#cause experiencing this game's story and all the twists and turns

[classicjdog]

13 sentinels is absolutely positively batshit fucking insane

just finished the game last night and WOW is it fucking good

[thekatebridgerton]

A little venting post about the changes made to the show.

Sometimes I miss the era where book adaptations were true to their source material. Lord of the rings, Harry Potter, pride and prejudice, Twilight, The Hunger Games. Books with adaptations that literally had the power to change whole generations. Create such a cultural impact that we'll still be defining facets of our personalities by their influence for years to come.

And I think that those books had so much success as adaptations because the people who made them understood that watching the movie had to be an interactive experience between a person and their book. Not just their screen. People would finish watching the movie, go home, read the book and feel connected to a story where they knew the ending. So giddy and excited to know something they thought other movie goers didn't know. This made the experience exciting! It made it interactive enough to cause an impact.

I recently watched Lord of the Rings (yes the whole 24 hrs of it) and I realized how much I miss that excitement. That same warm blanket of knowing the ending that I experienced when I watched The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Bridgerton showrunners are so obsessed with delivering something with a 'plot twist' or 'different from the books' that they completely miss the point of how big franchises managed to make their adaptations impactful. So focused on curating the source material to make it more 'original' and new. So focused on driving up buzzfeed articles that read ' 100 ways Bridgerton season 2 was different from the books' that they alienate the interactive experience that exists in a viewer who enjoys reading.

Call me a book purist or maybe I felt sad today because I saw yet another article titled ' 10 reasons why Eloise storyline shouldn't follow the books' but it sucks to have creators spit on the books you love. It sucks to watch an adaptation that looks like fanfiction because it's all the media is currently offering. And you just wanted to see Kate bite Anthony's ankle and laugh. But you have to put up with all the changes of season 2 because complaining is met with an ' oh we wanted to do something different from the book, we wanted to surprise viewers'

Excuse me showrunners, I liked that book, what's wrong with liking that book? What was so offensive about it you had to turn it into something so far away from the source material the Author herself had to come out and say ' the books are the books and the show is the show' basically drawing a line between her creation and the show she authorized to adapt said work.

Netflix If the books I loved were so bad you felt they needed to be changed so much for an adaptation, then why adapt them at all? Why not find some kind nice very much in need of their big break author who has written a story that looks like the narrative you've got in mind.

As a reader I loved all the storylines as they stood. To me it would have been a giddy and exiting experience to be able to follow the show along with the source material. And I'm so sick and tired of show viewers and basically all the sensationalist media like buzzfeed and screenrant implying and outright saying that there is something wrong... with people like me. Who simply liked the books as they were. Because that's how they treat us, and that's what they think and it makes me sad.

And as I wait for season 3 I I sit and wait to see how many ' 100 ways the show is better than Romancing Mr Bridgerton because of how much the showrunners decided to change ' articles start poping up on my feed as soon as it's released. Because it will happen and as a reader you feel so powerless and confused, because all the media kees saying is that you're not allowed to feel angry, because even getting an adaptation is supposed to be a good thing, so don't start being a Debbie downer about the changes made for the screen. The book you loved was outdated anyway, the book you loved was boring anyway, the book you loved needed more excitement anyway.... And the message you keep getting is that The things you loved needed to stop looking like the things you loved, to be worthy of the masses attention

So what does that say about you?

Tomorrow, maybe I'll be back to being my usual positive self. Tomorrow I'll look at the bright side and feel ever so grateful that Julia Quinn's work is on screen. But for today, just for today. I needed to get that off my chest.

[inkangeliguess]

Oh my god, I absolutely LOVE The Nightmare route in Slay The Princess

Spoilers plus long rant under the cut

(@the-local-eldritch-microwave please check out this game i beg of you. It's several hours long but its great)

Ever since I saw a playthrough of the demo, the Voice of The Paranoid was my favorite voice and route. I love stressed out characters in general, but I loved how unsettling it is when you uncontrollably fall asleep and then wake up only to die of fright. The second time you go in was pretty anticlimactic, as basically the same thing happens with only the Paranoid being there and the Narrator being completely confused at your sudden death AND even saying "I'm so sorry"

What makes the updated version so good is the execution. The first part is basically the same, but the second part is so much more intense. Your character just experienced dying of literal fright over someone you first assumed was normal turning out to be an eldritch horror. Story wise, the Voice of The Paranoid makes you feel this with how much of a contrast he is compared to the Narrator and the Voice of The Hero. The Hero gets nervous occasionally, but never to the degree that The Paranoid gets.

This stress only continues when you go inside the cabin. Every second round, the cabin always changes in appearance. What makes the Nightmare route's change more jarring is how mild the change is. For the Razor, the Damsel, and the Captive (the routes i've rewatched so far), the change of the cabin is too extreme, which while it does convey the mood of the route, doesn't have the same effect as the Nightmare. The room itself seems to 'perfect,' with the most obvious difference being the wider door frame and overall lack of door. The subtle change plus the Paranoid's overall mood keeps the player on edge.

Things start ramping up once you get to the stairs, which don't even try to be subtle with its attempt to hide the overall unnatural feel of the cabin. Then it hits you with the reveal that you are stuck. You can't go back. You can only go forward and confront the inhumane Princess.

You're finally in the basement, which does a fantastic job of conveying the idea that once again, you're stuck. You do not have an actual choice in the matter. No matter which way you go, you are going to be hunted down by this creature and you will most likely be killed.

The moment of truth happens and you finally confront the Princess. While she was unsettling in the first chapter, her appearances have been completely twisted. Her limbs bend irregularly, her face is cracked and shaded in a way that makes it look like it's not even her actual face, her appearance constantly flickers and looms over you, giving you the feeling that you have no power over her, weapon or no weapon.

Finally, you start talking to her. She almost kills you again, until the Paranoid suddenly, without explanation, starts mumbling "Heat. Lungs. Liver. Nerves" over and over. You don't even have time to question it, because it somehow is keeping you alive, but barely. If you choose to talk to her with all the 'Explore' dialogues, her unsettling demeanor never wavers. The conversation feels realistic, with certain actions causing the Paranoid to start panicking and chanting desperately.

The last thing i'll point out about Chapter 2 is that the Hero and the Narrator hardly talk. It's as if they themselves are frightened of the entire situation. That is until she pulls off her mask. You don't get to see what she looks like, but the Narrator's description is more than enough to give it its effect.

Then there's the artstyle change. I originally thought it was just to convey you dying again, but it really changes the name of the Route. The Narrator's description and the visuals give the idea that this may not only be your nightmare. The Princess is most likely suffering as well.

Then after all of that, THE NARRATOR HIMSELF GIVES UP. You are left in a state of not being sure whether you're dead, but your mind has clearly given out.

We then move on to chapter.. uh... "The Moment of Clarity." You wake up, and for once, everything genuinely feels wrong. One could argue that in The Arms Race and Mutually Assured Destruction turned everything on the head by adding pretty much all the voices, but everything is thrown off in The Moment of Clarity. You're not even in the woods, or in the cabin for that matter, you're somewhere else. It's a place that vaguely feels like the woods, but it isn't. On top of that, the Voices can't remember what happened very well. Their memory isnt completely wiped, but the fact they have trouble remembering at all is completely new.

Not only do the voices not remember what happened, pretty much all the voices are talking now. With all their contradicting personalities, it's unclear what the truth is. The timeline is everywhere, the Narrator is no help, and there is still no feeling of safety.

"Maybe you're shattered in your own way." OH MY GOD THAT LINE ABSOLUTELY SLAYS ME (no pun intended). Even if it's swept under the rug by the other voices "not being philosophical," considering the stakes of the route, it just messes with me

My one complaint is the Voice of the Smitten. It's usually funny how down bad he is but it seriously is not fitting for the route at all.

It's interesting how they all consider the Voice of The Cold to be the voice of reason in the moment. In the Narrator's words, all the other voices have been traumatized to the point they can't be talked any sense into. Since the Cold is just so unfeeling, it's pretty much your characters only drive into move on except for maybe the Opportunist.

For once, none of the Voices question the mirror, not because they've accepted that there is no mirror, but because they've accepted that the Narrator thinks there is no mirror. It gives you how much of an idea that the Voices and in extension your character has given up. Hell, the Voice of the Stubborn even tells you to smash it at one point.

Something i havent mentioned much of is the music or sound design, but it really helps give off the atmosphere. In this 'third' chapter, the background music is a ticking clock and a breezy noise you may hear in a quiet room. Paired with the surreal landscape of the black forest and the floating cabin, it further gives off the idea of everything being a dream, or by extension a nightmare.

When you're told to pick up the blade, you're once again stuck. You aren't given any other choice except for the illusion of a choice. Some of the options are even blacked out, saying that 'you've tried everything else. Don't you remember?'

The way she climbs out of the pit. You only see her face at first, then her abnormally long and lanky arms. Then you see her legs, with her bare feet looking like hands, reminding you of a spider or a monkey, but definitely not human. She isn't interrupted once she's in full view, leaving you to stare at her and her outstretched hand and cracked mask.

Remember how I mentioned that in the demo, the Narrator is so shocked by your sudden death that he says 'I'm so sorry.' There is now a complete contrast with this new version. When you take her hand, he ends off his sentence by saying "I can't believe you just made me say that. I hate you." and with full sincerity, not even in a joking or petty manner.

"Why is it so cold?.."

[troublerats]

Hey, I remember seeing your Flipside comic concepts on Reddit a few months ago. When I checked Reddit recently to see if there was anything new, I saw that the account you posted them on appeared to be deleted. I was really interested in following along the process. Is the comic still coming or has it been cancelled/on hiatus?

Okay so I’ve got this question a few times but I suppose it’s time I fully clarify what’s going on on Tumblr in a form I can repeatedly point to.

The comic IS still coming, but it is going through some major changes. For a variety of reasons, we have decided to de-fnaf the series and turn it into an original IP.

This is for a few emotional factors, like the abuse we’ve experienced and seen from the FNaF community and generally just hitting the point where we don’t want to deal with it when it comes to something we’ve put so much work and love in.

That and of course, the creative freedom and income we can get from making an original IP, that we already planned to work on for several years. We’re hoping to bring something new to the table

Though of course because of this, the comic is going through another phase of conceptualization. Which I will show off at the end of this thread.

-

As for why my Reddit account is gone, I deleted it since it had my old name, Treblebaps, and I could not change it so it caused to much pain. A bit of a warning here as I bring up transphobic harassment and being sent very triggering things.

As a bit of backstory, I was the first person to talk about Gwen Stacy being trans in ATSV, a post that was just meant for my friends and audience but absolutely blew the fuck up. Because of this I was harassed by transphobes for days, they sent me gore and cp, and terrorized my friends and went after my income by defacing it.

Their mass reporting resulted in me losing my account on Twitter, and ever since I just decided to rebrand because I couldn’t have the name “Treblebaps” as my @ on everything anymore. Maybe a bit dramatic, yes, but it bothered me nonetheless.

-

Going back to the Flipside, what you need to know is that the main story of Purpleside, now called Rubyside, has changed. But the story of Yellowside, now Goldenside, has all but stayed the same premise wise. I will now explain the premise of both stories to better explain the changes.

Rubyside

Edgar Adams-

the owner of a popular arcade, now slipping out of it’s golden age, accidentally murders his business partner, Oliver Walker, in a drunken spat. This act of violence, awakens a dormant entity, which begins to reach out to Edgar. Promising him various things and telling him secrets no living person knows.

Edgar follows its guidance and kills, experiments with living matter, and carves a gateway between this world and the world the entity came from, The Flipside. Held together by six arcade machines that encoded with both of their secrets.

After a pattern of tragedy Edgar disappears. Presumed dead, but continuing down his path as he repeatedly builds himself new identities, and faces, as he consumes an element known as Gold to try to keep his own face from falling off.

Following Edgar’s fall, Edgar’s two sons, discover a sliver of the secrets Edgar had kept from them. And while the younger Edgar Jr. goes down his own path,

the story from here primarily follows the older, David, as he hunts down all of the six arcade cabinets, which are now scattered in different locations across America with no signs to tell them apart.

However, his journey is made even harder on account that these arcade cabinets continually spawn twisted forms of life in many different horrific ways. Ranging from a mad race-car driving hairless cat that has split itself into endless fragmentations, a deep diving space game that causes people to drown in their sleep, a zombie shooter game that’s brought its main antagonist alive in a strange, eccentric, but annoyingly helpful way, and a boxing game that has strangely caused one of the animatronic animal characters in a pizzeria to spring to hungry life (as a little final nod to the original.)

Rubyside’s story follows David and several other characters amidst a story of living media, cults, body horror, and bloodshed.

As for Goldenside

The events of Rubyside never took place in this universe, Edgar never killed anybody, Finch never interfered. And many of the characters who died or became victims of the other worlds trauma, are able to happily live.

Namely Edgar Adams Jr. Or also known as Edwin, got to experience a vaguely normally childhood with his friends.

Edwin's friends being Lucy Smith

Eloise Baptiste

Tracy Walker

Teresa Chowdhury

Gabe Mitchel

Rodrick Woods

And Cody Fischer

These are our primary protagonists for Goldenside, and for the most part, they are happy.

However, consequences from Rubyside begin to leak through into this "good timeline" and bringing echos of events and creatures from the bloodier timeline into this one. On account of the Flipside being one dimension, while the worlds that exist, are many.

This is a constant threat the main characters face as they struggle to preserve their little slice of life lives, and live through events in one time, out of their control.

Though there are entities, that have other plans, that work tirelessly to mold this story into their own vision.

But mostly, Goldenside functions as a less dire reprieve from Rubysides often pessimistic and grim tone. It's more of a villain of the week, though doesn't shy away from drama.

-

Overall, that's the rundown of what has been going on with the Flipside thus far. And how Rubyside differs from it's original retelling of the FNaF story.

There is a lot I can't say here, and a lot I am unable to show since there is a lot of concept art I am still having to work on, equally so a lot of stuff Riddles has yet to write. But I hope nonetheless this will still be something people are excited to follow.

[saggernooseai]

Story and photo are both AI generated and are works of fiction only (based on a custom request)

It was supposed to be a fun night out for three best friends, Mark, Jake, and Adam. They were all ready to celebrate their friend's upcoming wedding.

As the night went on, the alcohol flowed freely and the three friends became more and more intoxicated. They stumbled from bar to club, laughing and joking as they celebrated their friend's last night of freedom. However, as the night wore on, things started to get hazy. The last thing they remembered was leaving the club and getting into a car with a group of strangers.

The next thing they knew, they woke up in a small, dimly lit room with their hands bound in front of them. Panic set in as they looked around, trying to make sense of their surroundings. They were terrified and confused, not knowing how they ended up in this situation.

Their confusion turned to terror when their captors entered the room. They were masked men, dressed in all black and carrying nooses in their hands. The three friends couldn't believe what was happening, they were being held captive by strangers who were about to hang them? Why?

The men wasted no time and started tying the nooses around their necks. The three friends pleaded for their lives, begging and screaming for mercy. But their captors seemed unfazed by their cries and instead, lifted them up slowly, causing them to stand on their toes.

The pain was excruciating as the nooses tightened around their necks and they struggled to breathe. But just when they thought it couldn't get any worse, their captors began hitting them with sticks, causing them to sway back and forth.

They would lift them up to their toes and then let them drop, causing the ropes to tighten even more. The friends were in excruciating pain, feeling like their necks were going to snap at any moment.

As the captors grew tired of torturing them, they hoisted the friends completely off the ground. The friends were now dancing at the end of their ropes, gasping for air and struggling to free themselves. But something strange started to happen. Jake and Adam, who were both straight, started to feel intense pleasure as they struggled. They couldn't understand what was happening, but they were experiencing intense orgasms, filling their boxers with cum.

The captors were just as surprised as the friends, but they didn't let up. They continued to watch as the friends danced and writhed in pleasure and pain. Jake, on the other hand, was still in shock and couldn't feel anything but fear and pain, but he did have a vsisble erection.

Their captors seemed enjoy the sight of the three friends struggling and cumming at the same time. But their amusement didn't last long as they grew tired of their captives.

With one final pull, they hoisted the three friends completely off the ground, causing them to dance at the end of their ropes. It was a sick and twisted game to their captors, but for Mark, Jake, and Adam, it was a terrifying nightmare.

As they hung there, their bodies slowly losing consciousness, they couldn't help but wonder how their fun night had turned into this hellish nightmare. They never imagined that their bachelor party would end like this, with them being hanged by strangers.

[yuikomorii]

Greetings, I come with late night ramblings abt diabolik lovers. Big fan of your blog, I really like the side of the fandom which discusses the characters

Sometimes i wonder what it was like for the mukami bros to turn into vampires. Since vampires look so similar to humans the fact that they are a different species really slips my mind sometimes.....

So sometimes I find myself wondering what that psychological shift was like. The mukami bros were all pretty young and had grudges against humans in some way when they were turned, so parting with their humanity wasn't on their minds I think lol.

But despite spending lot of their childhood/puberty around vampires they still do act a lot more human like than the sakamakis. Granted, the sakamakis def have a lot trauma that compromises their ability to have any type of healthy relationship. But characters like ayato suggest that vampires aren't inherently incapable of the more "human" emotions (don't rlly know a good word for it mb).

I do remember ruki saying somewhere that because he is weak he stays with his family (not the only reason ofc, but having to band together/find strength in numbers to survive is a very human-like thing), yet he and his bros abandoned being human/ hold some level of resentment for humanity.

Anyways all that to say the mukami bros have an interesting relationship with their "humanity" and I'm overanalyzing characters in an otome game of which the lore is constantly retconned. Complicating this is the fact that we don't have a "average" or "normal" vampire to compare with

Also reject totally missed an opportunity to make a character that didn't want to be turned into a vampire, and had to struggle with the changes.

// Hello, thank you for enjoying my blog!<3

Hmm… If the person who becomes a vampire is kind-hearted and mentally stable enough to avoid wishing revenge upon someone or using their newfound vampire status as an excuse to treat people badly, I sincerely doubt that the psychological transition from human to vampire would hit that hard. Trauma caused the Mukami brothers to develop such a vicious nature, exactly like Yui in HDB did at one point when, as a result of being mentally broken, she started killing people in an After story. While pure-blood vampires do have their own set of morals and they obviously need blood to survive, I wouldn’t say they are inherently evil, taking into account that in LP and VC, some vampires were nice to Yui and the Diaboys. They are indeed predators, that’s something they can’t control no matter how much they try, but not all of them are malicious.

The Mukamis got rid of their humanity but they still kept acting like humans around one another because, after all, that’s how they were initially accustomed to. As for the Sakamakis… due to trauma as well, they were pretty twisted since childhood. I mean, most of them were the main cause something bad happened to any of their brothers in the past, therefore it’s to be expected that their relationship is not a healthy one. However, vampires are actually capable of experiencing human emotions, and Ayato is the living example of this given that he is confirmed as being the most human-like out of all due to the fact that he was already capable of displaying these emotions prior to meeting Yui (for example: wanting to sacrifice himself for his brothers, ruining Karl’s blue rose so as Cordelia wouldn’t get sad, crying when Cordelia died and, most importantly, valuing his life). Additionally, a vampire will begin to experience human emotions the more Eve's blood he consumes, so... that's basically part of the plan, according to what Karl said in Ayato’s DF route.

I wouldn't say the Mukamis hate humans; they held a grudge against aristocrats, but not humans in general, because they only see them as an inferior species. As for Ruki, the reason he would feel weak without his family isn’t only due to banding together or finding strength in number but rather it’s about them as his emotional support. Kou, Yuma, Azusa respect, praise and accept Ruki with all his qualities and flaws, therefore feeling needed and appreciated is actually what makes Ruki strong.

[romirola]

for the WIP game, lets seeee… can you tell us what inspired you most during the writing process, like maybe a certain song or Redacted video?

by the way I’ve got to tell you how much I admire you conviction I deeply envy your ability to have one WIP and fuckin knock that shit out the park my undiagnosed ADHD could literally not fathom it you beautiful mythical creature

-Lexi Sun ☀️

From this ask game!

@weightedblanketjoyfriend, thank you so much for this ask! It's always a joy to talk about fics, and to talk about the process of a fic!? You spoil me!! (And that's why you get a few short snippets!) Thank you for those kind words, but honestly, forcing myself to work on one WIP is less about conviction and more about my own sanity. It's too hard for me to keep all the plots in my head. I just gotta get my head down and focus on the one, or else I'll feel too pressured to make progress on everything and make progress on nothing, not to mention suck all the fun out of something I find to be so, so enjoyable. Onto my writing process for Balancing Act:

Most of my fics start with a bit of dialogue that I hear inside my head and really, really like. So much so, that I get obsessed with it. From there, I start to construct the immediate scene/context of that dialogue. Who said it? Why? To whom? What's happening to prompt that speech/situation? (Fun fact, I can point out the "starter" dialogue snippet of every fic I have written, because it just turns over and over and over again in my head before I even start drafting.) In the case of Balancing Act, the starter bit of dialogue was:

“It… It hurts!” they half-cried, half growled. Sharp teeth pushed up from out of their gums, shooting lightning bolts through their jowls. Angel sputtered and choked, overwhelmed with the onslaught of stretching and expanding every part of their body somehow experienced all at once. “Hurts bad… Make it stop! Please, I can’t…” They wrestled out of David’s arms, rolling over to the other corner of the bed. They teetered near the edge before toppling onto the ground in a wriggling heap. “Ahh!” David vaulted after them. “Angel!” He quickly ran to his whimpering mate. When David stepped to the side to reach Angel on the floor, he gasped sharply.  An enormous black wolf lay sprawled out on the ground, awkwardly trying to balance on massive paws and twisting their sleek head in every direction to get a good look at their furry, beastly body.

Yeah, 9.9/10 times, my starter dialogue is hurt/comfort... Very predictable Romi behavior right there...

Eventually, a story starts to form around the moment, and I follow that story backwards and forewords. If I'm lucky, more "starter moments" form in my head and the connections between moments becomes clearer. For example, once I realized Angel struggled with a spontaneous shift, and that their instinctual confusion with experiencing the process would probably lead to the shift causing them immense pain, I also realized I'd love to see Angel thrive as alpha, which led to me to hear this little bit of dialogue:

Janelle’s smug grin faltered. She flinched away from Angel, her pegasus suddenly wanting to flee from the predator before her. “I…” “And say that breach happened in front of an unempowered human who decided to go hunting shifters for sport, trying to bring home a mythical pelt, thinking they’re going to be the one to show the world Bigfoot exists,” Angel pressed. “What then, if shifters were compromised? If bounties were put out on our heads by unempowered people who see shifters as animals? If shifters were hunted for sport, maybe legally, if the unempowered government were afraid of the half-monster things they'd fear you to be? Or, maybe instead, you want shifters all to be rounded up and caged like animals by some amatuer-wanna-biologists? Is that how you want to live? Trapped? Experimented on? Always tranqued out your mind? Kept as someone’s pet, with an electric collar to keep you on your best behavior?”  Angel felt the wolf within howl and groan at the mere thought of the pack being subjected to such cruelty. <em>Pack. Protect. Threat. Shift. Shift now. Attack.</em> Their need to take down the pegasus and punish her for her insubordination was growing into a painful ache. How dare this woman be so cavalier about covert? Didn’t she understand the stakes? Didn’t she realize how brutally and power-hungry the unempowered part of society could be?  Angel did.

Or sometimes, the moments are totally unrelated! And that's a fun part of the process, too, because it means I have to get creative to see how the moments lead into each other. For example one has nothing to do with alpha!Angel, but it wouldn't leave me alone until I figured out how to include it:

“Watch yourself,” Sweetheart warned though their yawn undercut the normal edge with which they spoke. “Because that cute little girl is going to grow up to be the strongest stealth anyone has ever seen.” They held out a threatening finger. “And if anyone tries to deter her from that path in any way, shape, or form, I'll rip their guts with my bare hands and cloak the evidence before they even knew they were missing organs.” Milo shuddered at the graphic imagery Sweetheart used. “Okay, okay.” He wiggled Sweetheart over so that they were tucked in close to his body, turned inward so that their head could rest on his chest. “I think someone is up way past their bedtime, and their exhaustion is once again making them a little bit too vengeful for their own good.” He brushed a hand across Sweetheart’s forehead, letting his fingers linger on their temple until Sweetheart's blinks began to slow. “You are so hot when you're violent,” he whispered softly enough so that only Sweetheart would hear. “I love you.” 

It's the *moments*, Lexi! For me, the *moments* make the process. I am not one to draw inspiration from songs, though if there are any songs that you felt resonated with the fic, I would be very excited to hear your thoughts!

This was a long-winded answer to your question, so thank you for indulging me.

[enkisstories]

Rey: "Armitage... Ben... A word, please! This is about what we talked about at the factory."

Armitage: "Let me just step out of Ben's choking range... Okay. Ready."

Ben: "Choking range, huh? How mad exactly will I be at you when she's finished?"

Armitage: "On a scale from telling you to cut your hair to Crait?"

Ben: "You weren't on Crait with us. You had deserted us!"

Armitage: "That's why. Crait it is, then."

Ben: "Only I wasn't angry at you there. I had already forgotten you by then."

Rey: "Stuff a sock in it, you two! - Armitage, I've made up my mind. I will ACCEPT your offer. I will return with you and assume the mantle of Supreme Leader of the First Order."

Ben: "Oh, is that your game now? If you cannot get my throne for yourself, you put Rey on it?"

Armitage: "The Resistance cannot defeat the First Order on its own. And we cannot win the civil war on our own. An alliance of convenience was the most logical step, but only Rey has a chance to pull this off, her being a symbol of hope for the Resistance and Snoke's niece."

Ben: "So after all of this half of the First Order will be no more and Rey will guide the other half to a better way of living. Meanwhile the Resistance rebuilds the Republic. It's a start, I suppose."

Rey: "However! If this isn't going to work, then you will return with me and pledge allegiance to the Resistance for good. No more yoyoing back and forth. No holding back, either."

Armitage: "I swear it. On my honor as an officer."

Ben: "I'm glad to hear that your heritage doesn't scare you anymore. Mine... did scare me. A lot."

Rey: "Well, see, Palpatine had only ever been a scary story for me, first from my parents, and then from stories passed down mouth to ear. He was too intimidating to even view as an actual person. But then the Finalizer came to Jakku and I experienced actual evil firsthand. First and foremost from the two of you."

Ben: "Yes, this must have been the turning point. Even though at first everything took a turn for the worse."

Rey: "Later I learned what had caused you become the monsters you were, and later still I saw you slowly change for the better. That put things into perspective. I think I'm ready now to see everyone this way - where they come from, where their path could lead them and how it all is a chain of decisions, nothing pre-determined that we needed to be afraid of."

Ben: "Then let me formally abidcate in favour of the legitimate heiress of the Palpatine bloodline and family name. Henceforth I shall be your knight. Where you go, I will go!"

Rey: "That's about the most threatening thing you ever told me."

Armitage: "Can you at least stop being so damn theatralic?"

Ben (whispering): "Why would I, when it reliably gets your knickers in a twist?"

Rose: "Don't let Ben bait you all the time! He enjoys that!"

Armitage: "Heh. See, Ben? The kitchen scullion has a knight all of his own, too!" (to Rose) "I'm so fortunate!"

Poe: "Break it to me gently, what am I to you in this gathering of royalty and nobility?"

Finn: "The best thing the cat dragged in ever!"

Ben: *grumbles*

(Note: Finn refers to Ben being the one who arrested Poe just before they met. And poor Rey, the game is doing her no favours. She only seems to have two expressions: “We’ll win the day with positive thinking” and “OMG, they can’t mean/do/say that”.)

[noisyfluff]

Navigating Adversity: From Injury to Crowdfunding Hope

How it all began

Life's twists and turns can catch us off guard, and last week, I found myself grappling with an unexpected challenge: a fall resulted in a broken femur, leading to urgent surgery and a hospital stay that changed the course of my days. 

In this blog post, I'll share my journey from the incident to the mounting medical bill, and the reality of embarking on a crowdfunding campaign to bridge the financial gap.

The Unforeseen Incident

A typical day took a drastic turn when I experienced an unexpected fall. The resulting broken femur necessitated immediate surgery, and as I began the journey to recovery, I realized the incident carried implications beyond physical healing. The financial toll of medical expenses was an unforeseen challenge I had to confront.

A Burden to Bear: The Growing Medical Bill

As I focus on my recovery, the weight of the medical expenses is looming large. With a hospital bill totaling $28,000, we managed to pay $9,000 towards it initially with help from my sister and my son, however, the remaining amount feels like an insurmountable hurdle. With the bill's due date approaching fast, finding a solution to the financial strain has become an urgent priority.

Turning to Crowdfunding: A Beacon of Hope

In moments of uncertainty, the support of a community can light the way. Seeking assistance from friends, family, and compassionate strangers, I launched a crowdfunding campaign, a platform where I can share my story and appeal for help in alleviating this financial burden. The campaign's launch stirs up a range of emotions, including hope and anticipation for the positive impact it can make.

Anticipating Support with Hopeful Hearts

While the crowdfunding campaign is in its early stages, my heart is filled with hope and anticipation. I am grateful for every individual who takes a moment to read my story and consider supporting the cause. The waiting game is an exercise in patience, as I trust that kindness and empathy will prevail, bringing the financial relief I seek.

Embracing Strength through Challenges

Recovery isn't solely about physical healing—it's also about fostering resilience and determination. Each step forward becomes a testament to the human capacity to persevere. This journey has reminded me that seeking help is an act of courage and that even in challenging times, there's strength in vulnerability and unity.

In Closing

Life's unexpected trials demand us to summon strength and find hope amidst the unknown. From a sudden fall to grappling with a mounting medical bill, my journey has shown that resilience is born from adversity. As I navigate the path of healing and financial strain, I'm optimistic that the power of community will shine through. With every contribution, no matter the size, we move closer to easing the financial burden and embracing the collective spirit of compassion.

Author: Adele Samad

https://donorbox.org/adele-s-medical-bill

https://www.givesendgo.com/GB1T9

https://gogetfunding.com/?p=8072569

[worldbuildguild]

Syllabus: Affordance in Hero Props

When you're creating Hero props for your universe, there's some things to keep in mind. They have to look good first of all, but also functional and interesting too! More importantly, they have to communicate their purpose so that the audience understands the effect of the "Hero prop".

Hero props are the more detailed pieces intended for close inspection by the camera or audience. The hero prop may have legible writing, lights, moving parts, or other attributes or functions missing from a standard prop. - Wikipedia

Hero Prop: A prop that is important to your character, story or scene. Which requires extra design-work to be interesting, convincing and to work for its intendet use in the scene.

One thing that I don't see covered a lot is the 'affordance' in Hero Props. Many of us include affordance into our designs by default since we've grown accustomed to experiencing it in the real world. But do we actually know why we use it, and what is Affordance even?

Source: Interaction Design Foundation

Once again we turn our attention to the lingo of other design disciplines. This time UX Design, which is the abbreviation for User Experience Design. User Experience Design relates to the behaviours and feelings surrounding a user, using a given object. Design teams use UX Design to carefully tailor how their users interact with their object and how their users are supposed to feel while interacting. This includes designing the object's usability ( a measure of how well a user can use the object ), as well functionality and even branding to achieve good Affordance. In our case, we're going to use 'Affordance' as a tool to ensure that our viewers understand how Hero Props and objects in our world are interacted with, and therefore can gather context for its use without having it explicitly explained to them. First off, let me explain a little bit more about affordance so we all have a basic understanding of it.

Source: Quora

Above is a door. A door that explains the principle of Affordance really well.

Let's imagine you're approaching this door from the right side. You see there's a handle on the door, but its not a handle that you need to turn or twist. You immediately understand that you have to grab the handle of the door and interact with it. If the designer of this door has considered your User Experience and the Affordance of the door, they will have designed it so that you will have to pull this door by the handle as the handle's designs suggests. This is good Affordance. Alternatively, if you approach this door from the other side. The left, you'll notice immediately that there is no handle at all, but a raised pad of metal to lay your hand on. You'll know immediately that you will have to push this door, since there is nothing to grab at or pull. This is also good Affordance

Affordance is best used when it speaks to incredibly simple and limited lines of logic to our brains. For this door: Handle means pull, pad means push -> since there is nothing to pull.

Here's a coffe pot. We understand that a coffee pot is a vessel for holding liquid, cause the inside is hollow. We immediately see the handle too, and know that we need to hold it by the handle. Through that, we can deduct that we can pour liquid from the vessel by the long snout on the object's left side, by tilting it in our grip.

Ok last example I promise- this one is a little more complex. Video games and video game controllers is one of the mediums that have to rely a lot on their UX design. Not everyone grew up with video games, or certain video game consoles. Therefore what seems like an object with good Affordance to some, might feel like bad Affordance to others. I grew up with the PlayStation. The PlayStation controller is designed to be gripped by its two legs. To have the user's thumbs placed on the two nubs at the bottom and then the pointer and ring finger resting at the shoulder buttons up top. I am well practiced in this, but someone like my grandfather might have trouble figuring out the exact position his hands would have to sit in, if he had to explain it to me by just looking at it. However: Sony has made many clever design choices in their controllers that results in buttons sitting intuitively around their device, where it would make sense for the human hand to naturally situate itself.

(Source: https://www.wallpaperflare.com/person-holding-sony-ps4-dual-shock-game-video-gaming-controller-wallpaper-whtrl )

It might take a bit of fidgeting around, but once you start up the console and are prompted to press certain buttons, your hands will naturally drift into place. You'll move your thumbs up to manoeuvre the nubs and your fingers will naturally rest on the top of the controller, to avoid cramping. Some people still hold the controller differently than others. It is not always that the device's otherwise very thoughtful layout is effective for everyone ( particularly when you account for differing anatomy, disabilities, etc ). But as a thumbrule, you can give someone a joystick and they'll naturally find comfort in its ergonomic design due to its Affordance.

Ok so what about prop-design and good affordance

Accounting for good affordance can look a variety of ways: but most importantly is that you design Hero Props ( and by that extension buildings, technology, etc) which in their visual design tells the viewer something about how it's used and for what purpose ( unless of course you want to make something truly alien that your audience can't decipher ).

Sci-Fi Gun Concept by allmightythunder

Here, artist allmightythunder has designed as futuristic gun. Despite its pretty abstract shape and overall design, our brains can still figure out how to use it quite intuitively. This is because the artist has clearly framed the trigger and the handle. Which tells us where to hold it, by then, we understand that the gun fires from the opposite end of the handle.

Prop design / Bag by orururu

Artist orururu explains to us how to open each of these bags by making it clear in the design. First bag from the left you grab the metal plated front and swing it open. In the middle, you will have to undo a few clasps on the front before you can open the bag. The third bag to the right is a drawstring bag, made very clear by the string on top snaring the bag closed. On top of that, orururu also tells us how the bag is supposed to be worn or carried. Top left is a backpack, as we can see by the two straps on the back of the bag. While the middle one is a shoulder bag. The drawstring bag is not meant to be carried very far, as it has no string. Perhaps it is meant to be carried inside another bag when being transported.

Concept Art Prop Design by novavillanueva

Artist novavillanueva has made a set of tools for a game-project. All these tools have specific uses that are indicated on the design itself. Some have handles you're supposed to squeeze or pry, some have buttons, some have scissor blades and others are shielded with heavy plating. What do you think these could be used for? How do think the artist tried to design each tool around its intended purpose? You can still make amazing looking Hero Props without actively accounting for good affordance. We see this everywhere in background prop and furniture design in a myriad of media. But designing -interesting- Hero Props with clear uses and a character of their own is an artform. It makes your Hero Prop much more interesting and gets your viewer speculating. Like this, they in turn get much more invested in your world. Affordance is a very good way spice up your designs, so don't skimp out of it when you're looking to design your Hero-prop!

- Mod Wackart ( Donate ) Portfolio

[suchabea]

The Interview

Sabrina’s agent set her up with a gig of a lifetime. An interview with a movie star on her Simtube Channel. Sabrina is just a video game streamer. This is big time. This is mainstream. The actor in question? Satoru Gojo, an international superstar. She’s a big fan of his work and is super excited that he got the lead role in a movie adaptation of her favorite video games.

For it to be her first interview, it went incredibly well. He was easy going and funny. His stories were well told and engaging. She could literally listen to him all day. It didn’t help that every time he said her name, she felt a flutter in her chest. That’s new. She found herself easily flustered which she has never experienced before. 

He’s attractive, very attractive. Sabrina isn’t blind to that. She may be asexual, but she is capable of noticing these things. Holding eye contact with him made her nervous. Their interview was only meant to last 20 mins max, but he kept talking as if he wasn’t ready to leave. His agent appeared to be pretty pissed off screen. He had a schedule to keep, but it didn’t matter to him. 

(Sabrina’s awkwardness intensifies)

The focus of the interview turned to her, going completely off script. Satoru wanted to learn as much as he could about her. She blushed at every compliment he gave. That’s also new to her cause usually she doesn’t care or is very dismissive of it. This time its different. She just couldn’t figure out why. 

After a bit of off screen harassments from his agent, he announced his departure. 

He smelled nice. Very expensive. In a plot twist Sabrina didn’t expect, he asked for her number. 

What was she going to say? No. Absolutely not. Of course she gave him her number. 

The Interview went viral. It’s the biggest hit on her channel. Millions of his fans swarmed to her video leaving all sorts of thirsty comments that made Sabrina laugh. 

A few days later, an unknown number popped up on her phone. It was him letting her know he’s in town and asking her to lunch. She squealed. Another new thing for her. Who squeals over a non-date lunch with an attractive guy? Apparently her. 

As she arrived at the sushi spot he told her about, a friend of his was preparing to leave. 

He introduced her to Suguru Geto, his best friend and editor-in-chief of Couture Magazine. She knew him well as a renowned photographer.  Suguru greeted her with a kiss on the back of the hand before making his exit. Her heart fluttered AGAIN. This reaction started to freak her out. It’s not her normal. 

This lunch became the prelude to several lunches over the next few months. 

She became the first person he’d visit when he’s in town. Naturally, their friendship flourished. At the same time she got to know Suguru a lot better as well. They were a package deal in a sense and she liked them both. Platonically of course . . . for now. 

(I’m not a fan fic writer, but I do read so I’m a little inspired lol. Also I didn’t make Gojo or Geto, I found good enough ones in the gallery and added cc I found. Also as a reminder, Sabrina is my enhanced simself.)

[lordnot]

Harm Reduction: The Liberal, Progressive Argument for Voting Trump in 2024

(DO NOT POST UNTIL RFK AND MARIANNE DROP OUT AND ENDORSE)

Well, it sure has been quite a primary season, hasn't it? Not in terms of debates, of course. That would have been a waste of time. But the ups and downs, the twists and turns! I don't know about you, but I was kept on the edge of my seat right up until the end!

But now that it's over, it's time to start focusing on the general election. It's time to give up on the purity tests, the pie-in-the-sky aspirations, and discuss the most strategic decision on who to support with our vote, our dollar, and our time. And that is why I implore you to give very serious consideration to supporting Donald Trump in upcoming 2024 election.

Now, I know what you're thinking. "What is this accelerationist nonsense?" But nothing could be further from the truth. I am no irresponsible accelerationist, and I certainly am no Republican. I am instead focused on causing the least amount of harm to our country in 2025 and beyond. And, sadly, due to circumstances that I will now explore, another term of a President Donald Trump is our best chance to do that.

Look: I love Joe Biden. And I am not at all fooled by these stories put out in the media that he is too old to be President. That being said, we cannot overlook what has happened to our country during Biden's first term. The loss of abortion rights. The rise in violence against trans people. Immigrants and refugees having their very lives turned into a political game. The Republican Party is absolutely out of control. And one of the reasons why I respect President Biden so much is also one of his greatest weaknesses: his respect for Rule of Law. He is not going to try to use executive orders to wield greater power than an American President should have. He is not going to undermine the traditions of our great country by politicizing The Supreme Court, or pushing for the removal of the filibuster. In short: he fights fair, and the Republicans fight dirty. What, then, can be done? Simple: we bring The Resistance back from brunch.

The re-election of Trump will bring out outrage the likes of which The Republicans have never dreamed of. The angry tweets, the memes, Nancy Pelosi's tearing up Trump's State of the Union? Simply the tip of the iceberg. The Republicans will barely have the courage to pass more tax cuts, let alone any transphobic legislation. They will no longer be able to hide behind the argument that the bad things happening to this country are somehow Joe Biden's fault, and we will be a better country for it.

We also need to talk about the elephant in the room: Ukraine. We all know that Joe Biden will do everything in his power to support Ukraine to the last man, because of how much he cares about its people and how much he hates fascism. It's why he is a hero. But when the other side has an insane, twisted, and heartless monster with access to a stockpile of nuclear weapons in charge, it means we are playing with fire. The Biden Administration is full of incredibly smart, experienced, and rational people, but even they can make a mistake. We simply cannot take the chance of drawing out this war any longer. And no, I do not believe for a second that anyone in the Republican Party is actually less hawkish than the Democrats. But what I do believe is that Putin's Puppet will continue to be Putin's Puppet. Trump will withdraw support out of self-interest, out of apathy, out of cruelty. But he may inadvertently save humanity by doing so.

And so I ask you, I beg you: take your personal feelings out of it. There has never been a more important election in our lifetime. This country is too important to gamble our future on voting for the person who represents our personal priorities and needs. Do the responsible thing. Vote Trump.

[lavandulacosmos]

Hola Anna 🐸👑♥️

32, 44, 45 for the fic writer ask game!

Hi, Enrica~ 🐸👑

Fanfic writer asks ✨

32. Copy and paste your top three favourite lines/jokes/sentences you’ve ever written. What fics do they come from?

You gave me an excuse to add another three to the ones I gave Kal, so here goes my WIPs again:

"Fucking insanity was not galloping but speeding in the family, collecting tickets." (Aureate - Ch.3 Ramé)

"By democratic voting, Aníbal chose the car, Mirko picked the colour, Ágata wrestled the keys out of their hands, and Martín called shotgun before any of them could argue. So the four of them came to a stop in front of a grandiose mansion in a red Bentley, tires screeching across the gravel and kicking up dust in a fashion only Ágata could coax out of any and all cars she got her hands on." (Arms of Morpheus - Ch.3)

"The maintenance floor seemed like a slain beast, its great ribs broken as beams and the remains of the vents curled in twisted shapes amidst the smoke. The wounds that killed it were the gaping holes where the ceiling caved in, the cables and pipes, the veins and nerves that got exposed to the other office floor. Desks and monitors and other office supplies, like shrapnels, spilt into the wounds caused by the explosion.  Where the ceiling stayed intact, it was scorched and splintered as the sprinklers washed soot and chalky residue down the cracks, like black and white blood." (Aureate - Ch.21 Moribund)

44. Rant about something writing related.

Now that Aureate is in its last Act, and this long little monster of a series is coming to an end I feel both sad and utterly happy. I didn't think writing could evoke such bittersweet feelings and now I'm in the midst of being both highly motivated to write the last chapters and absolutely dragging my feet to do it at the same time. It's the most peculiar thing I experienced during my short stint as a writer and it's fascinating - alas all things have to come to an end once and it's time to let go of this little universe I built.

45. Fic specific questions - if you have any weird questions about specific works, here’s your shot to ask them!

You didn't pose a question, dear, so I will answer one I received in private and ask the same from you in turn~: What are your honest thoughts on OCs that play just as big of a role in the story as the original characters? Love it, hate it, neutral?

As someone who immediately started of writing with an OC in the mix, I can safely say that I love OCs. I love seeing what other people come up with and bring to an existing canon universe, especially when they are well-written and add to the story and the canon characters they interact with. I enjoy coming up with OCs too, it's fun to figure out their place and roles when the playground is already set by canon. An OC is a great way to spice up a story.

[animefreak1145]

The Brilliance of Break On Through

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Mission Break on Through—An Analysis

I have replayed the campaign of COD:BOCW numerous times—too many times truly. Did a whole playthrough where it was Hardened and soon I’m sure I shall do Veteran(something I have never done for any COD game. Not even Hardened.).

All missions have their own unique qualities—parts where the player gets a little rush of adrenaline depending on the kind of mission and how they choose to play it (Nowhere Left to Run just a plain shooting match while Brick in the Wall you can choose to remain stealthy like the good spy you are or go crazy like an eager homicidal maniac).

Even within the safehouse, there are plenty of little details to discover if you take the time to look around and observe everyone. Or, everything. (The radio if turned to a Russian station/correspondence, Adler changes it back immediately before Da Nang mission. Watching Park’s body language, as you talk to Adler and she periodically looks over to you two. Adler suspicious when you go to the Red Room or the locked room with the arcade. The T.V. being turned on in the Red Room)

But the amount of details, details, in the mission Break on Through is outstanding. I have played this mission more than any other due to me wishing to look at all the details. There’s so many, I think I may miss some. And I can’t show them off all to you cause I suck at creating gifs and don’t know how to transfer that from Xbox to my phone.

To lighten it up a bit, I won’t focus on the four different scenarios you go through—at least not each one. That would take too long and I do not have gifs/pics to show it off since Tumblr limits it to ten anyways.

I will, however, try to guide to what parts of the game you all can explore if you choose to do so. As well just how detailed they did this mission.

I am going to start with the different statements Adler says to you throughout all the Scenarios(17, 6, 11, 1). We only go through four in the actual game—but the fact it goes up to 17 or possibly more shows just how far they went in and messed with Bell’s mind.

Now, Adler seems to be a bit bipolar on how he talks to you whether or not you listen to him and all his directions. Either totally blasé and cold to giving you and pumping you up with more MK or meds, or actually a tad concerned and patient as he guides you through.

If You/Bell Stands Still/Does Nothing:

Example 1

“So you did nothing? What were you, in shock?”

He throws the words callously, mocking. As if Bell isn’t confused and lost at what is going on. He even sounds irritated that you might actually be in shock due to these memories that are just fake—not even real. Not like what he has.

Example 2

“What’s wrong with Bell?” -Adler

“I’m not sure. . .” -Park

“I guess we’ll just wait on you to proceed, Bell.”

The contrast is dizzying. He sounds concerned when he asks Park on what could be wrong with you. If he pushed you too far and now you’re just frozen. And, instead of rushing you due to how the fate of half of Europe is at stake, he decides to give you space. Just wait for you and you’ll come out of it soon enough.

He does these sort of reactions numerous times. Jumping from intimidating to the Adler we knew as the player, as Bell—kind and always in your corner that believes in you. He switches tactics based on what he believes will work really—or he just felt really on edge at times and threw the farce that you two were friends out the window.

Other examples include:

Scenario 11–Napalm Strike-in the lab in the room where you were brainwashed

“Christ, what’s happening with them?”-Adler

“A mild seizure. Sims, past me a benzodiazepine.” -Park

Again, concerned. Worried. Almost…at unease?

In the lab—tripped up on drugs. If you run through the tight shrinking hallway back and forth like so(I suck at making gifs, I’m sorry):

“Why is Bell repeating themselves?”

Or

“Bell, stop speaking in circles.”

Now, as others may have suspected, Bell is talking to everyone as they’re stuck in this horrible loop of mental torture. Most likely muttering, hands clenching and arms pulling against the straps of the gurney, moving their head back and forth depending on what they’re seeing. I always saw Bell as muttering quickly in Russian as they go through all of this—their mother tongue where it may comfort them as they’re panicking and speaking to Adler.

It’s just a nice detail showcasing how exactly Adler knows that Bell is on script—Bell saying what they’re seeing and doing and what’s going on. It shows also just how hard they put Bell through the ringer(badum tss. I’ll leave now).

All the details too when the game shows how the drugs they put in Bell affects you. Like so. The hallways appearing long. The lights looking yellow. You feel so fast—look how quick you can run. Run towards the Red Door that Adler so desperately wants and maybe this can stop. Ah, why is it running away from you? What’s going on?

I don’t know about you, but I was so lost and confused at what was going on my first playthrough. For the majority of this mission, the possibility of me being brainwashed didn’t reach the BACK of my mind till probably I actually saw the flashes of scenes about Vietnam and calling Bell a subject. So like right here.

I personally thought that I had a repressed memory or something due to me going through the Vietnam War. That whatever I saw with Perseus, I—or rather Bell—repressed it from our mind due to how violent or horrible what we saw or experienced was. And that Adler suspected and just really wanted to know about it.

I didn’t expect for the man to actually brainwash my character—us—Bell! The game made Adler your mentor, who always defended you from Hudson and believed in your skills very highly. How he and Bell were basically perfect partners when the two of you were together.

It’s amazing—cause I think that’s what the developers were going for. The absolute trust. The loyalty. The denial that ‘maybe Adler is being a little harsh but hey, this is to help Perseus so it’s okay?’ It’s perfect. Because I’m sure that is what Bell actually felt in real time.

Yet, if you go through the total rebellious choice of not listening to Adler, some thing’s make sense. The Rebellious Side shows you way more than if you just listen to Adler like a Dutiful Soldier.

You go through this room if you choose the rebellious route, the T.V.’s automatically turning on the closer you get. Of Vietnam. And now, all those T.V.‘s that turned on by themselves(the Red Room, Lubyanka, Cuba) make sense. You were actually being brainwashed. Poor Bell probably can’t ever have a turned off/broken T.V. again. The trauma.

Said trauma being shown multiple times too. Not just the T.V.‘s. But the absolute terror that Bell felt, before they became Bell, with Adler.

Like do you see this? This terrified me when I saw it at the end of the hallway. I just saw a red shadow in the distance and I legit thought I was about to be chased. Call of Duty became a horror game(I also went through the door to the ground too my first playthrough, so before this I went through zombies and I think my heart was going to jump out my chest) I thought. I didn’t want to get closer. I had to, with each step I see that it’s not a shadow but a body. And than I see the familiar jacket, the sound of whirring in my ears and see it’s Adler’s head being twisted back and forth, side to side, up and down, in a speed that in inhumanely possible.

Makes one wonder if Bell themselves sees Adler as inhumane. Not human. Adler seeming to just be a god in their head. All the Adler shaped rocks/boulders you go through and see. Even one point the V.C. becoming Adler and you killing him over and over and dead bodies of Adler being everywhere.

The man has entered Bell’s head and won’t leave. Just like Adler won’t leave Bell alone.

Heck, there’s one point in my playthroughs of this mission I was by the bridge yet there were parts of the lab by it. I jumped towards it, noticing down below there were different floors of the lab that eventually reach the ground. I jumped to reach the next floor and missed and I died.

And Adler mocked Bell committing suicide.

That was the kicker really that Adler truly is indifferent towards Bell. Like complete disregard. I know it’s fake. We know it’s fake. Adler knows it’s fake—but to Bell, it felt real. That’s the crazy part. All of this—this whole sequence feels real to Bell so each time they die they actually feel it. It’s insane. It’s cruel.

But we all know that Adler isn’t known for his kindness. Still like his character though, he’s layered.

I don’t have the exact quote he said, didn’t wrote it down like the others. I was shook he said it at all.

Moving on to the final details I’m going to talk about.

When you go through the room, I believe this comes out for both rebellious and dutiful, really depends. You see it filled with post it notes, articles, plans, and newspapers. And you see once more just how Bell has been scarred.

I don’t know Russian or German, but I imagine the notes are similar to what the English one’s say. If I’m wrong, please point it out.

There’s also post it notes which I believe is in code as well due to all the numbers—I’m not sure what those could mean since I am no decoding expert.

Poor poor Bell. And with all these pictures and plans—of Adler included—it begs the question that Bell may have been warned about the famous America’s Monster beforehand. Had to have—since Adler is basically Perseus’s adversary due to how stubborn the American man could be. It just adds more to the story, despite Cold War having quite a short campaign, they made it up somewhat with all these details everywhere.

When you finally and actually reach the room.

As you grow closer to the table, to your chair in the conference room while everyone else seems to have their own spots, there’s something I noticed.

There’s glasses. As well as a hat. And it’s Bell’s. Or at least, it used to be. Why else is it on their side of the table? By their chair? I believe it might be reading glasses due to all the decryptions Bell does, whether on paper or through a computer, it’s hard on the eyes. (I’m sure I’m not the only one who noticed this. For look at @second-vtoroy ‘s Bell)

I believe through the brainwashing, Bell might not need glasses anymore. After all, apparently they were a smoker like Adler before too but they took that out of you. What else they changed of Bell? It makes one wonder how far they truly went into molding a person.

Which just adds onto how mind boggling this mission is—this game is. This is my favorite COD game, despite how short it is. The details and choices and interactions with everyone and able to create your own character(albeit it’s very standard and not specific but it’s good enough for me) is AMAZING. I’ve always been a sucker for RPG’s and able to get that even a little in a COD game? Truly wonderful.

I couldn’t touch on everything because it would’ve gotten long, but the fun of the Break on Through mission never gets old. It’s genius multiple ways you can do it. All the details. The feelings you feel as a player as you go through it.

They truly did a unique job with this and I hope they continue with this type of game storytelling. Hopefully longer as well.

Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this rant basically!

Gifs made by me and used the video down below to help.

https://youtu.be/t6QkmkGGHSQ

[thefanficmonster]

My Kind

Corpse Husband x Reader (Female)

Warning: Swearing

Genre: Fluff, RPF (Real Person Fic)

Summary: Having been chosen by the gang to be a guest streamer on today’s stream of Among Us, it’s safe to say Y/N’s super excited but also a bit nervous. The whole of her anxiety gets lifted off her when she meets someone with the exact same vibe as hers - yeah you guessed it.

Requested by @monizzle96 Hi dear! Thank you so much for your wonderful request! I’m so terribly sorry it’s taken me so long to write and post it but here it finally is! I hope you come across it and read it and if so I hope you enjoy it! Love, Vy ❤

This has to be the fiftieth time I’ve checked my setup in the past twenty four hours. But no, I’m definitely not nervous, what are you talking about. Pshhh. Nah, being nervous isn’t in my brand. Plus, what do I have to make me nervous - a group of famous streamers inviting me onto their stream to play Among Us with them because they enjoyed my own streams? Ok yeah, that’s a pretty good reason. Not gonna lie, I almost chucked my phone out of excitement when I received that DM from Toast, telling me they’d picked me to be their guest streamer for today’s date. My stomach was doing somersaults for a good forty-eight hours following that text and then the anxiety slowly started setting in fueled by the expectations they probably have of me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not inexperienced in the streaming field, I’ve been a streamer longer than some of the members of Toast’s streamer gang actually. But I never managed to garner that big of a following which I’m honestly quite ok with. I have a modest - ok, maybe larger than modest - following consisting of incredibly loyal fans which I will never stop being grateful for. They are all so respectable of me, my privacy and my boundaries. They know the main rules: no shit-talking in the chat or in any of my comment sections, no bashing other YouTubers in my comments/chat, and most definitely not asking for a face reveal. Fun fact: I didn’t even set up that last rule, they all just collectively know not to ask for it. 

I’ve been keeping my brand pretty low-key to avoid garnering some unwanted attention - some of which I’ve already experienced on certain social media platforms following the full body pictures I posted on there - face not visible of course. I tend to also have my webcam on, facing towards my hands working away on the keyboard sometimes when I stream. I don’t know why people obsess over faceless content creators’ hands, but I appreciate the enthusiasm - it also drives me to do a manicure every now and then which ain’t so bad, self-care and all that you know.

Now, back to the subject of my ridiculous nervousness.

You see, it has layers.

I’m nervous of ‘preforming’ underwhelmingly and I’m nervous of what my own fans will think of the person I will become during this stream. They know me as a super chill and laid-back person, which I am by the way, but they might think I’m putting on a show if I exhibit any nervous gestures/vocabulary. I highly doubt they would, but the possibility is not letting my mind rest. And now that it’s about ten minutes till the stream starts, I’m getting doing my best to calm my nerves.

They are all just people. You know they are super chill too. Just be yourself, that’s why they invited you, because you are yourself on all your streams. They liked you for your personality, humor, maybe even your gaming skills. So chill the hell out and be yourself, damn it!

Easier thought than put into action that’s for sure.

I start my stream five minutes early just so I can vibe with my viewers for a little while before I have to meet the gang. My fans always have a way of injecting me with confidence, they remind me of where I was when I started and how far I’ve come. How much I achieved when I thought I’d be nothing and no one, someone the algorithm would simply overlook. But then they entered my life and I entered theirs and it all became much better than I ever thought it would get to be. I rarely tell myself ‘good job’ for the milestones I’ve reached or the hard work I’ve put into my content, but that’s probably cause I orient myself based on that quote from the movie Whiplash: ‘There are no two words in the English language more harmful than good job’ - simply put, I’m never satisfied with what I do and I always strive to do better. My fans, however, make sure I don’t go overboard with it - always serving as a reminder that I’ve done plenty for myself and others. And that’s what makes an amazing fandom, one I consider family.

Whoa, when did those five minutes fly by?!

Ah shit, here we go. Deep breaths, Y/N you got this.

“Hello!“ I say as I enter the Discord call, subconsciously biting my lower lip, grateful the camera isn’t capturing it. However, I make a mental note to keep my hands steady cause that’s the one part of me people can actually see and the last thing I want is for them to see how much my fingers are trembling.

“Oh hi, Y/N!“ Toast is the first one to greet me, “Welcome to the stream! Thank you so much for accepting our invitation.“

“Thank you for having me and inviting me, Toast. This is a huge deal for me. You guys are basically YouTube legends, this is unreal to me.“ I reply, cringing immediately afterwards because of my fangirl rambling. Great way to make first impressions, Y/N. Bravo.

To be fair, they already have an impression of you. Quit stressing.

Aright, you’ve got a point, me.

“Oh please, we owe all that to our fans. We’re really nothing special. All streamers are almost completely alike, we all owe where we are to the people who helped us make it there - our fans. We’re no legends.“ Toast says, bringing a small smile to my face as well as a light pink blush to my cheeks, “And from what I’ve seen, you yourself have quite the following. And your fans seem to adore you.“

“And I absolutely adore them.“ I chuckle, “They mean the world to me. They are the reason I’m here today.”

“Then we have to give them a special thank you, don’t you think?“ The teasing, familiar giggle, widens my smile - it’s Rae, “Nice to meet you, Y/N! I’m Rae, and, no cap, I’m quite a fan of your content. No joke, I binged your entire series of Resident Evil 7 as soon as I found your channel when Toast said he’d invite you.“

This rattles me a bit. I can hardly believe it - am I really receiving a compliment from an A-list name in the streaming world? My fans must be hella proud of me right now. A quick glance at my chat confirms that they indeed are. That in and of itself fills me with joy and newfound confidence.

“Oh Gosh, thank you so much Rae! That means the world to me. You’re all so sweet.“ I reply, lifting my ice cold hands to cool down my burning cheeks, my lips spread into a grin, my stomach filled with butterflies.

“Oh please, we have some real savages around here.“ A male voice, seemingly Charlie’s scoffs, “Don’t overlook us please.“

“Wait, we do?“ A deep voice, one I immediately know the owner of speaks up, “Who? How come I don’t know about that?“

I can’t help bust snort, “Nice to meet you, Corpse. Sarcasm central, I see.”

He laughs, “Just returning it to where it’s due. Nice to meet you too, Y/N. Sick Outlast series, by the way.“

Ok, wait, I have two A-list streamers complimenting my content. Ok, I’m bound to crack open a few beers to celebrate later cause OH MY GOD.

“Thanks! I’m a horror junkie so I’d be lying if I said I haven’t binge watched all your story-times. Personal favorites are the deep web ones, they fascinate me.“

“Oh, you’re one of my kind even more than I expected, huh?“ He replies, the tone of his voice changing, raising a bit due to what I can only describe as excitement and enthusiasm. “I’ve had people tell me it’s twisted, but I really like seeing the lengths to which the fucked up human mind can go to. Like, the shit I’ve read is insane! Some stories I didn’t narrate cause I would’ve probably had my video taken down, it was that messed up.“

My eyes widen, sharing the same excitement at the thought of digging deeper into this phenomenon, “Careful, Corpse, you’re walking a dangerous line of tempting me to deep-dive on Reddit in search of those exact stories.”

“No need.“ Corpse says, his tone now taking up a bit of a cocky note, “I still got them all saved, I can send them to you no problem.“

“Please do! I seriously gotta read them now. If I can’t sleep afterwards, I’m blaming you, Corpse. Just FYI.“ I say, giggling slightly, finding myself all but completely comfortable now. I wonder where all that anxiety went? 

“Blame fully taken. Given that I’m not much of a sleeper, I’ll keep you company whenever you think there’s a killer hiding in your closet or fear a red room pop-up will appear on your computer screen.“ He replies, chuckling.

“Um, that’s oddly specific.“ Charlie comments, “Been there yourself, buddy?”

“Perhaps.“ Corpse wheezes, getting a laugh out of me too, “I will neither confirm nor deny.“

“You know what, I’ll just private message you my number so if you see it call you at some ungodly hour, you don’t freak the fuck out. Sounds good?“ I ask, already prepping to type it out and send it to him. 

“Perfect. Wait...“ he pauses for a second, sounding puzzled for a second, “You don’t have mine.“

“Oh, do I not?“ I reply with a sinister tone - thought to answer the question, I of course don’t have his number.

“Oh, do you?“ He sasses me right back. “If so then you don’t need me to send it to you. Cool.“

Ah, shit

“Wait, no! I-I need to confirm it’s the correct one!“

Damn, never did I think I’d be complimented by some of the most important streamers on this platform, but to get a number of theirs too? That’s a whole another level that will take me time to process. But I’ll do that another time, right now, I have to kick these people’s butts in Among Us and later I have some deep web stories to read.

Turns out, all it takes to get comfortable in a new surrounding is someone of your kind. And Corpse is definitely one of my kind.

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[saphirered]

I Don’t Hate You (Vagrant pt3.)

The lady at the front desk gives you a dirty look as you come straggling in, leaving a wet trail behind you, boots sopping with an equally disgruntled expression on your face. You toss her a coin, if only to be done with it all and go back up the stairs. There you see, Fjord is no longer sitting in the hallway and probably either has gotten himself a room of his own or Molly’s taken mercy upon the half-orc and let him sleep peacefully and undisturbed in their shared room. A sense of dread still lingers as you approach your door and you take a sip from the opened bottle in your hand, hoping to find some courage to push you over the edge and just get it over with. You can see the hint of orange light bleeding through the small gap. 

When the door opens Caleb looks up from his book, or well, your book. You look like an absolute mess and he knows you know you do. It’s an unspoken agreement to not comment on this fact made in that brief moment of eye contact, for both of your sakes. 

“Do not question my terrible life’s choices, Widogast.” You grumble as you let yourself fall backwards on your bed. You don’t even have the energy to magic away the remainders of the rain that kept you company from your soaked person. Well, that or the fact that the droplets rolling down your skin hid the tears from the panic attack and brief existential crisis you had on that rooftop before you came down. 

Caleb puts down the book, gets up from the bed and slowly and carefully inches over to your side of the room. He hesitantly sits down on the edge. You have half the mind to kick him off just because but can’t find the energy to do so. Despite your distaste for magic users like him, being alone after your mental breakdown you just experienced, really sucks. Caleb pats your knee awkwardly in an attempt to comfort but not wanting to cross any boundaries. It’s pathetic, he knows because one can hardly fix a stab wound by slapping on a bandaid. His own past experiences have left him a tad bit at a loss when it comes to comforting a person in pain, especially one so stubborn and crass as you have been towards him. 

Still, Caleb has figured out your hatred isn’t directed at him personally. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out it’s people with abilities like him that have played a part in your past causing you pain and suffering and the wound is still very fresh, hence your trauma being reflected onto him, despite his complete lack of involvement in your before the moment you met. It may not have helped that your hostility towards him hasn’t exactly encouraged him to try and build a proper relationship with you. He hardly even knows you yet still he feels as if he knows your tells, the things you go through and why you act like you do. He may not know the details of your life but he feels safe to say he knows you better than any of the others. 

It’s not his lack of knowledge and insight into your life beyond what’s surface and what he can read off you that holds him back. It’s the fear of what he might find within you that will tear open wounds of his own he’s worked so hard to cover up. It’s the fear you might be one step ahead of him in a similar story and there is no hope for people like you and him after all. It’s the fear those you run from are the same people he has tried so hard to escape. It’s the fear of you, that you might be each others’ salvation, or undoing because he knows what he has the capability to become, what you could become. 

But here you lie, upon your bed curled up, traces of tears long since fallen, possibly even ran out, tightness in your throat, indents of your nails in your palms from clenching too much, frustration and anger in your eyes is still overwhelmed by pain and hopelessness and a wish the void would just come and claim you, where you no longer fear the consequences of running and will be able to obliterate those who caused you so much hurt, or die trying in the process. Caleb is reminded of himself in that cell of his own, for years, a broken mind piecing itself together from the shambles it was left in, barely a shell of what it used to be. 

When he promised himself he would do anything and everything in his power to take down these tormentors and their accomplices so no one would ever have to suffer like he had, still is suffering, Caleb didn’t expect to find you. He still remembers himself begging, praying, screaming just to not be alone, to have someone tell him there is still hope and not all is lost. There’s still good in this wretched world and if the world turns bleak, it’s up to you to be that good despite everything. Those were the pretty words and empty promises of a dreamer but does that make them a lie? 

“Don’t patronise me. I’m not some fragile broken child in need of mothering.” Caleb retreats his hand, clasping them together in his lap as he studies your face. Your eyes are cold, your expression matching. A mask, he knows. A way to protect yourself. 

“Good. Because I have no intention of doing so. I want you to be blunt and truthful and I don’t want you to hold back. I want you to humour me and answer some questions.” You raise an eyebrow expecting there to be something behind Caleb’s request but his stare is unreadable, like a practiced mask of his own. 

“You want me to be blunt and give you a peace of my mind?” You humour. You’ll tell the asshole okay. You’ll bicker and fight and quarrel if that’s what he wants no problem. Maybe a battle of wits and words will get you back into your groove. 

Little do you know that is in fact not what Caleb is looking for. Not exactly. He isn’t looking for a fight. He’s looking for answers, how to help you despite your differences because no one deserves to go through this, especially not alone. So because of that, he will not humour you in turn with his usual reply to your attempts to push him. He doesn’t intend this to end in another futile empty argument. Not now. So he’ll drop the game and go straight for the jugular. 

“Why do you hate me?” You freeze at the abrupt and sudden question. Caleb knows you don’t really hate him personally but coddling you won’t work and some things you’ll have to realise by yourself first. Finding the strength to lean up on your elbows you tilt your head at him as a half smirk creeps upon your lips.

“Because you’re an egotistical self-serving bastard who cares for nothing but himself and the people useful to him, until they outlive their usefulness.” The words are meant to cut like knives and usually you’d get a rise out of Caleb by such a statement but when you don’t see any response to your words, nothing but those blue eyes staring into yours so… unbothered, it feels as if those knives are turned onto you instead. You’re not quick enough to get rid of that tiny hint of guilt slithering across your features. 

“Why do you hate me?” Caleb asks again, voice still calm like it’s the most unremarkable question ever. He could have asked you about the weather with that tone. 

“Because you’re an asshole.” 

“Why do you hate me?” 

“Seriously? I already gave you an answer. Was I not clear the first time?” That guilt in your stomach starts growing, festering. There’s something in your mind pushing through but you try to fight it off, not liking the thought of being faced with those emotions. You’ve worked too hard to push them away. 

“Just answer the question. Why do you hate me?” Caleb sees you struggle. Your first answers where in the blink of an eye, a defence mechanism slipping into place. That works, for a while, until it doesn’t, until you start questioning it and give yourself a moment to think.

“Because…” Because you’re a coward. Because you run from your problems. Because you leave other people to swipe up the mess for you. Because you’re a monster to blame for the pain of others. Because you’re to blame for your own pain. Because you couldn’t save them. Because. Because. Because. Those are not reasons you hate Caleb. You take in a sharp breath, clenching your jaw in anger, nose scrunching holding at bay the curses from passing your lips and the threat of all your emotions from spilling out like a breaking dam. 

“Why do you hate me?” The words now, do not sound void of emotion, but instead are filled with a warmth and pity. Damn him! Damn him to the hells and abyss! When you don’t answer he repeats it again. Caleb gives you amicable time to answer, leaving a long silence to give your mind the time and space to think for itself, analyse and process and you hate every second of it because you can’t stop it. The cracks in the walls you’ve tried to hard to build become more apparent by the second. He asks again. 

“I don’t bloody hate you!” You shout, pretty sure you may just have woken up the entire floor. The silence after the words leave your lips is deafening. 

“Then what do you hate about me that causes you to act the way you do?” Your hands clench back into fists, your nails pressing down again in the still tender skin from but minutes ago. You don’t want to say it. You really don’t but that pain raging through your body wants to get out and you feel the floodgates opening inch by inch despite your efforts to fight it. Then there’s that voice in the back of your mind; maybe speaking the unspoken will give you some peace. 

“I don’t hate you! I just hate what your remind me of. It’s like you’re here to personally torture me so please just leave me alone to suffer, get over it and move on.” You don’t want to remember the last time you pleaded for something, and had hoped to never plead for anything again yet here you are. 

“I am going to give you a choice and I’ll only offer it once, so listen very carefully.” You’ve never seen Caleb look so intense, so genuine, and so determined. You can’t do anything but listen so you nod, signalling him to continue and that you’re paying attention to his every word and not to twist them for your own amusement for once. Whatever previous relation, or rather lack thereof you’ve had is gone now. There’s only you two, in a place of vulnerability and without judgement. 

“You’ve got two options. One; you tell me to piss off, like you usually do. I’ll go back to bed, back to sleep and leave you alone. We will never speak of this again, never mention this and go our separate ways. We will remain cordial when interacting and won’t let our own grievances get in the way of the others.” You take in the words, nodding to confirm you understand. 

“Or two; you and I are going to talk. You are going to tell me what you wish, and can tell me provided it’s the truth and I will listen. If you wish to tell me your life story I will listen. If you wish to tell me all your troubles I will listen. If you wish to share your pain, I will listen. And know that I will help you if you’ll allow me to. Because if you keep doing this on your own, let the guilt and grief and pain swallow you whole, I know exactly where it will lead. Do not allow it to be your undoing, or turn you into a person beyond your recognition.” Midway through his offer your eyes have closed and your brow furrows. You bit your lip and that combined with the movement of your eyes behind your eyelids are the only indication to Caleb you’re still listening to him. 

Caleb gives you time. He doesn’t expect an answer right away. That’s not how this works but he does study you, attempting to get an inkling of what’s going through your mind. He feels warmth wrap around his wrist, glancing down to notice your fingers have wrapped around it and hold on tightly. You’re holding onto a lifeline and he knows it. 

“Why?” Your, words a pained choke, you don’t dare open your eyes, don’t trust the look in Caleb’s eyes to tear down what last defences you had up and turning you into even more of a broken mess. 

“Because despite what people might have you believe, there is still good in this world.” You’re unable to stifle a sob, feeling a tear slide down your cheek. 

“I’ve not known much kindness in my life but I feel confident in saying this is the kindest thing anyone has ever offered me. It’s why my pervious actions and words towards you make me feel like an absolute ass even more. I hope you find it in yourself to forgive me.” You release Caleb’s wrist, feeling grounded once more despite the buzzing in your head and twiddle with your fingers awaiting a response, the tense air slowly lifting as you sit in peace and silence. 

You nod, wiping at the corners of your eyes before you open them, a bit more red and puffy than they were before you entered the room. You finally look at the wizard and take in a deep breath before nodding again. If it were anyone else, any other moment you might have said no. You’d even have laughed at whoever tried this emotional shit on you. But it’s time. You’re not getting any better nor can you repress everything forever. It’s time to face some of these troubles head on. Luckily you won’t have to do it on your own. It will take time and effort and it’s going to hurt like hell but it has to be done. You have to move on and learn how to live. You owe it to yourself, if not the people you’ve left behind. 

“Now this doesn’t mean we’re going to be best friends from now on. You’re still an asshole and so am I so don’t think I’ll let you off easy for your comments and the trouble you cause.” The corner of Caleb’s lips turns up slightly as he speaks and you mimic his expression.

“I don’t think anyone else could handle it, so I’m sorry to disappoint but you’re definitely stuck with me, Widogast.” You muster a smile, exhausted. It’s mutually understood the conversation as per your agreement won’t happen right here, right now but instead when you’re both ready. For now, at least you won’t pretend to hate each other anymore and start over. 

“Hey, Caleb?” You ask.

“Yes?” He answers but before he knows it your arms wrap around him and pull him into your embrace. Caleb’s form goes rigid shocked by not only the gesture but by the physical touch itself. After a good few moments he finds himself ease just a little, enough to return the embrace lightly.

“Thank you.” You whisper.