#i am DETERMINED to find these NPCs

[crystal-verse]

OKAY this is out of nowhere But

So according to FFXIV wiki (console games wiki, as opposed to the fandom.com wiki), there are six g tribe miqo'te that we currently know exist: g'raha tia (main character introduced in Crystal Tower quests, beloved by many), g'wahneko (armourer's guild receptionist in Limsa), g'jusana (vendor of the books needed for ARR relics), g'nibnpha (maelstrom commander, sidequest in the fringes), g'zensta, and g'nanghal

Of these six miqo'te, I've found the least information about g'zensta or g'nanghal -- gamerscapes says they're affiliated with Limsa, but I've searched both Limsa Lower Decks and Limsa Upper Decks, as well as all cities or little towns in La Noscea, and have been unable to find either of them.

And so I turn to Tumblr, because I am desperately trying to find g'zensta and g'nanghal (who were apparently added in patch 2.1) in hopes of getting any bit of information on them. If you know these two NPCs, have an image of them, and/or can tell me where they can be found in-game, it would be greatly appreciated if you did so!

[pastelghostbro]

I've just started my journey to mod skyrim for the first time since the SE came out.. which was i think 8 years ago already?!

I've never used skse or anything beyond graphics and some basics like wearable lanterns (because skse and nothing much else was ported for SE yet!)

These lil showcases have me inspired though, I really want to glam up my game now that I have a new incredibly OP machine to use

Trying to find good, lore friendly mods + cool utilities is the current struggle ovo;; a fun struggle thooo

[vulcanhello]

[mrrharper]

Player Of The Month

You can support me at ko-fi.com/mrrharper

It did not take long.

Jake got a notification saying he'd been chosen as the Player of the Month from the server he's been playing on for months now. He was very excited about this as he's never got any in-game title like that before.

He clicked on the notification and scrolled through all the buzzwords to see what rewards he would be getting. Weirdly, there was no mention of any items, upgrades or other perks. Instead there was a button. "Brand new personalized experience".

Jack eagerly clicked the button, the only option avaliable to him. At first nothing happened and he just assumed the game was loading some new assests which would probably take some time.

Suddenly he felt some buzzing in his head, followed by a sharp pain and a feeling as if his headset was tightening around his head. He was paralyzed by this for a moment, his mind completely losing track of what was happening with his body as it was experiencing sudden sensory overload.

And then he was back in the game, but something was different. He was transported to Iron Gym, a locaton on the opposite side of the map from he was just a minute ago. He looked down and saw that his avatar had changed completely. He tried to access his character menu to see what had happened but he couldn't, so he walked up to a mirror.

In in he saw someone completely different. A young dude, clearly muscular, wearing a backwards cap and a pair of tight compression shorts. He looked like a gym bro! Not only that, he looked pretty similiar to the NPCs that populated this area of the game world, which Jake found very strange. Something went wrong here.

Wait, where was his headset? Jake put his hands on his face, but couldn't find the bulky gear he had to wear to play. What was going on?

A player came up to Jake and chose the option to initiate the conversation.

Jake #27AD0019 turned around to face Player#A97F4. His eyes flashed red, showing he was now in interaction mode.

"ey dude, ya got any issue with me bruh?" he asked, an arrogant streak in his voice. He then waited for the player to choose a response form the dialog tree, entering one of his idling animations, moving slightly from left to right and flexing his bare chest.

"Damn, that's a new one, didn't see this character before here" the player muttered to himself, clearly intrigued by the sudden appearance of a new NPC. He then chose a response.

"No, I just noticed you're a regular here and you seem to be doing pretty good, so I wanted to say hi."

#27AD0019's changed his attitude from annoyed and arrogant to proud and cocky. A new animation was triggered by the player's response, making him flash his teeth in a cocky smile, then flex his arms in a double biceps pose.

"hell yeah bruh, am the top dawg here dude"

The player focused on the NPC's muscular arms, while the character kept them in a flexed position up in the air. Player#A97F4 was starting to enjoy the conversation and knew exactly what dialog option he would choose.

"I see, you clearly work out every day. Your form is very impressive."

This prompted another few animations, in which #27AD0019 flexed his arms, chest and legs, showing off his muscles to the player.

"fuck yeah bro! i lift, like, all day dude, gotta work for guns like this bro huhuhuhuhuhuh" He let out a low, dumb laugh. The player grinned as he saw one of the potential responses he had avaliable.

"So not much happening in your life except the gym, right?"

A few calculations happened int he background that determined whether the NPC would respond positively or with anger. The result then took into account the character's intelligence statistic - 3/10. This gave the player the exact result he was looking for.

"huhuhuh yeah dude, am a real gym bro dude, ain't nothin' more important that liftin' bro. head empty, just gains huhuhuhuhuh" The answer triggered another loop of flexing animations.

#27AD0019 was going to be a very popular NPC.

[ghostdiva]

ok so the new trailer for episode 3 just dropped. big hype. here are some theory's, notes, and observations.

also I took a lot of screenshots...

anyway here we go.

so the adventure is set to be "The Mystery of Mildenhall Manor". Now, I do think that Caine is gonna be the quest giver this time, sending the gang to find something inside the spooky, probably haunted manor.

small guess is that they gotta find Matilda, one of the ghosts haunting the manor, and trap her in a vacuum. idk why, it's literally just a hunch.

Jax also takes a moment to harass Pomni with a vacuum, which just makes me think of Luigi's Mansion.

anyway, the gang (minus Zooble) are gonna go in the manor and try to find whatever they're looking for, and either by agreement or random set of events, the gang is gonna split up, Pomni and Kinger being paired up. I don't really know if Ragatha, Gangle, and Jax stick together or not, as they're not really shown much in the trailer.

I am inclined to believe it is a set of events that separates the gang tho.

it's the one of the reasons I can think of that'd make Pomni climb on the door like that.

I mean... outside of the very spooky decorum.....

which Pomni has a pretty reasonable reaction to

btw, I fucking love Pomni's cartoon physics with the squash and stretch rubber-hose animation. it's so expressive and fun to watch.

anyway, it seems Caine is determined to have Zooble go on adventures. so he literally sits them down and tries to therapize them.

though with Caine being an AI with very little knowledge of how the human mind works, this goes predictably horribly.

I imagine Zooble tries on some level to convey to Caine the ludicrousness of their situation. stuck in a digital world getting repeatedly traumatized by meaningless adventures that seem to do more harm than good. though I get the feeling Caine would miss the point, leading Zooble to correct him, and/or get upset at him for not understanding. watching this verbal fight happen between these 2 will probably lead to us, the viewer, understanding more about Zooble.

anyway, back to the manor with this cute little guy.

look at him, he's so cute and squishable. unfortunately this guy is the only cute and squishable NPC here because Pomni and Kinger seems to really be going through it.

they're mostly poking around, opening drawers and stuff. maybe they're looking for a key to get back with the others or something? who knows.

they both probably stumble around in the dark for a bit, both figuratively and literally.

they might end up stumbling into an antagonist NPC, which is the only way I can explain some of these screenshots.

it looks to me like Kinger is facing something. I mean, He's missing an eye in the first one, smacking something with a gun in the second, and looking really worried in the third. Plus the fist 2 have similar lighting so I'm inclined to believe those 2 pics come from clips in close time frames to each other.

there's also another image that has similar lighting...

now... this may sound weird, but I think that either Pomni got Possessed somehow, or something tried to take her shape. Possession seems more feasible since we know at least 2 of the NPC's in this adventure are ghosts, and at least in media ghosts are known to possess people. seeing as digital circus seems to love pulling from video game mechanics, this wouldn't surprise me at all.

this would also kind of explain why in the "POMNI WAKE UP!! IT'S TIME TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE" video, in the "Kinger with a shotgun" clip, he seems to be hitting Pomni with the gun. it makes a lot more sense if Pomni ends up getting possessed somehow, forcing Kinger to hit her in order to defend himself from the ghost.

this also could tie back to the worried look on Kingers face in the screenshot before Possessed Pomni. Cause he'd know what he has to do, even though he doesn't want to hurt Pomni.

Hell, I'm pretty sure Kinger even openly protects Pomni in this episode.

because of the shot in the trailer taken from this hole's perspective

not only is Pomni hiding behind Kinger, but he has one of his hands out in front of her, as if to protect her from whatever is in that hole.

also in regards to guns, Kinger isn't the only one who gets to have a gun.

Pomni gets to wield a shotgun too, and it's likely to help both herself and Kinger fight off whatever was after them in the hole.

Ghost possession and gun-slinging aside, I do think that Pomni and Kinger have a little heart to heart in this episode.

boy doesn't that screenshot look familiar. reminds me of episode 2 with the blue lighting and concerned expression on Pomni's face. That scene in the test room where Pomni comforts Gumigoo. this time tho, she's comforting Kinger. it almost makes me wonder if this will be a reoccurring theme, with all the other characters eventually having a heart to heart with Pomni, and Pomni comforting them.

it'd really make her live up to her quote in episode 2 "I guess I just don't want you to feel like you're nothing. I don't want anyone to feel like that".

the only thing I do still have questions about, is wtf is Kinger looking at here?

I mean, it looks like the eyes of a ghost, if they could make their eyes glow like that.

ya know what, maybe he's looking at a mound of pillows or something.

yeah, like that.

[formosusiniquis]

diana prince and stevie h.: variations on a theme

Inspired by this post by @secondconcussion cause I saw it earlier this week and couldn't stop turning it around in my mind

also on ao3 for easier reading

It's not Eddie's fault he got lost.

That's the first thing he wants to get out of the way. He'll take his lumps if he has to, Uncle Wayne can be a surly fucker when he's woken up before his alarm, "Not all those who wander are lost, Ed, isn't that what you said. Just wander your way back home." But Eddie's heart is gonna wait to be warmed that Wayne loves him enough to quote Lord of the Rings until after he's back in the part of Hawkins he recognizes.

"It's the ‘not all’ that I need you to wrap your head around old man, cause I, your dearest nephew, am very lost."

"Your my only nephew, and gettin' less dear by the second," Wayne lied like a liar.

He wasn't above begging, not when he'd already walked fuck knows how far to fuck knows where. "Please, Wayne!"

He hears a grumbled sigh and knows he's won, "Where are ya?"

"Um, woods?" He can hear the thunk of the phone being slammed against something hard, but at least Wayne doesn't hang up.

Hawkins is a small town, by Eddie's standards, but it expands in strange ways. Every summer he spent with Wayne it seemed to unfurl in different directions, a flower blooming a little different each year. It was not the gridded out cityscape he'd grown up in.

So when Eddie came down from Indy every summer to escape parents who managed to toe the line of awful just well enough that CPS kept their noses out of the Munson’s business, he would wander but never far. Just far enough to find the park and the playground that Wayne hadn't thought to mention. Far enough to find a corner store where he can pocket the extra candy bar he couldn't afford with the spare change he had -- and he wasn't going to put back the magazine he was buying, Wayne had nothing good to read and he couldn't make a library card yet. Far enough to find an abandoned picnic bench to smoke up at so his borrowed bedroom didn't smell like weed. Far enough to make some friends.

Only now that he's twenty, and some change. Now that he's graduated high school, third time lucky. Now that he’s decided to leave the trouble he could feel stirring in the city for someplace that always felt more like home. Now that he is an official Hawkins resident, he's wandered a little too far.

And it's not his fault, but he's not gonna tell Wayne that.

Cause the thing is, Eddie has always thought better when his feet were moving. After an hour of pacing around his trailer, still full with half unpacked boxes of things he hadn't realized he'd collected -- boxes that make him feel like a caged animal, that he'll be living out of for the next two months at least -- he has to leave. His first mistake, trusting that his feet will lead him around the parts of Hawkins he knows.

His mind twists plot hooks and campaign NPCs around his head, determined to get ready for when his friends come around later that afternoon with the pack of freshmen, now sophomores, that they'd adopted. He won't apologize for wanting to impress a new group of kids and wanting to convince Jeff he wouldn’t be sorry about passing off his DM mantle to a guy they used to only see two months out of the year. As he's thinking about a sect of female warriors -- a mix of barbarians and rangers, buff and leveled way above where the party will be -- and whether it'll just come across as horny the way the DILF-y elven mages he'd tried to include last year did, he sees her. Notices her, more like; a nymph, a dryad, a goddess sprung fully formed from his imaginings.

She crosses his path at a light jog. The shortest green athletic shorts he's ever seen clinging to the shape of an ass he could bounce a quarter off of. He can see the way her broad and muscled shoulders shift beneath the white sports bra she's wearing. It's the cool down portion of her workout, he guesses, from the way he can mostly maintain the small distance between them and the way sweat runs in rivulets down her back and trim waist. He wants to lick it off of her. She looks like she was built to fire a bow or break him in half, a Kinsey Five, it's the women who could kill him that always capture his attention.

He trails behind her, mind still turning over his session prep for the day and maybe thinking a little bit about whether she had a boyfriend. Hindsight will grant him that it's weird, the way he trailed behind her like a stray dog like this. But then, as he's sitting in the cab of Wayne's truck, he'll remember the way her thick, muscled thighs moved, how she bounced on the balls of her toes. He'll remember the way her ponytail swished over her shoulder as she glanced back at him, his first look at the lady's fair face, the way she'd smirked at him before bounding off of the roadside into the woods.

So totally not his fault he got lost. It probably happens all the time. The payphone on the opposite side of the road for sorry suckers like him who fall into her snare. Shit, maybe he should have stayed put, he hadn’t been thinking about why she might have a snare.

Wayne found him eventually, even if he spent the drive back to Forest Hills muttering about how Eddie had even found his way over to that side of town. How next time he aimed to get lost he should bring a map or a compass or a dog, and find his own way back. So he doesn’t ask his uncle about the mystery girl that could snap him over her knee like a dry twig, cause in the mood he’s in right now Wayne might go find her and embarrass the hell out of him.

Later, when Jeff and Gareth and Joey have piled onto the broken in couch that Wayne had given him. When the first teen that he doesn’t know knocks a little too quietly on his door, but grins wide enough to split his face that they’ve got a new campaign and a place to play over the summer. When they’re waiting for the last one to arrive, Eddie thinks about asking about her. She had to have overlapped with them in high school for at least a year or two.

Eddie knows already though that he won’t. Plus there’s a chance they’ll tell him anyway. He’s been on the receiving end of enough ‘Is that supposed to be Ronnie James Dio’s’ and ‘Wait are you describing Sigourney Weaver’s’ to hope that once he starts describing the Amazonian warrior who will hopefully be haunting his dreams he’ll get a ‘Doesn’t that sound just like…’

And yeah, maybe he’s starting to get a little impatient. But with the way he’s got the campaign laid out it will be at least two hours in before he gets a chance to describe her. At least, and he has to know who she is tonight.

“Dude,” Gareth starts, probably sick of the way Eddie’s bouncing his leg, “where’s Dustin?”

Will, the quietest so far of the new recruits looks almost too concerned, “He knows where it is right? Has anyone-”

Sinclair, he thinks the group arrived in mass and he’s not sure he’s partnered faces with the rush of names correctly just yet, pulls a walkie talkie with bells and whistles he didn’t even know you could attach from a backpack on the floor. “Dustin, come in, what’s your ETA?”

The tension in their corner of the room ratchets up enough to have Eddie’s palms start to sweat. Will brings his thumbnail up to his mouth, worrying it enough that it’s sure to start bleeding soon. “I’m sure it’s-” Sinclair starts to say, interrupted by a clattering outside then a bang to his door that yanks on the frayed edges of Eddie’s nerves.

He feels a little like a squirrel trying to cross a highway, the way the babies about to join the party are watching him with the knowing terror you watch something about to die.

Except the thing at his door is not Jason or Freddy, it’s a half-pint with a white hat pulled low over his head. The missing Dustin, who has no problem bullying his way through Eddie’s now open door.

“Ew, dude, why are you sweaty?”

"Because, Michael, I had to bike all the way across town." Eddie, and it looks like half the group, is about to ask some variation on why when Dustin holds up a hand shutting them all up masterfully "Because," he stresses each letter like they're what's wronged him, "five minutes before we were supposed to leave mom catches Stevie gossiping with Robin and she totally flips out about how she didn't take Stevie in just to watch her get herself killed. And then when I asked who was taking me here, Ma said she 'didn't buy me that bike just to have it sit in the garage!'"

The kid is incensed so it doesn't feel like the time to ask what the fuck is going on. Not when everyone else snorts and snickers at Dustin's expense. "Damn Stevie really fucked up if Dustybun got sent out on his own," Gareth jeers.

"Your mom does know what Stevie keeps in her trunk right? And she ruptured Preston's balls when he grabbed her ass last year," Lucas points out.

Hawkins, Eddie is learning, might just be full of girls to fall in love with.

"Stop saying that like it's hot, that's my sister you're talking about. I'll tell Max."

"Max still thinks Stevie's hot, dude."

"Are we gonna have to walk home just because Stevie's done something stupid again?" Mike complains.

"You didn't care about Stevie doing something dumb when she climbed that tree in heels to get you down after you got drunk at winter formal. Or when she took her bat to those… things." Lucas shares a sly grin with Will, who looks torn between feeling awkward at the inclusion and the teenage bloodlust for giving your friends a hard time. "You can just admit you feel weird about having the same taste as your-"

"Oh my god!" Dustin shouts cutting Lucas off and sending the room, Eddie included into a burst of snorting laughter. "Dustin Henderson," Eddie gets himself under control enough to accept the offered hand, "excited to have a DM who isn't a total asshole."

"Eddie, sorry about your hot sister. Not sorry for being a new kind of asshole Dungeon Master. Let’s see them character sheets, kiddies, this ain’t your mommy’s book club, we aren’t just here to gossip.”

Things go off pretty well, for a seven person table where he barely knows half the players. Lucas has an impressive tactical mind, Mike is a passionate role player, Will has a character built so well it’s basically an art form, and Dustin is a wild card who can’t decide whether he wants to win or to walk into the obvious trap just to see what will happen. It’s not hard to adjust, even if the way Jeff keeps looking at him when he describes new NPC's is throwing him off his game a little bit. He can duck behind his DM screen and recollect himself, but seriously what the fuck.

“She stands taller than the tallest of you, bronzed skin and hair, imperious, she looks at you, Sir Jeffrey, and offers you a deal, ‘Best our strongest warrior and you can take him back with you. Fail and his impunity will be punished by death.’” He lets the threat hang heavy in the air, all eyes on him and desperately hanging on to every word. Minus Jeff who was giving him that look again. “And that’s where we’ll end things this week, boys.” Cause he really, really hadn’t expected any of them to just straight up steal the enchanted bow of the Amazons that they needed to fell the dragon; and he really, really hadn’t planned for the botched stealth rolls.

Everyone grumbles as they pack up their things, it’s music to his ears. A four hour session -- if he didn’t count the hour they riffed about character builds and backstory once Eddie had his hands on their sheets -- and they’re still itching for more. It’s almost enough to have him just call a dinner break, so he can hole up in his room and churn something out. But someone is beating out shave and a haircut on his front door before he can change his mind.

“It’s probably Wayne getting revenge,” Eddie says, “woke him up early this afternoon.” He taps back his two bits, swinging open the door, expecting to see Wayne’s smug looking face grinning back at him. He’ll take his ‘Don’t feel too good getting interrupted in the middle a something, does it?’ with grace.

Only instead of an old man with two days of scruff, the door opens on his modern day Aphrodite. A worn, grey athletic shirt bragging about being a 1985 Hawkins Swim Team Region Champ has covered the white sports bra, cropped it shows off a distracting sliver of toned stomach above a short green tennis skirt, and her perky ponytail is down in loose waves around a mole kissed face.

And he’s gaping like a fucking idiot at her.

“Dust, wanna introduce me to your new friend?” she asks, voice bourbon smooth as molten eyes rake down his body from the doorway.

“Eddie, this is my sister.”

Like her brother before her, Stevie has no problem shouldering her way through the door. Where Dustin had slipped through on a size difference technicality like a halfling, she places a warm hand against his shoulder and gently pushes until his feet and brain get it together enough to move with her. Even then they’re still screaming, god he’s positive she could have just picked him up. He really wants her to pick him up, maybe push him against the wall a little.

“Hi Eddie,” she says. Still in the doorway they’re hedged in by boxes marked ‘Kitchen Shit’ and ‘Unpack this first asshole’ breathing the same air almost, all because Eddie in his genius had dropped the last load of stuff from the back of the van right by the door. “Are we going to be seeing more of you around?”

“Obviously,” Dustin cuts in, “we only just finished the start of a totally epic campaign.”

“Obviously,” Stevie repeats, with a mocking tilt to her gorgeous smile. One he recognizes from this morning.

Jeff is still watching him, a set of eyes boring hard into the side of his face. “Eddie just moved to Hawkins, just spent summers here before.”

Something about that softens her. Her expression, her posture, easing into something a little less coiled to pounce but no less flirtatious. “To Hawkins?”

Shit, and she’s looking at him like he’s an idiot; but like a cute idiot that she’ll maybe want to put down on his knees. “Well the best band I ever played with is still in high school here, and a success story always sounds better coming out of a small town.”

“You’re in a band, huh?”

Dustin wrestles himself in the middle again, and it says a lot about his tenacity that he’s managed to rock Stevie back against the cardboard. “Whatever this is, I don’t like it and it needs to stop.”

“Load your bike up in the trunk then, shithead, and you won’t have to see it,” she fires back. He does push past her out the door, trying to let it slam shut behind him when she catches it in lightning fast reflex, “Scratch the paint cause you’re being a dick and your ass is grass!”

The rest of the sophomores are slow to pack up their remaining things, valuing gossip more than trying to comfort their friend on losing another soldier in the war of ‘thinks his big sister is the babest babe to ever hit Hawkins.’ 

“You should come to practice some time, band practice, for the um band."

Somebody behind him snorts, hears a whispered, "For the um band," that's probably meant to be a mimicry of him.

"Eddie's lead guitar," Jeff says, from a place of true friendship or pity. It's hard to tell.

Her eyes light up with a mischief, hair swinging as she cocks her head, and he can hear the requisite, ‘wow you must be so good with your hands,’ as clearly as if she had said it. Instead she says, “Gremlins, go get in the car. Tell Dustin, Ma’s pissed he didn't take his helmet and he should know first hand the dangers of head trauma.” It’s an inside joke, an unfunny one, from the way she grins as they grumble and groan and tell her to fuck off. Trooping out the door between him and Stevie they each let her pat them on the back or ruffle their hair, a little attendance check on the way to the car.

The trailer door shuts behind them with a slam, maybe not an attitude issue then and something to add to his to do list, but Stevie hasn’t left with them. “If you’re interested in what Hawkins has to offer, I could show you around.” She says casually. Conversationally. A comment for the room at large before she leans into Eddie’s space, warm breath against the side of his face making him shiver as she whispers, “I take the same run through town every day, and I always wanted a puppy to follow me home.”

Eddie is lost. In visions of the girl who just twirled out of his place on her heel after completely rocking his world. Has lost. His mind, his heart, and hopefully his status as single. But there are worse things he can think of than being lost in Hawkins.

[akirakirxaa]

UPDATE: I am closing my commissions for the time being, I will be starting my day job next week along with FFXIVWrite being next week. Rest assured that all commissions I currently have will be completed, but until I'm out of training for my day job I don't feel comfortable taking more and ending up with longer wait times. Thank you. <3

Hey everyone. I am really struggling right now. As many of you that have been around know, I made a big move to another state a couple of months ago. I'm so excited to be here, but my husband only just got a new job and I'm still out of a traditional job, and between us we currently have eight dollars to our name until we get paid next month. For full transparency, the most urgent bills are:

Car insurance: $180 Cat food: $25 Dog food: $25

If you would like to donate to help out, my p@ypal is @/LauraWrites without the slash, or if you're not comfortable sending directly through paypal, you can reach out to my Kofi [link], though I do ask if you do to please use paypal there too, as it processes payments much more quickly. The animal food money I need within the next couple of days, and the car insurance needs to be paid by the 17th or my husband won't be able to get to said new job.

However, I'm not here to only beg for money for nothing in return, but to offer some new commission slots for a few different things. So, let's get into it! Beta Reading/Editing:

I do indeed have a degree in writing (particularly journalism but between you and me? Almost the same thing just with some extra media related classes) and I would love to help you with your project! If you'd like me to look over your transcript, my rates are as follows:

Proofreading (grammar only): $15 per 1000 words Content editing (grammar + feedback and editing on content): $40 per 1000 words

Gear Upscales

Frustrated cause your favorite niche piece of gear doesn't match the body you normally use? I can help with that! I can also apply the Chocochomps teeth resource to your head of choice if your favorite hasn't been ported yet publicly. At this time I will only offer upscales on chest pieces as they are both what I have the most experience with and what I've had the most success with. I will also not port anything to the Eve body. Sorry. No IVCS/Skelomae conversions either, as I do not currently know how to do that.

Chestpiece Gear Upscale: $20-$40 depending on the complexity of the piece, contact for more details Chocochomps Application: $10, please have in mind how sharp or dull you want the various teeth. Additional teeth options on the same head will add an extra $5 per teeth set (eg, you got flat teeth but you also want vampire teeth, that would be $15)

Single Pose Gpose:

The classic and my most popular commission choice is back! For ease due to my new variety of commissions possibly taking up more time, I will now require a .chara or a .mcdf file in order to pose your character. If you are console or do not want to run the crime tools, a friend can also grab .chara files for you using a software such as Anamnesis. Please keep in mind that any NPC that didn't appear in DT did not get the new face bones, so facial posing for other NPCs will be limited.

GIF set:

My most popular unofficial option, I am finally codifying making a GIF with your very own characters! Like the single pose, I will require an .mcdf or a .chara file, so please have that ready. Due to the limitations of some tools still being offline, I will be at the mercy of vanilla animations + whatever exists as a working mod.

Single Character, 1 GIF: $20 Single Character, 3 GIFs: $50 Additional Characters: +$10

You can find my commission section on Kofi [here] or you can also message me directly either on Kofi or here on Tumblr. (Or if you're in one of the discords I frequent, you're welcome to send me a discord message.) Due to the subjective nature of upscales you will always have to message me first for that, since I'll have to look at the piece in question to determine the price.

Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to hear from you soon! <3

[only-by-the-stars]

Fic Promo: Song of a Champion

Now that @spacelemon has put up that amazing promo vid of the Mipha's Grace mod, it feels like a good time to do a little self-promo of my own, for something that I promise is related (otherwise I wouldn't be mentioning the vid; I am doing so in hopes of helping to get more eyeballs on it): a fic I've been writing since 2022, that is both inspired by and based on the mod. I've been lucky enough to have been allowed to play early versions of it, and was inspired to write a fic that retells BOTW with Mipha as the lead, taking cues from many plot points and armor redesigns present in the mod. If that's not enough to entice you, then please read on for my list of things that you might enjoy about this fic!

It's about Mipha Judging by the results of my poll, a lot of you like reading about Mipha! I've written a LOT about her over the past few years, but this is my most in-depth exploration of her yet. It's entirely centered on her, delving deep into her thoughts and feelings and exploring the myriad aspects of her personality as we follow her journey. Instead of Link waking up on the Great Plateau without his memories and being handed the responsibility of saving Hyrule, it's Mipha who must walk this path; unlike in the base game, she's not a fridged love interest for Link to be sad about, she's an active heroine in her own right with a monumental task ahead of her from the moment she wakes up, not to mention a lot of questions. How did she get there? Can she do this? What--and who--has she forgotten in her century-long slumber? How will she find her way in this strange new world she awakens to? What kind of bonds will she forge with the people she meets along her way? All these and more are tackled in great depth as she goes on her adventure, setting out with, initially, little more than her own courage, determination, and compassion. I've been told by many people that I write their favorite Mipha, and though this isn't my first time giving her a starring role, I fully believe this is my best character work for her so far. I've given her so much to do and act on and react to, exploring her rich inner life and personality and character FAR beyond just shipping stuff, and developed a lot of really fun friendships for her and gone heavy on her familial relationships as well. There is miphlink, but it's only one aspect, and Mipha herself is the shining star at the heart of everything.

2. It takes inspiration from Wind Waker Mainly, the concept of a character who is not the chosen one stepping up and proving themselves worthy and going on to save Hyrule. If you, like me, enjoyed that aspect of Wind Waker, then you'll like this story!

3. It plays with the lore in fun ways Do you like the older bits of lore from pre-Skyward Sword games? Like the Golden Goddesses and other deities? Then you'll like the bits of it I've weaved in!

4. It treats the NPCs with care, love, and nuance One of the things I'm proudest of about this story, that I've gotten praise from others for, is how the various NPCs are written. I've treated them all like people in their own right, who all have their own rich inner lives, schedules, interests, priorities, and feelings that don't revolve around the protagonist. Mipha befriends most of them, yes, but that's because she treats them with compassion and kindness too. Nobody is shallow here, I've gone to great pains to illustrate a world filled with people all living their own lives that intersect with Mipha's journey in various ways, and allowed people to just be human and make mistakes and have doubts but ultimately just be people. There's a lot of emphasis on Mipha's relationships with her family, and I've certainly won praise for my depiction of these dynamics, but also a ton of friendships being formed and explored, and people have told me that I made certain characters interesting and likable to them where the game failed to do so.

5. It has awesome fight scenes BOTW is a game with a lot of combat, so anyone novelizing it better be good at writing that kind of scene. Fortunately, I am! This is an action-packed story, not just for its own sake, but to show the dangerous world Mipha is traveling through and the challenges she has to face as she ventures into each Divine Beast and cleanses them of their respective Blights. I write really fast-paced action that also shows the characters' mindsets while fighting, and strikes a balance between showing off their strengths and that they're up to the challenge, while also respecting their opponents and demonstrating why the Champions of a hundred years ago fell to these things, why NPCs fear certain monsters. And speaking of respecting opponents, I've taken stuff from Age of Calamity as well as some of my own inventions, to beef up the boss fights, a certain area, and make every Divine Beast threatening (we all know how scary Medoh wasn't in-game).

6. It has beautiful prose/descriptions But you don't have to just take my word for it! Here's a sample from the rough draft of chapter 42!

Shards of light drifted across her floor, leaves caught in the current of clouds flowing over the moon. Mipha took a moment to watch them before closing the door behind herself. The water in her sleeping pool murmured a melody of rest and relaxation after a long day, calling her to it, but she ignored it for now. She’d done all her preparations for tomorrow, downed a warm elixir crafted from a few hearty lizards, and now only one thing remained to do before going to bed. It wasn’t a need, as the other tasks had been, but a want. Nothing wrong with that. She crossed the room to the old chest that lay tucked beneath her window, opening the lid with a whining creak from the aged hinges. A folded length of fabric the color of spilt starlight lay atop the item she sought; Mipha moved it aside. Her breath catching, she withdrew the armor beneath and held it up to the softly swaying illumination of the moon outside and the luminous stone lamps within.

All in all, I think this fic is some of my best work, and shouldn't be missed if you're a Mipha fan like I am (she is my favorite Zora, so if it's okay I'd like to use this as a belated submission for that Zora May prompt). She truly is the star of the show, with so much to offer as a lead character, moving through a world treated with depth and care. If you're in the market for a BOTW retelling that does something different, something no other retelling has done, and does it really well, then give it a chance! You can read it here on AO3. :3

[mindyco]

Beel x gn!Reader 🩷 [Beel saves us from NPC demons]

Warnings: none

Artwork credit: @AngyeFdez

Bruh, I was in the mood to make a super duper cliche scenario where we get lost in the Devildom and end up getting followed by fucking NPC demons, but then a hot male bod comes to save the day. So I did. Thanks, Beel. ٩(^ᴗ^)۶ For this short scenario replace your name with _____

Lost in the labyrinthine streets of the Devildom, you find yourself in a state of unease, your heart pounding with trepidation. The dark shadows seem to dance around you, whispering secrets that make your skin prickle. Each step you took felt like a treacherous journey into the unknown, and the darkness seemed to taunt you with its ominous presence. As your heart pounded in your chest, thoughts of self-doubt and anxiety swirled in your mind. Desperate for a lifeline, you reach out, trembling fingers dialing Beel's number on your D.D.D.

As the seconds tick by, the tension threatens to suffocate you, until finally, you hear a familiar voice on the other end of the line. It's Beel, his voice a soothing balm to your anxious soul. The mere sound of him is enough to ignite a spark of hope within you.

"_____? What’s wrong?" Beel's voice was laced with worry and urgency as he listened intently to your frightened words.

"Hey, Beel… I, uh, got lost, and I'm not sure where I am," you explain, your voice filled with a touch of embarrassment. "I know you're busy, but could you help me find my way back?"

Beel's deep voice on the other end carries a soothing warmth that instantly puts you at ease. "Of course, _____! Don't worry, I'll come to find you right away. Just stay on the line, and let me know what you see around you."

As you describe your surroundings, a sense of anticipation builds within you. You're oblivious to the gang of demons that lurk in the shadows, their malevolent intentions hidden behind smirks and leering gazes.

While waiting, a sudden noise startles you, causing your heart to leap into your throat. The sound seems to echo through the still night air, and your imagination runs wild with fearful thoughts. Your hand trembles and your grip on the phone tightens.

But just as panic threatens to overtake you, a familiar voice breaks through the chaos. "_____, it's Beel. I'm here, don't worry."

Suddenly, like a guardian angel, Beel strides into the scene, his presence commanding attention. A scowl forms on his face as his eyes lock onto the gang of demons, a warning etched into his expression. His massive frame seems to fill the space, casting an imposing shadow over anyone who dares to approach.

"Are you okay?" Beel asks, concern evident in his voice. "I'm sorry I scared you. Let's get out of here and go back home."

The sight of him is nothing short of breathtaking, a living embodiment of strength and protection. His muscular frame, sculpted with the precision of a divine craftsman, exudes an aura of raw power that leaves you in awe.

Beel's face, chiseled with determination and tenderness, captivates your gaze. His intense eyes, like molten amber, hold a depth that seems to reflect the entire universe. They shimmer with a gentle warmth, offering solace and understanding in their depths. His smile radiates a genuine joy, contagious and inviting, as if it holds the power to chase away any trace of darkness.

Towering above, Beel stands at an impressive height, a living testament to his otherworldly lineage. His broad shoulders and muscular arms a testament to his physical prowess. The fabric of his white hoodie clings to his frame, accentuating the contours of his muscular physique.

His hair, a vibrant shade of orange, tumbles in disarray, wild and untamed like a flame that dances in the wind. Each strand carries a life of its own, defying gravity and framing his handsome face. There's a touchable softness to his locks, an invitation to run your fingers through them, to feel their silky texture against your skin.

A/N: Sorry, I just needed to describe why Beel is so fucking hot.

In his entirety, Beel radiates a magnetic charm, a blend of strength and gentleness that is both awe-inspiring and comforting. Every aspect of his appearance, from his captivating gaze to his tousled hair, is a testament to his divine allure. It's no wonder that you find yourself drawn to him, your heart yearning for his unwavering protection and the love that emanates from his very being.

"Beel! Oh my gosh, you're here!" you exclaim, a rush of relief flooding through you. "I was so scared, but now that you're here, I feel so much better. Thank you for coming to find me."

Your words tumble out in a flurry, your nervousness giving way to an overwhelming joy upon seeing Beel's familiar face. You find solace in the way his hand gently pushes you closer to him, his touch both grounding and reassuring. You feel small in his presence, barely reaching below his chest, but his protective aura wraps around you like a shield.

As you excitedly chatter away, your words pouring out like a torrent of emotions, Beel's attention is solely fixed on you. His eyes soften, his lips curling into a tender smile as he listens to your every word. The way you light up, your eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, captures his heart, reinforcing the protective instinct within him.

Though you remain oblivious to the danger that hovers just out of sight, Beel sees it all. The demons' vile intentions are met with the full weight of his glare, a silent threat that declares they should never dare to lay a finger on you.

His arm tightens around your shoulder, pulling you closer to him, as if to shield you from the preying eyes and lingering darkness. You feel the warmth and security of his touch, blissfully unaware of the menacing eyes tracking your every move. Your small hand rests comfortably in his, fingers interlaced, a connection that speaks of trust and affection.

In the midst of your animated conversation, Beel interrupts your words with a gentle request. "_____, promise me something," he says, his voice laced with both concern and affection. "Whenever you go out, make sure I'm with you, okay?"

His words hold a genuine sincerity, a deep-rooted need to safeguard you from the perils that lurk in the shadows. In that moment, you catch a glimpse of the depth of Beel's feelings, his unwavering devotion and unwavering determination to keep you out of harm's way.

Unaware of the turmoil that transpired, you nod, your trust in Beel unwavering. "I promise, Beel." you reply, your voice filled with affection and gratitude.

Beel's soft smile widens, his heart swelling with love and adoration for you. In that moment, he makes a silent vow to himself—to protect you from every danger, to be the pillar of strength you can always rely on.

Though his eyes had burned with a fierce glare when they met the demons, his gaze softens as it settles on you. He listens intently, every word you speak filling his heart with a warmth that surpasses comprehension. A tender smile graces his lips, his eyes twinkling with adoration. In that moment, he sees you for the precious soul that you are, innocent and delicate in a world teeming with darkness.

His proximity alone offers a sense of security, even as the demons skulk in the shadows, their malicious intentions hidden from your unsuspecting gaze.

As you continue to walk alongside Beel, a sudden movement catches your attention. Before you can react, Beel swiftly scoops you up into his arms, eliciting a soft yelp from your lips. You instinctively grasp onto his broad shoulders, your eyes locking with his.

"Beel, why are you carrying me? Did something happen?" you ask, your voice filled with curiosity. As you instinctively lean forward, attempting to catch a glimpse of what transpired behind him, a firm yet gentle resistance meets your attempt, preventing you from peering past his broad frame.

A subtle tension momentarily flickers in Beel's expression, a mix of protectiveness and a desire to shield you from whatever lies behind. His eyes meet yours, a silent plea urging you to trust him, to relinquish the need for answers in this moment.

Beel glances down at you with a warm smile, his eyes sparkling with affection. "I just thought it'd be faster this way. And I don't want you to get tired from walking," he replies, his voice gentle and reassuring.

Confusion flickers in your eyes, but you can't help but return his smile. The feeling of being held in his strong embrace, your feet no longer touching the ground, fills you with a mixture of surprise and delight. With each step he takes, his pace quickens, his strides covering ground effortlessly.

As Beel carries you through the labyrinthine streets, your heart beats in sync with the rhythm of his steps. The world blurs around you, the dimly lit alleys and looming shadows fading into insignificance as your focus remains on Beel's unwavering gaze. The corners of your lips curl upward, a silent testament to the trust and connection that grows between you.

In the gentle sway of Beel's movements, you find a sense of security and belonging. The world around you may be filled with hidden dangers, but in this moment, you feel invincible, cocooned in the safety of Beel's arms. You relish in the closeness, your fingers tracing invisible patterns on his shoulders.

As you continue your conversation, Beel's steps remain steady and purposeful, his eyes scanning the surroundings to ensure your safety. Despite the lingering danger that had threatened you earlier, the two of you find solace in each other's company, your words flowing effortlessly and filling the air with warmth and laughter.

～ 𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

[tinynightmarewoman]

It still rattles my fucking mind that Dar Basri was underutilised in House Of Ashes!!

Like yes, I am well aware he is an NPC in these games as written in the rule book by our almighty leaders SuperMassive Games: NPCs gotta die!

BBBUUUUUTTTT have you considered that, and hear me out, he could have been an excellent addition to the story if he was used just that extra bit more.

He could've really been something if used, like further straining the very thin team up that Salim had with the Americans! Because, despite now being fully aware that yes there is a bigger threat that the theatre troupe with a glock, him being so deeply stuck in his ways that while okay he'll follow along he would always butt in when formulating plans or getting in to disputes with other members because they did something he finds wrong or flat out stupid (its your fault its stupid but hey you're doing your best)

He's a captain and has probably got some half decent experience under his belt, he's headstrong, tactical, a force to be fucking reckoned with if you let the bastard run rampant (Killing and wounding members of the main cast) And yet he dies too quickly in my opinion. Dar does not give up, even when his large intestine is being dragged behind him before he gets jumped by the vampires and is ripped to shreds. Killing him was too easy, I think he should have been give the chance to show off as an actual character, the warrior he is supposed to be!!! Watching him reluctantly alongside the others showing off how much of a menace he actually is, that would have been awesome!

Also it could be fun to see the extent of him and Salim's respected but strained relationship. Salim and Dar can butt heads significantly or they can work in tandem as a double act if you're more obedient and less argumentative as Salim. It's possible to see that Dar has respect and some amount of care for Salim so allowing the dynamic to go further and allowing it to get more complex could be a perfect foil to that buddy buddy relationship Salim develops with Jason.

Having Salim walk this glory hound on a tight leash while also having enough respect to actually listen to what the guy has to say would prove to be really interesting. Having that constant whisper of suspicion or opposition in Salim's ear would have made the relationships you build with Jason and the like a lot more fun to work for and hey, maybe in the end Dar learns to at the very least respect the tenacity and determination of the Americans. He doesn't have to be as all lovey dovey as Salim is by the end but having that "Okay, I can respect that" moment would be really cool!!

I think a lot of NPC characters in these games could make the plot better if they are given just that bit extra attention and especially Dar because of how much of balancing act he could be for the plot!!

Okay rambling over now you can return to your regular scheduled programming.

[yahoodarling]

Gn Self Aware reader, no blatant 'yandere' themes developed yet. About 700 words.

Figured id post this, an unfinished set up of a fic i started and didnt finish. Reread it and im considering picking it back up since the concept is interesting.

Self aware reader determined not to change the events of Inazumas 'plot' finds themself in a little problem. Such problem being that this is a yandereAyato (and or Thoma) fic.

It's disgusting. It is discomfort incarnate to have such foresight into the fate of the world and yet be bound to its own laws of destiny, especially when what you were sure was to take place is altered. You no longer have any ground of understanding except the uncanny feeling that things are not as they should be, to be so similar and yet be so changed. You knew things will end up alright, as long as you do not interfere then Inazumas political warfare will reach a peaceful end and it did. You watched, noted those ‘special’ to the world, those who have a story, a life, a reason and you took the responsibility of not getting involved and it worked. You became an npc, avoided any confrontation with those deemed ‘special’, avoided any influence in the ‘plot’, watched as a hero came, a nation saved and a people newly united. It worked. Your foresight was correct yet… things changed. With no base to rely on, how were you to know what the ‘future’ must be, how were you to know what to avoid, who to avoid and what minor choice may change a future?

The hero has left, gone to Sumeru you guess, no, you know, you know the hero leaves for a new nation but so has your foresight and with that comes the change.

The one day gathering supplies, one day speaking to a fellow npc to fill some sort of social need, one day being in the ‘dark’ and you've caused a spark.

“Oh Aoi, good morning to you!”

He didn't speak to you, it was directed to the npc shopkeep you were chatting with and yet it grabbed your attention. Thoma is ‘special’, Thoma is relevant and so he must be avoided and you failed. 

Thoma spoke of how lovely the nights have been, of the soft whistles of sea, even to npcs Thoma was a gentleman starting conversation. He then turned to you with a smile,

"A good day to you as well! Im Thoma."

He commented on how ‘unique’ your eyes are, a depth to them hes never seen before. That comment frightened you, made you rush to leave, to stop the change. Quickly you felt a hand on your shoulder,

“Please excuse my rudeness but how about we have a stroll? I know its unfair of me to ask a stranger such a thing but… you remind me of a home away from home, if you would grant me such a pleasure that is.” he ended with a chuckle.

You have been so realistic up to this point, so good at avoiding ‘change’ but you have a heart and knew all too well that whatever feeling Thoma is experiencing is something important to him. You have a heart and so you accept. The main 'issue' of Inazuma is resolved, there is nothing else to truly be afraid of changing right? One time, only one time.

A single light hearted stroll became a weekly meet at the shop front, ‘coincidentally’, which became a personal relationship which became a friend. It's alright though, Thomas is a social guy, he's close with many npcs who never impacted the ‘plot’, you can be one such npc, that's fine. Change is fine. 

It's not fine. Meeting with Thoma you eventually met with other ‘special’ individuals you knew by name before they even knew of your existence. It's a weird feeling to know a person before getting to meet them, all the private details, their worries, their joys and yet forced to remain oblivious to it.

“A formal greeting from the Kamisato Clan, I am glad to see Thoma has a new friend. Do treat him well, sadly I must make short of this meet.” and the man who is most likely the most influential to whatever ‘plot’ is to come of Inazuma greeted. Kamisato Ayato was amongst your top ‘DO NOT ENGAGE’ list other than the archon herself and yet somehow naive bliss and a VERY convincing plea(almost suspiciously good) from Thoma to have lunch by the beaches near the residence of the Kamisato Clan lead you right into his ‘life’.

You have no ‘life’, you are meant to have no ‘life’, no value or effect and yet by each interaction with those deemed ‘special’ by the world your plans crumble.

["Your tears remind me of the rain, both comforting and disturbing. How i cringe at each drop yet yern to hear them patter against me. My dear please do remember for each storm or drizzle you bring to me i will open my arms for which ever embrace you bring."- shit i was going to add once i built up to it but seems i lost interest before i got to that.]

[swemtpotamtam]

playing more of DD2 and man I have a big complaint it's so weird that the game forces a romantic thing on your character and story-related npcs they are constantly kissing arisen unprompted and I find it just so weird and just ew?? like, there is no consent from me as a player in these situations so I just have to sit there and watch some rando kiss my character <:D for example, I helped Ulrika 'cause it's part of the main story stuff and now she's all over my arisen?? why?? since when does helping and being friendly count as "I am in love with you"?? have the devs ever been in a romantic relationship? <:D shit makes me so uncomfortable, like, at least give me some agency to say no to these unwanted advances, or better yet, let there be a system that lets you determine if you wanna be friends with an npc or more than friends I understand that this isn't a typical rpg where you have a lot of choice and stuff but good lord, this shit is just too uncomfortable

[dfroggofarson]

surprise, everyone!

after almost three weeks of inactivity (that i am so sorry for), i had succesfully fought myself back to the surface and made it out of my grave. so here i am, bringing you the very last part (counting 1400+ words) of this Scara-centric mini-series called A betrayal so deep.... if you haven't read the previous parts, here's part one, part two and part three.

thank you all for being here with me and making me continue it!

oh, and just for y'all to know, another oneshot is on the way featuring a specofically hot npc daddy from the desert, so stay tuned everyone~

kisses and hugs,

your (resurrected) torturer <3

@linn-a-a @etherisy @night-shadowblood-writes2 @nunontherun

My brat.

A betrayal so deep... part 4.

"Scaramouche, please! It won't accept you! It's not worth it!"

"Shut up already," the purple-haired boy growled.

"It's not worth it," you repeated. "Why would you risk your life? It might as well just destroy you! Think about it!"

"I said, shut up, brat! And stay back unless you don't want me to punch you in the face."

"No, I-"

"SHUT UP!" he suddenly screamed, turning back with eyes glowing in fury to meet your scared gaze.

After a minute, he just turned around again, and stopped paying attention to your startled face.

Yes, you were scared. Trembling. Terrified. Because he was about to do something that could cost his life and was not worth risking it. You knew very well that he was strong, terribly strong, but even tough he had collected so much life experience and learned so much lessons and teachings, you started doubting his decisiveness.

After all, those experiences and lessons never left him mentally unharmed to begin with.

That's why you wanted him to just give up on the gnosis. But after he took his hands on it, no, Yae Miko willingly gave it to him, he was not even able to rip off his gaze of it. When you finally tracked him down and broke into his hideout - it was an old, desolate ruin in the pit of a mountain that he took you once to teach you a valuable lesson - Scaramouche was walking to the empty room you two used to spar in, and almost locked the door before your face. Good thing you slipped in at the last minute.

But you being there did not solve anything. He never took off his gaze of the gnosis - except for that one moment he spared to break your determination of him not using it.

You had to find another way to change his mind. And you haven't had that much time.

"Scaramouche... My Master," you lowered your voice, then slowly knelt down before him. He stopped walking. "I am not trying to stop you from using what is yours. I am just trying to get you to observe the situation. What if that is only a trap that could harm you? Or what if, it really is the real one, but it would only bring misfortune and decay on you? And what-"

"I am stronger," he replied silently. He did not move an inch, all muscles hard as rock, while he whispered. "I know. I feel it. You may not sense the resonations and energies in the air, but I do, and they are all telling me to declare it mine. Just as I had done it with you," he finally turned around, facing your suddenly so small figure. You felt but a small grain in the desert. You lowered your gaze. "Remember? You are mine. You do what I want, whenever I want, and you do not question any of my decisions. Do I have to remind you yet again?"

"... No, Master."

"Excellent. Now, get out of this room. Now."

You had no further questions.

You had to act. And you had to do it right now.

Faster than light, you rocketed toward his back, and reached for the gnosis. But you knew well what he was capable of, so you weren't surprised when he easily dodged your attack and you met his foot on your stomach. The next second you smashed to the rock wall, but managed to escape from his punch, and jumped to the side, only to release a knife where you predicted the gnosis to be in the following moment. Unfortunately he saw it, and you missed - but he forgot to pay attention to your surprise attack coming to his left shoulder.

He quickly met your feet on his back, pressed to the ground...

At least that was what you tought.

The next second, faster than half of a blink of an eye, you were facing his contorted mimics as he snarled, gripping on your neck in a strength you had never felt before. You strarted to choke, trying to get a hold of a sip of air, but you failed.

"If I see you just one more time, I will snap your spine to six and feed you to the pigs," he muttered.

You tought he would kill you right here and now.

But instead, he lifted you, and threw you out of the ruin. The wind barrier surrounding your body broke doors and rock and everything that was in the way, until you could only see the Moon and the stars and nothing below or further, wind howling in your ears.

Then you started to fall.

} > -- • -- < {

It was dark. Not as dark as it was under the ground, but it was a devouring, scaring, filthy darkness that you wanted to forget for the rest fo your life.

A small chop on your left arm, and you felt yet another wound open. You wanted to at least groan, but your throat was sore from the last hours' cries and screams that nothing came out of your mouth.

He noticed that, too.

"Hey, hey, look at me. Look at me, baby," Childe's worried face appeared infront of your now opened eyes. "It's okay. It's gonna be okay, alright? See? We're almost done."

You slowly looked at your left arm, not even processing what you were seeing. It was drenched in blood, covered in several big and small cuts and you could see your own bones under the abused flesh.

You had no power left to be terrified. You just stared at your arm, when Childe's face drifted in your sight.

"So... You still don't want to tell me where is the gnosis? Where is him? Hmm?" he asked with a soft smile. "You know, i can do this all night long. You don't even have to ask."

When you didn't reply, he sighed.

"Ahh. I'm sorry... but you're so beautiful. So unbreakable. I want to be with you for the rest of my life... and destroy you, like this" he whispered, placing a gentle kiss on your lips.

"Is that beautiful for you?"

Childe froze for a moment. You could barely record the feelings on his face: there was fear, excitement, madness and so much else... But a moment passed and there was only cold anticipation.

He smiled.

"Yes. Don't you find them beautiful? Covered in their own blood and mess? Just look at them. The insides outside, and the outsides inside. I think it's exceptional," he stood up, dropping the knife he was holding in his hand. Your head fell back to your chest, losing consciousness for a second.

"I think it's disgusting," a fluorescent silhouette took shape right before your eyes. The voice now had a visible body, that you could recognise anywhere. "Everything should be in it's place. Like you, among the other trash."

"Hah. How harsh words! Even tough you came at the wrong time. We should've had another hour to entertain eachother..." Childe looked at you once more, stroking your mistreated face. "I'm sorry, I have to go now. But I'll take care of you later."

A light flash blinded your eyes. For a moment, you finally came back to yourself and observed the situation - Scaramouche, standing at the entrance, glowing in the coldest death-promising aura; and Childe, with his bow in hand, ready to send anyone to the afterlife.

The battle that unfolded right before your eyes was unimaginable. You've lost and gained consciousness a lot of times, but each time you woke up there wasn't a single new scratch on your body - even when the building had totally collapsed and there were nothing more but truncated wrecks.

You didn't know how much time had passed, but the shield guarding you eventually disappeared and a rough hand touched your head.

"Brat? Can you hear me?"

You slowly opened your eyes and took a moment to stare at the small feet. You knew who it belonged to.

The same person you had, too.

You tried to nod your head but you couldn't even lift it properly.

"Okay, okay. Don't rush. No sudden movements. I'm going to pick you up, it's going to hurt, but I know you can take it."

You wanted to object, but he already moved you and lifted your body in bridal style. You were shaking, holding onto his clothing with your weak hands.

"You... last said..." You breathed.

"Hmm? Oh, about that? Let's skip that part for now. I'll break your spine another time, okay?"

A teardrop traveled down your face, watering his shirt.

"Thank... you."

He didn't reply right away, but when you already fell asleep, laying to his chest.

Then he whispered:

"Anytime, brat."

[ajaxbell]

Learn The Truth 😂

Please enjoy my completely unhinged thoughts on The Truth S2, in which I use the word 'fun' way too many times.

So I'm kind of obsessed with this show (my mini recap of the ep 0 pilot here). I described it to non-drama watching friend as like being at a murder mystery house party but with some of your fave Chinese celebrities instead of your friends. It's just fun. The Truth S2 (aka 开始推理吧 第二季, aka Start Reasoning 2) is a Chinese comedy variety show about investigating murders.  An overview on how it works:

Each set of episodes is set in certain time period. The six cast members are given details about their character in that time period (but the other cast seem to only know the info about their own character and are surprised by everyone else's reveals), a preset story plays out and an NPC is murdered. Then two characters deemed free of suspicion (I'm actually not sure how this is determined) become investigators and the other four are the suspects.

The investigators check the scene and body for clues, then all six sit in a room while those clues are presented, and then each suspect has a box of gathered clues about each other. Like Suspect A will say 'here is what was found in Suspect C's room' and then  show the incriminating evidence, while Suspect C tries to explain using their backstory notes and everyone else teases and mocks them. Then there's a some sort of mysterious test and if the murderer passes it then they can make one of the investigators an 'X' meaning the investigator will help them escape discovery. Then once they've all shared their evidence and backstories, they go out into the sets (a huge building of different rooms) and try and solve the mystery by finding more clues.

This season stars Bai Yu (yes from Guardian), Liu Yuning, Dilraba Dilmurat, Zhang Linghe, Zhou Keyu (who is apparently American???), and Wang Xun (who has more credentials than the rest of the cast combined). It's an interesting mix of ages and backgrounds that seems to be working, mostly because they are all eventually revealed to be chaos gremlins. Also LYN, BY, and ZKY were on The Truth S1, so they are the 'seniors' here.

Episodes 1 & 2 are set in the 1920s in a cabaret club. Same characters, location, etc. but a different murder in each ep, with an over arcing separate (non-murder) mystery with its own clues going on simultaneously. Episodes 3 & 4 are in 1988 in trading company office.  I've seen some incredible costumes that might or might not be from ep 4. They don't seem to fit what I've seen so far (through ep 3) but ep 2 goes so far off the rails from where it starts that I'm willing to accept anything might fit in these bonkers storylines.

We're only 3 eps in and am unable to count the number of times I've shouted "wait, what!?" at the screen. To be fair some of this is because it's only available to me (in the US) with terrible machine translated subtitles. It's almost like a whole separate game just to parse these out. And some of it is nonsensical and confusing, and some is utterly delightful, like Liu Yuning telling a story that starts "when I was young girl..." But mostly there's a lot of weird direct translation of names that is simply so confusing that you have to just guess what they are saying in context.

Despite that it's a joy to watch. To see who is really picking up clues, to watch them all constantly eat snacks (seriously so many snacks in this show), to see how they play the story lines they are given,  and to see them interact with each other. Things I didn't know I needed to see, like how pleased with himself ZLH is Every time he solves a problem but especially a math problem (he was an engineering student before he was an actor). And LYN's ability to instantly solve puzzle boxes (maybe because he does magic tricks sometimes?) Dilraba's incredible ability to spot clues in weird places that no one else seems to notice.

So I've said this is fun and it is, all on its own. But I am absolutely obsessed with this show so far because the actors keep making it gay when they really don't have to. Like just for fun. Even if none of the actors are queer (unlikely) at least two of the actors have been in bl drama adaptations, and at least two more have been in shows with Gong Jun, so I assume they all at least know from gay, you know?  Some of it feels like the good old days of TV in my youth (in the last century) when we had to ship folks to make our own gay, which the restrictions of Chinese are making increasingly necessary. Some of it is probably just like my own wishful thinking. And because of the terrible subtitles a lot of it is me just saying "wait did that just actually happen, or did I just think it did?" (Nothing says fun like gaslighting yourself about whether something is gay, lol.)

There are also a lot of good running jokes developing. At some point in Ep 1 Bai Yu called everyone 'little killers' (xiao shashou) and it really caught on. And now every time a suspect is defending themself against evidence someone will say, laden with sarcasm, the equivalent of "sure you're innocent, little killer."  Everyone keeps calling Zhang Linghe "Handsome He" and I literally cannot figure out if this is in the script or just them teasing him (because there seems to be a lot of teasing of ZLH). In addition to this the cast is making a lot of gay jokes and it's lovely because it's clearly not mean-spirited or cruel. Some seem to be just obvious and fun. But others I can easily interpret as the cast simply being like "hey, there is no gay here, let's put some gay here! It's fun!" In ep two there's a conversation that went something like this (I'm paraphrasing the subtitles)

ZKY *in character reading from I think another character's journal?*: Young Marshal He [ZLH's character] lifted his head and looked towards Young Marshal Ning [LYN's character] with a complicated emotion in his eyes. ZKY *out of character*: "What emotion?" Dilraba: What type of story is this? (omg the look on her face, she knows) ZLH *starts laughing and looking shy* LYN: *singing to ZLH* I've finally learned how to love… ❣️‼️ Dilraba *looking overjoyed*: This is so messy! (ZLH's character is supposed to be in love with her character, and LYN's character is her character's brother) ZLH (continues to laugh while simultaneously looking pleased and shy)

Then as they go on around the sets looking for clues and solving thing they just keep referencing this joke of ZLH's character and LYN's character being the ones in a romance in the story. But like I guess subtly enough that it gets past censorship? But like obvious enough I got it even with the terrible subtitles. And after this it's like all I can not to analyze every scene for good gay joke content.

There's several scenes while they are searching for clues and the lights go out and something scary happens. These presumably leave the cast unable to see in pitch black, but are filmed with some kind of night vision (nice to see who is dying their hair by how it comes out weird in the night scope, lol). So I'm bopping along wondering if I'm feeling creepy for how I'm kind of starting to ship LYN and ZLH and then the lights go out and I'm forced to frantically text by friend: "OMG the lights just went off on The Truth and LYN plastered himself, chest to back, on ZLH, then they grabbed Dilraba and pulled her in and now this is some kind of perfect bisexual triad that I didn't know I wanted?" And I'm sitting there, having watched it three times, asking myself if that's what really happened. Then the show's official Weibo posts it with the caption "After the lights go out, Liu Yuning became Zhang Linghe’s backpack." I mean, c'mon!!

the subtitles here are something like- LYN "let's sing to make ourselves brave" ZKY *sings the alphabet song and everyone joins in* LYN "what no, not this song."

And the scene carries on, the new bisexual triad of my dreams with arms linked and everyone being so cute that I can't stop thinking about for days. And then later the show decided to get a certain clue ZLH and LYN had to stand face to face and get wrapped like a mummy. Because why not? 😅😂 I was already being ridiculous about this, why not just SPOON FEED IT TO ME? And then. And then... Remember in ep 2 when LYN starts singing "I finally learned how to love" to ZLH? Welp then LYN posts the most theater kid emo gay boy video imaginable with song on his Weibo. A video that just screams, "I'm so deep, and cannot ever share my deep, meaningful conflicted feelings." And which point I'm forced to text my friend, "OMG is THIS the show that's finally going to turn me in to a delusional shipper? Of LYN and ZLH? This was not on my bingo card. Like totally out of left field." And yet here we are. I'm not proud of what this show has done to me. But obviously I'm not embarrassed enough to not post about either.🤡

Now I've written this entire rambling mess just so I could share that with you all my unhinged obsession with the gay subtext and gay jokes in this show. Like eagerly watching with popcorn looking for that next little single line or physical touch that I can make something huge out of. A week later and I'm still thinking about a moment when ZLH casually called LYN 'ge' while touching his shoulder because it felt so real and out of character for the scene. Because seriously, what is even happening in this show? Is this all happening, is it actually on screen, or am I finally really having a reality break? I think the point of this post was to convince you to watch this beautifully bonkers show, but I got really distracted by the gay. But like maybe that too will convince you to watch these absolute chaos gremlins?

[theabsentmindedwriter]

Isabelle, my way and still an adorable pup.

From New Leaf onwards, Isabelle is a special NPC character in the series who first acted as your assistant when you are Mayor. This kind of role doesn't really change as games go along. Granted more of her background information is fed to us in tidbits. However it doesn't change the fact she is popular in her own right.

(New Horizon's apperance)

Apperance wise she is recognizable, no doubt about that. With her bell like head, friendly smile, her buck tooth and her general attire which she is usually wearing something with a skirt. Though her original new leaf apperance was lacking any shoes before. As seen here.

(Her apperance in Smash Bros Ultimate. Based on her spring/summer attire in New Leaf).

Though an interesting thing to note is her outfit will change a bit during the seasons. Trying to fit with the changing temperature despite being a fuzzy puppy herself.

(Fall attire for New Leaf and New Horizon)

As for my experience with her in the games. She was honestly a pretty welcoming sight. Just a general fuzzball of positivity and support. Granted it took some more time for her to be on a similar level that I placed Ankha. I always found her sunny disposition...and some hilarity in her dialogue to uplift my spirits.

As for background information about her. There was ton's to find in the game. Usually drip fed to you based on what other villagers say about her. Also some NPC's like her brother reveal some interesting info about her. Throughout my research the most bizzare I have discovered was her Brother mentioning she graduated from nineteen different universities in Engineering. To which I am not sure how that is possible. Though it would explain how capable she is as your assistant. Of course if you treat the 'many sisters' in different towns as Canon then that is probably the reason why. Despite her implied intellgence she is still has some silly moments. Like chewing on shoes, being a bit forgetful, has yet to fully unpack in her house, hates confrontations, scary when angry and well being the lovable pup she is.

She won me over in the long run and well this runs into my depiction of her in my stories. I did run with the fact she has a crush on the Mayor. In this case being Nacho, but I always imagined her starting off on that to grow as a better and stronger person. Using the her admiration for the man who ran the town to improve as a person. Come into her own so to speak.

Granted it didn't start until the second story, but after that I made sure she gets her fair share of character growth. Being a kind, compassionate, kinda shy puppy to a more determined and ready to tackle problems that went beyond being assistant to a mayor. Which I like to think I accomplished that. Because to me she deserves it for her determination. Though hilariously I decided to put her in a poly relationship with Ankha and Nacho. Mostly because at the time I couldn't decide between the two. So I decided to F it and went that route. Which works since she is bisexual here. Which is pretty accurate to her crush on the Mayor regardless of biological sex. Though that was as far as I was going to take it. No anime level harem here.

Backstory wise she pretty much remains mostly untouched with the games. There is still more about it not fully explored like her parents or early childhood. However I did give an explanation for what I call the Isa-clones in other towns. Being a result of a science fair project gone wrong. Resulting in more of her running around. Despite this knowledge I have yet to ever bring them up in the main story. That and the council of Isabelles. Boy can you imagine the family reunions?

Physique wise is the most funky process I had of figuring out. Firstly, she is anthro like Ankha and other animal folks. Though not the same blend as Ankha. She is also 5'5" and slightly chubby...also curvy as well. I will admit the internet affected by decision making process in making Isabelle a sort of short stack. Though I always imagine her to be kinda short is because of her Shih Tzu dog breed. Which is a toy dog size. Her physique does improve as the stories go along. Her getting a bit more fit but still having a bit of chub (because I just think it's cute with her). She sort of ends up being pretty strong in her own right. At least until the current story to which by then she is on a even playing field with the stuff going on. Compared to Ankha more agile body, Isabelle is definitely more tanky if you catch my drift.

Story significance, she is definitely important being one of the anchors that keeps Nacho in check later. Not to mention having a higher position power in the current story. Helping with her growth to stand out on her own. Though there are times I feel like I could do more with her. I never truly know because I am the one writing and having to figure these things out. But I like to think I am doing well for the most part.

If you are interesting in hearing more about her. I can make another post talking more details than I did here. Unless you are looking for specfic questions to be answered. Anyways I said enough. Hope this has been a fun peak into my mind with Isabelle here.

[demonologue]

The Worst Play-Through

Today has been...a lot.

Last night, we found Halsin's corpse. That hurt. What a first run.

Then I was determined to set Minthara up properly. Alienating Karlach. Probably killing Wyll as well. Fuck.

Just now, I finally FINALLY found Scratch and Gale. Close to tears when his arm came shooting out. I thought for sure I'd killed everyone else.

I'm still committed to making all the mistakes this first game and not looking up walkthroughs as much as possible. I just didn't think there would be quite so many, or they'd be so fucking dire.

DMs, please let your players have the ability to res important NPCs. It's really not funny. Some of us are emotionally affected by this game.

Silly me, thinking having Jaheira in camp waiting on me to complete Act II would mean something.

Oh. And then Lae'zel hit on me. Out of nowhere. I'm not sure what about my miserable failures was a turn-on for her. I'd love a reply option that's more ace than "giddy-up" and "yuck", though. Poor thing. When you find yourself apologizing out loud to a fictional character for bad speech options. "You're very important to me, and as your party dad, I am so proud of you and all the progress you've made, pumpkin. Just not...sexually."

Miss Piss still hates me as much as ever ("It's a neutral sort of hate, darling"). At least I have someone new to talk to now (and play dress-up with).