#it is an insect of the most annoying caliber

[tiredarts-sketchbook]

I’ve drawn this thing more often like a bug than I have the canon design

[cyvorg]

Dating/being friends my yautja OCs and what it’s like:

Bubba:

- Despite his growing rank as a warrior, Bub is actually a very laid back yautja. Very little irks him and he doesn’t have an angry bone in his body.

- He is, however, a very mischievous, smug bastard. He won’t be mean about it though. He likes to pull subtle little pranks, all in good fun of course. If you yell at him for it he’ll just laugh at you. He finds it endearing.

- His name of course isn’t actually Bubba, that’s a human nickname he got and he took a great liking to. His actual name is Xero’heta (sh-ee-ro-He-TA). His human nickname is a term of endearment as a brother in arms. He loves it when you call him nicknames (Bubs, Bubboms, Bubby, ….Booba).

- He is a textbook definition of a dumb himbo jock. He may tease you a lot, but if you reciprocate with romance in mind he won’t pick up on it. You gotta be candid with him.

- Bub is a young adult by human standards, so he isn’t as traditional as more seasoned, older yautja, and doesn’t mind learning new customs. He’s willing to engage in human traditions and rather enjoys it. He specifically likes bubble baths, especially when you bring in all the bath bombs and bubbles. Purrrr.

- Loves play wrestling with your much smaller frame. He is by no means rough, but he finds it amusing when you get all huffy and determined to beat him. He’ll let you too. His pride is by no means in danger.

Kûn’ta

- Give a shut-in idiot an obsessive hobby, and you have Kûn’ta.

- Don’t get me wrong, he’s smart and very independent. He built his own prosthetic, and continues to modify it with stuff like torches for fingers, he has a good hand in engineering, and is a biologist. Anything book-wise and tech-wise he exceeds in. His social skills? Laughable.

- Kûn’ta has accepted long ago that he’s a recluse to his clan and is fine with it. He doesn’t need friendship or a father figure anyway. He has… his dirt jars! And… his insects! Who needs anyone if you have those things.

- He will be surprised if you tolerate him and his antics. And maybe… excited?? He will vibrate at the chance to talk your ear off about cell-regrowth or the strange mold growing in the forest and how it tasted funny-

- Again, his social skills aren’t the greatest. He will not notice how annoying he’s being. He’s just excited to be able to voice his interests without being ridiculed or brushed off.

- He doesn’t have any awareness for personal space, and he will violate it. Sorry to those who aren’t a fan of having their bubble broken into, but he can’t help but lift your arms to look at your tiny fingers, or take your chin in his hand to look at your mouth. He has an insatiable curiosity and he isn’t one to deny it. He’s too eager to learn about new autonomy. Consider that a bonus or a turnoff.

- He does not have ANY self preservation. That’s probably the only ‘honorable’ trait about him to his own kind. He will jump in a cave just to see what plant life grows there. He will wrestle a beast of any caliber to look at its teeth. He will eat the strange, very-poisonous looking fungi to tell you it tastes like chicken. Where there is usually anger or disgust towards the parasitic serpents, he hungers for the day he gets to dissect one. He finds strange beauty to things considered disgusting or odd to most people.

- Where you might be the monster-fucker in this situation, so is Kûn’ta to his own kind funny enough.

- He will watch you sleep. Count on it.

Judah

- Judah is a very seasoned warrior. He is an elder and has faced many bloody pillages. He is the embodiment of a classic yautja from the first Predator movies. He’s quite brutal. He was a very highly-ranked general of sorts, but due to an event, he was left for dead on an icy terrain away from his home planet and lost his title, labeled a bad-blood.

- Because Judahs conditions are rather extreme, it’s safe to assume you two did not meet on good terms. He would’ve killed you on sight.

- This man is out for blood. For his own clan specifically. How could they abandon him? They will regret the day they dishonored him. He aches for it.

- He has some obvious issues. Beneath his horrid temper, his carnage, is confusion and fear. Everything is a threat to him, after he had lost it all, how could it not be?

- So you managed to not get killed. To him it’s because you’re too pathetic to even kill. Maybe he’ll save you for lunch. Either way he has no respect for you, and chase you off if you follow him. He’s a hard nut to crack.

- Even if he manages to tolerate you, it won’t get much easier. His prejudice is very strong, and he views other species as inferior.

- He’s a big man baby. His issues are mostly towards himself. How he had it all and now he’s worth less than dirt to his clan. He splays this outwards into anger towards the rest of the world. You will need an insane amount of patience with him, he won’t befriend you overnight.

- In light of this however, if you are the person that sticks with him through and through, show him you aren’t his enemy -he will have the deepest respect for you. He will be your warrior after, he just hasn’t found his alternative purpose yet.

[dragon-stones]

Kokushibo Headcanons 

Relations with the Harshiras 

While Kokushibo didn’t like the idea of Yuichiro and Muichiro joining the Demon Slayer Corps, he allowed his sons to do as they please. If he is destined to die, he’d rather have his children be the ones. But, one headache he still has is with the current Hashiras and his relations with them. 

Gyomei Himejima 

Since the Tokito Twins are Hashiras, Kokushibo would visit the boys as often as he liked. The Hashiras didn’t like the fact a demon had found their hideout, but didn’t do anything. They didn’t want the Upper Moon destroying the place or giving the location to Muzan. So, a deal was made. Kokushibo could visit the Twins all he wanted but; he couldn’t give the location out, harm or kill the Hashiras, and could not kill Ubuyashiki Family. In return, the Hashiras would leave him alone. The one to tell him of this deal was Gyomei. 

Kokushibo didn’t expect Gyomei to have a natural physical abilities have been trained to their absolute peak, when they first met, but this greatly pleased the demon. Having not seen a warrior of the Stone Hashira’s caliber in three hundred (300) years, Kokushibo felt excitement in the prospect of possibly fighting the man. But, he kept his side of the deal and didn’t suggest a fight, even a friendly one. 

Overtime, the two had gotten to know each other and had become friendly. Due to the close bond the two had, Gyomei is one of the few Hashiras that Kokushibo allows to babysit his kids. 

Gyomei is the Hashira that Kokushibo spends the most time with.   

Giyu Tomioka

Kokushibo and Giyu don’t speak that much, but are cordially with each other. He had even given the Water Hashira tips on how to handle the Twins and later, Zenitsu and Kaigaku. 

Kokushibo is one of the few that Giyu will confide in when needing help.  

Sanemi Shinazugawa

Kokushibo and Wind Hashira do not get along. But, due to the deal in place, Kokushibo do not harm the man. Sanemi had tried many times to get the demon to attack him, even using his katana to cut his arm and using the blood to temp the demon. 

Kokushibo had tended to the wound, parroting Gyomei’s warning about keeping his blade clean.   

Mitsuri Kanroji

Kokushibo does not like Mitsuri’s uniform and upon hearing why she wears her uniform that way, the demon wanted to have a “talk” with the tailor, but had decided to get it go when he learned that Shinobu had burned hers and the others in the Butterfly Mansion and that Mitsuri is too kind to reject it. 

Over all the demon doesn’t mind the Love Hashira. 

Obanai Iguro

Kokushibo and Obanai only have brief-single-sentence conversations. 

Shinobu Kocho

Kokushibo will visit the Butterfly Mansion if one of his boys is staying there. Most of the time the demon leaves the Insect Hashira alone, unless she comes to him for any reason. 

Shinobu did ask the demon to test a poison mixer she was creating to fight against demons. He stated that the mixer will easily kill normal demons , but is ineffective against a lower rank, let alone an upper.   

Kyojuro Rengoku

Kokushibo finds Rengoku’s loudness annoying, but Yuichiro and Muichiro liked the Flame Breather. With the Hashira always having a positive attitude and  passionate spirit, Kokushibo can see why. 

Since Kokushibo had known the Flame Hashira for a while, he wasn’t too concerned when he learned that Zenitsu, Kaigaku, and their little group were spotted with him. 

When he learned of the Hashira’s death, the Upper Moon envisioned the man’s spirit and thanked him for not judging him harshly and keeping his sons safe. 

Tengen Uzui

Kokushibo did not care about the Sound Hashira, in fact he found the Breather childish at times. But, did acknowledge that the man was strong and that if he were to fight Daki without the assistance of her brother, he could easily win. 

When he learned of Daki and Gyutaro’s deaths, he was not surprised or saddened. 

[kimekaim]

From Anonymous, to You (Chapter 1)

"I have a delivery for Miss Julia Drossel! Is anyone home?" I persistently knocked on the door. Spring had truly started to show it's colors. Even though I was one of the busier gentlemen those days, I didn't quite mind waiting in front of a beautiful garden under an even more beautiful sky. The red-brick buildings that lined up along the clean stone road were a new and unusual sight for me, but I'd grown very fond of them. The joint melody produced by the rustling of leaves and the chirping of sparrows was suddenly disturbed by panicked footsteps originating from beyond the door. "Just a moment!", a raspy voice echoed from inside the house. As the footsteps got louder, I started hearing panting. "Seems they've realized I've been kept waiting long enough", I thought. The door opened to an expected sight. "I apologize for the wait. Please, do come inside!”, a woman gestured me to enter with a smile. I was not surprised at her appearance. Usually when you hear the word "Novel writer", a person sporting unkempt hair, and oversized clothes comes to mind. You imagine their burdened eyes having thick glasses over them and bags beneath them, practically begging to get some rest. A weak and exhausted appearance is not out of the picture either. This woman—my client, fulfilled all those generalizations. Even though I was the one who had waited, I felt bad for making this poor little creature run and sweat on her way to the door. I dropped my delivery at the entrance as she led the way and I followed. She took small, quick steps, like a child. I could see her messy auburn hair bouncing up and down as she hurriedly made her way to her sitting room. Judging from the crashing and rustling I heard as I was waiting outside, and the fact that her sitting room was oddly cleaner in contrast to the rest of the house, I deduced that she had quickly cleaned up her room while she kept me waiting outside. The room consisted of a dining table, and another, smaller table surrounded by some couches. Dozens of pages were littered all over the small table, accompanied by a typewriter. Miss Drossel extended her hand towards the nearest couch. "Please sit, I'll be right back with some tea", she said as she left the room, her voice having cleared up, her panting subsided. As I took the seat, my eyes scanned the room. The floorwork was intricate, the room was decorated with quite a few cabinets, each housing decorative utensils. The room contained a fireplace and multiple windows. Each window was covered with vines, and the room took on a green-and-yellow hue as the sunlight passed through the vines and illuminated the walls. My attention soon shifted to the object closest to me. The Underwood No. 4 desktop manual typewriter. It was manufactured in 1915 by the Underwood Typewriter company and quickly became the industry standard. It's been called the "Weapon of choice for working class women", though, it was also the preferred weapon of some men, including me. Next, my eyes fell on the unavoidable mess in front of me. Dozens of dozens of typed papers accompanied by even more crumpled up scraps lay on the table. I had started reading them before I even realized it. My curiosity was to be blamed, for the name Julia Drossel had been known to me for some time and enticed profound interest. She was a newly emerged author who had taken the literature world by storm. While other authors wrote stories with the themes of war, love, and honour, Miss Drossel wrote stories which were completely in the realm of fantasy, filled with fearsome, fire-breathing dragons, heroes, princesses, and monsters of every type. She had provided people with fresh, underused themes and she had recieved universal acclaim in return. That's not all of what contributed to her fame, she was apparently an eccentric figure, preferring to stay in seclusion instead of interacting with her fans. Moreover, she was awful when it came to meeting deadlines, and the general consensus was that she was abysmal at work management. Seeing her slovenly appearance and hearing her drop utensils in the kitchen when faced with the simple task of preparing tea did good to convince me of the truth of these rumors. Miss Drossel soon returned with two cups of tea, and let out a breath of relief as she finally sat down and got a chance to relax. "Forgive me for taking too long, writing has left me feeling more exhausted than usual these days", she remarked as she took a sip. "It's nothing. Thank you for the tea." "You are Mr. Eberfreya of the postal company, correct?" "Yes, madame. I take it that I'm to be tasked with assisting you in writing your novella?" Upon hearing those words, her expression drowned. I could empathize. I wondered if it was her frustration and lack of progress that drove her to request a typist. "Yes, that is correct. My work has slowed down to a halt since the past week, so I'm in rough waters right now." It was just as I had deduced. "I'm assuming that you need an extra pair of hands in order to be able to meet your deadline, ma'am?" I questioned. “I wish that were the case, but no, that’s not it. I…..need you to ghost-write for me”. That was strike two. My deductions proved correct twice in a row, but I still found it hard to believe what I was hearing. My deductions were but a hunch, a mere feeling that I followed. This was the last request I had expected to receive from an author of this caliber, who had proven their skill with the pen time and time again. I did a poor job at hiding my surprise. Miss Drossel must have expected a reaction. She gazed down at the floor in slight embarrassment upon witnessing my noticeably open jaw and widened eyes. “Ye—Yes of course! Please instruct me and I shall put your feelings into words.” The words came pouring out of my mouth, which was forming an awkward smile. I wanted to end this uncomfortable silence as soon as possible. The timid lady in front of me took a sip of tea and turned her head towards her window, sporting a dreaming expression as she gazed outside. The collective chirping of birds and clicking of insects coming from outside combined with the yellow and green hue of her meticulous sitting room created quite the memorable ambience as we sat there in complete silence. “My feelings....... I want to write a story that’s capable of pulling tears, touching hearts, being empathized with, and bringing forth a change of heart in every soul that reads it.” “Got it. You want to write a fantasy story with a greater focus on emotion rather than action this time.” “No.” She snapped back. She hunched forward, resting her elbows on the table. She made a stern face. This clumsy and petite young woman had an admirable seriousness when it came to her work. “I want to write a story that will leave its mark on the readers’ hearts for years to come. Such an effect can never be achieved through a fantasy story. People read those stories because the charisma of the heroic protagonist compels them to. They read it for the thrill they get when they see the twists and turns that the hero faces throughout his adventures. They read it because they crave action. Such stories carry no emotional weight. I have learned that because I have failed to achieve that effect.” And I agreed. But what was she going towards here? “This time…. I want to write a story that embraces realism. I cannot reach the hearts of my readers through the charming princes I write, or the shining knights I conjure. If I hope to capture their hearts, I must write stories that relate to them. I must create characters that they can empathize with.” Miss Drossel sat back on her couch, and continued, “Empathy……Empathy is what I want to write about. Do you know what the meaning of empathy is, Eberfreya?” “I think…. Empathy is when you acknowledge the pain that others are going through”, I answered. Pardon me for not being the most well-spoken person in the room. “Correct, but that’s not all there is to it. A wise man once said, ‘Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.’ The word empathy not only refers to acknowledging the pain of others, but also putting yourself in their shoes. You try to imagine yourself as that person, going through the same pain”. “In other words, Eberfreya. Empathy is the mother of understanding. And understanding breeds kindness. What do you do when you see a weak-looking cat outside your house?” I went into deep thought. What would I do if faced with such a situation? I would obviously be annoyed if I saw a malnourished feline waiting for me at the door. What was I supposed to do? Upon seeing me perplexed at this simple question, Miss Drossel opened her mouth to reveal the answer. I could spot some concern on her face. “Feed it, perhaps?” I quickly spoke. I had never fed a cat before, nor had I even had the notion of doing so. Thinking of cats and what to do with them, I was reminded of my boss. An obvious cat enthusiast, he would order separate milk bottles daily, reserved solely for the neighborhood cats. He had made it so that the company employees and the cats shared the same lunch break. Everyday at 2pm, while we ate our lunches inside, he would step outside and enjoy his time with the cats as they feasted. Remembering him was what enabled me to finally answer the Miss’ question. “E-Exactly! You would feed the cat because you’d deduce from it’s thin stature that it’s probably not been getting enough food. That is empathy. You imagine yourself as the cat, and you think about what you want if you were starving like that cat. That allows you to gain an understanding of that cat’s situation. That in turn, gives way to kindness on your part.” The lady conversing with me was making a dumbfounded expression. Perhaps she expected me to be educated in this matter. I was quite the opposite. “I...I see” My face was like that of a toddler trying to understand a difficult concept. Empathy led to understanding, which made acts of kindness inevitable. I need just imagine myself as another being, another soul, and I would become capable of kindness. That was all I understood from this schooling I had just received. Perhaps being kind was not the arduous task I thought it was. “I have written my fair share of fantasy. My readers will never truly empathize with characters which do not trudge paths which are similar to their own. My readers must have characters which are comparable to themselves. My characters must be human, like my readers. My story must be realistic enough that one may even be forgiven for mistaking it for non-fiction.” I had already figured out what she was trying to say. People who will be flipping through the pages of Miss Drossel’s next work would be anticipating excitement and action, yet all they will receive will be constant, merciless pulls on the strings of their hearts. Miss Drossel desired to put something new in store for her loyal fans this time.

After taking her last sip of tea, Miss Drossel decided to the beat around the bush no longer.

“Eberfreya, You are to assist me in creating a modern spectacle. This year, the imagination of the common man shall not be dominated by archaic tales and folklore, as it has been for so long, rather, we shall breathe new life into the world of words and expose the literary masses to new and foreign wonders.” “Well then, madame”, I spoke as I removed my leather gloves. “May we shake on it for good fortune in our upcoming endeavor?” Perhaps pleased with my quick uptake on the task at hand, the Miss responded with a smile as we both reached forward. Our hands met in agreement above the typewriter and hundreds of blank papers waiting to be filled, two weapons powerful enough to bring about a cultural revolution. Two stories interwined Prologues unknown, Epilogues unknown Their past was nothing but a disheveled thread of fate Will it unravel, will it become known?

[aion-rsa]

30 Best Nintendo Switch Games

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

After four years of the Wii U, we were eagerly anticipating its successor. While there were plenty of great games on the doomed platform, the Wii U just never caught fire with the public at large. But four years into the Switch’s lifespan, and Nintendo has turned things around dramatically.

Instead of winding things down, the Switch shows no signs of slowing down, with plenty of excellent third party games in its library, as well as more than a few innovative titles from the Big N as well. The platform has also been a great way to bring underrated Wii U gems to a broader audience of Switch adopters. With a rumored 4K upgrade on the horizon, there’s a good chance that the Switch may even have another four years ahead of it,

But for now, these are the very best games available for the portable-console hybrid:

30. Untitled Goose Game

2019 | House House

Anyone who’s even been to a pond can attest to one simple fact: Geese are dicks. Untitled Goose Game lets you finally live out the fantasy of being one of nature’s most annoying creatures, flapping, honking, and generally being a nuisance to the residents of a fair English town. The only thing missing is the goose poop covering everything in sight.

Untitled Goose Game is a short but sweet experience inspired by classic stealth games that adds just enough charm and innovation to make it one of the best indie games on the platform.

29. Dark Souls Remastered

2018 | FromSoftware

There’s not much more that can be said about Dark Souls that hasn’t been said about this revolutionary action RPG title already. Its tough-as-nails difficulty, foreboding atmosphere, and esoteric storytelling have made it a fan-favorite and critical darling.

The Switch port doesn’t change much. It’s actually a visual downgrade from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions without the benefit of 4K resolution, but being able to play Dark Souls on-the-go more than makes up for that. This may not be the best version of Dark Souls, but the gameplay still stands up, and like a lot of Switch ports, being able to finally play the game on a handheld makes it a worthy pick up.

28. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle

2017 | Ubisoft

“What if Mario starred in an XCOM game?” might sound like the basis for some very ambitious fan fiction, but somehow Ubisoft pulled it off with Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. The Rabbids actually fit into the Mushroom Kingdom pretty well and the Rabbid impersonations of Mario and company are hilarious.

Even if Mario games aren’t typically your cup of tea, the tactics featured in this turn-based strategy title add a layer of difficulty rarely seen in the plumber’s resume. If you aren’t careful, the corrupted Rabbids will repeatedly hand you your ass on a platter.

27. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

2018 | Nintendo

The Captain Toad levels were the best parts of Super Mario 3D World, one of the few well-reviewed Wii U exclusives that haven’t yet made it to the Switch. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker delivered more of what people loved, this time for the 3DS.

Ignoring traditional Mario-style platforming for isometric puzzles that bar jumping, getting all the stars in every level of Captain Toad is genuinely challenging but rarely frustrating. Captain Toad also stands out as one of the better Wii U ports for the Switch, thanks to a number of new levels, although many of them are only available as paid DLC.

26. Starlink: Battle for Atlas

2018 | Ubisoft

Starlink: Battle for Atlas is a fun space shooter bogged down by a confusing and frankly unnecessary toys-to-life gimmick. The basic premise equates to a sort of smaller scale No Man’s Sky, but with highly customizable ships and weapons.

The big draw for the Switch version is exclusive Star Fox content, missions that feel like the animal-themed space combat game people have wanted from Nintendo for years. They’re certainly better than Star Fox Zero. The retail version even comes with awesome Arwing and Fox McCloud toys. 

With gamers largely burned out on the toys-to-life phenomenon, Starlink didn’t exactly light up the sales charts, but it did sell best on the Switch and is scratching that Star Fox itch.

25. Hollow Knight

2018 | Team Cherry 

Nintendo basically created the Metroidvania genre, but the company has been remarkably stingy about releasing new 2D Metroid games. Thankfully, Hollow Knight is here to fill the void with its insect-filled underground world. While there have been many takes on the Metroidvania formula over the years, a Tim Burton-esque aesthetic gives Hollow Knight a unique edge over the rest of the field.

Of course, Metroidvanias are only as strong as their maps, and Hollow Knight’s giant, secret-filled levels are easy to get lost in for hours. And then there’s the Dark Souls-inspired combat, which requires both patience and skill to master. We can’t wait for the sequel.

24. Xenoblade Chronicles 2

2017 | Monolith Soft

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is not for casual gamers. The main story alone takes more than 60 hours to complete and you’re looking at well over 100 hours of gameplay if you dig into the side content. Its systems, particularly the Pokemon-style Blade system, aren’t very user-friendly and require time to truly understand. But for those who are willing to keep with it, or who enjoy complex stories and mastering all the intricacies of a JRPG, there are few games of this caliber available on the current crop of consoles. And none of them are on the Switch.

23. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

2019 | Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is arguably the very best game for the original Game Boy, held back only by the portable’s lack of buttons and color. The Switch-exclusive remake easily rectifies those issues, and improves on this classic with so much more, including customizable dungeons and a delightful new art style inspired by children’s toys.

The core Link’s Awakening experience remains as enjoyable as it first was back in 1993, with the deceptively small Koholint Island giving way to nine labyrinthine dungeons and some of the best puzzles in the entire series. This is a great example of a remake done right.

22. Stardew Valley

2017 | ConcernedApe

There’s something oddly relaxing about farming games that Stardew Valley taps into better than any other game in the niche genre. Maybe it’s the especially calming music, the charmingly well-written characters, or just being able to live out your agricultural dreams at your own pace. Whatever the exact reason, Stardew Valley has garnered millions of fans since its original release.

Part of the appeal is the regular updates. Just when you think you’ve seen everything, ConcernedApe will add new content to keep the game fresh. And while Stardew Valley is a fantastic experience on any of the numerous platforms it’s currently available on, being able to play it anywhere on the Switch arguably makes it the definitive version. 

21. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

2019 | Nintendo

The Switch’s success has allowed many Wii U games to enjoy a second life. With their brief levels, Mario games have always been perfect for handhelds, and with its pitch-perfect controls and heavy nods to Super Mario Bros. 3, New Super Mario Bros. U is arguably the best side-scrolling Mario game of the last decade. The Switch port even includes all of the New Super Luigi U content previously only available as DLC and a new playable character, Toadette.

20. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2017 | Bethesda Game Studios

We probably didn’t need another version of Skyrim, and the Switch port doesn’t look that much better than the original 2011 release, but as with other ports of older games, the ability to play one of the greatest RPGs anywhere is a good reason to double (or triple) dip. And there are a few cool unlockables though amiibos, like the Master Sword.

It’s impossible to ignore such a classic RPG on the Switch, especially now that you can play it on your lunch break or on the bus. But seriously, Bethesda, you can stop porting Skyrim now. Get to work on The Elder Scrolls VI and maybe bring that to the Switch.

19. Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee

2018 | Game Freak

The Pokemon franchise has been around so long at this point that the Let’s Go games are actually the second remakes of the original 1996 Red and Blue games. That’s okay though, as even the last remakes were released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004. By 2018, it was time for a new coat of paint.

Let’s Go freshens things up with modern 3D graphics, wild Pokemon that are now visible in the overworld, and Mega Evolutions from more recent games. The biggest change is the most divisive: motion controls for catching Pokemon. It can be a little silly at first, but it actually adds to the game’s charm.

18. Luigi’s Mansion 3

2019 | Nintendo

Luigi has long played second fiddle to his more famous brother, but after three spooky solo games, he’s built up a successful franchise in its own right that ranks up there among Nintendo’s best. If the previous Luigi’s Mansion games had a flaw, it’s that they got a little repetitive. Luigi’s Mansion 3 thankfully fixes that problem with a massive 17-story hotel with plenty of puzzles to solve and ghosts to trap. And while Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a fantastic single player experience, what really gives it legs is its co-operative modes for 2-8 players, making it the best ghostbusting game since, well…Ghostbusters.

17. Octopath Traveler

2018 | Square Enix

Square Enix’s love letter to 16-bit RPGs might just be better than the classics. Octopath Traveler boasts an innovative battle system that tweaks the typical turn-based formula and unique “HD-2D” graphics that are unlike anything else in the genre. It’s easy to lose several hours playing in portable mode or at home on a big screen. And while the story drags a little bit at times, it’s still worth playing to the end to see how the tales of all eight protagonists play out.

16. Astral Chain

2019 | PlatinumGames

PlatinumGames’ streak of creating the best and most unique action games in the industry continues with Astral Chain. Everything that has made the developer’s past titles like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata instant classics is on full display here, from the massive set pieces to the bonkers anime-inspired story of humanity making its last stand against an interdimensional threat.

And while you’d think those previous efforts pushed combat in an action game to its limits, Astral Chain’s innovative gameplay finds way to introduce new twists to the Platinum secret sauce. Here, you control both your main character and a fully customizable tethered Legion to maximize combos. This is the perfect game to tie you over until Platinum finishes up Bayonetta 3.

15. Bayonetta 2

2018 | PlatinumGames

The first Bayonetta was a sexy, stylish take on action-adventure hack and slash games, with some of the smoothest combat around and a badass protagonist. Bayonetta 2 doesn’t mess with the winning formula but adds more combat options and some of the most ridiculous setpieces ever put in a game, like a battle on top of a moving fighter jet. If you’re looking for something a little less family-friendly on the Switch, look no further than this hectic action game.

14. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

2018 | Retro Studios

The original Donkey Kong Country trilogy is a highlight of the 16-bit era, but in hindsight, it was more beloved for its graphics than its gameplay. It was only once Retro Studios took over the series that the franchise began to live up to its potential, with super smooth platforming and levels more creative than even some of Nintendo’s Super Mario games.

While Retro’s first Donkey Kong Country game on the Wii was a little too punishing, Tropical Freeze got the balance between challenging and frustrating just right. The game was originally released on the Wii U, and the Switch port adds Funky Kong as a playable character. This is an excellent platformer to play with a friend, too!

13. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

2021 | Nintendo

Super Mario 3D World is a top-notch Mario game, so it was always a shame that it released on a platform as underwhelming as the Wii U. The genius of the game is how it so perfectly combines the best elements of 2D and 3D Mario games. Levels have clear beginnings and endings, and ultimately you just need to climb the flag pole at the goal, but there’s also plenty of room for exploration to track down every last green star. Plus, the cat suit is one of the weirdest and best power-ups in any Mario game.

Everything that made the original Wii U release a must-have remains the highlight of the Switch port, but the addition of Bowser’s Fury, a new adventure where Mario and Bowser Jr. must quickly complete missions before the arrival of a giant, enraged Bowser, makes this one well worth a double dip.

12. Pokemon Sword and Shield

2019 | Game Freak

Sword and Shield may not be the best games in the long-running Pokemon series. Arguably, the lack of some older Pokemon (even after two big expansions) is a pretty big mark against it, but the eighth generation still has a lot going for it thanks to more streamlined gameplay, a massive open-world, and the fact this is the first time a mainline Pokemon game can be played on a home console. That’s something that fans have been clamoring for since the series’ inception back in 1996.

So no, you can’t quite “catch ‘em all,” but you can still have a great time battling the gym leaders of Galar in the seemingly never-ending quest to become the very best. 

11. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

2018 | Firaxis Games

Despite the Switch’s early success, it’s still home to relatively few third-party console exclusives, but Civilization VI alone almost makes up for that deficit. This is an uncompromising PC port with 24 different civilizations available from the get-go, and all of the features from the original version. It also works great with either a controller or touchscreen controls. If you’re looking for a 4X strategy game on the Switch, Civilization VI is the one. 

10. Diablo III: Eternal Collection

2018 | Blizzard Entertainment

Diablo III is one of the best games of the last decade. The Switch port is late to the party, but if you really want to slay demons on the go and don’t have a laptop handy, this is the perfect way to play the classic action RPG. 

The Switch version adds a handful of Legend of Zelda items, including a Ganondorf costume. It’s not an earth-shattering exclusive, but it’s an easy excuse to sink a few more hours into this game.

9. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

2019 | Nintendo

Nintendo is still mostly known for accessible games that appeal to a wider audience. But then there’s Fire Emblem, a series of hardcore tactical RPGs where every battle can mean permanent death for you and your allies. While still true to its roots, Three Houses takes some liberties with the typical Fire Emblem gameplay. There are still plenty of battles to be fought, but the first half of the game largely takes place at a monastery where you’re a teacher preparing your students for war. And the long-used “weapon triangle” has mostly been replaced with the need to equip the best weapons for each character, adding a new layer of strategy.

As if all that didn’t make for dozens of hours of gameplay, the ability to choose which of the titular three houses you belong to has radically different consequences for the game’s story. It takes a very long time to experience everything that Three Houses has to offer.

8. Super Mario Maker 2

2019 | Nintendo

Super Mario Maker 2 is the definitive Mario game, building on its already near-perfect predecessor with new power ups, a world maker, and assets from Super Mario 3D World. The star of the show is the almost endless supply of user created levels that constantly surprise with twists on other genres and some of the most fiendishly difficult levels ever devised. And if you’re the creative type, the course maker remains one of the most intuitive modes in any game, allowing you to design perfectly playable new levels in just a few minutes.

Even if making Mario levels isn’t you’re thing, Super Mario Maker 2 includes a surprisingly fun story mode of 100 original levels that stand toe-to-toe with anything else in the legendary franchise.

7. Hades

2020 | Supergiant Games

Rarely do story, gameplay, and atmosphere mesh together as well as they do in the rogue-lite Hades. You play as Zagreus, the prince of the Underworld, with the simple goal of escaping from the monotonous life you’re forced to lead under your apathetic father. You’ll die a lot during this quest, but each time you’ll get a little stronger and gain new abilities from the gods of Olympus that keep the experience fresh. Hades knows exactly how to leverage its setting, perfectly capturing each deity’s unique personality and abilities.

The rogue-lite gameplay is also well suited for short bursts of gameplay or marathon sessions, making it a perfect fit for the Switch, which is currently the only home console its available on. It’s easily the best third-party game on the system, and one of the best reasons to pick up a Switch if you haven’t already. 

6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

2017 | Nintendo

Mario Kart 8 is the best kart racing game ever made. That was true with the original Wii U release and it’s true of the Switch port, which includes all previously released DLC and adds a few new characters and a completely reworked battle mode. Each and every track has its own challenges and the addition of anti-gravity racing is a nice update to the formula.

With tracks and characters from F-Zero, The Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing, Mario Kart 8 also feels like the most complete Nintendo racing game of all time. There’s really no reason for a Switch owner not to have this one in their collection.

5. Splatoon 2

2017 | Nintendo

Nintendo has never developed a multiplayer shooter like Call of Duty or Halo. Odds are it never will. But the Splatoon series is just as good as those shooters, especially the second installment. Like with the original, the focus of Splatoon 2 is to use a variety of paint-spraying weapons to cover as much of each level as possible. It’s actually a lot more fun and creative than most of the high-profile shooters out there.

Splatoon 2 adds quite a few new levels, weapons, and unlockables. There’s also a sizable single-player mode, and a ridiculously fun cooperative mode called Salmon Run. If that’s not enough content, Nintendo released the lengthy Octo Expansion DLC in 2018. A copy of Splatoon 2 could occupy a Switch gamer for months.

4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

2020 | Nintendo

For a lot of people, Animal Crossing isn’t just a game. It’s life. New Horizons was always highly anticipated, but its release at the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdowns made it a much-needed escape for millions of people. Birthdays, graduations, and weddings couldn’t be held in-person, so many were celebrated within New Horizons. Even President Biden and Hong Kong democracy activists set up their own islands.

Even without the specter of Covid-19, New Horizons would still be one of the best games on the Switch. Nintendo has been perfecting the franchise for two decades now, but this version of Animal Crossing is easily the best yet, allowing for near-limitless customization of your own little world. And yet you’re still free to play at your own pace, without any of the pressure of the outside world. The ultimate appeal of Animal Crossing continues to be that it allows us to live our ideal lives.

3. Super Mario Odyssey

2017 | Nintendo

Is Super Mario Odyssey the best 3D Mario game? It’s hard to argue otherwise. Odyssey borrows its level structure and progression system from the beloved Super Mario 64, which Nintendo had largely ignored for the last two decades. Several new twists on the traditional 3D platforming formula, like the ability to throw your new hat buddy Cappy at enemies to take control of them, make Super Mario Odyssey feel incredibly fresh. There probably won’t be another platformer this good on the Switch.

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

2018 | Nintendo

Super Smash Bros. has remained wildly popular since it debuted in 1999, and there’s always been a lively debate about which title is the best in the series. Melee arguably has the best mechanics, while Brawl’s Subspace Emissary boasts the most complete story mode. The Wii U game looks fantastic, but the Ice Climbers and Snake were sorely missed.

Ultimate tries to satisfy the fans of each game by including every character who’s ever appeared in the series (plus a few new ones), more than 100 stages from throughout the Nintendo universe, a deep adventure mode called World of Light, and interesting tweaks to even the oldest characters in the roster. If Ultimate isn’t the perfect installment of Smash Bros., we don’t know what is.

Further Reading: Super Smash Bros. Characters Ranked

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

2017 | Nintendo

Breath of the Wild is the perfect marriage of traditional Legend of Zelda 3D gameplay and innovative new systems. The world and story are unmistakably Hylian, yet the game puts a major focus on exploration and experimentation to an extent never before seen in the series.

Yes, the number of weapons have been cut down drastically, but the handful of abilities — like freezing time and creating ice blocks — create even more ways to complete the game’s challenges and traverse its world. And you will want to explore every last inch of Hyrule’s beautifully realized world.

For almost two decades, Zelda games closely following the formula established by Ocarina of Time, one of the greatest games ever made. Breath of the Wild throws out almost all of the concepts that Ocarina pioneered and redefines Zelda as something more open-ended and exciting that will hopefully continue to evolve over the next few years.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

The post 30 Best Nintendo Switch Games appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3vrM9pm

[emetofiend2dand3d]

Part 2 of the RFA goes to the Amusement park!

You can read Part 1 here! 

*NO spoilers* 

(I tried to include V in this one too but it didn't happen so there will be a part 3 for V) 

.

Zen groaned. "I knew you could be a real asshole Jumin but I didn't think you were capable of something so sadistic." 

 MC and Jumin exchanged looks without saying anything. 

Zen crossed his arms shaking his head. "I need a beer." He took out some money from his wallet and walked away to a drink stand. 

“Wait, don't tell me they have alcohol here?" Jumin was in disbelief. 

"Of course, how are adults who bring their children here supposed to have fun?" MC chuckled. 

“You know you really do have an adorable sense of humor." Jumin pinched her cheek and she giggled. 

V shifted in his position uncomfortably. "I might have a drink as well." He decided.

"But my guess is they only have commoners drinks here. I refuse to drink alcohol that isn't at least thirty years old." Jumin said pretentiously. 

Zen came back with a red cup filled with beer and took a sip. 

"Just as I suspected. Your taste in alcohol is as limited as your ability to accept money from others." 

Zen looked about ready to chew Jumin's head off but MC pointed towards a building. "Look!" She grabbed Jumin by the arm and dragged him towards it, V and Zen followed out of curiosity. 

They walked into a room with tables all around and advertising signs. "This looks like a conference. I came here to get away from work. Is there something in particular you wanted to see MC?" Jumin wasn't impressed, until he saw what the posters were advertising. 

They had arrived at an exotic wine tasting contest. Jumin's attitude changed instantly from bored to giddy. He grabbed MC and hugged her tightly, kissing her nose before releasing her. 

Zen scoffed, but Jumin ignored him and scurried off to the first booth. The other's followed and Jumin's ears perked up as he listened to someone with a European accent, who was presumably talking about the wine. 

"Do you understand what they're saying?" Zen whispered to V and MC, who both shriveled up, shaking their heads. 

"Does Jumin speak English?" MC asked V. 

V shook his head. "To my knowledge he speaks Arabic and French but he dropped his English class in college after the American professor kept pronouncing his name incorrectly." By the time V finished saying this, Jumin was already onto the next stand and he called them over. 

"MC, you have to try this, it's divine." MC took a small sip, decided it was palatable and swallowed it. "It's nice." She nodded politely. 

Zen pushed his way forward. "Hey let me try one." The woman at the stand poured Zen a glass and he chugged it in three swallows. 

Jumin grimaced at his poor class. "It's alright." Zen shrugged. 

“Yes, well your opinion is functionally useless." Jumin rolled his eyes and moved on to a different stand. 

The four of them spent the next hour there tasting wines. Jumin could only convince MC to try a few and her response was usually the same, a smile and a kiss on the cheek. V couldn't keep up with Zen and Jumin quite as well but he tried the ones that Jumin deemed the best. 

During the course of the hour it was becoming increasingly clear that Zen and Jumin's sobriety had left the building, and it showed, through their bickering. 

"I'm telling you, wine from France is of a much higher caliber than wine from Italy." Jumin argued without even a slur. 

"I didn't say it was of a higher calorimeter! I said it tasted better!" Zen said loudly.  

Jumin pinched the skin between his eyebrows. "Caliber." He corrected. 

"Maybe we should try to get them out of here." MC said, but when she looked around for V, she found him by a stand staring at the wall. She went up to him and he grabbed her arm with excitement. 

"MC! It's you. Don't you think this picture perfectly captures the vineyard and the grapes in the most fabulous lighting. I simply must meet the photographer. Do you think they would be here?" V seemed so excited she didn't want to dispel his enthusiasm. So she turned him towards a tall poster board and 'introduced' them. 

"It is a pleasure to meet you." V smiled. "I'm a photographer as well you see-"

MC sighed, wondering how things got so out of hand and looked around for Jumin and Zen. She found them when she heard a loud smash and a shriek in the other direction. She ran over towards the sound and saw Jumin covered with a red substance seeping through his clothes and he was gripping Zen by the collar of his shirt. 

"You bastard! I can't believe you did that!" 

MC had a moment of panic. 

"This is hand sewn cotton from the Middle East, given to me by the Oil Prince himself and you spilled wine on it?" 

MC sighed a small breath of relief, before two security guards broke through the crowd and got a hold of them. They were thrown out of the building and told they were not allowed back in. 

The four of them sat on a bench away from the building with their chins in their palms and looking gloomy. 

V sighed. "I didn't even get to finish talking with that photographer." 

"Oh shut up!" Zen and Jumin both shouted at V. 

"Hey!" MC was starting to get annoyed by their behavior. "V did nothing wrong. It's you two who should be sorry." 

Zen pouted. "I wish Seven was here. He'd know what to say to cheer us up."

Jumin sat up suddenly and looked around. "Wait, where are Luciel and Yoosung? Weren't they with us?" 

MC and Zen weren't sure if Jumin was kidding. "V sent them home in a cab after you tricked them into going on so many rides they were violently ill." Zen reminded him. 

"Oh, yeah." Jumin looked down at his shoes with a pained expression. "Hey! Speaking of rides, we should go on one!" Jumin changed the mood. 

“Whoa, no way." MC decided to intervene. "The last thing you two need in your condition is to go in any kind of fast moving vehicle." 

"I agree with MC." V told them. 

"Oh please, I'm not even that drunk!" Jumin scoffed. "I don't know about this lightweight over here but-" Jumin pointed to Zen patronizingly. 

Zen stood up. "I'm not a lightweight!" He insisted. 

Jumin stood up too and got in Zen's face. "Well then prove it. Let's go on a ride."

"What ride?" Zen asked, perhaps in an attempt at stalling. 

"That one." Jumin pointed in the direction of a large ride that appeared to spin on all sorts of directions. 

"You're really ganna ride it this time?" Zen asked, sounding skeptical. "Because I saw in your wallet, you're out of cash." 

Jumin laughed. "I'm never out of cash. Only a fool carries around just one wallet." 

Zen clenched his fists with anger and gave in. "Fine! But you're getting on that ride too or so help me." He threatened. 

"Very well." 

.

The two were strapped into the ride, both of them looking more nervous by the minute. The machine cranked on and they began lifting off the ground. 

"Don't tell me you're nervous?" Jumin said, with a wavering voice. 

"Don't be absurd." Zen crossed his arms indignantly. "You're the one who should be nervous. I saw you holding on to MC during the ride we went on earlier, you looked like a scared child." 

Jumin huffed. "You're just jealous you didn't have anyone to hold on to."

"Why you-" Zen might have cussed him out, but the ride suddenly got faster and before they could prepare themselves they were spinning around inside their seats. 

"What kind of ride is this?" Jumin had to shout over the noise of the people in the other seats screaming. 

“I don't know! I've never been on one like this!" Zen admitted. 

They had only been on the ride for about sixty seconds before they both began to feel ill. Jumin could feel the exorbitant amount of liquid in his stomach sloshing around as they defied gravity. 

Zen was more used to drinking lighter alcohols, like beer, so he was more drunk than he was used to and could feel it catching up to him. The motion made him feel dizzy and nauseous. He shut his eyes and glued his lips together. 

“How're you doing Zen?" Jumin saw him shut his eyes, wearing a pained expression. 

"I'm great, thanks for worrying." Jumin's voice was starting to sound like an insect buzzing in Zen's ear. 

“That's goo-uUH-" A noise emitted from Jumin's throat without his consent and he slapped his hand over his mouth. 

"What the hell was that?" Zen raised an eyebrow at him, scooting as far away from him as he could. 

“Excuse me." Jumin said, siting back. He really was beginning to feel ill by that point, and for the moment, his bantering would have to cease. The liquids in his stomach were past churning and had gone strait to bubbling as it jolted up his esophagus, threatening to erupt. He tried with all his might to steady his breathing but it seemed futile. He didn't want to have to admit that he was wrong but the possibility was leaning strongly towards that conclusion. He wasn't the kind of person to admit a weakness to anyone, especially him, but at that moment Jumin was particularly weak and it threw him off spectacularly. He looked towards Zen desolately. "Zen, I think I'm going to be sick." He said as calmly as possible. 

"Don't you dare get sick in here." Zen blew up with fury. "If you get sick, then I'll get sick, and that's not going to happen, so pull yourself together." Zen wasn't sure how giving a pep-talk could aid a situation like that one but he was out of options. 

“I'm trying." Jumin assured him, and it was obvious that he was. He had both hands over his mouth and was swallowing constantly. But with another twist and turn from the ride he jerked forward with a gag and a cough. 

"Jumin I swear to god!" Zen was at his end. 

"Shit." Was all Jumin could say before a particularly strong convulsion from his stomach muscles ushered up a flow of liquids which proceeded to shoot out of Jumin's mouth. Most of the vile substance escaped from the vehicle almost at once with the force of the motion, but some of it got on his pants as well. 

“Damn you Jumin." Zen had been holding on better than Jumin for the time being, but he was at his limit, and seeing Jumin get sick was the last straw. He leaned over the edge of his seat and spewed his stomach contents out into the air. The two sat covered in sick and hunched over themselves wanting nothing more than to get off, until the ride finally came to a stop. 

They were let down and the two of them raced off as fast as they could. The moment they stepped foot on the ground, Jumin was reduced to his knees, nearly kissing the ground as he spewed onto the dirt sloppily. MC ran to his side and helped lift him up to take him away. 

"I'm so sorry you have to see me like this MC. I'm so ashamed." He said weakly, his head hanging over a trash bin. 

“Don't be silly. You think I would have let you go on that ride without knowing this would happen? Now tell me, how does it feel to get a taste of your own medicine?" MC said smugly. 

"I thought I was supposed to be the sadistic one." Jumin teased, before turning back and heaving into the trash bin again and with two more sharp gags. He puked up more the exotic wine he had sampled and MC rubbed his back soothingly as he coughed harshly and spat into the bin. 

Not too far away, Zen had been lucky enough, and speedy enough, to find a bathroom. He was hyperventilating with his head leaning over the toilet and trying not to vomit while also trying to keep his hair away from the mess, when he finally burped deeply. A force of acidic liquid shot out of his mouth and into the toilet water. 

"Shit." He cursed and spat into the toilet. "I could kill that jerk Jumin." 

"Let's save that for another day." Zen heard a low, gentle voice from behind him and he turned around to see V. 

"How are you hanging in there Zen?" He asked crouching down beside him. 

"I feel like crap and it's all that stupid trust fund kid's fault." He leaned over the toilet rocking back and forth feeling nausea build up in him. 

"Jumin's not all that bad." V argued. 

"You've got a bit of a bias, seeing as you've known the guy for twenty years." Zen said, before a stream of burps began piling up, bringing him dangerously close to being sick again. 

"Perhaps, but there are reasons why he's that way." V stipulated.

"Well I don't care to know them. He's still just and asshole in my book." Zen said spitefully, before he finally gagged harshly and a new set of liquids sent him deeper into the bowl as he vomited up all the alcohol he hadn't even enjoyed drinking. 

He used some toilet paper to wipe excess vomit off of his lips and flushed it down with the rest of his stomach contents. "Man, I want nothing more than to take a hot shower and go to sleep." He moaned. 

"Do you think you're ready to get in a cab?" V asked. 

"I think I'll manage." Zen said, standing up slowly. "The question is will I manage not to kill that guy during the course of the ride." 

The two of them left the facilities and walked out to see MC and Jumin in the distance. They could see that Jumin still had his head hanging over the trash and MC was hovering over him. 

"How's he doing?" V asked her. 

"I think he'll live. But I doubt he'll be in for work tomorrow, poor Jaehee." She added. 

Jumin moaned from inside the trash bin and MC stroked his back. "I feel terrible. Is this how ordinary people feel when they drink? I can see why they would prefer drinks lower less alcohol like beer if that was the case." 

Zen was much too tired to combat Jumin anymore, so he gave up and sat down.  

“Shall I call a cab?" V asked MC. 

"Not necessary." Jumin waved him off. "Driver Kim is waiting for us." 

MC pulled V aside for a moment to talk to him. "I just wanted to make sure you're alright." She felt she had to check. 

"Why, because I'm a bit drunk?" V sounded amused. "I appreciate your concern." He said truthfully. "But I can hold my liquor just as well as Jumin." 

During that same moment, they heard Jumin vomit loudly into the trash bin. V scratched his arm, chuckling lightheartedly. "I also had far less to drink than him." 

.

The ride home was killer, for all four of them. They had to pull over twice so Zen could puke on the side of the road, and Jumin wouldn't stop babbling about his cotton clothing but he rested his head on MC's lap and closed his eyes. He was obviously pretending to be asleep but MC knew he wasn't because she could hear him burping quietly every so often and she had her hand on his stomach. She rubbed it gingerly for him but she could feel how upset it was as his muscles convulsed and he caved in on himself. 

They arrived at Zen's house and MC helped him inside to make sure he got safely to bed. She could only get him as far as the couch, but she figured that would suffice. 

MC searched around for trash bin and placed one beside Zen on the couch before she left. She returned to the car and they dropped off V next. 

V insisted that he knew his way enough to go himself, but MC refused to let him go alone in the dark. They walked to the door slowly and MC tried to guide him by holding his arm but she shook her off. "You are very kind, but I'm really fine." He said with a smile. 

But before they reached the door he tripped on something in his path, and fell face forward onto his stomach. MC nearly went into a panic but V assured her he was fine. He tried to lift himself up but stayed crouching on the ground panting slightly. He had his hand resting over his mouth and closed his eyes trying to regain his composure. 

"V? You don't look well." MC said with worry in her voice. 

"I just need a minute." V said. 

“Please just let me help you inside." She pleaded. After a pause, V nodded in agreement and she helped him in the house. She helped him sit in a chair and he lowered into it with a sigh. MC felt somewhat uncomfortable with leaving V alone in the condition he was in. 

"MC?" She heard him say her name and he was looking up at her. "Jumin needs you right now. Go be there for him." 

MC nodded with a smile. "Thank you V." And they bid each other goodnight. 

MC went back outside, smiling to herself, before she saw Jumin, leaning against the car, and Driver Kim standing over him. She ran up to them, and saw Jumin standing over a pile of vomit and Driver Kim holding him upright. 

MC and Driver Kim helped him back into the car and she thanked him. She was surprised by how much Jumin was sweating, he had soaked through his already stained cotton shirt and was panting slightly like a dog on a warm day. 

By the time they got home he was only semi coherent and could hardly stand upright. MC laid him down in bed and he began snoring softly. She sighed a breath of ease at hearing this and crawled into bed next to him. 

She woke up several hours later because Jumin had been tossing the blankets around and moaning. She put his arm around her shoulder and helped him to the bathroom. 

Jumin heaved over the toilet over and over to no effect and after a while, MC insisted he try to go back to bed but Jumin said he felt he couldn't sleep yet.

"I don't think I've been this drunk since college." Jumin said weakly. "I didn't think it would ever go away then either." 

"It will go away." MC assured him. 

“Not soon enough." Jumin said with a semi gag. 

"Please just come to bed? Some sleep will do you good." MC pleaded, and Jumin finally agreed. 

He laid in bed with his eyes shut tightly and a pained expression on his face.

"Here." MC began stroking his stomach gently. "Just relax and try to go back to sleep." 

It took him some time, but MC's light touch on his stomach eventually allowed him to relax and he fell into a deep sleep. 

.

Part 3 with V will be coming soon! (Just remember that V did nothing wrong.)

[magmasliveblogs]

1.22 (part 2)

aaaaaaaaaaand im back! when we last left erin, she was dealing with acid flies. lets see how this develops! 

“You have a talent for finding the most dangerous things, don’t you?”

Pisces shuddered as he gazed at the acid fly traps. He edged away from them and rubbed his arms nervously. Erin grinned at him.

“Aren’t they gross? But look—the jars are almost half full, and it’s not even been more than two hours.”

“How fascinating.”

He took another step back. Erin eyed him, but she couldn’t judge him too harshly. Both she and the mage were a good ten feet away from the glass jars.

Pisces licked his lips as he stared at the jars. The way the countless glowing shapes moved and heaved against the glass was hypnotic.

“I imagine…I imagine if all four containers were to rupture, the swarm of these insects could very well engulf us and melt our flesh within moments.”

“What a lovely image.”

“Yes. Yes, I imagine it will fill my dreams tonight.”

“They can’t get out of the jars. They’re not that smart. They wriggle in, but the lid keeps them from exiting. I did the same thing with fruit flies back where I lived.”

“I applaud your ingenuity. But may I ask why you decided to capture a swarm of deadly insects that prey on dead matter?”

“Well, they’re bugs. I bet Klbkch would love to eat them.”

Pisces gave her a fish eye look. He shook his head.

“It’s your funeral if you want to attempt to cook them. May I advise removing the acid before you serve them to your guests?”

Erin glowered at Pisces. She wasn’t even sure why she’d invited the mage to see her traps. She just wanted to show off, and he was the only one who’d come for dinner that night.

“I don’t get how they can survive anyways, if they explode so much. I mean, how would they even live long enough to reproduce?”

“By having few predators insane enough to risk consuming them. That, and the fact that they are nearly limitless in number.”

“Ah.”

Pisces waved a hand at the glass jars.

“These are only the males of the species, in any case. The females are—substantially—larger. In fact, the sole purpose of the male is to gather as much food as possible. He will dissolve and absorb as much nutrition into his lower abdomen before returning to a female in hopes of winning her favor. They all do it.”

“Oh, sort of like how bees and ants both have queens, right?”

Erin glanced over and saw Pisces gaping at her open-mouthed.

“What?”

He shook his head.

“I was unaware you were so familiar with the biology of insects, that’s all.”

huh, lets hope we never see a female 

“Oh, I know tons of weird animal facts. When I was kid I watched Discovery Chann—I mean, I read lots of books.”

“You can read?”

Pisces gave her a look almost bordering on respect. Erin glowered at him.

“Of course I can read. I can also play chess, and I read poetry. Sometimes.”

“You can play chess?”

Erin glared again, but he seemed genuinely curious.

“Oh yeah. I play chess. A tiny bit. You could say it’s a hobby of mine.”

“Really? As it happens, I was considered one of the better players in the northern cities. Would you care for a game? Perhaps with a wager or two on the side?”

Pisces smiled innocuously at her. Erin rolled her eyes.

prepare to get trounced 

An hour later Pisces stared at the chess pieces in front of him with desperate concentration. He moved the king piece in front of him left, and then right. He turned his head to look at the board another way.

“Perhaps if I—”

“Nope. And even if you try to take the pawn, it’s still checkmate.”

Erin didn’t bother looking up from her meal. She’d made scrambled eggs with sausage on the side. It wasn’t the most exciting of meals to eat, but it was tasty, filling, and it was better than having to stare at Pisces.

“I cannot fathom it. I was—am one of the best players in on the continent! I have outplayed [Tacticians] and other mages of similar caliber and skill. How could you defeat me?”

She shrugged.

“Amateurs are still amateurs. By the way, I’ll put the money you bet me on your tab.”

“Ah. That. Clearly I made a miscalculation. Would you care to waive my debts if I—”

“No. You bet and I won. No arguing. Eat your eggs.”

Erin heard a loud sniff, but after a moment she also heard the clink of metal on pottery.

“I must admit, this is better fare than your unfortunate soup of yesterday.”

She looked up. Pisces quickly looked down at his plate.

After she’d glared for a bit, Erin asked a question that had been on her mind for a while.

“What do you do all day, anyways?”

Pisces looked up and swallowed the scrambled eggs.

“I study the mystical realms of the transmundane. To unlock the secrets of the ether and command over supernatural forces I—”

“You study.”

“Pretty much.”

Pisces shrugged and went back to munching on his breakfast.

“Do you need to study that much? I mean, don’t you know spells?”

He sighed.

“For all my magical proficiency, I cannot cast more than a few magics beyond the third tier in any field, and I am relegated to first and second-tier magics in most fields outside of my specialization.”

yay studying!

“Oh. Um. Magic has tiers?”

Pisces rolled his eyes.

“Indeed. Seven, or eight to be exact. There is a speculative ninth tier of magic, but no mage has ever cast or discovered a spell of such magic. In any case, to cast such spells mages such as I require concentration, time, and effort to unravel the workings of each new incantation.”

Again, Erin had to pause to figure out what Pisces was saying.

“Right. So you study to cast better spells. And I guess that makes you level up as well?”

“Obviously. It is a taxing affair, especially given that menial affairs such as lodging and sustenance must be taken care of while one attempts to study.”

Erin propped her head on one elbow.

“Almost makes you wish you had a job, huh?”

Pisces eyed her dourly.

“Until recently I had a quite profitable side business liberating unneeded supplies from the locals in exchange for entertainment. But now I abstain from such activities to stay within your good graces.”

“Yeah, and because Relc threatened to stab you if you kept doing it. That’s not really a good career path, you know.”

He sniffed loudly.

“I also had a far more lucrative occupation liberating unneeded items from those who were in no position to use them, but apparently that is considered a grave violation of privacy as well.”

“You rob the dead?”

“I reburied them afterwards.”

Erin opened her mouth, raised a finger, threw up her hands, and gave up. She stared at Pisces as the mage huffily finished his food.

not like the dead will come back to life for revenge, or do they? we dont know yet 

“Why don’t you do something actually useful instead?”

“And what would I do that is so useful?”

“I dunno. What do mages do for a living? Blow up stuff with fireballs? Dispense sage advice? Sell their beards? I found a bunch of magic runes in the kitchen. They kept food fresh for—I dunno, years.”

“Ah. A [Preservation] spell, no doubt. Yes, that is certainly a service some mages skilled in runecraft can provide for plebeians.”

“…And? Can you do that?”

“I cannot.”

“Darn.”

“I am sorry to betray your high expectations in me, but I fear even a mage of my caliber cannot study every school of the higher arts.”

Erin glanced up at Pisces. The mage was scraping his plate with the knife and fork. She had the distinct impression he would have licked it if she weren’t watching.

“I never had high hopes for you in the first place. I just think it’s too bad, that’s all. You know magic and you don’t do anything with it.”

Pisces put down his fork.

“Some would say magic is its own reward. I would.”

“I guess.”

Erin sighed. She felt like she was talking to a wall. A particularly annoying wall with bad hygiene.

“You know, if you actually helped people and were a bit nicer, I think you’d actually be fun to hang around. Why are you so rude to everyone?”

She hadn’t meant it to sting, but clearly it hit Pisces somewhere vulnerable. He sat up straight in his chair, his eyes flashing.

“Thus far I haven’t found any people worthy of my assistance. Why should I help those who judge me in ignorance and fear?”

Erin blinked up at him. The young mage’s face was pale with indignation, but spots of color flared in each cheek. She thought about asking him another question—but he was in no mood for conversation.

Instead, Erin shrugged and stood up.

“Because you’re a better person than they are.”

She collected his plate and hers and left the mage sitting at the table. When she came out of the kitchen he was gone.

yay motivational messages! (sarcasm)

The next day Erin got up and went to check on her fly traps. They’d worked scarily well.

All four glass jars were filled with crawling, wriggling shapes. Erin took one look at the jars, gagged a bit, and then had to go sit down.

“Oh man. Oh wow. That’s the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

It was also, on reflection, the scariest thing she’d ever seen. Erin wondered what would happen if she accidentally knocked the lid off of one of the jars. She recalled Pisces’s comment about melting flesh and shuddered.

Carefully, Erin walked over to the jars. She repeatedly thought about how important it was not to trip.

Her foot caught on a tuft of grass. Erin windmilled her arms wildly and caught herself just before she tripped into one of the jars.

“Not okay. Not okay.”

Before her heart could finish stopping, Erin adjusted the lids of each jar so they firmly covered the openings. Now the acid flies couldn’t get out at all.

“That’s better.”

Erin hefted one of the jars up and felt some of the acid flies explode within.

“Oof. That’s heavy.”

She shifted as the acid and flies shifted in the jar. For such little insects, they weighed a ton.

“Gotta be all the acid in their backsides. Okay. This could take a while.”

Erin took one step, and then another. She adjusted her grip around the glass jar so she wouldn’t drop it. She’d have to watch the ground for potholes, but she was pretty happy with her posture. She took another step, and tripped over another of the glass fly traps.

The ground rushed to meet Erin’s face. She realized she was still holding the glass jar and hurled it away from her just in time. She smacked into the ground hard and exhaled hard. Aside from that, she was fine.

Then Erin heard the glass jar shatter as it hit the ground. She rolled to her feet and stood up.

The large glass jar lay in shards on the grass. Green-gray acidic sludge dripped onto the ground, raising steam and hissing where it met the soil. For a moment, all was still among the wreckage. Then, with a horrific buzzing a swarm of black shapes flew into the air.

Erin felt her heart stop. She looked up at the spiraling cloud of flies. They flew around wildly, looking for whatever had disturbed them. Erin backed away slowly, praying they would ignore her. For a moment it seemed as if they would fly off, but then the entire direction of the swarm changed. The cloud of flies seemed to recoil, and then encircled Erin in an instant.

Her heart had stopped. It wasn’t beating in her chest. Erin looked around desperately, but all she saw were buzzing, buzzing flies. They filled the sky, the ground, everything.

“I—”

They swarmed at her. Erin screamed and covered her eyes and mouth.

“Gust!”

Erin heard the voice, and then a raging gale blew around her. She staggered as the wind blew her around. The effect on the acid flies was even more pronounced. They were blasted away from Erin into a funnel of air which whirled them into one spot. They buzzed around angrily, disoriented and confused.

So was Erin. She looked around and saw a familiar young man wearing dirty grey robes. He was pointing a finger in her direction.

“Duck, Erin!”

Erin dove to the ground and hit the dirt hard. She looked up and saw Pisces raise one hand. A pale frost formed at his fingertips and half-visible gusts of wind blew around the length of his arm. He pointed at the disoriented swarm of acid flies.

“[Frozen Wind].”

A gentle breeze blew against the top of Erin’s head. Then, the air crackled and her hair froze in place. Erin could see the faintest trace of whirling air as it blew over her head. Where it passed, snow began to fall from the sky and she felt intense freezing cold engulf her.

The swarm of acid flies flew into the freezing breeze and fell out of the sky. Erin yelped and ran as they showered down around her, frozen insects that burst as they hit the ground.

She dove into the river, and leapt out of it just as quickly in case the flat fish tried to bite. When she cleared the water out of her eyes, the glowing swarm was gone, and all that was left was a circle of smoking dirt and frozen grass.

When Erin had finished shaking so hard she couldn’t move, she stood up. She was still trembling uncontrollably.

“That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

She lurched over to Pisces. She wasn’t sure if she should throw her arms around him or start crying. She settled for a brief hug, and then doubled down and hugged him fiercely. He didn’t seem to notice.

Pisces was breathing hard. He stared at the sizzling patch of earth where the acid flies had been, as if mesmerized. She could see the whites of his eyes as they shifted towards her.

“It—that was a beginner’s spell. Not suitable for most combat and downplayed by my instructors. However, it was the best tool for the moment. All magic is worth using, after all.”

“Right.”

Erin nodded. Pisces nodded. His eyes flicked back to the patch of melted earth.

“You saved me. It was incredible, that spell.”

He shook his head and waved a hand weakly in her direction.

“I am—I am a mage of Wistram Academy. As a specialist of the Wind Elementalist field of magic, of course such displays are second—second—”

Pisces bent over and threw up in the grass. He retched, and then threw up again. Erin patted him on the back and waited for him to stop.

it appears wistram graduates arent all he says they are if it just takes two spells to tire them out, unless he is just low on mana after studying or someting similar. that or he is weak from hunger other than the meals erin feeds him  

After a while Pisces wiped his mouth with a corner of his robe. His face was still pale, but he looked better.

“You were lucky I happened to be here. Very lucky.”

Erin nodded.

“I was. I really was.”

Pisces nodded back. Erin felt like they were both bobbleheads, but there was nothing else to do. He pointed a trembling finger at the three glass jars still holding the swarms of acid flies.

“If you insist on using such traps, might I suggest you anchor them in the stream?”

Erin looked blank.

“The stream? Why?”

“Several reasons.”

Pisces shakily counted them off on his fingers.

“Firstly, the natural buoyancy of the water would prevent the breakage of glass if the jars were dropped, or at least mitigate the danger of the acid flies. Secondly, the effects of wind and other native life would also be mitigated. And thirdly, I would not be at risk tripping over such traps.”

“Right. I can do that.”

She wasn’t sure if it was the moment, but the trembling in her body had nearly vanished. Erin grabbed a rock, tied a some long grass to it, and anchored the rock to the glass jar. She dropped the rock in the stream and watched the jar bob and float in the water.

“Hm. I need something heavy to make sure it stays upright. I guess sometimes the jars might turn over…but it’ll work. Better than leaving them on the ground. A hundred thousand times better.”

Pisces nodded again.

“Well.”

“Good thing you came along.”

Both nodded again. Pisces opened his mouth and grimaced. He went over to the stream and shakily rinsed his mouth out. Then he looked up at her.

“May I ask—what is it you plan to do now, Erin?”

She looked at him. Then she looked at the glass jars full of flies.

“I’m going to take these jars back to the inn. You’re coming with me in case I drop one. And then…”

“And then?”

“And then I’m going to feed you until you explode like one of the flies.”

Pisces glanced down at the glass jars and the milling acid flies within. He shuddered again.

“An apt description.”

while a good description, ew 

The jar of acid flies was a mix of acid and death. The corpses of hundreds—thousands of the small bugs floated in a sea of glowing green juice. It slopped against the side of the glass, an obscene testament of insectoid death.

“Hold on, I think there’s one left.”

Erin shook the glass jar. The last remaining acid fly bounced against the glass and popped dully within.

“What will you do with them?”

She looked up at Pisces. The mage was sitting several tables away from her, deliberately not looking at the glass jars.

“I’ll separate the flies and the acid. I don’t know what I’ll do with the acid.”

“If you dispose of it, please do so with utmost care. While the acid of these insects cannot eat through metal or many conventional materials, it is extremely quick to dissolve any organic material.”

Erin nodded. She carefully put the glass jar back in its corner and stood up.

“Right. Um. Want another piece of bread? Or would you like some more juice?”

The sight of the fresh bread and cup of juice made the mage’s face turn an indelicate shade of green. He patted his bloated stomach and erped. He covered his mouth with his hand, but Erin was pretty sure he’d nearly thrown up.

“Maybe not, then.”

“You have been most kind.”

yeah looks like he was just hungry 

Pisces stood up and clutched at his stomach. He wavered, and cast his eyes towards the door.

“Most kind. But the night is old, and I believe I shall retire.”

“Are you sure? I could get you a bag of food to go.”

He turned a darker shade of green and waved a hand quickly at her.

“You are very considerate, but no. No. I will be off. Thank you for your hospitality.”

“It was nothing. Let me get the door for you—there. Careful on your way out.”

She saw Pisces out the door and then turned and looked back at the table he’d sat in. It was filled with empty plates and crumbs. She debated cleaning it up, and then shook her head.

Carefully, Erin picked her way across the inn. She walked over to the three filled jars of acid flies and made sure for the umpteenth time that the lids were secure, and that she couldn’t see any flies still wriggling around inside.

Among the many things Erin had bought from Krshia, one of them was a chalkboard and piece of chalk. She’d meant to record things she needed on it, but now Erin wiped the black slate clean and used her best handwriting as she wrote on the board. Then she propped it up on the bar’s counter.

Menu

Pasta w/sausage and onions – 3 cp. per plate.

Blue juice – 2 cp. per glass.

Acid flies – 1 s. per plate

She dropped the chalk on the counter and cast her eyes back at the jars of dead flies. Erin shuddered. She rubbed at her arms and sat in her chair. Too close. Too close by far.

In a while she’d fall asleep. In a while she’d wake up screaming and then fall asleep again. She’d be haunted by the sound of buzzing wings for the next week. But for the moment, Erin’s eyes closed.

[Innkeeper Level 10!]

[Skill – Alcohol Brewer obtained!]

[Skill – Dangersense obtained!]

“…I wonder if you can make fly cookies?”

ooo alcohol brewer? can she now made wine from the fruits, like what magnolia had delivered? also is [dangersense] just spider sense but better? 

thats the end of the chapter! will pisces return more often? will klb love those flies? 

see you next post