#in both cans and on draft. Taking their commitment further

[brewscoop]

Discover the remarkable story behind Tennessee Brew Works' dedication to local communities and Tennessee State Parks. From their hit State Park Blonde Ale to a new variety pack, see how they blend craft beer with a cause. Learn about their inspiring contributions and find out how you can support the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy. Cheers to making a difference!

[shamelessbigbang]

Round 13 is here!

Aaaand it's back! It's been a hot minute but we are happy to announce the next round of the Shameless Big Bang! As mentioned in a previous post, @whaticameherefor and @wehangout will be running the shindig this time around, we're both super excited to see what this amazing fandom comes up with! Also, check out the new banner by the wonderful @celestialmickey - thank you, Macy!

A bit of housekeeping before we get started. Take a read of the FAQ page so you know what is expected of you, but a couple of specifics ...

The minimum word count for the Shameless Big Bang is 20k. There is no maximum.

At least one piece of art must be done, but artists are more than welcome to do more than that.

Your fic must be completed by the posting date.

If your fic is way over the 20k mark, then at least that first 20k must be ready for posting day. You will also need to provide a posting schedule to ensure the fic will be posted in its entirety.

And without further ado, here is our schedule!

September 5 – Sign-Ups open

October 7 – LAST DAY TO SIGN UP/Confirmations sent

October 21 – First Author Checkpoint

November 4 - Rough drafts due

November 11 – Summary previews for artists

November 15 – Artist claims open (authors and artists will be paired up on a first come, first served basis)

December 16 – First artist and second author checkpoint 

January 20 – Second artist and third (and FINAL) author checkpoint

February 3– Posting Schedule will be announced

February 24 – Posting begins!

Again, we are sticking with the original format of completing your work before posting. If you plan to participate, please try to be mindful of that when you commit. Also, while most people are good about staying in touch, we have people every round who have issues with communicating and responding to emails. We are going to continue to take a more strict approach with that if people aren’t responsive, especially once authors and artists are paired off and the posting dates get closer. Check points are designed to update the organizers about your progress, so if at any point you feel like you won’t complete your fic, these are the times to let us know! We will not be confirming your sign up until the last day, so please wait until after then to reach out if you don't hear from us.

You can sign up to participate here!!

Don’t forget that there are a few different ways to keep up with us:

The Shameless Big Bang Tumblr page is the primary source of information. Remember, you can find out more info about the Big Bang at our Info & FAQ page. You can find links to the art and stories from previous rounds, and the home page even shows our commonly used tags, which you can use to filter through posts.

We also have a Discord! If you provide your Discord information during sign-up, we'll add you automatically.

As a reminder, the Big Bang is a collaborative effort between authors and artists. Please be mindful about your time and how busy you are when you sign up. We don’t want you to have to drop out and leave someone in the lurch if we can avoid it.

If there are any questions, you’re always welcome to send this page an ask, hit us up independently, or email us at gallavichbigbang@gmail.com! Reblog and spread the word!

[lz-didyounotice]

Wrong Doctor

This gif do not belong to me.

Heyyyyy! How are you lots? So. This one took longer than expected, liked none of my drafts and ended up with a totally different story than what it once was… But in the end it turned out okay. This one takes place a few months before “An hymne to love”.  Sorry if the writing seems a bit funky.

Froggit-

Warning : english is not my first language. Lots of fluff, mention of kids going missing.

—----------------------------

The night enveloped her in a blanket of light, the moon casting its ethereal glow upon the valley. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, the chill creeping into her back as she stood in this tranquil surrounding. Her hair danced gently in the breeze, her eyes shut, savoring every subtle shift of the wind against her skin.

In that moment, barefoot and grounded, she reveled in the sensation of grass brushing against her, its touch both enchanting and soothing. The wind whispered softly, a silent companion as she indulged in dreams of a life among the stars.

She had intended to linger for hours, captivated by the celestial spectacle above, immersed in the profound silence of the night. Despite the creeping cold, her breath materialized in wisps of white her thoughts, consumed with whimsy, as she attempted to conjure ephemeral clouds with each exhalation, watching them dissipate into the darkness. To an outsider, she would have seemed to hang on a single string of sanity with only the calming movement of her chest and the shelter of her leather jacket for warmth. For her, the onset of winter was a long-awaited embrace, promising transformation as the yellowed fields would soon be blanketed in snow.

Breaking the silence, the faint sound of footsteps approached from behind. The rhythmic rustle of grass grew louder, drawing nearer . She kept her gaze fixed upon the heavens, as though committing every star to memory.

The stranger hesitated to speak, his attention taken by the beautiful figure he now stood next to. Her short, ginger hair glowed under the moonlight, her eyes bathed in a soft, bluish luminescence. As their eyes met, something ignited  within her as she beheld the familiarity of a man she had never expected to see again.

His unruly hair and long trench coat framed a face adorned with dark brown eyes, each holding the mysteries of the universe. A small smile graced her lips as she admired the beauty of his presence.

Breaking the silence, his voice, warm and soothing, punctuated the night. "A splendid night, wouldn't you agree?"

Gazing back at the stars, she could only nod in agreement. “Splendid doesn't begin to describe it,” she murmured. Sensing him gazing away, she inquired, "And what brings a gentleman like yourself out here in the middle of night?"

"I could ask you the same," he countered.

“I find… comfort in this place… Makes me think of home.,” she confessed.

Seemingly intrigued, he pressed further, “And what might be your name ?”

With a soft smile, she adjusted her short hair before responding. “You can call me ‘Sunny’. And you? What shall I call you?”

“I'm the Doctor.”

“The Doctor? Doctor who?” Her inquiry was tinged with playful curiosity, yearning to see the smile she once cherished.

“Just the Doctor,” he replied, a faint grin playing upon his lips.

“I had a friend who went by that name…” she reminisced.

Intrigued, the Doctor couldn't resist probing further. “What happened to him? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I had to go somewhere he could not follow…” she replied, truth trapped between her teeth .

“Did you tell him ? About where you were going ?” he inquired gently.

“It was the reason we met in the first place. He knew it would happen eventually. But I don’t think he was prepared for it…” she finally admitted.

The Doctor couldn't help but wonder about what remained unspoken. The possibility of meeting one of his future companions filling his hearts with warmth and curiosity . ‘Sunny’ sounded familiar. He was sure to have met her somewhere before but didn’t want to pry further.

“Anyway, have you seen something strange ‘round here recently ?” he inquired, redirecting the conversation.

“Besides you?” she teased.

“I'm being serious.”

“Well, not far from here lies a small village. There have been reports of missing children in recent weeks. What's most unsettling is that the parents seem to forget they ever had them in the first place.”

“How does one forget their own children?” the Doctor pondered aloud.

“I've wondered the same. And with no one reporting them missing, there's been little effort to find them. It's as though they vanish into thin air,” she explained.

“Now that’s dreadful. At least I know where to search.” the Doctor resolved, turning his full attention to her. “Do you happen to have a vehicle we could use to get to town  ?”

“If you ask so kindly, I might be able to lend a hand too. Come on” she offered with a warm smile, leading the way towards her home.

—----------------------------

Soon, a small cottage came into view, its white walls adorned with creeping vines, a charming composition of rustic brick and verdant foliage. Adjacent to it stood a barn, spacious enough to shelter two vehicles within.

Hurrying to the porch, the ginger-haired woman donned her shoes before darting towards the barn.

“I must warn you, there’s not only vehicles in there.” Finally opening the doors, a sort of large laboratory came into view. Filled with spare parts, prototypes made out of domestic machinery. The Doctor's eyes gleamed with a childlike fascination as he explored each and every invention he could put his hand on. “‘Careful with that, wouldn't want you to blow up anything.” she quipped, her tone lighthearted as she watched him tinker with her modified mixer.

"A bit rubbish, don't you think you could have used a different lens for these? The blast could be fuller." Searching for two helmets, the ginger haired girl tried to not be offended by the Doctor's comments. “I do with what I can find, Doctor. Anyway, most of them are just smaller scale machinery.” Finally finding what she was searching for, she tossed a black one to the timelord. “Catch! I hope you’re not afraid of speed my dear.” 

Looking confused, the doctor examined his helmet, and realized what they would be driving. “Oh- That’s brilliant!”

—----------------------------

Long had it been since she had such a thrilling adventure. Dodging monstrous aliens and unraveling mysteries alongside the Doctor. She even found herself yearning to join him aboard the TARDIS once more. Yet, she knew it was a temptation she couldn't succumb to, lest she alter the course of fate.

As they rode back on her motorbike, she relished the sensation of his arms encircling her, his laughter mingling with the rush of wind. His presence behind her, his warmth seeping through her, felt like a dream she never wanted to end.

Upon returning home, she resolved to embark on a journey of her own—a quest to reunite with her lost lover. But as the Doctor passed by the door, she invited him to share a cup of hot chocolate with her, an offer he accepted with eagerness.

Seated together on the couch, they savored each sip, savoring the fleeting moment of companionship.

“You know, your friend was lucky to have you by his side,” the Doctor remarked, his gaze thoughtful as he sipped his drink.

Smiling softly, she leaned closer, resting her head against his shoulder. “I believe I was the fortunate one. I only wish he could see himself as I see him.”

“And how do you see him?” he inquired earnestly.

“Can I be honest?”

“Of course.”

“A complete and utter idiot…” she confessed, her tone affectionate as laughter bubbled between them. “But a kind idiot.”

As their eyes met, an unspoken understanding passed between them, as if this moment was meant to be.

"I hope you find him soon. He must miss his companion," the Doctor remarked gently.

“I miss him too,” she whispered, her heart heavy with longing.

—----------------------------

The Tardis was Shimmering. Her to be slightly altered beauty, scratched from previous adventures. She had missed the feeling of  her wood beneath the skin, how comforting it actually was.

Standing outside of the TARDIS door, the Doctor had extended an offer for her to accompany him, albeit temporarily, but as much as she appreciated the offer, she knew her destiny lay elsewhere. 

“Before I go… Though I'm not supposed to know, could you perhaps share your name?” the man requested softly.

“I suppose it won't hurt,” she conceded, stepping closer. “I'm (Y/N).”

“It was a pleasure meeting you (Y/N)” he said with a wistful smile, finally setting foot into the blue box.

“And it was a pleasure to see you again, Doctor,” she replied.

And as the TARDIS vanished from sight, (Y/N) felt her heart swell with determination. She wanted to burst out, claim the very air in her lungs and scream out her farewell. Though tears welled in her eyes, they  weren’t tears of sadness, as hope came through. Hope to be in his arms, reunited with her beloved once again.

[vividiana]

wip whenever 📝

thank you so much for the tag @irondeficienttav 💕

after all the horny yearning in the recent chapter of "I Will Not Ask...", I felt the need to skip ahead and write about these two getting it on. so here is a snippet from chapter... 12? 13? idk, your guess is as good as mine

Eve runs her fingers through Astarion’s soft curls, nails scraping gently against his scalp. It coaxes another low hum that vibrates delectably across the delicate skin of her chest, and she commits it to memory, her mind drafting a map of all the places that make him sing. And oh god she is convinced he could make her fall apart like this, with nothing but the workings of his mouth, the roaming of his hands, and the slightest hint of friction against his clothed cock as she writhes in his lap. But then, with a final swirl of his tongue, Astarion lets go to look up at her again, and witnessing him in such a state stokes the desire kindling within her even further. His eyes are blown wide, hair tousled, voice strained as he whispers: “Can I just… take care of you tonight?” Eve huffs out a breath, the question laced with such gentleness that it melts something within her, something that has been frozen for a very long time. Longer than she’d care to admit.  “Isn’t that what’s happening right now?” she asks, reaching out to tuck an errant curl behind his ear. “I feel quite cared for, you know.” He smiles softly, but there is something heavier to it, an unnamed ache just beneath the surface. “I meant… That’s all I want to do. At least for now. I’m not– I don’t think I should–” He shuts his eyes with a frustrated sigh. “Fuck, I’m sorry, I should have just–” Something sinks in Eve’s chest at his resignation. Instinct takes over as she reaches up to cup his face with both hands. “Hey,” she whispers and it prompts Astarion to look up, his gaze laden with contradictions. “We can do whatever feels good for both of us, okay? And that can be as little or as much as we want.” “Right.” He nods ever so slightly. “You’re right.” “We can talk about this more now or later, either way is good with me. We could also just go back to sleep or–” “Oh trust me,” he whispers, palms tracing the curve of her hips. “I don’t want to stop.” And as if to eliminate any lingering trace of doubt from her mind, Astarion reaches up, fingertips dancing along the soft line of her jaw before tilting her chin towards him.  Eve kisses him slowly, deliberately, hoping to convey everything she can’t find the right words for.

no-pressure tagging: @funniestbitchinfaerun @arzen9 @khywren @roguishcat @verbenaa @strixamans @dramatiquechipmunk

[30somethingautisticteacher]

Their First Married Morning

This tooth rotting fluff has been hanging around in my drafts for over a month.

****

Buck was giddy, his entire body buzzing with excitement despite the early hour. He couldn't stop grinning as he adjusted his wedding ring, still marveling at its presence on his finger. He was a married man now. He had a husband. The reality of it all felt surreal, so different from anything he had ever pictured for himself and yet so incredibly right.

As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, Tommy's voice cut through his reverie. "Uber's here, sweetheart. Are you ready to go?" Tommy asked, his own eyes shining with joy and love, despite the slight bags under them from the previous night's celebration.

Buck turned to face his husband - his husband! - and felt his heart swell even more. Tommy looked adorably rumpled in his travel clothes, his hair still mussed from sleep.

"On our honeymoon?" Buck replied, his voice filled with enthusiasm and a touch of playful suggestiveness. "Hell yeah, I'm ready!"

He reached out, intertwining his fingers with Tommy's, feeling the matching ring on his husband's hand. The simple touch sent a thrill through him, a reminder of the commitment they had made to each other just hours ago.

As they made their way out of their house, dragging their suitcases behind them, Buck couldn't help but steal glances at Tommy. This was the start of their new life together, and he couldn't wait to see what adventures lay ahead.

"I love you, Mr. Kinard," Buck murmured as they approached the waiting car.

Tommy squeezed his hand, his smile radiant despite the early morning hour. "I love you too, Mr. Kinard."

As they settled into the back seat of the Uber, Buck's grin widened even further. He turned to Tommy, his eyes sparkling with amazement.

"I can't believe I'm actually Evan Kinard now," he said, his voice filled with wonder and joy.

Tommy reached over, taking Buck's hand in his own. "Believe it, baby. You're stuck with me now," he teased gently.

Buck squeezed Tommy's hand, his expression growing soft. "Stuck with you? More like the luckiest man alive."

The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror, a small smile on his face. "Newlyweds, huh?"

"That obvious?" Buck laughed, not taking his eyes off Tommy.

"Just married yesterday," Tommy confirmed, his thumb absently rubbing over Buck's wedding ring.

"Congratulations," the driver said warmly. "Where to? Airport, I'm guessing?"

"Yep," Buck nodded, finally tearing his gaze away from his husband. "LAX, please. We've got a honeymoon to get to."

As the car pulled away from the curb, Buck leaned into Tommy's side, resting his head on his shoulder. The reality of his new name, his new life, washed over him again.

Buck's eyes lit up as he remembered something. "Oh, I had Bobby put in the order for new turnouts. Can't wait to have our name on the back."

Tommy's smile grew even wider. "Really? That's amazing, Ev. It's going to be something else seeing 'Kinard' on your back at calls."

"I know, right?" Buck said excitedly. "They're actually going to say E. Kinard, but still, it's like another way of showing the world we're a team now. In everything."

The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror, a curious smile on his face. "Firefighters, huh?"

"That's right," Tommy confirmed proudly. "Both of us."

"Wow," the driver said, impressed. "A firefighter couple. That's pretty cool."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Tommy, and he chuckled. "You know, people are going to be so confused by Buck Kinard. Your nickname isn't gonna make sense anymore."

Buck's eyes widened as the realization hit him. He laughed, shaking his head. "Oh man, you're right! I didn't even think about that. Buck Kinard... it does sound a bit odd, doesn't it?"

"Maybe we should've hyphenated after all," Tommy teased. "Buck Kinard-Buckley at least keeps the connection."

Buck playfully nudged Tommy's shoulder. "Nah, I already love being a Kinard. Plus, can you imagine how long that would be on a turnout coat?"

"Well," Buck continued, "I guess I'll just have to explain it a lot. 'Yes, I'm Buck. No, it's not short for Buckley anymore. It's a long story, want to hear about how I met the love of my life?'"

Tommy squeezed Buck's hand, his eyes soft with affection. "I love the sound of that story."

As the car continued its journey to the airport, Buck and Tommy fell into a comfortable silence, both imagining the first time they'd see Buck in his new turnouts, 'E.Kinard' proudly displayed for all to see. It was just one more symbol of their new life together, a life they were both eager to begin.

"I can't wait to be on the beach with you," Buck said, his voice soft but filled with anticipation.

Tommy's expression softened, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Me neither, sweetheart. Just you, me, and the ocean."

Buck leaned in closer, resting his head on Tommy's shoulder. "No emergencies, no alarms, no schedules. Just us, relaxing and enjoying being newlyweds."

"Sounds perfect," Tommy murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Buck's head. "Though knowing us, we'll probably end up rescuing someone from a rip current or something."

Buck chuckled. "Probably. But hey, that's who we are. Kinards to the rescue, on duty or off."

As the car made its way through the early morning traffic, the couple fell into a comfortable silence, both lost in thoughts of sun, sand, and the start of their new life together. The excitement of their honeymoon ahead mixed with the joy of their recent wedding, creating a bubble of happiness around them as they headed towards the airport and the beginning of their next adventure.

As the car pulled up to the departures terminal at LAX, the driver turned to them with a warm smile.

"Here we are," he announced. "Have a great honeymoon, guys."

Buck and Tommy shared a look, their excitement apparent as the reality of their trip set in.

"Thanks so much," Buck said, his smile bright as he reached for the door handle.

Tommy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, thank you for the ride and the well wishes."

As they climbed out of the car, the driver helped them retrieve their luggage from the trunk. Buck couldn't help but bounce a little on his feet, his energy infectious.

"Ready for this, Mr. Kinard?" Tommy asked, a teasing lilt to his voice as he took hold of his suitcase.

Buck's grin widened even further, if that was possible. "More than ready, Mr. Kinard. Let's go start our honeymoon."

With a final wave to their driver, the newlyweds made their way into the bustling airport, hand in hand. The noise and crowd of the terminal couldn't dampen their spirits as they headed towards check-in, both of them buzzing with the anticipation of the journey ahead - not just their honeymoon, but the lifetime they were about to embark on together.

As they disappeared into the crowd, their matching rings glinted in the early morning sunlight streaming through the airport windows, a small but significant symbol of the new chapter they were beginning.

[oh-no-its-bird]

I know you already did a dungeon meshi x naruto au, but think with me

I was listening to the "I'll let the world burn for you" song and, while thinking on kakaobi, I realized that's SO farcille coded

So now I thought "crossover au where kakaobi is farcille", but idk who would be marcille bc, honestly, both would use dark magic to resurrect the other, mr. Hatake "Don't use rinne tensei even if it means not saving many lives" Kakashi and mr. Uchiha "I'll destroy this world and create a dream one to have my loved ones again" Obito

YOURE SO RIGHT WHAT THE FUCK

Mm,, alternate dungeon meshi AU with obkk my beloved,,

I think Marcille Kakashi fits best if we really wanna play off that "star student turned you're worst nightmare" angle, hes my favorite rising star prodigy who tried to run too far and too fast and crashed and burned for it

Also just Chimera Obito, cmon, come on. If nothing else, I am now committed to seeing Uchiha as chimeras, it's fun

Mad Mage Madara and ruler of the golden kingdom Izuna fits alarmingly well actually, both for the roles and like, narratively from multiple angles. Madara going mad bc of his brothers death, him turning Obito into a monster, his general monstrousness coming from a place of love. It works scarily well

Maybe Tobirama can take the role of that Yaad has, cursed to be immortal and lord of the golden country hidden within the dungeon in Izuna's absence. Madara visits him sometimes and insists it'll all be ok once Izuna is back as Tobirama calls him insane to his face

Anyways; back to the party.

So Marcille Kakashi and Falin Obito. Rin has to be on their team for obvious reasons, but I reeeeally wanna see Itachi, Shisui and Tenzo on it too bc I'm such a sucker for Team Ro.

Alternativley tho, if we make Kakashi an elf, what if we have Team Ro kind of take the place of the Canaries, and say Kakashi was once part of it but bc reasons eventually left and did his own thing? ANBU/ROOT -> Canaries pipeline or smthn idk

(I just want to see team ro somewhere around)

Anyways, Kakashi turning to black magic to save Obito, only inadvertedly managing to make him into a monster, both of them effectively dragging eachother down more and more and further and futher in their unwillingness to let eachother go.

I bet it'd do awful things to Kakashi's guilt complexe too, that'd be fun

Doing smthn fun, let Hashirama be a ghost wandering around trying to talk Madara down from his usual bullshit, but confined to the lower floors or else he risks losing himself. Now let him posess Tenzo bc they have similar magic and let it give him a cool plant magic power up, and also let this mean he can now move between floors as long as he stays inside of Tenzo. Maybe he can help guide them through the dungeon

Let Madara see Obito or Itachi for the first time and realize that his family somehow continued to exist outside of the dungeon walls, and let him feel smthn about it. Let him call him turning Obito into a chimera as something like love, something like welcoming him home, and let him try to offer Itachi something similar.

I have a couple other thoughts but Imma hit post on this bc its been sitting in my drafts for too long now, might come back to add more later but idk

[ivy-loves-chocolate]

Hi Ivy! I hope you're having a great day! I was wondering if you can write some Yandere headcanons for Leon? Thanks! (* ^ ω ^)

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ N o t e ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ Thank you! My day was good so far. I hope your day was great too! Also, sorry for writing this so late 😅. If you liked these headcanons, let me know 🤗

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ P a i r ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ Leon Kennedy x Reader;

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ W a r n i n g s ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆ yandere behaviour, stalking, mention of kidnapping.

Also, check my Patreon and Ko-fi for early content and drafts. Thank you! ❤️

➤You two met while waiting in line to buy coffee. It was a cold morning, everyone was tired, and they all wanted to go home already. The store got full pretty quick, and the baristas barely handled the crowd.

➤Leon was waiting behind you when something caught his attention. Maybe it was the hair, maybe your coat, which was tight on your body, highlighting your curves, or maybe the faint scent of perfume. Nonetheless, he kept staring at you, hopping to see the face of the stranger who captivated him so early in the day.

➤He got to hear your voice as you talked on the phone. Your soft voice captivated him even further and ignited something inside him. It could be passion or desire; he didn't know, but the feeling was intense.

➤He couldn't resist any longer, so he gently tapped your shoulder. The moment you turned, it felt like the world stopped for him. There wasn't anyone else in the shop beside you and him. You were simply perfect.

➤With a shy smile, he gently asked you what the time was, lying that his phone was dead. After that, you two chatted for a bit about the weather and how small this place actually was, but you both agreed that coffee's too good to change locations.

➤Even if it wasn't obvious, he was very much into you. You liked him too. He was handsome and tall, and he seemed kind too. You didn't develop an obsession, though.

➤After that, he followed you all day, finding where you work and where to live. He felt so good to be a part of your daily activities, even if you didn't know.

➤He couldn't focus on anything, as your face was the only thing he could think about. He began to replay that small interaction in his mind over and over, obsessing over it, creating different scenarios, and thinking about what could've gone differently if he had the courage to ask for your number.

➤At some point, he installed microphones and cameras in your place.

➤He wanted to see every single thing you do and analyse every detail of your life, no matter how boring it was. He could stare at you for hours, watching you eat, cook, and work. He enjoyed watching you sleep the most, as you looked so peaceful. All he wanted was to snugle in your bed and pull you closer to him, feeling the warmth of your body and burrying his nose in your hair. His body twitched in excitement as he fantasised about such intimate moments with you.

➤For a very long time, he was happy to stalk you, as everything you do has a certain charm to it. He learned so much about you, from your hobbies, what movies you liked, what you studied in college, and what your deepest secrets were, like addictions or regrets.

➤His desire grew stronger and stronger by the day, until it became unbearable. He had to approach you again, and this time maybe to take you with him.

➤During a night out with some friends, Leon decided to make his move when he saw you at the bar, alone and indecisive about what to drink.

“I can suggest a good drink if you want.” He said it in his sweet voice.

“Sure, I can use some help," you replied to the good-looking stranger, who seemed a little familiar.

➤There was something about him. You couldn't remember at that moment where you met him. Maybe it was his way of talking, or maybe his mannerism. Nonetheless, you engaged in a conversation with him, and while you talked, you suddenly remembered.

➤He liked you a lot. He liked you so much that he was willing to commit unspeakable things just to make you his. Yet you didn't know that because he seemed like the most innocent person on earth.

➤He tried to steal time, but eventually one of your friends called you over. His heart shattered into pieces as he saw you walking away. It felt as if you had ripped out his heart and walked away with it.

➤You waved to him and returned to your table. He watched you with a lost expression as you got far away from him. He was so lovesick. At least he has your number.

➤For your own sake, you hope he doesn’t call, because no one will guarantee that you'll return home.

Tag-list: @lunarastrobabe @skylar-todd @rokurodokuro @brownsugarwrites @yourallyse (if you want to be added DM me 🤗)

[crowroboros]

Two Mentally ill Men in Games that I like

I'm drafting up a post about Moebius, Ouroboros, Alpha and their role in shaping Aionios and how they tie into the messages and themes of the Xenoblade series but I'm taking a break from that because I just can't look past how similar Consul N and Leo's arcs are.

MASSIVE Echo (Leo's Route) and Xenoblade 3 spoilers. I mean absolutely earth-shattering spoilers. You have been warned.

Also this is being written on the spot and in one sitting and while I'm sleep deprived so it might be messy and a bit incoherent to anyone but me. Maybe I'll touch it up a bit in the future. This is also long as hell.

TLDR; N and Leo:

Are both obsessed with their romantic partner

Are both mentally beaten down and manipulated by their circumstances which slowly strengthens their obsession and makes them spiral further

Are both possessive of their romantic partner to the point of manipulation and control to keep them by their side

Both commit atrocities in the name of their obsession (To be fair to Leo, Consul N is MUCH MUCH worse in this regard)

Both reach their breaking point towards the end of their game

Both indirectly kill their romantic partner/love interest

Are both incapable of moving on when their relationship ends, leaving them stuck in the past.

Are both a major part of a game all about "going in circles", "cycles", and the human condition

Both perpetuate the aforementioned cycle

Both put on a front of being stable and collected to hide intense shame, regret, and turmoil going on within them.

Leo and Noah are two shades of the same color so to speak. Now let me be clear, Mio and Chase are nothing alike and their roles in Noah's and Leo's respective obsession with them are very very different. Chase directly had a role by texting and sexting Leo while drunk, continually fueling Leo's hope that the pair would get back together. Mio on the other hand, alongside Noah, was forcibly reincarnated again and again by Moebius. They kept meeting, falling in love, and having their lives ripped away from them by war. Mio's involvement begins and ends with her just trying to survive like everyone else.

Noah, in all these past lives, seems to be the last of the pair to die. And even thought the memories of each life were wiped upon rebirth, those memories and their complimentary feelings still lay dormant deep within him. Hundreds of memories and feelings stacked up deep within his subconscious.

Each time Noah loses Mio is more painful than the last and it culminates when the pair, in a new incarnation, lose the hope to fight against Moebius and ending the war; instead deciding to go into hiding. They have a son, Ghondor, together and hope to live out the rest of their lives in peace. Alas Mio again dies, this time from her Term Marker reaching the end. And Noah is absolutely distraught. It only gets worse with Noah's death a year or two later, for he is brought before Moebius Z and forced to witness all of his past lives; Every time he and Mio met, fell in love, fought by each other's side with the Lost Numbers...only to get killed again and again.

Noah in this moment is forced to realize that he exists in an inescapable cycle, and becomes despaired of ever ending it. Z, seeing Noah at his lowest, offers him the option to live out eternity with Mio. Noah, if he is to take the offer, will get immortality, power, and he'll even bring back Mio to live alongside him; All he has to do is become Moebius, and completely destroy the inhabitants of The City. And to Noah — having just relived the pain and suffering of hundreds of past lives and being told that nothing he does can change the world — accepts. After all, why wouldn't he? If nothing he does matters in the end, if Moebius will keep the inhabitants of Aionios stuck in this cycle of bloodshed for all eternity, then why can't he at least live out that eternity with the one he loves?

When Noah becomes Consul N and destroys The City as well as killing most of its inhabitants — including his and Mio's now adult son Ghondor — Z does keep his promise, bringing Mio back as Moebius M. But she's absolutely horrified by his actions, lashing out at him and pushing him away. Noah at this point already regrets his actions, never having truly agreed with Z on the goals of Moebius. He's disgusted and ashamed of himself over what he had just done, and it's only made worse by Mio's response. But instead of repenting or accepting that what he is doing is horrific, he puts on a front. He buries his regret deep and pretends to believe in a cause that he never truly could get behind. He spends the next thousand years carrying on as the very thing he and Mio were so desperate to destroy and internally it's killing him. N becomes despondent and hateful, relying on Mio's existence to keep himself happy all while he presents himself outwardly as stoic and collected, pretending to be content with his choice. On the other hand, Mio openly hates the life she has now been forced into — taking lives and perpetuation the cycle of war that grips Aionios to fuel her own existence — and she too falls into a depression.

On the Echo side of things, this is equivalent to the prank Chase and Jenna pulled on Leo as well as the three years that Chase and Leo kept having a long distance "on-again-off-again" thing going on. Pretending that Chase was cheating on Leo, the breaking of Chase's phone, Chase never directly saying that the pair have broken up — only saying that he's going to Pueblo — and then limiting contact for the following three years to just drunken sexts doesn't offer Leo any real closure on the relationship. Leo has based so much of his own happiness on the idea of his relationship with Chase and the bond they had together, and now he's desperate to have that back, even going as far as to continue to wear the anchor bracelet that he and Chase wore to symbolize their relationship all these years later.

Just like N deludes himself into thinking that what he is doing as Moebius is what is good for himself, Mio, and the people of Aionios, Leo is deluding himself with the false hope of rekindling his relationship with Chase. They're both holding on to their own desire for a relationship long dead and are ruining themselves in the process. Both are perpetuating the cycle that holds their respective worlds captive: Consul N with the Endless Now and the war between Keves and Agnus, and Leo (albeit on a much smaller scale) with the inability to grow and change.

Both Aionios and Echo are locations that get their identity from their stagnation and decay. Aionios has been in an endless war since its creation with the collision between the universes of Bionis/Mechonis and Alrest, slowly getting chipped away at by the Annihilation Events. Echo was once a thriving town that over the years has failed to keep up with the changing world and now sits in a state of decline with only ~50 residents by the time of Echo VN.

And in this state of eternity, both Leo and Noah are given the opportunity to embrace change and to accept that nothing will be the same forever. For Leo it's when Chase leaves Echo, and for Noah it's when Mio dies in the last natural reincarnation. But both of them are too afraid of what it means to move on and let go. So instead, both cling to what's familiar and end up back at square one.

This refusal to move on isn't just detrimental for Leo and N alone, but it is detrimental for everyone around them. Aionios and its war persists for at least another millennium at the hands of N, resulting in the prolonged suffering of the people of Keves and Agnus. While Leo's obsession over Chase results in the manifestation of The Embrace, which stalks people such as Duke and Dale and drives them to some level of paranoia. And it all reaches the breaking point when it gets the person they love most — the object of their obsession — is killed.

To briefly provide context before this next section; Sometime across the thousands of years between when Consul N and M came into existence and the main game of Xenoblade 3, N and M's repressed hope and ideals of a better world manifested as separate entities all of their own as the pair sunk deeper into despair and self-loathing. (Origin is essentially a Conduit emulator and there is a bunch of Xenoblade lore that makes this already long post even longer so just know that under certain conditions and with access to certain things, one's willpower can cause physical change or manifest as a physical entity.) These newly formed entities are the protagonists of Xenoblade 3: Noah and Mio. Functionally, it is the same as the cycle of reincarnation that all inhabitants of Aionios experience except with the caveat that the originals are still alive. From here on out, the Noah and Mio who became Moebius will be referred to as N and M, while the protagonists of Xenoblade 3 will be called Noah and Mio.

When the protagonists get absolutely fucked up when fighting against Consul N, Consul M sees potential within the group and spots an out. She is presented with a second chance to hopefully put an end to the world's suffering. M ends up revealing everything to Mio; The memories of their past lives, what Consul N did and his reasons, and ultimately what M wants from this: To die. The two switch places, with Mio taking M's place and M taking Mio's.

M, masquerading as Mio, spends a month in prison where she and the rest of Ouroboros are psychologically tormented and taunted by Consul N. Whereas M saw Ouroboros as a second chance, N sees the group as a threat to the familiar. A threat to the eternity he gained with M. To him, M is his property to hold close. So he spends that month breaking down the group's hope, putting them in the same place he was moments before he was given the offer to become Moebius. He wants them to fall victim to the same cycle he has.

And when that month is up, M dies in Mio's place at the Homecoming. She dissolves into light and her soul is set free from the reach of Moebius and the cycle of reincarnation. She has escaped the cycle and embraced an unknown future in the form of Mio.

And when N realizes who just died, he crumbles. For much of the final act of Xenoblade 3, N is inconsolable. He sits alone within Origin, not speaking or moving from his place in the Amphitheater. He knows that everything he has done up to this point had just been erased, for M is now gone. He is forced out of the past he lived in and is thrust into the future alone. But rather than admit that, he only dives deeper into the mask he wears, pretending that it isn't him clinging to the past that led to her demise but instead the changing world brought about by Ouroboros.

Over in Echo when Chase, Jenna, and TJ return for spring break it is Leo who takes action and gets the entire group back together. After all, this is exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for! He can get the group back together after three years and try his hand at getting Chase back as well! Over the course of Leo's route, the wolf gets increasingly more aggressive and protective of Chase and by the end of his route, he's outright threatening anyone he views as potentially taking Chase away from him again; using his size and gun to intimidate them.

In Leo's bad ending, this culminates when Chase once again leaves the status of his and Leo's relationship ambiguous. When trying to jump on a train to escape Echo, Leo grabs and pulls Chase off the train. This causes Chase's legs to swing under the rails and for both of his legs to be severed at his calves.

It's here that N and Leo begin to differ, at least in this ending of Leo's route. Whereas N was in full control of what he was doing, Leo is undoubtedly influenced in part by the hysteria over Echo. Leo's obsession, possessiveness, overprotectiveness, and his aggression is all him, however it is likely that as the hysteria takes hold of the town, these traits are exasperated by the supernatural. It's why N falls into a near comatose state out of grief, and Leo loses grip on his own sense of reality, failing to grasp the gravity of Chase's injuries. Leo takes Chase to his house and bandages his wounds thinking it'll be enough. Chase slowly bleeds out and eventually dies, though Leo doesn't seem to be able to grasp this. In fact, Leo's actions and behavior after Chase loses his legs could be seen as analogous for when N decided to become Moebius. It is when Leo fully resigns himself to Echo, thrusting himself and Chase into reliving their past together. Literally in Chase's case, as he flashes back to various memories of his and Leo's relationship as he dies.

Despite the difference, thematically N and Leo's situation here is the same. They both refused to step forward into the future and the center of their greatest desire died because of it. For N, it was the possibility of a future without M. If Moebius was stopped and Origin rebooted to allow for the safe reconstruction of Bionis/Mechonis and Alrest, there is a chance that he'd never see M again. There's a chance that the rebooting of Origin's systems won't even work and the two worlds will cease to be. And for him, that possibility is too much to bear for he bases his entire sense of self around M and his relationship with her.

With Leo, when he asks Chase if the otter will stay with him after they escape Echo, he needs a concrete answer. The past three years has had Leo in a sea of uncertainty in regards to his relationship status with Chase, and as Leo says himself "seeing you leave on that train was too much."

For Leo, getting on that train meant leaving all that he and Chase went through in Echo behind for a future that neither of them can predict. He's terrified of what that could mean; Maybe they'll work out, maybe they won't. Maybe they'll be friends, maybe they'll never talk again. Why take that risk when the two can stay in Echo? Echo, just like Aionios, is stagnant and decaying; things stay the same and end up right where they began. Stuck in a cycle.

But Leo's good ending follows a different path. Here, Chase directly and unquestionably cuts things off with Leo. Chase forces Leo to move on by giving him a hard answer, making sure that the wolf simply cannot continue to hold onto the idea of their relationship rekindling.

And what does Leo do in response? Nothing. As Chase and the others flee on the train, Leo stands and stares; Dejected.

In this ending, Chase lives. However it is more similar to M's death in terms of what it does to Leo and the overall narrative. Just as M's death did for N, Chase's rejection forced Leo from the perfect eternity he tried so desperately to craft for the two of them. Leo is forced to move on without Chase, and it crushes him. In his despair and grief, he is left alone by the side of the tracks in the dark.

Two years later, Chase returns to Echo with Kudzu to formally say goodbye to the town and Leo. In these two years, Leo has undergone a lot of change. He too is leaving Echo, moving back in with his parents, and he's no longer wearing the anchor bracelet. In these past two years, Leo has come to terms with the fact that he and Chase are over.

Leo has managed to escape the cycle and has come to accept the future that awaits him. He's no longer wearing that anchor bracelet; which not only symbolized Leo and Chase's bond, but also the way it tied Leo down. it symbolizes the way the weight of what the past meant for him kept Leo from moving forward and embracing the changing world around him.

And his route ends with the pair parting ways.

Through both leaving Echo and moving on from Chase, Leo is stepping into an unpredictable and uncertain future. He doesn't know what will happen or whether he'll ever see Chase again, but he's content with that. In a town where all you can do is go in circles, he has managed to get free of that burden and forge his own path in life.

Over in Aionios, Ouroboros make their way within Origin and confront N. When they find the Consul, he's no longer sulking alone, but standing ready for a fight. Now that M is gone, now that all he has sacrificed for hundreds upon hundreds of years has been for nothing, he feels empty.

It doesn't matter what happens to N anymore, he just wants to make others feel the same pain and suffering he's feeling. This is comparable to the two years Leo spent dealing with Chase's absence post-Echo. Rather than wallowing alone however, N is taking out his sorrow and guilt on Ouroboros. He's lashing out, as he knows that his eternity is gone.

Ouroboros and Consul N fight, and after a long battle N is defeated again. It is here that N and Ouroboros — in particular Noah and Mio — have a heart-to-heart with him, serving as his inner conscious in a manner similar to that of self-reflection. The pair get N to realize that he fucked up, and nothing he does will bring M back nor will it make everything he has done right. But importantly, they empathize with him, understanding his reasons and how hard it was for him to keep up that act. They convince him to not allow the past to define him and to instead atone for his actions and move forward. And their words, as well as M's, finally get through to him.

N and Noah fuse together, giving N a chance not to redeem himself, but to atone and move forward with his life. He joins Ouroboros to destroy the last remaining Moebius, Moebius Z, and to set the world free from stagnation.

Moebius and Ouroboros, the symbols themselves, are two sides of the same coin. Both are cycles, seemingly endless paths looping in on themselves. But whereas a Moebius strip ends where it started, an Ouroboros ends one loop with the birth of something new. Moebius is an endless cycle of stagnation. Ouroboros is the endless cycle of change and rebirth.

Ouroboros goes on to destroy Moebius Z, the collective unconscious given physical form by the dense collection of fear and anxiety over the fate of their worlds that the respective people of Bionis and Alrest within Origin's systems felt as their universes threatened the other with oblivion.

As Origin reboots and Aionios falls apart, Ouroboros separate as they're dragged along with their respective universe. N has done it. He, similar to Leo, has managed to move on from eternity. he has allowed Aionios to be destroyed and has stepped into an uncertain tomorrow. From here, no one knows what will happen. Maybe Origin will fail and both universes cease to be. Maybe everything will go to plan and the worlds no longer are at risk of destroying each other. If it does succeed and the universes safely merge together again, there's a chance that Noah, Mio, and the rest of Ouroboros won't be alive to see it, thus never meeting each other again.

But they're content with that.

Consul N from Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Leo Alvarez from Echo Project's Echo VN are both complex and interesting characters that explore the human desire to cling to what's familiar and reject painful or unsatisfactory change. And through them, we see how staying in the past can be harmful not just to the self, but to those around you. Through these two characters, Monolithsoft and the Echo Project team tell the audience that it's okay to be afraid of how things might turn out, that it's okay to want to stay close to what's familiar. But if you resist change, if you do everything in your power to keep yourself in an endless now, that you'll do nothing but cause harm. So look forward to tomorrow, for it is a bundle of possibilities. And just

Walk on.

[4dmc]

I don't understand how we still don't have anything concrete on the final fate on Sparda in the mainline series Like for me, just say he did finally lose to Mundus but re-sealed his imprisonment before Mundus could really do any damage. He's finally killed because he isn't as powerful as before but that's how some of his minions also managed to creep through and hunted down Sparda's family

That would be very very intoxicatingly on point for both the mainline twins. Vergil had undone what his father had painstakingly been doing for more than 2000 years because of his own messed up egotistical pursuit of sealing up his own insecurities by thinking power is all he needs, meanwhile Dante feels like Sparda did just abandon his family which really culminated to his guilt & mourning his mother forever & just not wanting to repeat what happened

Like if they had cleared up what really happened to Sparda's final days that would really hit home how the twins would take their father's final actions

But no, there's still none of that afaik and even the reboot sort of suffered from that lack of closure because they're supposed to be influenced by what's established in the mainline. But Sparda's final days aren't. Unless there were drafts from the writers that never ended up in the final cut for the mainline for some reason, I'm gonna have to assume Ninja Theory had to shelve Sparda's story in their reboot

In the reboot he's pretty much still alive. He was a dissident/rebel from Mundus' ranks & committed a lot of crimes by being with an angel, who also commits that crime for being with a demon, and begotting the forbidden children. And the fact Mundus keeps him alive as an example of his ruthlessness is quite crucial to him as a villain. But we're left a bit blank to Sparda here as to why, despite being a rebel and described as being "too big for your fucking boots", he was unable to put down or do anything against Mundus

I would chalk this up as the devs have always wanted Mundus to have a very highlighted role as a greedy capitalist in the daytime and actually a demon overlord at night in their supernatural satire of the plot & game so there's that..

Eva in both storylines is always the self-sacrificing figure and very pivotal to the main character of the series, and I appreciate that NT gave us a glimpse of her and Vergil's relationship in Downfall even if it was Vergil severing ties with her..

Also by the way, Vergil in DmC, in my interpretation, presented their father's fate to Dante sort of comes off... like we should avenge him and mom but also like.... We can bust him out of prison😊maybe yknow after Mundus' downfall

Like Vergil had wanted to meet with his long lost twin but the way he presented what's going on is definitely based on his own agenda in wanting to avenge their family. Of course, that's his perspective, and quite believably so, freeing👀 humanity is a huge part of sticking it to the Man when they succeed in defeating Mundus (ofc Vergil had wanted to overthrow Mundus all along..)

.. also like the continuous themes of escaping, freedom and imprisonment has subtle interplay across the different characters, like both Eva & Sparda are killed & severely punished for it, but they knew this would eventually happen if the worse would come, and so had the choice to do it..

there's Dante, Vergil, even Kat, who are stuck in some ways unless they all work together, and Vergil benefitted from this team the most, until he reveals who he really is and what he really thought of them both, and unfortunately his Downfall plot freed him to just regress further into what he wants to do now. I guess to him severing all those ties frees him from this conscience to take what he thinks is absolutely his right to have.

But Capcom like you don't have to go down that downfall route, please just write and create a proper closure on Sparda's final fate and maybe like, maybe, y'know it can be a great closure to the mainline twins😢please i know these are just meandering thoughts and stuff but come on you can do it

(also afaik Sparda's fate is still unknown in the mainline right like we don't know how he even died and.. how did his family know he died? That's probably something i missed but Sparda's final fate is unknown)

[bagog]

N7 Month, 2023 - Day 28: Contact

I get fascinated by the idea of First Contact War reparations from the turians.

++

“Greetings, my name is Gnaeus Burollus, Minister of the Shang-xi Police Action Reparations Oversight Committee. I hope this letter finds you well. On behalf of the Turian Hierarchy, I would like to formally express my condolences for the loss of [autofill human soldier name] in the Shang-xi Police Action of 2157. We grieve this loss with you: it is a great loss for the galaxy whenever a unique, sentient being passes. At the same time, we recognize that death in such a misunderstanding as the Shang-xi conflict is doubly troubling. We salute the fallen on both sides as heroes. As the turian people mourn their own lost in that regrettable conflict, we wish to convey to you our deepest sympathies and the assurance the Turian Hierarchy is committed and re-invigorated in the cause of peaceful diplomacy with races new to galactic travel and Council regulations. To demonstrate this commitment, and in accordance with Council Decree 947-ST, the Turian Hierarchy has partnered with the human banking firm [autofill human banking firm] to help offset the costs incurred by you and your family as a result of the police action of 2157. We recognize no amount of money can replace [autofill human soldier name], but it is the Hierarchy’s hope—one held by all the turian people—that this currency will amplify what [autofill human soldier name] cared about in the galaxy at large, at that it may enrich your life now. For further information on Council Decree 947-ST or to donate to the Orphans of the Shang-xi Police Action fund, visit [autofill extranet address]. Thank you for your time, -Gnaeus Burollus”

“What do you think?” Gnaeus had his arms crossed in front of him, leaning back in his desk chair. Polonia stood nearby reading and re-reading the pad. “Well?” He asked, impatient.

“Give me time,” Polonia shot back. “We’re sending this letter out to 700 people and it represents the hierarchy, I’m taking my time.” She ran her eyes over the letter again. “Hmm, no apology, that’s good we don’t want to be using that kind of language. I think the call for donations to the orphan fund might be overdoing it.”

“You were the one who said you wanted that in there.” Gnaeus rolled his eyes.

“I know, I know. But now that I’m reading it, it feels distracting. And the more they’re distracted from the condolences, the more they’ll be looking for an apology the Hierarchy is not interested in issuing.”

“Okay, I’ll spin up a new draft.”

“Other than that, I think it looks good.”

“You’d be happy receiving a letter like that, right?” He asked hopefully, “You would feel satisfied?”

“Oh absolutely,” she replied almost dismissively. “Have you checked it through a translator? We don’t want another incident where “Welcome, Yoshvette!” turns out to translate as “Devour the people!” in Yosh.”

“As long as you think it’s fine as is though…”

“They’re humans, they’re new, they’re primitive. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel here.”

[hell-much]

Masterlist - Cutting Room Floor - Once In A Lifetime

Here a collection of cut scenes from my fic Once In A Lifetime.

Some full scenes. Some just snippets. All not edited and guaranteed to have spelling and grammatical errors, as well as inconsistent POVs. But also here some gems.

All can be found tagged as “CRF-OIAL”

.

I - FIRST PHOTOGRAPH A cut scene from chapter 4. Sansa’s POV in the moment Margaery takes her first photograph of her.

II - MARGAERY’S PHOTOGRAPHS A collection of cut scenes from chapter 4. They look at some more of Margaery's photographs together.

III - SLEEPLESS NIGHT A cut scene at the beginning of chapter 5. Sansa had a sleepless night pondering about Margaery.

IV - JON’S PHONE CALL Cut scene from chapter 6. An alternate version to Jon’s call interrupting the girls first kiss.

V - WIFE FOR THE DAY A cut scene from chapter 8. Margaery proposes a commitment during their drive to East Watch.

VI - MORNING DELIGHT A cut scene from the beginning of chapter 8. The first morning waking up together.  

VII - DRAGONSTONE A cut scene from chapter 8, following their musings about happiness.

VIII - WONDERFUL IDEAS A cut scene from chapter 8 and the girls sensual encounter during their drive.

IX - SANSA'S PAST Cut snippets from chapter 8. Sansa’s musings about her past and her family.

X - HOPE FOR A DIFFERENT WORLD A cut scene from chapter 9, following their conversation about gay life in ancient times.

XI - ADMIRING ARCHITECTURE A cut scene from chapter 9, as they stroll through down and admire the houses.

XII - SOUVENIRS A cut scene from chapter 9. Before they go to dinner, the girls stop at a souvenir shop.

XIII - SOUVENIR PHOTO A cut scene from chapter 9. Before they go to dinner, the girls do a photo stop.

XIV - POSTPRANDIAL WALK A cut scene from the end of chapter 9. The girls go on a post-dinner walk through town.

XV - FAMILY PHOTOS An alternate version of chapter 12. Margaery catches Sansa studying old family photos. Sansa is honest about her further plans and Margaery leaves.

XVI - ALTERNATIVE ENDING An alternative version to the end of chapter 14. Because really what’s more dramatic than screaming at the woman you love in the pouring rain?

XVII - ORIGINAL ENDING & EPILOGUE The original ending and epilogue I had written for the story’s first draft.

XVIII - RANDOM SNIPPETS Random short snippets from both Margaery’s and Sansa’s POV.

[taylorannnx]

Design Diary 01: Not Yet

What if you could create a romcom with a TTRPG?

- Me, Spring 2023

As a person who consumes media and plays tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs), one thing that makes my heart sing is when characters overcome the pining and end up in a loving, healthy relationships.

That is the good stuff 👌🏼

Game Summary

I had the idea for Not Yet earlier this year and wrote down some initial mechanics. The idea is to create a GM-less TTRPG "duet" (i.e. two player game) where each player takes on the role of a love interest. The story is told over several scenes, playing off of the "You Just Missed Them" trope, where fate (the dice) keep the characters apart until The Time is Right.

First Idea

In my first vision for the game, you begin at the end, roleplaying out a significant life event (like a wedding) or a meet cute, and then proceed to play the story in reverse, with the characters getting younger in each scene and becoming less and less likely to meet each other.

I think this might be needlessly complicated though, as you'd have to choreograph your character growth in reverse which is A Challenge. For now I've stuck a pin in it.

Mechanics

One thing I have my heart set on is using dice to determine how likely the characters are to meet. The idea is for both players to roll a die. If the number is the same, the characters meet but must find a reason not to start the relationship yet. If the number is within 1 of each other, they lock eyes acoess the room, and so on. The further away you are from the happy ending, the bigger the die you have to roll (decreasing the chances of meeting).

Just because your characters don't meet doesn't mean there's nothing to roleplay though! Whoever rolls lowest begins the scene, explaining what they do before a complication arises and causes them to leave. The second player then describes entering and how their character's current situation is impacted by what the first character did.

Draft 0

After writing my initial ideas down, I left this game in a folder for a few months as paid projects, my solo journaling game, and life events took priority. I recently came across the idea again and feverishly wrote the skeleton of mechanics and a couple of random scene tables on four sides of A5 paper while putting my daughter to bed the other night. I want to see if the rules work (even if it is vaguely) before I commit to a first draft for close-friend-playtesting.

Here's hoping it goes well and I can make a second design diary with next steps! The concept of this game has me VERY excited and I want to share this journey with anyone who will listen!

Acknowledgments

Shout out to my rival and good buddy Ethan Yen, who started a design diary on his website for Prequel, a TTRPG about heroic sacrifices. I 100% stole his idea in a less elegant and detailed fashion.

[findlayccarter]

Grad Thriller – Beginning plans and Meeting with Tom

Had a productive meeting with Tom today and think it helped both of us see the project come to life more. Although a lot of the script is still in progress, talking through the plot cleared a lot of the structure up for me. I’m glad that Tom’s chosen to go down a more sinister route with the film in general as I think this allows more opportunity for creativity. But further, I think if you’re hinting at a character having evil intentions then its best to fully commit. I know now what to focus on in terms of the crucial scenes of the film and we came up with some dark but good ideas for how it could end/how she could uncover his stalking. From the discussion I started typing up some contextualisation notes about the film so I can refer back to them but also just make a starting point for the pitch. 

Before the meeting I booked out equipment to do some camera/lighting tests. Although this was mainly unsuccessful as I ran out of time in the room I booked, it was good to keep up to date with using the URSA and other lighting stuff. Sometimes I feel like I don’t use it for a while and forget how everything works. The only test that’s worth sharing is the low lighting test I did on a Halloween mask that doesn’t look good at all as I brought a reflective mask. It also didn’t help that the only rooms I could get all had white walls, so everything was constantly bouncing. Next time I’m going to see if there's an option to book out the chapel, because unless you’re shooting outside there doesn’t seem to be a better option. 

^^^^

Failed attempt at low key lighting. I think if the mask wasn’t so shiny, you’d see it clearer, I was also in a rush to pack away for a class coming in next, so I didn’t take a picture of the lighting setup – you’ll have to trust me that it would’ve worked. 

Draft Beat Sheet:

Noah Stalking Anna around Edinburgh. Subtly and from a distance.

Anna recognises him as someone from school but is unaware that he is stalking her.

They begin chatting and organise to meetup for drinks in the future. 

Noah goes home and we see the extent of his stalking on top of his anger that he’s made contact with Anna.

They have drinks at a pub.

They go back to his flat.

Anna notices something that reveals to her that Noah has been stalking her. 

Tense atmosphere of her not knowing how to react and Noah realising that she has found out.

Some form of action that ends the film (Violence, death… still to be decided.)

Locations established so far:

Edinburgh streets

Outside Anna’s flat

Inside Noah’s flat

Pub

Outside Noah’s flat/Noah’s flats stairway

Perspective

Noah:

He is a resentful stalker. For most of the film, we are viewing it from his perspective and thoughts. 

His character should be viewed with a tone of anxiety, spitefulness, and hate. He enjoys the power he has over stalking Anna. Knowing she is unaware and having the feeling that he controls her life (which he doesn’t actually) is what he enjoys. So, when he unintentionally becomes noticed by her the game he likes to play is ruined. 

Anna:

We only look through her perspective at certain points, as we want to focus on Noah being the main character and see how we sees his situation.

At this point we see through her perspective when; She notices Noah, she uncovers Noah’s stalking, and the climax at the end of the film.

Tonally, we don’t want to portray her as completely innocent (backstory about their previous relationship is still to be decided). She needs to have an aura of wholesomeness and ordinality, however this is not the side of her that we see from Noah. There needs to be a clear contrast between the way each character see’s each other. 

Stalking around Edinburgh:

Following her from a far distance, but on a long lens. Doing this will create a compressed image, creating a sense of distance from her as a realistic way of how he would stalk her. 

Contrast this with closer shots but on an extremely wide lens. These will be moving, most likely following her. The wide lens will keep the movement smooth and not too shaky but also will create this feeling of distance from Anna. He’s close behind her but at a distance safe enough to be undetected.

I also want to use objects and symmetry in objects to draw the viewers eye towards Anna. As we will first be establishing the character I think its important that Anna is seen as the subject in each frame. Things like foreground elements and leading lines are what I want to use to cut/direct the frame towards Anna's character.

How to show the difference in perspectives the have on each other:

Hard vs softly lit.

High vs low angle.

Dark vs light eyes 

Low vs high aperture

Partially lit vs fully lit (shadowy face vs complete lit) (Racoon eyes)

Foreground element cutting part of the frame. 

Camera movement

[mitchbeck]

UCONN MATT WOOD SELECTED IN NHL DRAFT

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - On the first day of the NHL draft, the Nashville Predators selected UConn's Matt Wood at number 15. Wood slipped down a bit further than he was expected to be selected partly because Anaheim, picking at number two, and the Arizona Coyotes at number six, made surprise choices that gave some other teams an opening to select differently than they had wanted or planned to. Speaking to ESPN's Emily Kaplan right afterward, Wood was very complimentary of his UCONN coaches led by Mike Cavanaugh. "(I was) really happy to be there and play for my coaches and they helped me to get ready for this." Wood was the fifth UCONN player since joining Hockey East to be drafted. He wore #71 for his idol Evgeni Malkin. In speaking to Kaplan, incoming Nashville GM Barry Trotz, who's replacing the retiring David Poile, was succinct in his initial evaluation, "Short term, we'll let him develop (back at UCONN). We look at the profile; he's a big body that can score. He's got a long way to go. If you wanna go far in the playoffs, you gotta score. We hope he'll exhibit (his scoring) and he checks all the boxes." Nashville has two former Huskies under their umbrella, Czechs Jachym Kondelik, the Huskies all time-assist leader, and goalie Tomas Vomacka, who they both drafted and played in the minors with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) and the Florida Everblades (ECHL), respectively. Wood played very solidly as a 17-year-old freshman. He led the Huskies in scoring with 34 points in 35 games. Wood was superb in the IIHF U-18 bronze medal game for Canada with the game-tying goal in the last minute with the goalie pulled and made a beautiful feathered short pass to Macklin Celebrini for the game-winner in OT 4-3 win over Slovakia. Wood had a three-point performance, garnering a plus-12 and 13 points in just seven games in the tournament. He will return to Storrs next season, be among the top players in Hockey East, and is WJC eligible for Canada. He turned down an offer from the WHL Regina Pats, who drafted him and ex-Pack championship head coach, the current Regina head coach and VP of Hockey Operations John Paddock, to play there and with the first overall selection, Connor Bedard. Instead, Wood chose to come to UCONN and chart his course. At 6'4, he surpassed Tage Thompson as the highest-drafted Husky ever. A total of 10 Huskies have been drafted in the short Hockey East history of the program. RANGERS SELECTIONS The Rangers drafted 23rd overall and selected were able to have a strong player fall to them in Gabriel (Gabe) Perreault. He has lots of offensive upside potential and is heading to Boston College (HE) with linemates Will Smith (San Jose) and Ryan Leonard (Washington). They were together on the USNDTP (USHL) last fall. All three will face Wood at the XL Center when BC comes to play UConn at the XL Center in a marquee matchup. Perreault broke the team record for scoring held by Auston Matthews with 159 points. "It's cool because he's one of the guys I look up to and one of those guys to look up above you," said Perreault to ESPN. Hockey is a big part of the Perreault family. His sister Liliane just completed her collegiate career at Mercyhurst (Erie, PA) (AHA), and his brother Jacon plays with San Diego. His father, Yanic Perreault, is the skills development coach in Chicago and, for eight consecutive seasons, held the NHL's best faceoff percentage at an average of 62.89%. He played 859 games with three tours in Toronto, LA, Nashville, and his hometown Montreal. NOTES: UCONN got another commit for next season in New Hampshire native LW Ben Muthersbaugh, who played for the NJ Titans (NAHL) last year after spending time previously at Tilton School (NHPREP). Ex-Sound Tiger Paul Flache takes a second stab as an assistant coach with the Flint Firebirds (OHL) after being with Atlanta (USPHL Premier) for the last three years. Joining him is a former Ranger from the early-to-mid 1980s and two-time Stanley Cup winner in Edmonton making his North American return is Reijo Ruotsalainen. The 63-year-old Ruotsalainen had been coaching in Europe, though not over the last three years. His previous coaching assignment was with, Kiekko-Vantaa (Finland-Mestis) as an assistant coach. While he had a successful NHL career of 443 games and 344 points and was voted the best defenseman in the 1980 WJC (his third) tourney, had he been playing hockey today, he would rival Erik Carlsson of the San Jose Sharks in the skill game from the blueline in this more free-wheeling era of hockey. After leaving the NHL, he played in three World Championships, one Olympic tournament for Finland, and another 402 games in Europe (Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland). He hasn't been to North America since 2001 as an assistant coach with the long-defunct New Orleans Brass (ECHL), featured one-time Rangers head coach Ted Sator at the helm, and had former New Haven Senator Jeff Lazaro as a player. Ross Colton (Taft Prep), who scored the game-winning Cup-clinching goal three years ago for the Tampa Bay Lightning, was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Connor Doherty (Sacred Heart University) re-signs with the Maine Mariners (ECHL). After four years in Denmark and nine in Europe, Mike Little of Enfield, the SonderyskE team captain last season, has left the team. Is this the end of the road for the 35-year-old, or is he likely to play a few more years in a new destination? Derek Barach (Salisbury School) heads from Ässät Pori (Finland-FEL) and takes the risky proposition and signs with Vityaz Moscow (Russia-KHL) to continue his European-only career. The newest college hockey program was announced at the Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee, the site of the NHL Draft. It will be the first at a historically black college and university (HBCU). The club will be Tennessee State and play at the ACHA club hockey division level. The coaching staff is yet to be determined. The project was an all-in process as the NHL, NHLPLA, and College Hockey Inc. were all involved. The program will start in the 2024-25 season with a look toward going varsity Division-1 level down the road, and it will be the first hockey at an HCBU, hopefully leading to more significant participation of Blacks, Latinos, and other ethnic groups in the sport of hockey in the US and around the world. The college hockey season is over by nearly three months activity continues as Quinnipiac University stands at the mountaintop. UCONN HOCKEY HOME Read the full article

[plasticdoctor123]

Reviving Your Windows: Effective Solutions for Long-Lasting Performance

Windows are a crucial part of any home, providing ventilation, natural light, and insulation. However, over time, they can develop issues that affect their efficiency and appearance. One of the most common problems homeowners face is drafty windows, which can lead to heat loss and increased energy bills. In addition, damage to frames can compromise both aesthetics and functionality, making window frame repairs essential for maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient home.

Drafty windows often occur due to gaps, cracks, or worn-out seals. These small issues may seem insignificant, but they can have a significant impact on a home’s overall energy efficiency. When cold air seeps in during winter or warm air enters during summer, heating and cooling systems must work harder, leading to increased energy consumption. Addressing these problems promptly with professional window frame repairs can help restore insulation and keep utility costs under control.

One of the key causes of frame deterioration is exposure to harsh weather conditions. Over time, wooden frames can rot due to moisture absorption, while uPVC and aluminum frames may develop cracks or lose their sealing capabilities. Regular inspections and timely maintenance can prevent these problems from escalating into more extensive damage. If minor cracks or gaps appear, sealing them with a high-quality sealant can be an effective short-term solution. However, for more severe damage, professional repairs may be necessary to ensure durability and longevity.

A common misconception is that replacing windows is the only option when they start showing signs of wear and tear. However, repair services offer a cost-effective and sustainable alternative. By choosing expert window frame repairs, homeowners can extend the lifespan of their windows without the expense of full replacements. Skilled technicians can restore functionality, reinforce seals, and enhance the overall appearance of windows, making them look and perform like new.

In some cases, drafty windows may result from poor installation rather than natural wear. Improperly fitted frames create gaps that allow air to pass through, reducing indoor comfort. When this issue is identified, a professional repair service can re-adjust and reinforce the installation to eliminate drafts effectively. Additionally, upgrading to energy-efficient glazing solutions can further enhance insulation and comfort while reducing environmental impact.

Homeowners looking for reliable solutions should consider working with experienced specialists who understand the complexities of different window materials and designs. The right repair service can identify underlying issues, recommend suitable fixes, and implement lasting solutions that improve energy efficiency and home comfort. Investing in regular maintenance and timely repairs not only preserves window quality but also enhances property value over time.

Plastic Doctor offers expert repair services tailored to address a wide range of window-related issues. From fixing damaged frames to resolving insulation problems, their team ensures that every window functions optimally. Their commitment to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction makes them a trusted choice for those looking to maintain or restore their windows efficiently.

For homeowners dealing with drafty windows or deteriorating frames, taking prompt action can prevent more significant issues down the line. With the right repair approach, windows can continue to provide comfort, security, and aesthetic appeal for years to come. Whether it’s minor touch-ups or extensive restoration, expert window frame repairs are a practical and economical way to enhance home efficiency and comfort.