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lyratea · 4 months ago

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Welcome to the Hustle & Heart Legacy Challenge! 💼✨ This 8-generation challenge is all about building businesses, taking risks, and leaving a lasting dynasty! Your Sims won’t just inherit wealth—they’ll have to hustle, grind, and master their craft to create successful businesses from the ground up. From pottery shops to buzzing nightclubs, peaceful spas to chatty tattoo parlors, every generation will take on a new business venture, each with its own set of rules, skills, and challenges.

Can your family go from small-time entrepreneurs to legendary business moguls? Let’s find out!

(GOOGLE DOCS VERSION)

I plan to actively refine and add more generations once i've played through the game more, if there's any advice or something flawed you've noticed please let me know!

expand to see the legacy challenge!

NEEDED PACKS: Business and Hobbies

RECOMMENDED, BUT BASE GAME ALTERNATIVES PROVIDED: City Living Cats and Dogs Discover University Eco Lifestyle Get Together Get To Work Jungle Adventures Lovestruck Outdoor Retreat Parenthood Seasons Spa Day Werewolves

GOAL: Build a family legacy by creating a multi-generational business empire! Each generation must 'master' a different business type and pass the family fortune to the next heir! RULES: You may use freerealestate for your first HOUSE/LIVING AREA but after please refrain from using any more money cheats. Normal or Long lifespans recommended. The business must be started from scratch- no inheriting a previous successful business and remolding the lot/changing business activities. You may use the funds from your household to help kickstart a new business. IF you'd rather start from scratch each time, that's fine too. Each business should reach a 4-star rating before the heir can 'retire'. Try to train and promote employees- don't just fire them! NO selling the business for a quick payout- run it long-term.

Play the generations in whatever way you see fit or amusing if you don't like how i lined them up <3

GENERATION 1: Pottery Maker

Traits: Idealist, Ambitious, Maker(bga: creative) Aspiration: Esteemed Entrepreneur Goals: Reach max level in the Pottery and Handiness skills. Have at least 5 successful 'lectures' Make 10 Excellent Pieces Extra: Start selling one other 'home furniture' item in your shop

GENERATION 2: Tattoo Artist

Traits: Creative, Practice Makes Perfect, Art Lover Aspiration: Mastor Mentor Goals: Reach max level in the Tattooing and Charisma skills. Have a celebrity sim as a customer (if using get famous) Mentor at least 2 sims 'becoming tattoo apprentices' Extra: create at least 5 custom tattoos and give them to customers.

GENERATION 3: Nightclub

Traits: Shady, Dance Machine(bga: Music Lover), Lovebug(bga: romantic) Aspiration: Party Animal Goals: Open and run a high-energy nightclub with a bar and dancefloor. Have at least 1 romantic relationship with a coworker or clubgoer before 'settling down'. Reach max level in Dancing, and Mixology skills. Extra: Earn minimum §100,000 from club earnings.

GENERATION 4: Museum

Traits: Genius, Overachiever(bga: Perfectionist), Bookworm Aspiration: Nerd Brain Goals: Open a museum showcasing AT LEAST 6 ITEMS from 4 DIFFERENT collections. (Pick your own collections if you please, there are 16 BG options. For the ones I find the most ‘museum like’, here are my suggestions: Microscope prints, Insects(O.R), Fossils, Ancient Omiscan Artifacts(J.A), MoonWood Relics(Werewolves)). Reach max level in logic, and research and debate(bga: Writing) Extra: Publish at least 2 research books or guides.

GENERATION 5: Gym/Spa

Traits: Active, Bro, High-Maintenance(bga: Self-Assured) Aspiration: Zen Guru (bga: Bodybuilder) Goals: Reach max level in Fitness and Wellness skills. Have at least ONE close friend to workout with once a week Host at least 5 meditation or yoga sessions (if using spa day) Extra: Do a yoga routine everyday!

GENERATION 6: Lounge

Traits: Outgoing, Goofball, Foodie Aspiration: Friend of the World Goals: Open a run a lounge that offers live entertainment and good drinks. Reach max level in Charisma, Comedy OR Singing(bga: piano) Become friends with regular customers. Extra: Perform comedy or singing gigs at your lounge!

GENERATION 7: Daycare

Traits: Family-Oriented, Neat, Proper(bga: Loyal) Aspiration: Super Parent(bga: Successful Lineage) Goals: Reach lmax level in Baking(bga: cooking), and Parenting(bga: Handiness) Have at least three children (biological, or adopted) Host your daycare from your home!

GENERATION 8: Park Owner

Traits: Green Fiend(bga: Loves Outdoors), Vegetarian, Animal Enthusiast(bga: Good) Aspiration: Outdoor Enthusiast(bga: Freelance Botanist) Goals: Reach max level in Gardening, Fishing, and Flower Arranging(bga: creative) Plant and maintain at least 20 plants/trees. Open and run a PUBLIC PARK (NO ENTRY FEES!) Rescue or adopt at least 5 animals (if using Cats and Dogs)

This is the ROUGHEST draft I’m currently producing as of now without playing much of the new expansion pack myself. When I get back from my work trip and figure out exactly how much cross-compatibility there is with other- packs, there might be a whole new set of generations coming out.

happy simming! Lyratea ^^

#sims 4 legacy #sims community #challenges #ts4 legacy #sims 4 legacy challenge #the sims 4 #sims 4 businesses & hobbies #the sims community

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sincerelyhunnybee · 1 month ago

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unchained | dark romance w. dabi

chapter 1

wc: 2k

cw: captivity/abduction, psychological distress, power imbalance, sensory discomfort, dubious morality, surveillance

ೀfrom bee: been meaning to start up a new multi chapter fic for a minute with my favorite arsonist. this has also been cross-posted to my ao3. please enjoy <3

the first thing you notice is the air.

it’s too still. stale. thick with the weight of something unspoken. there’s no hum of life—no street noise, no fluorescent buzz of hospital lights, not even the distant hum of machines you’ve grown used to from your late-night shifts. just silence, dense and unnatural, pressing against your eardrums like cotton packed into your skull.

then, pain.

a slow, blooming ache begins behind your eyes, and you realize your head is pounding—dull and rhythmic, like a warning. the floor beneath you is concrete, unforgiving against your spine and shoulder blades. cold seeps through your clothes, through your skin, until you feel like part of the cement itself.

you try to move.

your wrists are bound.

plastic digs into tender skin—zip ties, tight and unrelenting. your arms are behind your back, stiff from however long you’ve been lying here. ankles too—tied, but looser. enough to shuffle. not enough to run.

you inhale sharply through your nose. the scent is faint but unforgettable: smoke. not fresh, not fire-alarm urgent, but old. embedded. burned into walls, clothes, maybe even people.

your eyes blink open slowly. the light overhead is yellowed and swinging slightly on an exposed wire, casting shadows that pulse with every sway. the walls are gray—chipped cement, water-stained in places, claustrophobic. no windows. one door. steel. bolted.

you’re in a room meant to keep things in.

the panic is slow to rise. you’ve seen enough er cases to know what adrenaline does when it crashes through the bloodstream. it doesn’t feel cinematic. it feels cold, like your limbs are flooding with ice water. your breathing shortens. your vision tunnels.

this isn’t happening.

but it is.

voices rise on the other side of the door. laughter. sharp, high-pitched and childlike. then something lower, theatrical and amused. another voice, rasping, sounds irritated.

“enough. i’ll handle it.”

the voices stop.

you freeze.

that voice is quieter than the others. less emotion, more weight. like every word is carved out of granite and dropped into the room with intention.

the lock turns.

you don’t even realize you’ve pressed yourself against the corner until the door swings open and he walks in.

he doesn’t say anything. not at first.

the smell hits you before the full sight does—ash, charred leather, something metallic beneath it all. burnt skin. the scent of fire that didn’t just touch him—it claimed him.

he’s tall, his figure framed in the doorway like a question you don’t want answered. his body is built like smoke—slight but coiled, like he’s always seconds away from snapping. a long coat hangs open over his form, dark pants tucked into heavy boots. his hands are stuffed in his pockets like he couldn’t be bothered to use them. or maybe like he doesn’t trust them.

but it’s his face that truly makes time stutter.

his skin is patched in scorched, deep purple—like the remnants of something dead. staples hold pieces together, twisted metal where flesh once was. it should look monstrous.

but it doesn’t.

it looks… deliberate.

he meets your eyes.

icy blue. clearer than they have any right to be. the kind of blue you’d associate with glaciers, not fire.

“you’re awake,” he says, voice dry and disinterested. it’s not a question.

you don’t answer. your throat is too dry.

he watches you, head tilted slightly. his gaze lingers, not like he’s seeing you, but like he’s studying you.

no pity.

no satisfaction.

just calculation.

you force your mouth to work. “where am i?”

“does it matter?”

your stomach tightens. “who are you?”

a pause. he lifts one shoulder in a lazy shrug.

“dabi.”

the name lands like smoke in your lungs. you’ve heard it before. everyone has. a villain. a murderer. fire incarnate, wrapped in skin he shouldn’t still have.

you should be screaming. you should be begging. you should be breaking down.

but all you do is stare. and he stares back.

“i’m not here to hurt you,” he says finally, like he’s repeating something someone else told him to say. “you’re leverage. that’s all.”

he steps forward and sets a small tray down near the wall. food. a bottle of water. your body wants it desperately, but your pride keeps you still.

he turns to leave, hand on the door.

you speak again, hoarse. “why you?”

he pauses, glancing over his shoulder. his expression is unreadable—somewhere between annoyed and amused.

“because i’m the only one who won’t break you too fast.”

then he leaves.

the door shuts with a deep, echoing finality that seems to vibrate through your ribcage.

then comes the click of the lock.

it’s a small sound. simple. mechanical.

but it hits harder than any slam could.

you’re alone again.

the silence rushes back in, louder than ever. it feels heavier now. not just oppressive, but watchful. like the air remembers he was here.

you stay frozen for a few seconds longer, back pressed to the wall, pulse still rabbit-fast in your throat. your skin is clammy, your mouth dry. there’s a ringing in your ears from the sheer effort of keeping your fear locked behind your teeth while he was in the room.

you replay everything he said.

“you’re leverage.”

“i’m not here to hurt you.”

you want to scoff. or cry. or scream. but instead, you just sit there, too hollow to choose which one comes first.

your eyes shift to the tray he left behind.

it’s not much. just a bottle of water, a roll, something that looks like rice or maybe oats. probably cold by now. definitely tasteless. still, the smell of it turns your stomach—not because it’s unappetizing, but because your body wants it. and it feels wrong to take anything from him.

you stare at it for a long time.

at the water. the food. the small, quiet offering from a man made of fire and stitched-up fury.

was it kindness? control? a game?

you don’t know. and that terrifies you more than his threats.

you shift slowly along the floor, wrists aching from the zip ties. the concrete is rough beneath you, scraping your skin even through your clothes. when you finally sit upright, back pressed into the corner, knees pulled to your chest, the silence swallows you again.

but now, it isn’t empty.

now, it echoes with a name.

dabi.

you’ve heard it whispered on late-night broadcasts. muted news flashes and pro-hero briefings. the name that shows up in grainy security footage and crumbling crime scenes. the name they say with a warning, never with certainty.

and now he has a face.

a voice.

a smell.

a presence.

and somehow, that’s worse.

you rest your head against the wall and close your eyes, just for a moment.

he didn’t touch you. didn’t hurt you.

but somehow, he’s already gotten under your skin.

and deep down, you know this was only the beginning.

the door clicks shut behind him, and dabi exhales slowly through his nose.

he doesn’t slam it. doesn’t bother glancing back.

let the silence hang in there like smoke.

let them wonder what it means.

the hallway outside the holding room is empty for now. cold concrete. fluorescent lighting that buzzes just wrong—slightly off tempo, like the building itself is nervous. somewhere in the distance, water drips, regular and mechanical. leaks in the pipes, maybe. no one’s gotten around to fixing it.

he doesn’t bother with the elevator. just takes the rusted staircase up two levels, footsteps echoing against the metal grating like gunshots in the stillness.

when he pushes open the door to the main floor, the stench of the league hits him instantly—dust, damp wood, cigarette smoke, and whatever the hell twice was microwaving an hour ago.

they’re waiting for him.

toga is sprawled on the torn-up couch, upside down and grinning with her teeth. “how’s your little pet?”

dabi doesn’t break stride. “alive.”

“ohhh,” she sing-songs, twisting to look at him as he walks past. “that’s more than i expected.”

“didn’t ask for expectations,” he mutters.

twice pops his head out from behind the fridge, half of his mask pulled down. “they cry yet?”

“no.”

he opens a cabinet, shuts it again, starts opening another. always fidgeting. “i would’ve cried. probably. unless i was feeling brave. or stubborn. were they stubborn?”

dabi doesn’t answer.

he pulls a cigarette from his coat pocket, smoking whenever he's pissed off, which is often. the lighter clicks. flame flares.

he catches shigaraki’s gaze across the room. the leader’s hunched over a table strewn with blueprints and news clippings, fingers twitching over them like he might disintegrate them just to feel something.

“ they're not important,” shigaraki says without looking up. “they're leverage. that’s all.”

“i said i’d handle her,” dabi says flatly.

“and you are.” shigaraki looks up now, red eyes narrow. “just making sure you remember what they are.”

dabi doesn’t flinch.

he exhales, smoke curling from his nostrils in twin streams, and says nothing.

because the truth is—he does remember.

he remembers exactly how you looked at him.

not like a villain. not like a savior.

like something in between.

and it’s not supposed to matter. you’re leverage. a pawn.

but the way you didn’t scream…

that sticks with him.

that bothers him.

“you’re quiet,” toga calls from the couch. “are they pretty?”

dabi’s eye twitches.

he flicks ash onto the floor and walks away, ignoring twice’s cackling and toga’s laughter echoing after him. he heads back to his room—bare mattress, cracked mirror, half-melted light fixture. no windows. same as yours, but colder.

he shuts the door, locks it, and leans his head back against the wall.

the silence creeps in again.

but this time, it isn’t empty.

it’s shaped like your voice. your stare. your question.

why you?

he doesn’t know.

but he chose it.

and that, somehow, is worse.

the mattress creaks beneath him as he drops down onto it, boots still on, coat still wrapped around him like armor he never takes off. the room is dim, lit only by the soft blue glow from the small monitor embedded in the wall above a crooked desk.

it’s a crude setup—just one camera feed. a grainy, static-pulsed view of the holding room below.

of you.

you’re still in the corner, right where he left you. knees drawn up to your chest, back pressed to the wall. the tray of food untouched.

you haven’t moved.

dabi leans back on one elbow, cigarette still burning between his fingers, and stares at the screen. not watching. studying.

he’s always been good at that.

body language. microexpressions. the little ticks people think no one sees.

you’re scared—but not broken.

you’re still calculating. still breathing through your nose like you’re trying to hold in the scream you think might make you weak.

he wonders what kind of life you had before this.

he wonders what it must be like to still have something to lose.

he flicks ash into the metal tray on the floor. the sound barely registers.

you shift a little, finally, your eyes flicking to the camera in the top corner of your room. you don’t stare at it—don’t confront it. but you know it’s there.

smart.

he doesn’t look away from the screen.

your lips move slightly, like you’re murmuring something to yourself. repeating a phrase. or maybe a name.

not his.

that shouldn’t bother him.

but it does.

he turns the volume up on the silence in his room, hoping it’ll drown out the way his chest tightens.

this isn’t about you. it never was.

you’re leverage. collateral. a chess piece in a game no one’s winning.

and yet—

he keeps watching.

he watches as your head tilts back against the wall, your eyes fluttering shut, jaw tight with exhaustion. you’re fighting sleep. fighting stillness. fighting him, even when he’s not in the room.

and he doesn’t know why, but—

he likes that.

he likes that you’re still trying.

that you haven’t broken.

not yet.

the cigarette burns low in his hand, the smoke curling lazily in the stale air.

dabi exhales.

and in the dim glow of that flickering monitor, he tells himself, one last time, the lie he needs to believe:

this means nothing.

reblogs + comments are very much appreciated !

next update: 5/25/2025

taglist (lmk if you would like to be added): @reggieswriter

#🖋.writing #𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀.#dabi x reader #touya x reader #mha #bnha #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #touya todoroki #dabi #mha dabi #bnha dabi #bnha x reader #mha x reader #reader insert #gender neutral reader #dark romance

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krscblw · 14 days ago

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ghoul candle scents!!

so i’ve done a bunch of ghoul perfume association lists (and i want to do more in the future), but i thought i would change it up a little and do a ghoul candle scent list! all candles are from Cantrip Candles bc i love them (they’re a queer, Black owned small business, if i remember correctly! their candles are designed for rpgs and they’re great quality. they do sample packs of most of their candles if you’re interested in trying any!!)

Aeon

Element: Quintessence

Notes: chocolate, linen, lavender, yeast

Candle(s):

Coffee Shoppe Roasted Coffee, Chocolate, Cream (my favorite candle of all time!!)

Goldwheat Bakery Yeast, Bread, Flour

Aether

Element: Quintessence

Notes: bourbon, amber, vanilla, wood

Candle(s):

Black Hound Tavern Whiskey & Firewood

Alpha

Element: Fire

Notes: leather, smoke, gunpowder, oil

Candle(s):

Den of Thieves Smoke, Red Wine & Aged Leather

Ozul, the Sentient Forge Charged Steel, Machine Oil, Leather, Camphor & Musk

Aurora/Nimbus

Element: Earth/air

Notes: peach, rose, earth, crushed greenery

Candle(s):

Figwood Orchard Fig, Pear and Mushroom

Forest of Fae Jasmine & Neroli, Tomato Leaf, Amber

Cirrus

Element: Air

Notes: dark fruits, musk, heavy florals, honey

Candle(s):

Florence, Prince of Death Violet, Saffron & Cardamom

Realm of Shadows Pomegranate, Star Anise, Wet Slate

Honeyswell Meadery Fermented Honey & Cranberries

Cumulus

Element: Air

Notes: lilac, magnolia, jasmine, sugar, cold air

Candle(s):

Abella, Goddess of Rebirth Lemongrass, Tuberose & Cinnamon

Flowering Wisteria Sweet, with a light powder note

Maevenon, Patron of Faces Elderflower, Lilac, & Amber

Dewdrop

Element: Fire

Notes: berries, smoke, spices, metal

Candle(s):

Hellscape Chili Pepper & Charred Persimmon

Norse Foundry Hammered Copper, Black Pepper & Smoke

Ifrit

Element: Fire

Notes: black tea, incense

Candle(s):

Javid, Steward of Knowledge Warm Sands, Copper & Incense

Bergamot Citron Bright & lemony, with black tea notes

Mist

Element: Water

Notes: water, herbs, aquatic greenery, ice

Candle(s):

Stonemoss Chapel Moss, Stone & Soil

Mountain

Element: Earth

Notes: vetiver, greenery, earth, mushrooms, petrichor

Candle(s):

Mountaintop Frosted Spruce, Copal Resin & Coal

Jungles of Makal Undergrowth & Petrichor

Fiddlehead Fern Mossy, earthy with a crisp green note

Omega

Element: Quintessence

Notes: wood, amber, tobacco, leather

Candle(s):

Adventurer's Emporium Polished Leather, Tobacco & Clove, Crushed Amber

A Viking's Welcome Leather, Thatch & Cedar

Rain

Element: Water

Notes: seawater, ozone, vanilla, salt

Candle(s):

Brinewater Tides Kelp, Ozone, Salt Water & Cedarwood

Newfound Shores Birch, Sea Salt & Soil

Sunshine/Stratus

Element: Fire/air

Notes: strawberries, citrus, vanilla, spices

Candle(s):

Potion of Healing Sweet Citrus & Rosemary

Sweet Fig Farmhouse Fig, Rhubarb & Grapefruit

Magicka Potion Lavender, Dragon's Blood & Lemon Verbena

Swiss

Element: Fire/water

Notes: smoke, musk, patchouli, clove, incense

Candle(s):

D'Jall, Lord of Bargains Clove, Tobacco Leaf, Cedar & Scorched Suede

House of the Witch Blood Orange, Patchouli, Tonka

Umbra(?)

Element: Quintessence/earth (i’m still figuring her out, but i love the idea of a quint/earth multi, so that’s what i’m going with rn)

Notes: amber, earthy spices, ginger, woods, moss

Candle(s):

Sanctuary Ginger, Incense, Saffron

Stamina Potion Thyme, Ginger & Peppercorn

Zephyr

Element: Air

Notes: dust, ozone, faint sweet musk, mint, cool air, old paper

Candle(s):

The Library Scriptorium Parchment, Aged Wood, Leather

Domain of the Draugr Frozen Soil, Peppermint & Eucalyptus

thank you for reading!! lmk your thoughts on ghoul scents and/or candles--i'm always looking for recommendations!

#PLEASE talk to me about ghoul scents this is my favorite superniche interest!!!!!!!!!#also hopefully the formatting isn't too weird on mobile #i'm posting this on desktop and it looks fine #the band ghost #ghost bc #nameless ghouls #nameless ghoulettes #ghoul perfumes #candles #ghoul scent associations #perfume thoughts #ghoul perfume thoughts

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lowpolynpixelated · 6 months ago

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Call of Duty and the beast that must die

Written by: Clair Beckett

Upon booting up Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for the first time I was assaulted with a modern "Marvel" type banner, proudly declaring the expansive media franchise that is CALL OF DUTY. I was then given three different screens filled with the names of game studios swallowed by the machine in the series' long and crumbling history of game after game after game. Call of Duty claims itself a pillar of the industry. One of the many posts that hold up the very sky of the video game landscape. It stands now before me, million dollar propaganda for the US military starring Spawn and Nicki Minaj for a limited time only, but only if you can pay the price of admission.

The next thing I was told, of course, was to make an Activision account. The game then prompted me to add my phone number and restart the game twice to make sure that all the personal data it wanted from me was set to go. Modern video games have gone so far beyond what they began as and yet they still ride the corpses of the culture the executives strangled to death loudly and proudly. Remember COD4? Remember Modern Warfare 2? Well we do! And we're happy to announce that we've rewritten and re-released them for $70 with extra US warcrimes written to look like the russians did it! Buy now and get a new golden skin for the gun that will only be in the cash shop rotation for the next two weeks!

Loading into the launchers that games like Halo and Call of Duty have become is insulting. But at least Halo has the dignity to somewhat look like a game instead of a collection of repackaged and hastily made content so that you can push its cosmetics exchange and season passes safely underneath some menus so they don't bother while you try to do the thing you paid for without logging in to your Microsoft account first. No, Call of Duty loads you into a fantastic screen filled with games you COULD own and cosmetics it wants you to spend the money on first. But how did this happen? I thought we were going to vote with our wallets? Show those big companies that we're not gonna take it anymore! Well, astute video gameist, we did. Or, folks like you did, and the resounding answer was "more forever so the money we're making off these pre-order bonuses and cosmetic mircotransations." Except it hasn't slowed down? Has it? So called "microtransactions" have ballooned up to upwards of $20 for single weapon skins or character packs, art that is made at the behest of artists who are cycled out of the offices like so many reams of paper wasted on stock reports.

Call of Duty wastes 0 time showing you all the ways you can spend money every way possible. If you select the game you "own" you'll first be prompted to upgrade to the ultimate edition, then when you select multiplayer you'll be prompted to purchase this month's battlepass, when you select what character you want to present as on each team you get bombarded with skins, pricetags displayed proudly larger than the actual name of the skin. Too, damn, far. Is what this nonsense is. Far be it from me to lay down my journalistic integrity for the absolute slog that fucking Call of Duty has become, but is this really what we play now? Is this what the multi-million dollar companies have to offer? Do you think that anyone working on these games had their passion cared for? Their intent respected? The answer, dear reader, is no.

No, no this isn't about video games anymore. But your average "gamer", as it were, hasn't cared about this in about 10 years. The "gamer culture" that has been fostered within the triple A sphere of the landscape is one of complacency and non questioning attitudes of "the next big thing must be the best because it's the next and the biggest!" when in actuality it's just the biggest number of people laid off without notice and the biggest return for five people in thousand dollar suits. Modern Call of Duty props itself up on the idea of legacy. The idea that the name itself is enough to warrant the money you pay for the content it will legally take away from you in a matter of a few short years so they can save on server costs. But what IS the legacy of Call of Duty? The original titles helped shape the first person shooter landscape, and the fourth title revolutionized multiplayer action games alongside the likes of Halo, but what came after? Almost immediately after COD4's smashing success it traded any sort of message and want for things like gameplay innovation or narrative cohesiveness for an iterative cycle at the behest of a publisher in some of the early days of the triple A landscape becoming a barren sprawl of corporate greed. Mind you I said some of the early days, corporate greed has always been intrinsically tied to the video game landscape but I digress. Call of Duty became one of the first annual franchises. Swapping developer each year back and forth to make games that were baseline iterative on the last promising "bigger and better but also the same, we promise" ad nauseam until something had to give. Modern Warfare 2 is heralded as a gold standard for the series, but it mostly has to do with the most memorable levels letting you gun down civilians in an airport. Otherwise it was the same jarheaded OO-RA gun em' down action that the first game had, minus some rather potent anti-war sentiments.

Call of Duty's legacy then is one of "gamer culture", fiercely embroiled in charging the most for the least at the promise of it being the very bleeding edge of what your new several hundred dollar machine can do. The idea of the annual franchise sold more than consoles it sold promises to people, and executives loved that. The culture I speak of you can see everwhere in the mid to late 2000s and early to mid 2010s before the absurdity of it all really started to take root. From Mountain Dew cans boasting cool spec ops dudes in tactical gear and offering double XP should you buy the sugary sludge, to commercials starring then YouTube celebrities famous for blowing things up with military grade firearms on empty land. Gamer culture was and still is top priority in ensuring people don't question the quality or practices of the things they're being sold now. As long as a company can tug on the heartstrings of millions by saying things like "We grew up playing (insert late 90s/early 2000s video game title here) so we get what makes games fun." They have carte blanche to repackage, resell, and further monetize things that should not cost that much if anything at all. The idea that the name "Call of Duty" should stand as the base pricepoint to sell you a launcher to host all the games you could own while barely showing you the ones you do is that corporate greed taken to such a far extreme it's maddening to think about why people aren't more fucking angry about this.

The great Stephanie Sterling has long spoken on points like this about companies like Activision/Blizzard, Nintendo, and EA. Titans of the industry now only famous for how many people they layoff every few months and how much they charge for games that shouldn't cost that much. In a 2019 article on how Apex Legends ended up saving Electronic Arts from major stock crashes, she said the following:

"Last generation saw the rise of the “fee to pay” game. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 made online connectivity obligatory for modern consoles, and it was only a matter of time because videogame publishers smelled an opportunity to make money from constant access to their customers. Full premium expansions for videogames gave way to downloadable content, which in turn gave way to microtransactions appropriated from free-to-play games. Only, they never made the games containing them free.

New “AAA” titles saw their entire in-game economies overhauled for the worse in order to support microtransactions. Dead Space 3, notoriously, had to reduce all its horror elements and become a traditional action game to support a desperate weapon crafting economy. This was excused by pundits and spokespeople as offering players a “choice,” without addressing the fact that psychologically manipulative gameplay elements were not things we could opt out of in the games we were paying sixty dollars for.

Having gotten away with it, however, publishers only grew worse. With traditional DLC, season passes, and multiple special editions, many companies have more than quadrupled down on their monetization, and modern games are slowly - subtly - starting to resemble starter packs more than finished products."

-Stephanie Sterling, "How Apex Legends Saved EA's Ass... In Spite of EA", Feb. 12, 2019

In microcosm I think this perfectly encapsulates what the new legacy of things like Call of Duty is. Full and even fuller priced games being stocked with more and more transactions to pull the most out of the consumer without giving anything meaningful in return. Virtual rewards for real world currency that can be taken away at a moment's notice. Fortnite is most famous for popularizing the "battlepass" style of monetization and rotating cash shop storefronts. By having you purchase funny in-game tokens to buy your skins it hoped to have you forget about the 30$ you just spent on said tokens. Call of Duty and its piers have no such interests. No, cold hard cash is the only way it presents its purchasable garbage and that's what you pay each time you give in to one of it's dozens of FOMO inducing splash screens and reminders. You are taken advantage of for your money. That's not even to touch on the genre destroying concept of "crossover content" which only serves to further drive the idea of sales over substance, with more of your favourite characters and celebrities being added to these games in the form of poorly animated and uncanny models for 20$ a pop.

This new form of selling a legacy can only end in more of the same. More skilled artists, developers, and writers being laid off into an industry that cannot afford to hire them back. Infinite growth has already reached it's glass ceiling and is pretending that it simply cannot see it due to it's see-through nature. These giants of the industry, these beasts, must die to see meaningful creative growth return to such spheres as the triple A landscape. The old must give way to the new, the nostalgia has been wrung out like so many drops from an already dry sponge. Name's are not worth paying for, and neither are concepts. We must think and act critically of these systems if we are to escape them. Voting with your wallet is a false initiative. Participating in the market they have a stranglehold on cannot lead to their downfall. This is all to say the following: Stop buying this nonsense. Look more into the independent scene. Find your new favourite games through channels like itch.io or the "indie" spaces on the other major storefronts. Pay for the games that care about what they are. And for the love of everything stop purchasing US Army propaganda. I'd like to recommend the likes of Stephanie Sterling, as previously mentioned, who's journalistic integrity and strength has persevered through some of the worst of gaming's tumultuous history. Jacob Geller, who's introspective analysis of video games as pieces of living breathing art tell so much about the passion and craft that goes into something as commonplace as "a video game". And finally Noah Caldwell-Gervais, a man who I can only describe as one of the most earnest, honest, and just plain down-to-earth guys to ever grace the gaming landscape. These three along with countless others are avenues into further understanding the type of landscape video games exist in in the modern day. I hope you come away from either this article or their work with something new, be it a game or a thought on all this mess. Thanks for reading.

Sources and links:

"How Apex Legends Saved EA's Ass... In Spite of EA"

Stephanie Sterling's work

Analyzing Every Torture Scene in Call of Duty — All 46 of Them (Jacob Geller)

How Many Clicks Does It Take To Get to the Center of Diablo? [A Franchise Retrospective] (Noah Gervais)

#article #my stuff #my writing #video games #writing #video games are for everyone #stephanie sterling #noah gervais #jacob geller #call of duty

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ashthewaterghoul · 1 month ago

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Mushy May Day 9: Lazy Days - Swiss/Dew

Prompt list by @forlorn-crows can be found here All my Mushy May will be slightly shorter stories and can also be found on ao3 :) Words - 890

Swiss didn’t even know what time it was when he woke up. Breaks between tour legs weren’t meant for healthy sleep schedules anyway. What he did know though was what woke him up – that being the Fire Ghoul crawling into his nest with him.

“Mmm… Hey, Dewdles.” Swiss said, his voice still deep and groggy.

“Hi, Swissy.” Dew returned as he curled up against Swiss’ chest with a purr.

“Wha’ time is it?” Swiss yawned, stretching a little and letting his arms fall down around his packmate.

“Like midday, I dunno.” He said as he nuzzled Swiss’ chest.

Swiss nodded and shut his eyes again as he held Dew in his arms. The Fire Ghoul and the Multi always loved curling up with each other as they could heat up without risk of burning the other and feel their flames twining together.

Swiss wasn’t sure if he fell back asleep again after that but it was definitely later when he opened his eyes again, still with Dew resting against his chest. The two simply basked together in the warm sunrays poking through the gap in Swiss’ curtains, some little sleepy kisses being shared every now and then too.

They only got up when both their stomachs started to grumble and they slowly peeled themselves up so they could get food. Swiss’ back clicked as he stood up and stretched and Dew’s hips and knees did the same. The Fire Ghoul grabbed a hoodie from Swiss’ chair and threw it on, the item of clothing near enough reaching his knees. Swiss grabbed a pair of sweatpants and the two meandered out into the kitchen, just as quiet as the rest of the den been as all the pack were either out working or in and resting.

“What do you want to eat?” Swiss asked as he looked through the cupboards.

“Coffee.” Dew said as he reached for the Unholy Grail, also known as the coffee machine.

“You can’t eat coffee, Dew. It’s a liquid.” Swiss chuckled.

“You can eat the beans.” Dew reasoned as he filled up the water reservoir.

“Last time you did that, your breath stank for days then you got moody that no one would kiss you.” He said with a lopsided smile.

“As if you’re any better when no one kisses your whiskey-breath.” Dew sniped back with a smile.

“Touche.” The Multi nodded and got a few things out so he could make some sandwiches for them both and in no time, they were back in the nest with their coffees, sandwiches and a few other snacks too.

They stayed naked and relatively quiet as they basked in the peace; Dew tucked under Swiss’ arm and the both of them purring like car engines. They both stayed in their peace too after they’d finished and the dishes were on a tray outside the nest.

“Wanna share a joint?” Dew asked, smiling when Swiss got up to retrieve his stash box. They negotiated how much they wanted before Swiss rolled it up and passed to Dew to light, which he did with a flame produced from the tip of his finger.

Dew purred as he took a drag and exhaled it slowly.

“Oh, that’s good. Is this from Mountain?” He asked.

“Of course. He’s the only one I get weed from now.” Swiss replied, taking a puff with a purr of his own. The Earth Ghoul’s home-grown weed was the best that any Ghoul had tried Topside and he was generous enough to grow it for free.

“I wanna shotgun from you.” Dew said as Swiss took another puff and leaned in close.

The Multi obliged and let their lips touch as the smoke passed between their mouths, Dew’s body not quite breaking out in goosebumps thanks to his element but getting somewhere close.

Swiss laughed softly at Dew’s reaction. “You always love shotgunning so much.” He stated before taking another puff and passed the spliff back to Dew.

“It’s just cosy, and intimate. It feels nice.” He shrugged and took a few more drags himself.

Swiss’ claws raked up and down Dew’s side as they chatted idly and smoked the joint down, shotgunning every now and then with even more little kisses shared between them as well.

“You going to stay here for the night?” Swiss asked as he finished off the roach, Dew having long had his fill with eyes bigger than his lungs.

He nodded. “Aether’s working all night and we haven’t spent enough time together for my liking.” Dew pouted cutely as he wrapped his arms around Swiss’ midriff.

“You can stay as long as you want, Sparky.” Swiss smiled as he stubbed out the joint and kissed the top of Dew’s head softly.

“Then I’m never leaving.” The Fire Ghoul grinned.

“I think your mate may have something to say about that.” Swiss chuckled.

“Eh, he can come and visit when he wants. I’m sure he’d be happy with a break from me anyway.” Dew shrugged, knowing he was only joking and Aether would in fact drag him back to their nest by his tail.

“Alright, we’ll set up a visiting schedule then.” Swiss played along.

“Sounds good to me.” Dew nodded as he nuzzled Swiss’ chest again, and basked once more in the sunrays as they started to disappear below the horizon once more.

#ash's mushy may #the band ghost #ghost band #ghost ghouls #nameless ghouls #dewdrop ghoul #swiss ghoul #swissew #dewdrop x swiss #swiss x dewdrop #dewdrop/swiss #swiss/dewdrop #fluff #cw weed #cw smoking #mushy may #mushy may 2025 #ghost mushy may

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selkiechild4998 · 2 months ago

Text

✧°˖────———- ・・・・・ . ☽ ‧₊˚ ···╮

Ghoul in Love

╰┈ ‧₊˚ ☾. ⋅ ・・・・———-────°˖✧

This Swiss/Perpetua ship has bewitched me body and soul. I am the captain of this ship and I will go down with it XD

Day Five of Mushy May: Love at first sight!

TW- None

Genre- Fluff

Wordcount- 810 Words

AO3 Link- Here!

⭑･ﾟﾟ･*:༅｡.｡༅:*ﾟ:*:✼✿　⛧⃝　✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑

"So, we're getting a new Papa?"

"Seems like it."

"But why? I don't want a new Papa."

"Come on, Dear, give him a chance."

The Ghoul Den was abuzz with the news given to them. They knew this day would come eventually. Reactions were mixed. The ghoulettes were curious, Phantom was in denial, and Dew was angry. Swiss was with the ghoulettes in their curiosity. Unlike Dew and Mountain, this was their first time being passed to a new Papa. Would he be as kind as their Copia? Would he try to mimic their noises, or learn their pack's dynamic? Or will he be indifferent, not caring for their interactions or remembering their names?

They had hopes for the former when Copia introduced them to the new ghoulette. She was a quintessence-fire multi-ghoulette, an opposite to Swiss's fire-quintessence mix. While his mixing of elements led to his classification as a Radiation Ghoul, the ghoulette was a Celestial Ghoul. It made the name the new Papa had given her fit so well, Solaris.

Solaris spoke highly of the new Papa, but that was expected. She's his service ghoul, helping him with his anxiety, like how Phantom helped Copia. It made Swiss all the more curious.

That curiosity came to a head when it was time for the first photoshoot. At last, they will be allowed to meet their new Papa.

"You're excited," Dew mumbled as he adjusted the tailcoat of his new uniform.

"Really? What gave it away?" Swiss teased, his tail constantly wagging back and forth, the bell tied to the end of the limb jingling nonstop.

"Call it a hunch," Dew huffed, glaring at the ringing bells.

Swiss snickered, his sharp teeth glinting under his silver mask. His attention was soon drawn away when one of the siblings of sin peeked through the door, letting the ghouls know they had five minutes before the shoot.

"I'll see you all on set. I'm gonna get a look at this V guy," Swiss trilled, sauntering out the room, getting Dew to roll his eyes at him.

The photoset was busy, siblings setting up the smoke machine, adjusting lights, and ensuring the backdrop was stable. There was so much going on, it took Swiss a moment to find any familiar faces.

He first spotted Solaris, the ghoulette dressed in her dark uniform, her thin, milky white fur hidden under the fabric of her bodysuit, tailcoat, and veil. The only skin visible on her was her tail, which was relaxed behind her, the long tufts of fiery red hair at the end of the tail pooling on the ground. The person standing next to her with their back to Swiss must be the new Papa.

The deep, royal purple Papal Robes reminded the multi-ghoul of the robes the former Papa Terzo would wear, but far more grand, accented with shimmering silver fabric. He was currently speaking with Copia, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

Curiously, Swiss approached, the bells on his tail alerting the new Papa of his advances. When he turned to look at the multi-ghoul, he was, for once, left speechless. He looked like Copia, but at the same time, he didn't. Curly dark brown hair poked out from under the mitre he wore. His eyes matched Copia's as well, green and white irises boring into the ghoul as he studied him from under the silver skeletal mask he wore.

"Hello, Swiss," Copia greeted before looking at the new Papa, "V, this is Swiss, my multi-ghoul."

"Hello," V smiled, and Swiss felt the air was knocked out of him, his pupils dilating to near pitch black voids.

Those teeth. Those unnaturally sharp, shining white teeth. Swiss couldn't take his eyes off them. That smile looked so unnerving, so supernaturally large, and so utterly captivating.

Swiss didn't even realize he was purring until V's voice snapped him from his thought, "What's that sound?"

"Purring," Copia answered, "Swiss's element causes his purrs to a bit sound off."

"Hmm... I like it," V mused, tilting his head at Swiss in interest. It just took that little complement to get Swiss's purrs to skyrocket in intensity, sounding like a giger counter next to a chunk of uranium.

"Go on and head to your mark, Swiss," Copia instructed, "You too, Solaris. Don't want to fall behind schedule, no?"

"Yes, Frater," Solaris nodded, turning to head to her mark, but giggled when Swiss stumbled over both his feet and words.

"Yes, Copi- Pa- Frater! Yes, Frater! On it!"

Swiss had to force his legs to listen to him, his form practically vibrating as he followed Solaris onto the set, meeting the other ghouls already on their marks. He felt knees wobble, hearing the soft laugh that came from V, as well as the innocent comment shared with his twin.

"I like that one."

#ghost band #the band ghost #ghost bc #my post #my fic #swiss ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #solaris ghoulette #papa copia #papa emeritus iv #papa emeritus copia #frater imperator #papa perpetua #papa emeritus v #papa emeritus perpetua #swiss/Perpetua #mushy may 2025

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simstorian-blog · 11 months ago

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New York City: ONE

(CC List + Links)

World Map: San Myshuno

Area: Spice Market – Old Salt House

Lot Size: 30 x 30

Capacity:

4 Apartments: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, washer/dryer per unit

1 Townhouse: 4 Bedroom Suites, 6 Baths, 2 Half Baths, A Sauna, Indoor Pool, Gym, Office Space, Entertainment/Hosting Floor

Shared Areas: Café, Game Room, Laundromat (non-functional), Press Conference Room, Security Booth

Gallery ID: Simstorian-ish

Packs Needed

Expansion Packs

City Living

Discover University

Eco Lifestyle

For Rent

Get Famous

Get Together

Get To Work

Growing Together

High School Years

Horse Ranch

Snowy Escape

Game Packs

Dine Out

Jungle Adventures

Spa Day

Strangerville

Vampires

Stuff Packs

Laundry Day

Kits

Cozy Bistro

Desert Luxe

Recommended Gameplay Mods

(Please read through what each mod has to offer before deciding if it fits your gameplay style or not.)

City Vibes Lot Traits

Lock/Unlock Doors for Any Lot

Use Residential Rentals shared areas as Community Lots

Build Mode

Felixandre

Berlin Pt. 2 (Doors, Ionic Column)

Chateau Pt. 2 (Marble Tiles, Stone Stairs)

Colonial Pt. 3 (Column 1, Fence 2, Railing 2, Spandrel 1)

Georgian (Arches, Doors)

Gothic Revival (Pilaster 4m, Socket, Trim 1)

Paris Pt. 2 (Bar, Bistro Table, Counter, Espresso Bar, Glass Display, Island, Paneling 3 Tiles, Stone Wall, Window Decal)

Soho Pt. 2

Soho Pt. 3

Soho Pt. 4

Versailles

Harlix

Kichen (Fresco Wall)

Tiny Twavellers (Trim Wall)

Harrie

Brownstone Pt. 2 (Traditional Items, Stone Wall)

Brownstone Pt. 3 (Wallpapers)

Klean Pt. 2

Klean Pt. 3 (Plaster Window Frame Large)

Hey Brine

Indonis Bathroom (Penny Floor & Wall Tiles)

Joyce

Summer Garden (Floor Tiles)

Lili’s Palace

Folklore (Smoky Kitchen Wall)

Intarsia (Polished Marble Floor + Florence Fresco Add-ons)

Lijoue

A Louer Collection (Apt Mailboxes, Door, Intercom, Iron Fence, Railing, Stone Stairs)

Peacemaker

Multi-Level Carpet

Pierisim

Combles (Module Medium 2, Paneling Middle)

Sooky88

Victorian Tiled Flooring

Syboubou

Industrial Elevators (This Mesh Needed)

Buy Mode

AroundTheSims4

Laundromat (Chariot, Folding Table - Metallic, Seating x3, Laundromat Sign, Soap Machine)

CharlyPancakes

Lavish (Wardrobe Pieces)

Lighthouse Collection (3-Seater Sofa)

Felixandre

Chateau Pt. 4 (Fridge, Cabinets, Counters, Sink)

Chateau Pt. 5 (Bookshelf V2 – Medium)

Grove Pt. 2 (Timber Shelves)

Flirtyghoul

Lavanderia (Note: Non-functional)

Harlix

Bafroom (All Wall Mirrors)

Baysic Bathroom (Shower Wall, Toilet Roll)

Orjanic Pt. 2 (Medium Curtain + Rod)

Harrie

Brutalist Bathroom

Coastal Pt. 3 (Marble Kitchen Sink)

Coastal Pt. 6 (Bathtub, Landscape Mirror, Shower, Toilet)

Spoons Pt. 2 (Cake Boards, Pastry Display Platter)

Meinkatz

Light Fixture (DL on Patreon)

Thermostat

Pierisim

Coldbrew Pt. 2 (Books, Menu, Napkins)

Coldbrew Pt. 3

Oak House Pt. 4 (Bathtub, Shower, Towel Holder, Wall Hanging Light)

Woodland Ranch (Dining Chair 1 + 2)

Ravasheen

Thermostat

Tuds

SHKR

DO NOT REUPLOAD MY LOTS.

DO NOT CLAIM THEM AS YOUR OWN.

DO NOT PLACE BEHIND A PAYWALL.

Tray Files: DOWNLOAD

#simstorian #the sims 4 #sims 4 #ts4 #cc #sims 4 build #build #san myshuno #new york city #new york #nyc #manhattan #sims 4 screenshots #sims 4 community #blacksimmer

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thehypnone · 3 months ago

Text

Symbol on the Surface Chapter 25

WC: 1,6k

Relationship: SwissAlps & the kits

Tags: Fluff, Bonding Time, Autistic Amon, Metalhead Arya, Princess Aelin, Ghoulish (=Elvish Sindarin) Language

Note: We're nearly done guys, epilogue next week T-T

Chapter 1 here or on AO3.

Read chapter 25 under the cut or on AO3.

Amon has been showing clear signs of neurodiversity basically since he was born. Now, at three years old (which is an equivalent of a human five), it’s undeniable that he’s autistic—it’s nothing bad, of course, but it does pose some challenges for both the little one himself and his pack. He’s prone to sensory overloads and meltdowns and it took a while to figure out the best way to calm him down from them.

Mountain has found drumming to be effective.

He is working on building Amon his very own small set from spare drums, but until it’s ready, the little earth ghoul can ‘play’ from Mountain’s lap and he loves it. He enjoys the vibrations and all the movement it requires, as well as the music itself; with good ear protection, it’s Amon’s favorite thing nowadays. The fact that it’s stimming and a hobby for him at the same time is only an advantage.

His Papa can’t say he’s not glad about it. He’s ecstatic, to say the least, that at least one of his kits has taken this after him—he can be the one to teach Amon how to play properly; something for only the two of them to bond over. The kit likes gardening as well, but not as much as drumming; too much dirt makes him feel icky.

After finishing up in the rehearsal room, Amon needs to have some calming sensory time, so Mountain takes him to the common room, where they find Swiss—alone, as Aelin is with the ghoulettes, most likely playing dress-up, and Arya is with Dewdrop, again.

“Hi, sapling!” the multi ghoul waves to Amon, who shyly reciprocates.

“Go wait with Mama, I’ll get your blanket and bunny,” Mountain tells him and waits for the kits to nod in acknowledgement and agreement before he sets him down in Swiss’ lap.

He heads to their room, then, to quickly fetch Amon’s stuff, and when he comes back, the little earth ghoul is swaying side to side between Swiss’ arms.

“I’m back, Amon,” Mountain announces, “ready to burrito?”

He nods enthusiastically and makes grabby hands towards his Papa—or rather the things he’s holding…actually a bit of both. Mountain hands Amon the plushie first, so he can hug it close to his chest before getting swaddled. When the older earth ghoul does that, he sits back on the couch and readjusts his son’s ear defenders before pulling him in against his chest.

Then Amon is content, but…not completely. After a moment he hums and wiggles one hand out of his blanket. He reaches upwards and pats around looking for Mountain’s horns. Once he’s gotten a hold of one of his antlers, the kit closes his eyes and relaxes fully.

Like that, the three of them simply exist for a while longer.

At some point, Dewdrop walks into the common room with Arya following behind him like a little duckling—even wearing one of his band shirts, hanging off of her like a dress.

“And what have you two been up to, hm?” Swiss asks, opening his arms for Arya to crawl into. She does so gladly, snuggling under her Mama’s chin.

“Listening to music,” she replies casually.

“Dare I ask what kind of music?” Mountain turns to Dewdrop.

“I’ve got a new record, Kaamos,” he explains, “well, the album itself is from 2005, but you know.”

“Death metal? Really, that’s your taste, little demon?” the earth ghoul chuckles at Arya, shaking his head. He supposes not all his children can like Hozier and Florence & The Machine. The ghoulette only grins, proud of herself, and so does Dewdrop—proud of himself for managing to corrupt one of the kits. Not in an actually bad way, of course not; he’s just making sure Swiss and Mountain’s life as parents won’t ever be too easy.

Speaking of where Arya’s favors lie; while Amon has taken a liking to drums, she has to the guitar.

Obviously.

She would definitely prefer to learn from Dewdrop, on one of his electric guitars, but Swiss has asked the fire ghoul not to do that just yet. Maybe it’s selfish, but Swiss wants to have that experience; he wants to at least teach Arya the basics before handing her over to Dewdrop to make her a professional player. Besides, the multi ghoul only plays melodies based on simple chord progressions, so his daughter will get bored by his lessons sooner, rather than later, anyways.

But she enjoys listening to Swiss alone for now and he is very happy about that.

He can’t help but grin when a few hours later he’s watching his daughter—instead of paying attention to what he’s playing on his acoustic. Arya’s golden-blonde puff of hair bounces as she nods her head from side to side to the rhythm, with her eyes all but glowing in excitement.

“You wanna try?” he offers, putting the guitar down flat on the floor between them. Somehow Arya lights up even more as she starts to strum, letting the notes ring out. Swiss notes that she’s surprisingly gentle with it, as if she knows that pulling on the strings hard won’t make as nice a sound.

Oh, he can’t wait to see her shred.

Swiss and Mountain have decided that even though Ghoulish doesn’t have many uses Topside, their kits should know at least the basics of it, so they’ve been teaching them some. While Arya and Amon seem to be completely uninterested, Aelin is soaking the language up like a sponge; so her dads have been paying more attention to her, in that regard.

“Do you remember how we say ‘hello’?” Swiss asks.

“Mae govannen,” the ghoulette replies with a happy nod. (The literal translation is ‘well met’.)

“Good,” it’s Mountain’s turn to try her, “And how would you reply if I asked you ‘man mathach’?” (How are you?)

“Mathon maer, hannon le!” Aelin replies and waits for a sign of approval from her parents; they nod simultaneously, making the kit quietly cheer with pride. (I’m alright, thank you!)

She’s so adorable, Mountain and Swiss probably have a bunch of new cavities in their teeth by now. The latter can’t help but lean forward to hug his daughter. “Gerich meleth nîn, Aelin.” (I love you; the literal translation is ‘you have my love’.)

“A gerich nîn, Mama,” she purrs in reply, “le a, Papa.” (I love you, too; literally ‘and you have mine’. / And you.)

Mountain chuckles beside them and gives the ghoulette a scratch behind her little horns. There’s a knock on the door, then, and after Swiss calls out to enter, Rain peaks inside.

“Uncle Rain!” Aelin jumps up from the multi ghoul’s lap and runs up to Rain to hug his legs. He chuckles, patting her head.

“Hi, duckling,” he crouches down and picks her up. She immediately nuzzles under his chin, purring quietly. He’s her favorite uncle, that’s no secret.

“Im Raukobaeth gelion!” (I’m learning I’m Ghoulish!)

“Im gelia, or gelion alone, sweetness,” Mountain corrects with a wink; Aelin blushes at her silly mistake, but it’s not a discouragement. (I’m learning; Aelin's mistake is in putting the pronoun twice, im and the -on suffix.)

“Oh, are you, now?” Rain pokes her nose with a finger. “Aníron nabon le na ael, ae davir Mama a Papa cín. I arya vain.” (I want to take you to the lake, if your Mama and Papa agree. The day is pretty.)

“Telitha Arya a?” the ghoulette asks with her brows furrowed—not as much disliking the idea as being confused by the implication. Arya doesn’t like water very much. (Is Arya coming, too?)

“No, princess, he meant ‘day’,” Swiss clarifies before Rain himself can. “He said that the weather is nice.”

“Oh, okay,” Aelin giggles and hides a little in the water ghoul’s hair.

“Well, then?” he prompts. “Wanna go?”

“Yes, please! Aníron telithon!” the ghoulette turns back to Swiss and Mountain, “Papaaa, Mamaaa, can I go?” (I want to go!)

They look at each other for a quick and silent discussion—as if they could ever refuse her anything.

“Yeah, of course, riel,” Swiss says, smiling. (Princess.)

“But listen to Rain, alright?” Mountain adds. “And be careful.”

“Yippee!!!”

Rain puts her back down and nudges her forwards, “Get ready and I’ll come back to get you in a minute.”

Aelin nods and rushes into the bathroom to get changed into one of her many swimsuits. Mountain and Swiss giggle to each other as barely a minute later their daughter zooms out of there, through the room, and out the door, where Rain is already waiting.

The water ghoul winks at them and lets Aelin drag him away by his little finger. In no time at all the two of them get outside and reach the lake.

“Glamour off?” the ghoulette looks up at Rain with an expectant look.

“Yeah, glamour off,” Rain replies, chuckling, and unglamours first. The water ghoulette doesn’t need any more invitation—she squeezes her eyes to focus, wiggles her body, and some of her more human features fade away. Her baby-blue fins appear, as do her gills and webbing between her fingers. When she’s done, she turns to the older water ghoul for him to assess if she unglamoured her gills all the way—per their lake time safety rules.

“All good, duckling,” he says, “you can start the count.”

“One…”

“Two…”

“Weeeeeeee!!!” Aelin yells as she dives into the lake, her fins shimmering in the afternoon light. Rain grins before cracking his knuckles and following with a splash to chase her.

These kits really are the best thing that could have happened to the pack.

Here's picrews I made of the kits at (around) this age! From left to right Aelin, Arya, and Amon :3

Taglist: @jimothybarnes @skele-bunny @everybodyshusband @ratsummer @jazz-bazz @mac-and-thefox @karmicbias @wine-irytatus @ghoultrifle (if anyone from here wants to be removed lmk, and also if anyone else wants to be added)

#hypnone writes #the band ghost #nameless ghouls #swiss ghoul #mountain ghoul #swissalps #symbol on the surface #ghoul kits #amon ghoul #arya ghoulette #aelin ghoulette

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