#also the rules of the game weren't like vague they were very specific and I don't think I've ever seem them before

[auroras-void]

Had a dream that I was working as a Hospital nurse and my coworker was Brennan Lee Mulligan and we got sent to like an educational seminar as punishment for asking to not be understaffed. And there was like this weird Tetris like game that they had us play that he got very competitive over and then also turned into a metaphor for capitalism.

I think he lost to Mike Trapp by one point.

[active-mind-15]

Just thought of some Akashi videogame headcanons

So first of all because of all the extra studies and activities he was made to do throughout his childhood, he originally did not play video games at all. He just never had the time and his father considered them to be unproductive, anyway. So, he never grew up with any video game console in his house.

The only exposure he had to video games came from other people, more specifically the Teiko gang. Kise, Aomine, and Murasakibara specifically played a lot of video games in their free time, and if Akashi was around, he'd lean over them to get a peek at their screens (I would imagine they'd be bringing their PSPs or DSs to school or something). Sometimes, Akashi would ask questions about the games that they were playing, because he would just be so curious as to how fun it is to play them, and if they sense that Akashi is really interested they'd give him a turn with their console.

And, of course, Akashi, being the out-of-touch person that he is (bless his precious little heart), ends up getting taught by the other miracles how to play the games. He listens very intently and is a quick learner, though, so once he understands the rules he's really good.

And since he met Midorima and was friends with someone who finally shared his interest in shogi, Akashi started playing online games with him when they weren't at school. I vaguely remember from like an interview or something with Fujimaki that Akashi's online handle is Red Emperor, which is just... very fitting. Either way, even though Akashi did not play console games, he would always do online shogi matches with Midorima which would then expand into other games like chess and Othello. And those kept up all the way until high school. But since he wasn't hanging out with the other former Teiko members like he used to, his video game exposure went right back down to zero.

Eventually, post-Winter Cup, when the former Teiko members start hanging out together again, he starts getting exposed to video games again through the others, and the miracles finally just tell him he should get some games of his own to try out. At first, he wasn't sure about getting a console, but they told him that he could just get PC games to start and if he's comfortable with the PC format then he can just stick with it.

Case in point, Aomine sends him the link for Steam via text with the message "Go crazy".

Lemme tell you, this boy clicks on that link and SCROLLS. Again, as someone who was never familiar with the video game realm, this feels like stepping into a new world. With all the options for games, it's almost overwhelming, but eventually, he starts picking game categories that stick out to him and combing through different game trailers and synopses with a mindset of "I'll pick three games to test out and see how I feel after that."

^^^ Famous last words

Fast-forward to some time after that, and Akashi has very much found an appreciation for video games and regularly tries new ones that interest him.

Since he's a very intelligent person, I would like to think that rather than playing video games to relax and not use his brain for a while, he's the type to play video games that are intellectually stimulating. He likes to be challenged and use his wits to complete the games he plays.

Because of that, I would say his video game preferences probably fall into strategy (specifically turn-based and tabletop strategy) and puzzle games (which include puzzle platformers). He's also a big fan of story-rich games and will play through the occasional visual novel as well.

When he tells the former Teiko members he started getting into video games, they make it a point at every subsequent meetup to ask about any current ones he's playing and what he thinks of them. Sometimes, they'll keep an eye out for upcoming games within his favorite genres and show him trailers of games they think he'd like.

Whenever he's invested in a trailer he'll get this sparkle in his eye that the others pretend they don't notice but secretly look out for to know whether or not they're on the right track.

Also, after successfully getting Akashi into video games, the rest of the former Teiko members (mainly Aomine and Kise) convince him to download a few co-op games that they all can play together.

So whenever all of them have free time, Aomine or Kise will send some bat signal message to their group chat to assemble and they all get on their computers to play.

As time goes on, the co-op gaming sessions eventually become a bi-weekly event, and Akashi tries his best to shift his schedule around so he doesn't miss them.

His current teammates at Rakuzan notice him disappearing or being unavailable on certain days and ask Akashi what's been occupying his time so much, thinking that it would be something school-related. When he tells them he's actually just playing co-op games with his former teammates, they think it's the cutest fucking thing ever (especially Mibuchi).

Eventually, video games become more than just a way to pass the time, they become another outlet for Akashi to just... be a regular teen and not have to worry about being perfect at what he's doing? They help relieve his stress and give him something to take his mind off school. And the Uncrowned Kings notice he's happier because of it. Most importantly of all, he gets to connect more with his Teiko friends like he always wanted.

[BONUS]

Sometime in the distant future, after graduating high school, he convinces his father to let him have a one-bedroom apartment close to his campus with the excuse that it'll make commuting easier. After moving in and unpacking his stuff, the former Teiko members get a text in their group chat from Akashi with a picture of a Nintendo Switch and seven controllers with the message "Anyone up for a game?"

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC Review: The Evergreen Heir by A.K. Mulford

3.5/5. Releases 6/13/2023.

For when you're vibing with... real deal fantasy romance, friends to lovers by way of arranged marriage, and a nonbinary (neurodivergent) lead.

Nerdy Neelo is reluctant to take the throne--but they may not have a choice if their mother's health keeps declining as it has been. The issue becomes even more pronounced when the queen sets the palace on fire in a drug-induced haze. On top of the pressure to rule, Neelo is facing the pressure to marry--namely, their friend, renowned warrior Talhan Catallus. As a witch uprising threatens the safety of the kingdom, Neelo must rely on their betrothed for help; even if they aren't sure if they want to marry at all.

I really appreciate the juggling this book did. It's a fantasy story, it's a romance, it's delving into a lead with qualities you rarely see explicitly drawn in either genre. While it leaned a bit too much into the "YA fantasy" vibes at points for me, I did enjoy it and I would totally recommend it to interested readers; I may very well recommend it to my sibling.

Quick Takes:

--Here's the thing: explicit representation is important in genres like fantasy where it's easy to be vague. I really liked that there was no real question about Neelo being neurodivergent and nonbinary. They weren't without pushback from other characters, but that wasn't the main point of the story. Generally speaking, I'd say that Neelo being potentially "not right" for the throne and different from their mother was more of an obstacle than Neelo being nonbinary.

--Talhan is super gone for Neelo from the jump, another thing I appreciated. Though the book is never focused on Neelo's sex organs (and it shouldn't be) it's pretty easy to read that they are AFAB. However, it never reads like Talhan is going "here's my female love interest who just does a fun little thing called being nonbinary". He is into Neelo as they are, for who they are, and that is not just about them being great on the inside. He's ABOUT them physically. And they're not a waifish David Bowie type, which is how a lot of nonbinary or otherwise gender non-conforming characters I've read play. Neelo is big and broad and not delicate.

--I appreciated Neelo's complex relationship with their mother, the love and resentment and anxiety playing there. In general, I felt like a lot of Neelo's insecurities were centered around them comparing themselves to their mother positively and negatively. As they grew beyond this, they were able to fully mature and come to terms with their wants and needs as an individual. It's very classic coming of age, but it works very well.

--I've heard that you should read the first books in this series to understand what happened here? And I've heard it stands alone. I only felt confused a couple of times. That said, there is a very "YA fantasy" vibe that goes beyond this being a fantasy novel. It's definitely not YA (more on that below) but something about it that's hard for me to name kept me from getting fully involved. A video game quality of jumping from moment to moment versus lingering. A lot of people will like that, to be fair. For me, it makes it a bit harder to fully invest in the story. Like, I was zoning in on the romance and character growth, but the witch stuff and the magical drugs kind of went over my head.

The Sex Stuff:

I really liked how the sex scenes were written here. They're explicit without being super graphic, and they describe Neelo's body without getting specific in a way that is super gendered. I also LOVED that much of this book was about Neelo accepting themself as a sexual being and exploring their desires with Talhan. There's one scene where they have anal sex because it felt more like THEM than vaginal sex, and I was like--oh, you know, as someone who isn't nonbinary I never really thought of it that way, but like... tracks. I loved reading that. (Also: anal sex? In my traditionally published non-m/m non-Tessa Bailey book? In 2023? Egad!)

Like I said, I don't know that this fully hit for me as an indvidual reader, but I think it's solid, and I like the work it did a lot. Would recommend for those interested in queer fantasy romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.