chapter 1 & 2, your current saves are probably going to reset to the beginning of each section of the game. If things get too wonky, you might want to try restarting from the beginning. )

Featuring...

Merlin's Guide to Minor Available for Reincarnation (which finishes the guide entirely, so now's the time to speak up if you think someone is missing)

New potential text messages if you manage to trigger them in the Free Time Hub.

Platonically or romantically attempt to hang out with everyone onboard the RV. Or just pester them with unending questions & demands. Or pick a fight. Or start shit-stirring. Or…

Work on your phobias or train your stats, with or without the help of the available ROs (Surgeon General’s Warning: Some of these people are not too good at this)

Start your investigations on the internet. You totally want to see Merlin’s OnlyFans account and stalk Adrian on social media, right? (Also, all those MC Benoni’s who didn’t have The Talk, he’s coming for you)

Indulge in some stress relief with one of the five million potential things in your inventory that definitely has no foreshadowing or chances of blowing up in your face.

Put off doing one of many myriad chores. It totally won’t bite you at some point.

Change your sleeping arrangements in the RV and set off a musical beds game that can end up pissing off several people. (Oh god, the coding in the Bed Hub)

All the typo & bug-fixes to literally every previous section of the game except for Chapter1-5 (walking home after the club meeting). So it's quite possible that all saves except in that section might break this time. Also, of course, I found a bunch of typos in Chapter2-3 after I uploaded it to my website today, so there went my morning fixing that. 💀

Current Word Count: 1.4 Million(including code) | 1.1 Million(sans code)

Current Average Playthrough: 75,000+ words

Total Update: 250,000+ (with code) | 200,000+ (without code)

Note: You can view the game code on my site the same way you could on Dashingdon (R.I.P. 🪦) just add /scenes to the end of the URL.

Next Update

Planning & scouting for The Heist

Percy's full menagerie (outside of the pockets) is beginning to make their appearance

Philadelphia is totally fine and not haunted at all.

Also quick reminder that the Alpha Build of the game on Patreon updates as I complete each section, so the first part of Chapter2-5 is already available there.

[parasitical-if]

Just finished the demo and omg. I read a lottt of IFs and yours has shot up to one of my favourites. The writing quality and immersiveness, the worldbuilding, the characters: all so exquisite I'm like genuinely moved. Will be turned like a rotisserie chicken in my brain for a whiiiiile. august is great, very fleshed out and good representation for my favourite subset of blonde men (pathetic). Need everyone to read this NOW!!! Outstanding work!

Thank you so much! I am a big advocate of pathetic blonde men glad to see I've added a good one to the catalogue (as well as all your other praises, lol)

[parasitical-if]

Comment or reblog to this post with any IF that got an update or release in the last couple of months. If you can say the name of the IF and what is new (what chapter, a new demo etc). Let's do some service for the IF community in these dire times and make another long post with the new releases

[parasitical-if]

hello! can i ask if you're still writing the other project you were working on, and if you're planning on one day maybe releasing it? i absolutely love parasitical and i already know i'll miss your writing the day it'll end 💔

I’m assuming you’re talking about Dreamland? I believe the only other project I’ve talked about on here is the greek mythology-inspired one, but that was quite a bit ago.

In the former’s case, yes, I am, though I get limited chance to work on it sadly. I actually usually make the most progress in the 2 weeks or so I’m recuperating from Parasitical updates lol, and it’s at a decent chunk of words at this point. I’ve debated on releasing it more than once, but a lot of caveats would come with that - to expect VERY infrequent updates, and for it to remain squarely a side project. If that’s something you’re interested in, please feel free to shoot me a message! Of course it’s also far easier to work on when it remains a hobby/refresh project(I love sharing my work with readers, but it’s also way less pressure for me when it’s only my own eyes on it). At some point though, it’s definitely going to be my next main project and you will be seeing it sooner or later.

As for the latter, I haven’t worked on that one at all lol. Its a fun thing to daydream about and I’d love to give it a shot someday but it’s a way more complex idea and my writing plate is full between Parasitical, Dreamland, fanfic, and various forays into tradpub.

Anyways to make a long story short you’ll hopefully never have to worry about my writing ending! Thank you for the ask <3

[parasitical-if]

It's here. It's live. The link is here, and on the main, pinned post.

And please, if you find any bugs, typos, and feedback, anything, you can reach out to me. Everything is appreciated.

Have fun guys,

L✌

[parasitical-if]

End-of-Month update: July 2024

Hello! Last month was a very, very eventful month - mostly because of the release of Chapter 5! Woo! I've been blown away by the reception it's received and overwhelmed, in the best way possible, by the outpour from all of you. It's been amazing to hear all of your thoughts. After the release, I took about a week to myself just to recover - I think I wrote at least 50k words in the month of June in preparation for the chapter - and then finished the 1500 follower milestone. Textual progress on C6 is little, as I've spent most of the rest of this month working on other, non-IF writing projects that I've been neglecting in favor of Parasitical. Additionally, most of my Parasitical-related progress has been in revamping the outline.

When I first started writing Parasitical, I had a rough plot outline that was meant to span the 10 chapters (which, planning is not something I tend to do while writing!) Almost immediately, because I'm me, I deviated away from it. A lot of this is things like incorporating information/events that were supposed to happen in, say, Chapter 6 in Chapter 3 instead because I realized it fit better there, or adding completely new things that change up the storyline. In any case, I've drifted so far that it's not really usable anymore so I've been spending my time editing it and repolishing to be a good guide once again. I'm 100% going to start wandering away again but at hopefully it gets me through another few chapters.

August is usually a busy month, as it comes with traveling, my birthday, and also the terror of getting back to uni, but I'm trying to make as much progress as I can! Thanks for reading, and as always, snippet under the cut.

[parasitical-if]

Helllo! Do you have an if suggestions of any kind? Just something with romance ofc

HMMMMMMM >> (I only did ones with demos at the top and no demos at the bottom ^^)

@untitledrockstar-if which they can't save your love from dying? I think that is what its called. OMG OMG... R, I hate love you sm and THE ROS, hehehe... I love MC as well, I need them.

@suevi-if which they have suevi and I played it two weeks ago, obsessed. I need the ROs (all of them mostly Ing but shhh) and Bellamy is so kind so !

(A LOT MORE UNDERNEATH THE BUTTON)

@woesoftheirwretched-if which they have woes of their wretched, is this based, no (half and half) but I like horror and dark content !

@whentherewasatime-if surprisingly I liked it (I wasn't sure because I was half asleep and really tired and wanted to catch up on IFs, pearl sent me and I woke up and was like damn.)

@darkfictionjude all of their games, at first, just a bit confused with EC because I was a bit dumb but replayed it and fell in love with it. I love their IFs.

@parasitical-if which they have parasitical and I love it, gosh golly gosh ! (I need august) I love and remember playing it but not actually playing it so it felt like a dream for some reason... (that was hard to explain like I played it before but never did ?)

@debtofdeception-if which they have debt of deception and I love A... pathetic loser sighhh~ I NEED more, yum yum ! Also love the MC, I need them as well and I love our child so much, sick child </3

@infamous-if not really hard to explain this, love it. I love all the ros, love the side pieces, love my best friends, love everything and I always cry while playing it (it hits hard ? maybe but its sad and awesome to me)

@velvetalliances-if which they have Velvet alliance and I love court drama or just courts in general. I love the characters' names, its so interesting.

@one-foot-in-if which they have one foot in and I just played it not long ago, I like it so far ! I didn't play for long since I did have to do something but I should continue playing it !

@cosmic-writes-if which they have a game called stillwater which is interesting ! and I played a little bit and it was AMAZING (I am now realizing how many IFs I stopped playing since I had to go to bed, do something... I should get back to playing them on the weekends or some days)

@pressplay-if which they have press play and I legit cry while playing because I love it so much and its sad for me.... how embarrassing ... ANGEL and NVM ALL THE ROS !!

@parasitic-if which they have parasitic and I love the theme of the blog, it looks like seaweed (the background color of the blog) and I NEED the bodyguard and Engima lowkey !

@1966-if which they have 1966 and I AM IN LOVEE with the concept, like ahh ! I need that idea, I should've had it/j but cool game so far.

@pavedinashes-if loved this and the ROs are interesting to me, I at first was a bit iffy about it because it didn't catch my attention but pearl told me to play it and it was golden.

@thewoodshungers-if I only played until chapter 2 since I was busy and I must say I want the knight and the witch hunter like come on, need them.

now for ifs with no demos...

@glitzglamgunpowder-if can't wait for it !

@crescendo-if can't wait again for this, I :D

@sipthegossip-if this sounds interesting from when I read the intro like back then and still can't wait for it.

@bluebellstollstudio market, market, and a market.

@cosmic-writes-if is on here because of another game that they have but no demo which is called sanctum ??? but dark fiction !

@galactic-idols-if this made me watch kpop demon hunters with pearl lowkey and I liked the movie, the songs were interesting and good !

@neondreams-if apparently there's a deadline so I guess they won't be here on this list for long huh ?

@custody-if I can't wait for this and this has been in my mind also I like the goth RO, I wanted more goths... should've added a goth baddie in this IF ....

@nsh-if I liked how the blog looks and pearl founds it interesting so I have hopes as well !

@thesecond-if love it, low-key need father Isaac and HIM also Jonah...... I love the writing so far ! (in the asks that they answered) and I can't wait for It

okay, okay I GOTTA STOP...... its a long list !

[parasitical-if]

Just to clarify, there's a bill that would STOP credit card companies from controlling who's allowed to spend money on porn or "risque" (read: queer) content. If you don't think big business should be able to tell you what to spend your own damn money on, call your senators and reps to let them know! It's the Fair Access to Banking Act, H.R.987 in the House, S.410 in the Senate.

[parasitical-if]

I really like your story and your writing is so good and evocative, thank you so much for creating this if I can't wait for more and for T in particular 😚

Also will you add a "skip to chapter" button in the future ?

Aww, thank you, you're so sweet! And yes, that is 100% my intention. I meant to do it this previous update, actually - if you look in the code (which I only recommend if you like really messy code + spoilers), you'll even see a just-started Character Creator doc lol. I unfortunately did not get enough time to finish it before release day, but next update, it'll be here.

[parasitical-if]

the thing they don't tell you about writing an IF is that suddenly every single story idea you have you end up being like..........damn this would make a cool IF.................

[parasitical-if]

congrats on +1500!! can't wait to read them! have you thought about creating a separate, self-contained game for the interludes? that way you don't need to worry about spoilers/hiding them in the main game

For this one, I probably will! The other two are integrated into the main game, and probably will remain there with final release, just with the option to skip, but it might be a good idea to have them available for anyone who wants to read without going through the chapters!

[parasitical-if]

as I so subtly teased yesterday... I have reached 1500 followers! I can't express how thankful I am for all this - the best I have is to do what I did for my 500 and 1000 follower milestones, and provide you guys with another set of RO POVs. I've technically been on vacation(which is also why they're somewhat late - meant to finish this, like, a week ago when I actually hit 1500, but...) but I could not resist writing this out.

The interlude can be accessed through the existing demo - just choose to skip to it in the beginning. The interlude as a whole is roughly 7200 words long, and each individual POV is roughly 1400. Under the cut, I have a few mandatory disclaimers/more information!

These in particular are a bit different from the preceding ones - for one, they contain a whole lot of character lore, enough that I was somewhat hesitant about posting them. If you're one who cares about finding things out slower, quote-on-quote organically, then maybe sit these out. On the other hand, if you love to analyze things and are champing at the bit for a tad more info, these may be just for you!

Unlike the former two interludes, I'm also probably not including this one in the official demo. The biggest reason for this is that I feel like these may toe the line of immersion-breaking, if you just happen to come across this chapter in normal gameplay, as well as aforementioned spoilers. Of course, it'll always be available, you just won't find it when reading through the story normally. If you have different feelings about this, feel free to shoot me an ask! Or, like, if you have Thoughts about the interlude in general.

Along the line of immersion-breaking, I also added a toggle in the game to turn 3rd-person POVs off entirely, if you so wish. For those who love their Exalted's brain, and that brain alone.

There also comes a smattering of typo and bug fixes. Many thanks and kisses to everyone who's been sending those in! Always so appreciated.

As per usual, I very much hope you enjoy. Thank you again for getting me so far (1500!! and i remember when i was ecstatic over 10), and supporting this story <33

[parasitical-if]

keep your eyes peeled tomorrow... there may or may not be a surprise in store...