#op your mind goes beyond the threads of this world

[spaghettinewt]

I’m actually so in love with this. Going utterly insane by this, actually.

This post translates directly to @musas-sideblog's about how Touchstarved ties with Victorian horror and implicit/metaphorical sex, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so here is a lengthy theory. Enjoy :)

Note 1: Victorian era authors used an unholy amount of ways to imply sexual feelings/acts etc, so I here I will include only the ones that are of interest. Note 2: I've highlighted the "most important" parts. Note 3: I'm not an expert at this, so please bear with me and feel free to correct me. Note 4: Do I need to add a TW? I think it's obvious-

Overview: What is Victorian Horror?

Victorian horror refers to the genre of horror literature, art, and culture that flourished during the Victorian era, roughly from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, coinciding with Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901. This period was marked by a fascination with the macabre, the supernatural, and the dark aspects of human nature, reflecting the anxieties and societal changes of the time. 

Key Themes and Characteristics

Supernatural Elements:

Ghosts and Spirits: Tales of haunted houses and spectral apparitions were central to Victorian horror. Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" (1843) and Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw" (1898) are notable examples.

Monsters and the Gothic: The era's literature is filled with monstrous creations and gothic settings, such as in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (1818), Bram Stoker's "Dracula" (1897), and Robert Louis Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" (1886).

Science and the Unknown:

The Victorian period was a time of great scientific advancement, but also of fear about the implications of these discoveries. This is evident in works that explore the dangers of unchecked scientific experimentation, like "Frankenstein" and H.G. Wells's "The Island of Doctor Moreau" (1896).

Exploration of the Human Psyche:

Victorian horror often delved into the darker aspects of the human mind, including themes of duality, madness, and the hidden, sinister side of human nature. This is seen in "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" and Edgar Allan Poe’s works, such as "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843).

Social and Moral Anxieties:

The literature frequently reflected Victorian society's fears and anxieties, including issues related to sexuality, class, and the role of women. Gothic novels often contained subtexts about societal norms and the consequences of transgressing them.

Urban Fear and Isolation:

The rapid urbanisation of the Victorian era contributed to themes of isolation, alienation, and fear of the crowded yet lonely cityscape. This is evident in the settings of many horror stories, such as Arthur Machen's "The Great God Pan" (1894).

Sexual Content: Victorian literature is renowned for its strict moral codes and conservative views on sexuality. Explicit depictions of sexual activity were considered taboo and were subject to censorship. Consequently, authors developed subtle and nuanced methods to imply sexual scenes or themes.

Literary Techniques for Implying Sexual Scenes

✧ Symbolism and Imagery:

Sexuality was often conveyed through symbolic imagery. Objects, actions, or natural phenomena could serve as metaphors for sexual activity or desire. For example, in "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, blood and biting symbolise sexual penetration and the exchange of bodily fluids, infusing the act with a sense of forbidden desire and eroticism.

Clothing and Undress:

Gloves: In Victorian culture, gloves were highly symbolic. The act of a woman removing her gloves in the presence of a man, or a man assisting her in this act, could signify a moment of intimacy or vulnerability. Similarly, a man giving a woman his gloves could be a sign of affection or a deeper connection.

Hats and Bonnets:

Corsets

Objects and Personal Items:

Locks of Hair

Jewellery

Books and Letters

Touch and Physical Contact:

Kissing Hands

Hand-Holding

Food and Drink:

Wine: Sharing wine or a meal in an intimate setting often suggested a prelude to deeper connection. Descriptions of characters drinking wine together in private could imply a romantic or sexual undertone.

Fruit: Certain fruits, like apples, grapes, or peaches, were laden with sexual symbolism. Eating or sharing fruit could represent temptation or indulgence. For instance, in Christina Rossetti’s poem "Goblin Market", the act of eating the goblin fruit is rich with sexual symbolism.

Flora and Fauna

Flowers and Gardens:

Roses: Roses were often used to symbolise love and passion. A red rose might suggest romantic or sexual attraction, while a wilted rose could imply lost innocence or sexual ruin.

Lilies: Lilies, especially white ones, represented purity but could also suggest a contrasting theme when associated with a fallen or tarnished character.

Garden Settings: Scenes set in secluded gardens or amongst lush, overgrown vegetation often hinted at secret or forbidden encounters. Descriptions of characters wandering through or tending to gardens could imply sexual exploration or awakening.

Flowers Blooming or Opening:  The blooming of flowers often represented sexual awakening or the act of losing one's virginity.

Nature Imagery:

Rivers and Water: Flowing water and rivers often symbolised sexual desire and the act of lovemaking. For instance, in "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy, Tess's encounter with Alec d'Urberville is often described with metaphors of nature and fluidity.

Storms and Weather: Storms, with their intense energy and sudden outbursts, were frequently used to symbolise sexual passion or climactic moments.

Birds and Beasts:

Animals, especially those that are wild or predatory, often symbolised primal sexual instincts and desires. The taming or interaction with these animals could imply a character’s grappling with their own sexuality.

Fire and Heat

✧ Phrases and Sayings

Euphemistic Language

Descriptive Phrasing

Dialogue and Confessions

Private Spaces:

Secluded or Dimly Lit Rooms: Scenes set in private, darkened rooms often suggested clandestine sexual encounters. The privacy of the setting allows authors to imply what could not be explicitly stated. In Wilkie Collins’s "The Woman in White", many key interactions happen in secluded spaces, hinting at secrets and hidden desires.

Dreams and Fantasies:

Dream Sequences:

Dreams and fantasies were used to explore a character’s subconscious desires and fears, often revealing their suppressed sexual longings. These sequences provided a socially acceptable way to delve into erotic themes.

Hallucinations and Madness:

Moments of madness or hallucination could serve as a metaphor for overwhelming passion or uncontrollable sexual desire. These states allowed characters to express forbidden feelings in a way that was metaphorically safe.

Physical Interactions and Horror

Touch and Proximity as Menace:

Unwanted or Forced Touch: In horror, touch that is typically a sign of affection or intimacy becomes a source of fear.

Physical Closeness in Horror Settings: Close proximity in dark, secluded places amplifies the sense of claustrophobia and vulnerability, turning what could be an intimate setting into one fraught with terror.

Undress and Exposure in Horror:

Loosening Corsets and Vulnerability: The act of undressing or loosening clothing, which can be a prelude to intimacy, in horror often leaves characters vulnerable to attack or exposure of their deepest fears.

Food and Consumption in Horror

Cannibalism and Vampirism:

Blood as Sexual and Vital Fluid: The act of consuming blood, as in vampirism, blends the themes of sustenance and sexual exchange. The vampire's bite becomes a metaphor for both sexual penetration and the transfer of life force.

Example: "Dracula" is a prime example where blood consumption is deeply eroticized, with Dracula’s victims often portrayed in a state of ecstatic submission as he drains their blood.

Food as a Lure: Food and feasting, typically symbols of pleasure and indulgence, in horror contexts can be used to lure victims into dangerous situations.

Example: In "Goblin Market" by Christina Rossetti, the goblins’ fruit is both irresistibly tempting and dangerous, representing a forbidden and potentially fatal indulgence.

Plot and Character Dynamics in Horror

Power and Domination:

Common Dynamics with a Dark Twist

Predators and Victims: Characters who prey on others are often literal monsters in horror, representing the loss of control or innocence.

Secrecy and Concealment:

Hidden Desires and Monstrous Revelations: Characters who conceal their true identities or desires often find these hidden aspects manifesting as monstrous or terrifying in horror narratives, suggesting that repression can lead to dire consequences.

Clandestine Meetings and Forbidden Encounters: Secret meetings and forbidden relationships, often tinged with sexual implications, add an element of danger and fear, suggesting that transgressing social norms leads to horror.

Common Themes in Victorian Horror

Duality and the Doppelgänger:

Theme: The concept of duality, where a character has a hidden, darker side, or encounters a double (doppelgänger), often symbolises the internal conflict between good and evil within individuals.

Connection: This theme reflects Victorian anxieties about identity, morality, and the consequences of repressing one’s darker impulses.

Gothic and Supernatural Elements:

Theme: Victorian horror is rich with Gothic elements such as haunted houses, dark landscapes, and supernatural beings. These elements create a sense of dread and evoke the mysteries of the unknown.

Connection: The Gothic setting often serves as a backdrop for exploring human fears, isolation, and the impact of the supernatural on everyday life.

Decay and Degeneration:

Theme: The fear of decay and degeneration, both physical and moral, is a recurring motif. This theme often examines the decline of individuals, families, or societies and the consequences of corruption and vice.

Connection: This theme mirrors Victorian concerns about the erosion of social and moral values amidst rapid industrial and social changes.

Madness and Psychological Horror:

Theme: The exploration of madness and psychological horror delves into the fragility of the human mind and the terror of losing one's sanity. This often includes hallucinations, obsessions, and the thin line between reality and delusion.

Connection: This theme resonates with Victorian fears of mental illness, the limitations of medical knowledge, and the impact of societal pressures on mental health.

Forbidden Knowledge and the Faustian Bargain:

Theme: The pursuit of forbidden knowledge and the resulting consequences is a central theme. Characters who seek power, immortality, or forbidden truths often pay a heavy price, reminiscent of the Faustian bargain.

Connection: This theme highlights Victorian anxieties about scientific progress, moral boundaries, and the potential hubris of human ambition.

The Uncanny and the Unknown:

Theme: The uncanny involves the strange and unfamiliar becoming eerily familiar, often unsettling the reader and characters. It blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural, invoking fear and discomfort.

Connection: This theme taps into Victorian fears of the unknown, the foreign, and the otherworldly, reflecting broader anxieties about social and cultural boundaries.

Death and the Afterlife:

Theme: Victorian horror frequently grapples with themes of death and the afterlife, exploring the fear of mortality, the possibility of an afterlife, and encounters with the dead or undead.

Connection: These themes reflect Victorian preoccupations with death, the spiritual realm, and the possibility of life beyond death, often intensified by the era's high mortality rates and interest in spiritualism.

Isolation and Alienation:

Theme: Isolation and alienation are prevalent themes, often highlighting characters who are physically or emotionally detached from society, leading to their vulnerability and descent into despair or madness.

Connection: This theme resonates with the Victorian experience of industrialization and urbanization, which often led to feelings of disconnection and loneliness.

Class and Social Anxiety:

Theme: Victorian horror often explores themes of class and social anxiety, including the fear of losing social status, the consequences of poverty, and the tension between different social classes.

Connection: This theme reflects the rigid class structures of Victorian society and the fears and tensions that arose from social mobility and economic disparity.

Moral Corruption and Hypocrisy:

Theme: Victorian horror frequently critiques the era’s moral standards and exposes the hypocrisy of societal norms. Characters who appear virtuous often harbor dark secrets or engage in morally dubious activities.

Connection: This theme mirrors the Victorian concern with appearances and the underlying tension between public propriety and private desires.

The Five Pillars of Victorian Horror & The Five Love Interests

The Supernatural and the Gothic (Ais)

Essence: Victorian horror often revolves around the supernatural, blending Gothic elements to evoke a sense of dread and otherworldly terror. This includes ghosts, vampires, haunted houses, and curses, which create an atmosphere where the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural blur.

Impact: The use of Gothic settings and supernatural phenomena provides a backdrop for exploring deeper themes of fear, mortality, and the unknown.

Psychological Depth and Madness (Vere)

Essence: Victorian horror delves into the complexities of the human mind, exploring themes of madness, obsession, and the psychological effects of fear and trauma. Characters often grapple with their sanity, facing inner demons as terrifying as any external threat.

Impact: This focus on psychological horror allows for a deeper exploration of character motivations and the impact of societal pressures.

Moral Corruption and the Double Life (Leander)

Essence: Themes of moral corruption and the duality of human nature are central to Victorian horror. Characters often lead double lives, presenting a veneer of respectability while concealing dark, sinful secrets. This tension between outward appearances and hidden truths reflects the era’s social hypocrisy and fear of scandal.

Impact: These themes critique Victorian society’s emphasis on propriety and the dangerous consequences of repressing one’s true nature. The idea of a double life or hidden self adds to the horror by suggesting that evil can reside within anyone, masked by a facade of normalcy.

Decay, Degeneration, and Disease (Kuras)

Essence: The themes of physical and moral decay, societal degeneration, and disease permeate Victorian horror. These motifs symbolise the fragility of human life and the inevitability of decline, reflecting the anxieties of a society grappling with rapid change and uncertain futures.

Impact: By focusing on decay and degeneration, Victorian horror underscores the transient nature of life and the ever-present threat of corruption and decline, whether through ageing, moral compromise, or societal breakdown.

Isolation and Alienation (Mhin)

Essence: Isolation and alienation are pervasive themes in Victorian horror, often depicted through characters who are physically or emotionally cut off from society. This separation heightens their vulnerability to external threats and internal fears.

Impact: Isolation serves to intensify the psychological tension and sense of dread, as characters confront their fears alone. It also reflects the era’s social and existential anxieties, including the fear of being disconnected or outcast from society.

Generally, I believe each LI connects with a pillair (as seen above). Perhaps by looking at the archetypes we could deduce propable endings and route elements.

Forgive me, for the following part is MESSY;

Ais

Vere

Leander

Kuras

Mhin

[sugarfreecapsicle]

study buddy

bucky barnes x reader

Prompts: college!au (1.5k constellation writing challenge by @sunmoonandbucky); fake dating!au & unplanned bed sharing trope (star’s multi-fandom follower celebration by @star-spangled-man-with-a-plan )

Warnings: mentions of alcohol, bit of pining, lots of awkward interaction, fluff!!!!

Wordcount: 2k-ish

A/N: oh my god, y’all, I can’t believe two of my favorites have challenges going on at the same time. I’m so honored to call them both friends - both are phenomenal writers in their own right and I am always floored by their respective work. I love the both of your oh so dearly and am so happy you’ve reached such important milestones! You deserve every happiness, and I hope this fic can bring you just a little of that.

Gif Credit (x)

Assigned seating did not end in grade school. The nightmare of desk dictatorship held strong in Fury’s classroom - a man of simple rules and unquestioned respect for his time. Your research into your professors via many forums and sites like RateMyProfessor did not alert you to the nightmare of obeying his law to the letter.

“If I were sorry about my decision, I’d apologize, but I’ve always been an honest man. You chose your seat, you chose your partner, and you chose to break up. That’s a personal problem to solve on personal time. Not mine. See you next class.”

Your conversation on the phone with Wanda and Maria definitely didn’t help lift your mood. Wanda, empathetic and full of irrational resolutions like falsifying a restraining order. Maria, ever practical and smug with her I-told-you-so attitude.

“I don’t know what else you expected from Fury of all people,” Maria chuckled before biting into an apple slice. “Even if he thinks Brock is an asshole, he won’t make an exception without something dire on the line.”

“Maybe you can just switch classes? I’m pretty sure there’s an opening in-” “Wanda, I love you, but I can’t switch classes two weeks from finals.” You pinch the bridge of your nose, squeeze your eyes shut in the afternoon sun. “I’ll just...I’ll just handle this as gracefully as I can.”

“Godspeed,” Maria deadpans before dropping the call.

“Y’know, I didn’t want to have to resort to this,” Wanda’s trepidation fueled your oncoming tension migraine, “but maybe it’s time to call in your favor with Bucky.”

Your heart drops somewhere on the pigeon-shit sidewalk.

“Wanda....I think you might be right.”

The saying goes that once you’ve hit rock bottom there’s nowhere to go but upward. If calling in a favor to your freshman year crush turned campus heartbreaker didn’t qualify, you didn’t want to find out where bedrock truly could be.

You shouldn’t be surprised to find a technology major in the library swamped with work on a Tuesday, but when that student is James Buchannan Barnes, it’s worthy of flipping the world ass over teakettle. Dashing as ever, stormy eyes, chestnut hair combed just so. Your backpack thuds on the floor beneath the co-op table, and his eyes find you.

“Hey, stranger,” he murmurs with an impossibly charming smile that lights his entire face. “Where have you been since August?”

Fighting a smile around Bucky is futile, so you let a grin appear. “Unfortunately dating Brock and sitting next to him in Fury’s class.”

His smile pulls into a tight wince as you take your seat across from him and retrieve your laptop from your bag.

“I don’t envy you.” Bucky waves and nods briefly at another student passing by behind you, and you turn to notice it’s a shapely redhead you recall from last semester’s art history class. “He won’t budge without legal documentation at best.”

Your fingers twist and curl together in nonsensical patterns in your lap. “Well, I was hoping to get Brock off my case, actually.”

Bucky doesn’t respond more than raised eyebrows and startled blinking. 

“Would...could you be my fake boyfriend long enough to convince Brock we aren’t getting back together?” It comes out all rushed and nervous, syllables running together like a skittering mouse across the kitchen floor. Your heart hammers against your chest, determined to break free of your body every second Bucky stalls his reply. You can’t read him - he’s still leaned back in dumbfounded silence. 

At long last he leans in, hands steeple between the two of you, calculating gleam in his eye. “If you’ll help me figure out how to pass this English Lit final, I’ll actually date you.” 

You both laugh quietly, minding the nearby staff eyeing your space at the table. Pink tinges your cheeks dangerously beyond mere flattery. 

“Let’s just agree to fake dating for now, and we’ll see if you can still stand to share space with me after a few weeks.”

“Deal.” Bucky extends his hand, you grasp it and shake to your agreement. Your fingers reluctantly move to let go, but Bucky holds firm and pulls the back of your hand to his smirking lips. “Whatever you need, darlin’.”

Days later you’re still tingling from his public affection in the library. Could you have been imagining the color shift in his eyes when he peered over your hand or was it purely fantasy? Lack of caffeine, mental fixation from stress - more likely than any truth to how deeply in character he seemed to be already.

Bucky escorts you to your classes with his fingers threading yours, a hand at the small of your back, an arm flung around your shoulders. He’s in your ear, whispering jokes and delicious plans for the rest of your time together, kissing your forehead or your cheek when you reach the door. Keeping your arrangement from Wanda and Maria could only be explained by the stress of impending finals, and you’d managed to avoid inevitable party and holiday invitations. If nothing else, this pretending made the idea of being near Brock again less intimidating.

Fury Friday arrived sooner than you’d felt it should, and as set in precedent, Bucky strolls next to you with his hand in yours, beaming and chatting about how he’d managed to bring his scores up enough in Statistics to earn a pass on his final and thereby free up his weekend. Dread skirted in your lungs, a distant siren’s call to your sense of reason as the reality of sitting next to Brock for two hours pressed upon you. 

“Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind or are you gonna keep me guessing?”

He’s too good at this, and Bucky has to know it. “Sorry, I...am not looking forward to this.”

“I can’t think of anyone that looks forward to a Fury class to be fair,” he laughs breathily and puts a soothing hand to your waist. A kiss lingers on your forehead, and Bucky’s spicy cologne takes over your senses in a tight embrace. “Especially with Rumlow as your seatmate.”

His whispered acknowledgment makes your whole body shiver, and he responds with a few brushes over your arms and back to stir away the obvious chilled gust of wind that’s painted your cheeks pink again.

“Knock ‘em dead, killer,” he teases with a single knuckle against your chin. Bucky’s nose brushes just barely against yours, and then he’s dashing down the hallway with a wave over his shoulder. It dawns on you as you take your seat - your neighbor pleasantly absent - that Bucky could be sacrificing too much for a fake relationship, for your sake. Brock could be all bark and no bite, but a small part of you felt he could be a breath away from snapping. Others are milling about the room, so you pull your phone out and send Bucky a text. The little heart next to his name stings somewhere deep in your chest.

You’re not missing classes just to walk me to and from, right?

Your laptop is open and ready to go, humming to life while you bend beneath the elongated desks to make sure you could plug into an outlet if need be. The buzz of a reply sends you hurtling into the composite tabletop, a loud thud followed by tittering giggles around the filling room.

Brock is glaring down at you and your phone screen, mouth in a thin line, eyebrows knitted together. You don’t say a word to him and try to keep his prying eyes from your screen.

Not missing, exactly, but cutting it close. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.

“Didn’t take you long to hop on someone else’s dick, did it?”

His voice churns in your stomach, but you don’t acknowledge him. Had this been any other class but Fury’s you could put in earbuds and block him out. Brock’s eyes are on you, or at least the cold sweat chilling the back of your neck makes you think as much, and he’s seething, boring holes into your form. For two hours. For an entire Fury lecture.

Your shoe catches one of the rear legs of his chair, but you can’t bother to turn around and apologize - not like the seat budged under the star athlete. Bucky grins as you exit through the wide double doors, moves to wrap an arm around you, and you pull him by his jacket to your lips. You’re lost in his cologne, the feel if his mouth on yours, his body heat against the biting December cold. There’s a hum, something of a moan quiet enough to feel and dream of hearing - and you can’t be sure if it came from you or Bucky. With a dizzied wobble, you’re separated and Bucky’s eyes are still closed, arms cocooning you against his form.

“Hey,” he chuckles, voice deep and husky, the grin tugging at the right corner of his mouth.

“Hi,” you’re just as breathy and more than a little wanting. “Ready for the weekend?”

______________________________________

Friday night passes without a mention of the kiss.

The entirety of Saturday passes, and no mention of the kiss.

And it’s all you can think about. Forget studying for finals, forget meal prepping for the guaranteed necessity of pre-made lunches and dinners. That kiss.

You’d caught him off guard, but he didn’t hesitate to respond hungrily. Bucky tasted of honeyed tea and cinnamon chewing gum, carried the warmth of summer sun beneath his jacket. You hadn’t considered prior to the rash decision to just fucking kiss him that your senses would swim in his aftershave, his sheer proximity, the comfort of him. For you, Bucky had never been so tangible.  

Truthfully, Bucky had never been tangible for anyone - notorious campus-wide for gracefully bowing out of invitations for dates, one night stands even. People of course talked, spread rumors that he had to be dating a professor in secret, that he had a long distance relationship with a supermodel overseas. 

Until that kiss two days ago.

Bucky arranged for time to cram for his English Lit final with you tonight in his apartment, more for the convenience of avoiding scorned women at every corner of your dorm than anything else. He did have more space, privacy and faster internet than the supplied campus Wi-Fi. 

Is it appropriate to bring wine to a study session or is that strictly for dinner parties? Maybe some appetizers? Seven o’clock on a Sunday night typically meant binging as many football games as anyone could consume, especially in a college town. 

You’re buzzed up to this apartment, cream puffs in hand, and freeze when Steve opens the door to a living room full of people in various coordination of navy and ivory. The tall blonde ushers you in and sweeps your dessert out of your hands before you can locate your study buddy.

“Buck’s in his room,” Steve offers with some mischief. “Says he needs to pass this final, so he’s passing on the game night.”

It’s easy enough to figure out which room with a shut door is Bucky’s when Sam walks out of the bathroom and immediately checks the score on his phone (the space around the smaller television is too busy to see). You knock, probably a little too lightly at first, but the second set of taps nearly clock Bucky’s throat.

He’s beaming, cheeks flushed, smile wide - like a smitten kid. His electric touch pulls you into his bedroom already scattered with his scrawlings and textbooks. The door barely provides enough sound protection from the party for you to feel comfortable at attempting to concentrate.

“I really thought Steve had an away game this weekend, but I hadn’t thought about having a bye week for finals -” Bucky stops, feet strategically between loose paper and dog-eared texts. And god, he’s looking at you like that again and you can’t breathe. 

Suddenly you understand the gravity of your feelings, and your mouth goes dry.

This isn’t fake for you. Not anymore.

“Really, I’m glad you still wanted to help me out.” Bucky’s sincere, permanently grinning as he’s rearranging his chaotic floorspace to make room for you. You swallow hard as you eye the sliver of skin between his sweater and his lounge pants, the well-loved hoodie pooling around his middle as he bends from his hips. When he’s upright and inviting you to settle in, you decide that professionalism has to outweigh your own personal crisis - think like Fury.

Hours later, the two of your are in a shambles - Bucky insisted you change into a pair of his sweats and a tee shirt in the event of an all nighter, you’d made a run for fast food, and your eyes can hardly stay open long enough to fact-check Bucky’s recitation. 

“I think maybe we should call it a night,” he yawns, interrupting his monologue. You nod mutely and move to get up when Bucky catches your arm. “Uh, I mean, you could...you could stay.”

You shouldn’t, though, for reasons Bucky doesn’t know - but he has an excellent argument: you’re in no shape to get yourself home and with the party still going strong outside his bedroom there’s no way he can drive you home. 

Bucky helps you get to your feet and smooths his hands over your shoulders. “Scout honor, no funny business. They’ll all crash on top of each other in the living room and Steve’s room. You’d at least have a little more space in here. I’ll take the floor -” 

“Absolutely not, Bucky Barnes.” Your tone even surprises you; the Fury switch quickly dissipates. “I mean, I can’t in good conscience let you do that, it’s your room. We can...we can just share, if you don’t mind -”

“Not at all.” Maybe it’s your drowsiness but he seems eager. “Just washed the sheets anyway, and the blanket’s something Mom and Gran quilted for me as a kid.”

Soft cotton and jersey envelop your aching muscles, and a betraying moan of contentment escapes you when Bucky curls into bed next to you. He’s warm, a furnace beneath the covers, haven from the biting cold. 

His stubble, still unshaven from Friday, borders on scruff and tickles your forehead. Hands ease over your back, tentative, hesitant. You can’t deny him and certainly can’t deny yourself this moment. 

“Darlin’?”

He’s whisper soft, cotton candy words prickling against your skin. You hum and his hands still against your shirt.

“Wasn’t kidding about actually dating you, y’know. If you want to take up the offer-”

Your fingers are on his lips, you crane your body to get a better look at his beautiful, tired face. 

“Ask me again in the morning, Buck. After coffee. So I know this isn’t delirium.”

He sighs and presses a tired smile into your forehead. “Whatever you need, darlin’.”

[spiritmaiden23]

THE POSITIVE & NEGATIVE; Mun & Muse - Meme.

fill out & repost ♥ This meme definitely favors canons more, but I hope OC’s still can make it somehow work with their own lore, and lil’ fandom of friends & mutuals. Multi-Muses pick the muse you are the most invested in atm.

My muse is:   canon / oc / au / canon-divergent / fandomless /

Is your character popular in the fandom?  YES / NO / IDK. For sure, for being the cutest of cutes!! All Zeldas are cute though but she was the blueprint ;v; 

Is your character considered hot™ in the fandom?  YES / NO / IDK. I’m a devout christian virgin I would never ever look at those kind of topics the only hot I see is the flames of hell for even considering this smh smh bUT NO FOR REAL THO I’M NOT REALLY SURE???? I mostly see people gushing over how cute she is rather than hot. 

Is your character considered strong in the fandom?  YES / NO / In some aspects. We don’t really see Skyward Sword Zelda’s abilities in the games as we did in, say, BOTW where she goes full goddess mode. Aside from blessing the master sword, sealing herself away, and the implications that the game gives us with Zelda being not only a student at the knight school but also a badass warrior goddess in her past life; I’d say she’s pretty up there in terms of strength. 

Are they underrated?  YES / NO. GONNA GO WITH YES AND NO ON THIS. As a character, Zelda is far from underrated she’s actually cliche blonde character we all love and stan but in this incarnation.... also yes and no because while I see a lot of people like SS Zelda keep in mind that SS is the black sheep of the series so not a lot of people have good opinions on it. I’ve seen some say she’s annoying, too shoujo or even Mary Sue at some points and hweoh we all know that the last one ain’t even close to true since she’s far from bland and OP written. But it’s all a matter of perspective!  

Were they relevant for the main story?  YES / NO.

Were they relevant for the main character? YES / NO /

Are they widely known in their world?  YES / NO.

How’s their reputation?  GOOD / BAD / NEUTRAL / FOR THE MOST PART, if we were talking verses like say witch verse she’d have more of a neutral reputation considering witches aren’t really well-liked ;-; 

How strictly do you follow canon?  

I try to do the best that I can do given with what we’re working with here all while adding my own spin to her characterization because we all have different perspective when it comes to art! How I see Zelda is someone who’s bubbly, playful (big ol bully hweoh), a bit of a busybody if she feels she needs to step in due to worrywart tendencies yet highly responsible and carries a wisdom that’s beyond her age, she doesn’t like seeing people bullying others and isn’t afraid to put her foot down to speak her mind if something is up. While kindness is sorta her strong suit I wanted to go beyond “nice girl” and just showcase other sides of her too, hence why main verse is typically set during the events of SS because here we see her growth into the girl we see at the end of the game where she’s melancholic of her past but is looking forward to seeing what the future holds and wants to build a brighter tomorrow with Link by her side along with friends and loved ones. I’m not at all confident in playing as her, despite playing as Zelda since 2017 haha!! So I can’t really say that I’m super strict in following canon considering that’s how I view the character through the actions and dialogue throughout the game, perhaps the creators had something different in mind than how I see Sky Zelda.   

SELL YOUR MUSE! Aka try to list everything, which makes your muse interesting in your opinion to make them spicy for your mutuals.  

DO YOU LIKE WHOLESOME GIRLS?! Wait no, hold on, that’s a little too vague, so let’s try that again. Do you like wholesome genki girls who were once a god who fought in a war in their past life? How about pastel girls who may seem sweet but are deep down bullies towards loved ones? Are you at a point in your life where you find yourself wondering: where on earth can I find someone who’s ray of sunshine can brighten up my day. Will do I have good news for you buddy! Introducing your very own friend: Zelda from hit series Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. This Zelda is more extreme than the others due to the fact that she’s not a princess, that’s right no princess titles clogging up that beautiful name. Just a knight who somehow finds out she’s actually a goddess reborn as human, no biggie! 

Now the OPPOSITE, list everything why your muse could not be so interesting (even if you may not agree, what does the fandom perhaps think?)

SHOUJO PROTAG WHO’S TOO FREAKING CUTE!! So.... if that’s not your cup of tea ;v; but nah I can see people not liking Zelda because not everyone like the nice girl who’s your childhood friend characrter, I totally get it but if you dig a little deeper you see that there’s more to it than that.

What inspired you to rp your muse?  

My close friend was FINALLY getting into the LOZ series back when BOTW was first coming out, her playthrough of SS made me remember how much I loved each characters and honestly Zelda’s design in that game was always my fav right next to Tetra and ALTTP/ALBW! At the time I mostly played more introverted muses or straight up villains and I wanted to try my hand at playing more wholesome characters like Sky Zel and ALTTP Zel ;v; now look at me, the CEO of wholesome cute girls ;v; 

What keeps your inspiration going?  

Motivation and time at this point, I’m not the young starry-eyed rper who used to have playlists and replay things to keep up with canon. I just pray to god I’m doing ok, let jesus take the wheel and just sorta do my own thing. I think having fun threads or a friendship with partners or just good vibes from them def helps a whole lot. 

Some more personal questions for the mun.

Give your mutuals some insight about the way you are in some matters, which could lead them to get more comfortable with you or perhaps not.

Do you think you give your character justice?  YES / NO.

Do you frequently write headcanons?  YES / NO. SORTA KINDA NOT AS MUCH AS I DO WITH ALTTP ZEL BECAUSE I’M ALWAYS NERVOUS THAT I MIGHT LIKE BREAK THE CANON OR ZEL’S CHARACTER!! 

Do you sometimes write drabbles?  YES / NO.  

Do you think a lot about your Muse during the day?  YES / NO.

Are you confident in your portrayal?   YES / NO.

Are you confident in your writing?  YES / NO / Most of the time!

Are you a sensitive person?  YES / NO. I mean, that’s a trick question because I can be sensitive in picking up tones and reading between the lines but like if you mean if someone says something mean than no not anymore at least, I’m too old to care about what people say about me or think about me. 

Do you accept criticism well about your portrayal?  

YE! I do! I mean we’re all improving and junk so I see no issues with criticisms uvub I always worry about whether or not you can hear different voices within the characters I rp as among writing issues I have that comes with learning disability and ADD, I try my hardest but I know at the end of the day there will always be grammar mistakes and even spelling! 

Do you like questions, which help you explore your character?

YES YES YES!! OMG YES!! I TAKE WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND JUST... WORD VOMIT BACK SEVEN PAGE ESSAY SOMETIMES ;V; 

If someone disagrees to a headcanon of yours, do you want to know why?

Eh, well yeah it’d be nice honestly to hear feedbacks and thoughts. Just saying ‘I don’t like this or I don’t agree with this’ doesn’t really help anyone who wants to improve but I’m not gonna like press them for it either because again I’m at the stage in my life where I’m just like ‘it is what it is’. 

If someone disagrees with your portrayal, how would you take it?

Shrug emoji, and then move on! Again it’d be nice if they can tell me though but I won’t press them for it if they don’t feel like it. We’re allowed to have our opinions after all yo!

If someone really hates your character, how do you take it?

It is illegal to hate sky zel or any Zel really... NAH JK I DON’T REALLY CARE I’ve liked characters who aren’t popular among the fandom, I’m more or less used to seeing character bashing for faves so like it doesn’t really affect me at all I’m just like “lol” and move on. 

Are you okay with people pointing out your grammatical errors?

YES! Though keep in mind, despite me using Grey instead of Gray, I use US English ;v; so keep that in mind when spotting out certain words other parts of the world may spell differently because us US Americans just..... gotta be extra like that. 

Do you think you are easy going as a mun?  

I TRY!!! IDK IF I COME ACROSS AS THAT but I’m very much someone who goes with the flow anyway, I’ve been told that much IRL and I’m just hweoh not really someone who’s a stick in the mud or has a stick up their ass, you know? I’m pretty laid back and not much bothers me, I can get petty if I have to come across rude people that’s the one thing that kills it for me but aside from that, I just wanna try to get along with people. We don’t have to be friends if you’re not feeling the vibes but friendly terms is good enough for me!

That’s about it, congrats for filling out!

[famedexclusivearchive]

[EVENT] BC, DIMENSIONS, AND GOLD STAR TO HOST YEAR END SONG FESTIVAL

Top idol companies BC Entertainment, Dimensions Entertainment, and Gold Star Media have decided to throw their hats into the ring among the rush of year end shows. The year-end festival will begin at 7PM KST on December 19 at Gocheok Sky Dome and have a three and a half hour run time. The show will feature performances from the three companies’ wide rosters of idols alongside special stages. The three companies have already been closely linked through their Triple Fantasy concerts, but this new venture rings of even more to come from the industry toppers.

ADMIN NOTES:

As the year comes to a close, the rush of year-end festivals and award shows comes as well, and this year, the three companies have collaborated to highlight all of their artists under their own conditions. All idols will be required to be a part of the song festival unless a reason such as major injury has been cleared with the admin OOC and management IC.

Rehearsal and soundcheck for the song festival will take place the day of the broadcast, meaning all idols will be at the venue from approximately 10AM KST to 11PM on the day of the show. All performances will be performed live on air during the broadcast (on a slight delay), but all performances, excluding vocal-focused special stages, will use heavy backtrack or total lip syncing to avoid incident.

The song festival will take place at Gocheok Sky Dome and there will be a live audience. At different points during the show, idols will either be in assigned seats close to the stage with their managers watching the show or backstage. Muns may use either setting for threads taking place during the show, but please keep in mind that male and female idols (excluding Element members, of course) have been prohibited by their managers from directly interacting beyond politely bowing and greeting while watching the show from their assigned seats to avoid scandals in consideration of all the cameras that will be pointed at them.

The companies have also paid to rent out a large restaurant that specializes in both Korean foods and foods from around the world after the show for idols and staff, which all idols are expected to attend. This will be kept from the press the day of to avoid trouble, but will be media played afterwards as a generous gift from the CEOs to their employees to celebrate a successful year.

Threads and self-paras taking place during the airing of the show, during rehearsal/soundcheck or backstage before/after the show the day of, during other rehearsals before the day of the festival at company buildings for special stages, and at the after-show dinner will all count for points.

You can find the set list here and information on free claimable stages and MC spots here. This includes stages of all canon groups and soloists, as well as the opportunity for special stages which will become available for claiming at 12AM (midnight) EST / 2PM KST on December 3, giving members 36 hours to look everything over and decide what they're interested in. This post will be updated with a link to claim spots at that time. Muns may claim one claimable special stage or MC spot per muse for up to two muses at this time. This may be expanded later if spots remain open.

Overall:

In game, this event takes place Wednesday, December 19, but threads and other posts for this event may be started from Saturday, December 1, at noon EST (the time this post goes up), to Saturday, December 22, at 11:59PM EST. Threads may be continued past the end date, but must be started before then. Non-event related interactions set outside of this event may be conducted during this time as well.

NOTE: All posts related to the event should be tagged #fmdyearend. Remember to use #fmdcall if you want to post a plot or starter call for the event, which I encourage everyone to do!

POINTS AVAILABLE:

As with all events, there are special points up for grabs.

INTERACTIONS: Having an event thread with a starter and at least three replies (starter ▻ partner reply  ▻ op reply  ▻ partner reply) by the end of the event is worth 2 points. This is valid for up to ten different threads this time and the threads can take place during any part of the event.

INTERACTIONS: Having an event thread going with someone your muse has never had a thread with before is worth 1 additional point for each thread.

INTERACTIONS: Posting an open starter for the event is worth 2 points. This counts for up to one open thread starter (not a text/sms post) per character.

INTERVIEW: Answering this interview in-character, which will be filmed a few days before the festival to potentially be incorporated into VCRs during the show, is worth 2 points.

PROMPT: Writing a self-para or headcanon related to how your muse feels during or about the year-end song festival or year-end shows and award shows in general is worth 3 points. (Possible topics to cover include: the constant presence of cameras on them while watching the show, the stress associated with potential increased end of the year practice for shows, feelings about the role industry politics play in year-end shows and awards, how they feel about their performance at this song festival, etc.)

You can also earn the normal amount of points through writing miscellaneous self-paras, making aesthetics, etc. related to the event!

If anything in this post is unclear or you have any questions, please feel free to contact the admin. Please like this post to let me know you have read it.

[ladymoe6]

In Defense of Connie Springer – a Full Analysis of His Development and Role in the Story

So a few days ago, somebody posted a thread on Reddit which calls into question the relevance of Connie Springer. The OP claims that while they like Connie, he “adds nothing” to the story and “should have died long ago.”

That’s a sentiment I come across a lot, actually, and as a huge Connie fan myself (let’s just say there was a reason I got multiple summons to that particular thread), it’s one that makes me a little depressed. It’s true, Connie’s role in the story isn’t as in-your-face as Eren or Reiner or Levi’s might be, but he’s nowhere near as irrelevant as some people make him out to be, and there’s a lot of subtlety to his character that extends far beyond his role as comic relief. I’d had a write-up on the subject planned out for a little while, actually – I was originally planning on saving it for his upcoming birthday, but in light of recent events, I figured it was as good a time as ever.  And people on Reddit really seemed to like it, so I figured I’d post it here as well.  

So without further ado, here’s Connie Springer & his Role in SNK, in Summery.

Connie Springer as the Everyman

So, what exactly is so special about Connie, you might ask?

Connie has no supernatural abilities, like the shifters. He’s not superhumanly strong, the way Mikasa and Levi are. He’s not a genius, like Armin or Hange or Zeke, despite what he might jokingly claim. He’s not a natural-born leader, like Jean or Erwin, and unlike Historia he’s not the heir to the throne of Eldia’s last haven. He’s just some random guy from some random little farm village in the middle of nowhere, kind of scrawny and airheaded, and not particularly smart.

In short, in this sea of people whose very existence is remarkable, the only remarkable thing about Connie is how remarkably normal he is. Connie Springer is special because he is not special. He’s not the Chosen One. He’s not the Savior of Mankind. He’s just Connie, a dumb kid who was too loyal for his own good and ended up caught up in his “special” friends’ bullshit. And that makes him the perfect medium through which to establish how each major event has affected the world during times of normalcy.

 Most major arcs in SNK end with a period of transition, a short segment spanning a couple of chapters where a sense of normalcy is reestablished after the chaos is done and the dust has settled. And in most of these, Connie is featured prominently. We first see this in the aftermath of Trost, as he and the rest of the 104th burn the bones of their friends, and Connie voices what everyone is thinking – “we worked so hard, how could this happen?” This bleeds into Chapter 21, where he voices his internal debate about joining the SC to Armin and Annie – a sentiment we see mirrored later in Jean and Sasha. As we continue to move through the story, we meet with Connie again at the end of Clash, first to again voice everyone’s thoughts – How am I still alive?! – and then to confirm the bombshell we’ve slowly been realizing over the course of the arc, that the so-called enemy was once human. And after that, in the transition between Uprising and Return, we get this scene between Connie and Eren, where they quietly go over just how much has changed since that day back in Trost.

In each transition period, Connie’s role is to display how the 104th’s lives have changed. After Trost, Connie displays how he and his friends have transitioned from happy, self-confident kids to young soldiers full of whose childhood has ended; after Clash, he shows us transition from a world where the SC fights monsters to one where it fights things that are technically human (and indeed, this is the point in the story where we pretty much cease fighting dumb titans altogether); after Uprising, through Connie’s prompting we are forced to deal with the gravity of just how far the 104th has come since the start, in what we will come to recognize as their very last normal moment together. We see these changes through Connie’s eyes, and because he is normal, because he is the everyman, the guy who just wants to make it through the day, we can appreciate how these changes affect everyday life in a way that wouldn’t be true if we saw it through the eyes of say, Eren, who views every moment in a lens of how this will push him closer to his goals – a small role, perhaps, but an important one from a world-building stance.

Connie Springer as an Emotional Lodestone

So yes, in terms of ability and status and goals, Connie is not remarkable – but I admit that I’m selling him a little short here. Yes, he is the everyman, and yes, he is not particularly talented the way his friends are – but he does possess a few traits that make him stand out compared to the rest of them. It’s just that these traits aren’t linked to what he is or what he can do, but rather to who he is as a person – they’re linked to his personality, and the way he interacts with others.

 I’ve gone into great lengths of why I love Connie so much many a time, and when I do, I invariably begin to talk about his personality traits, traits that I admire greatly. He is unwaveringly loyal. He is exceptionally kind. And he has the rare ability to smile and put on a brave face no matter how awful things might seem. All of these traits make for a character that is pretty much designed to be an excellent friend – and as it happens, that’s exactly what we see. Connie is unique among the 104th in that he has some sort of tangible emotional bond with every other member of the 104th, his finger placed firmly on the pulse of their emotional stability and wellbeing. He acts as Sasha’s partner in crime and ineffectual minder. He’s prepared to abandon his own dream of joining the MPs to follow Eren and HIS dream into the SC. He’s the only person besides Armin, Mikasa’s closest friend, to go after her when she falls from the sky in Trost. And as much as they bicker, he’s pretty much the only real friend Ymir’s got outside of Historia, and one of the few people she actually gives two shits about.

 And when push comes to shove, when one of his friends starts falling to pieces, Connie is always there to have their back and snap some sense back into them. We see this first in Trost, where he acts as Armin’s main support system in the wake of Eren’s “death”, defending him from Ymir, extending a hand to him in what proves to be his character-establishing moment, and, most importantly, joining Mikasa in flat-out refusing to leave him behind when he goes into his suicidal breakdown, even if it meant carrying him bridal style across a titan-infested city – an act that would have left Connie himself virtually helpless to defend himself.

And later, we see this again with Historia and Ymir, when Historia’s preparing to follow Ymir back to Marley in order to supposedly save her life. At this point in the story, everyone is questioning Ymir’s actions, utterly baffled at what her goals could possibly be – but Connie? He just blinks and tells Historia flatly that Ymir’s only real goal is to keep her safe and that both of them are being stupid as hell, putting an end once and for all to what everyone, in story and out, has been puzzling over.

 Only Connie could figure it out – because thick though he might be when it comes to strategy and theories, he really gets people and what makes them tick. And this compassionate understanding is reflected in how much the rest of the 104th seem to care for him in return.

Connie Springer as a Morality Pet

A care that also extends to our little team of anti-villains, RBA. All three of them share the emotional attachment to Connie Springer that the rest of the 104th exhibits. Reiner projects Marcel’s affection for Reiner himself onto Connie, looking after him as he would a little brother when disaster strikes, and taking a titan bite to the arm in order to save him. Annie, who ineffectually tells herself she only cares for her father, deliberately places herself in harm’s way and jeopardizes her chances of ever seeing her dad again in order to protect him – a choice which acts as the catalyst for the entire Marco Fiasco. Even Bertolt, whose single-minded devotion to Annie and Reiner’s protection rivals Mikasa’s for Eren and Armin, utterly breaks down when Connie asks him if he was lying when he said they’d grow old and go drinking together.

Why? Because all their lives, RBA have been told that the people who live behind the walls are devils.

And like poor Marco Bott, it’s nearly impossible to think of kind, loyal, understanding Connie Springer, who smiles at them guilelessly, as a devil. They’ve already snuffed out so much light. Could they really bear to watch Connie’s go out as well? As the story would prove – obviously not. In a way, Connie’s a symbol for their love of the 104th, and the way they’re pulled between two worlds, and the effects are heartbreaking.

Connie Springer as a Symbol of the Destruction of Innocence

And speaking of symbols, that leads us into Connie’s character development. Yes, it exists. Again, not as in-your-face as say, Jean’s is, but it’s still very much there, and it’s linked to all the bullshit he’s had to go through over the course of the story.

According to the SNK Character Directory guidebook, Connie was originally designed as “a child of summer vacation”, “innocent but stupid”. And it’s that happy, somewhat dim innocence that we see when we first meet Connie; he goofs off with Sasha, screws up the salute, believes Reiner about the titans’ second weak point, brags about being a genius – and he believes in his friends, believes in doing the right thing for the sake of it, believes the pretty stories Eren tells about freedom and a world without titans. Innocent, sweet, guileless.

Stupid.

That sort of thing, that sort of blind, good-natured belief… it’s pretty. It’s sweet. It’s got no place in a world as merciless as SNK. And it’s one that Connie slowly has beaten out of him, gradually, over the course of the series. We see it first, in the aftermath of Trost, in his horrified, tearful breakdown. And almost immediately, you can sense him starting to get an idea of just how in over his head he actually is, immediately transitioning from calling himself a genius to calling himself an idiot. And from here, it only gets worse, and worse, and worse. His home is destroyed. RBA shatters his trust into a thousand pieces. Everyone he ever knew before Zeke’s attack is dead, apart from his mother, who has been transformed into a misshapen monster that only barely recognizes him anymore.

And finally, as a last nail in the coffin, he realizes that Reiner and Ymir were both keeping all of this from him, at which point he makes one of the most out-of-character, livid faces ever, teeth bared, face all in shadow, and eyes pinpricks, in what I consider to be one of the most unnerving panels in the entire series. In that moment, he looks like what the Marleyians have always claimed - like a devil. And then kind, loyal, understanding, no-longer guileless Connie Springer, his innocence shattered, swears that he’ll make whoever did this PAY.

And after that Connie is… quieter. More subdued. His eyes are a little colder & more heavily lidded, like he’s always looking down, and he doesn’t smile as widely or as often. It’s not obvious – he’s still got some little moments of levity here and there, and he’s putting in an extreme amount of effort to keep it together, but once you notice it, you can’t un-notice it. And from the looks on their faces, his friends are beginning to notice, too.

The child of summer vacation we started with… he’s gone. And if that isn’t character development, I don’t know what is.

Connie Springer and his Role Moving Forward

So what does this mean for Connie’s role moving forward?

It could mean a lot of things, really, or alternatively nothing at all, and the only one who knows for sure is Isayama. I won’t go too deep into this, as this is long enough already, but based off of Connie’s past roles, three of the following ideas stick out at me as ones that could theoretically curtail into Connie’s plotline and final fate – his role as the emotional lodestone for the 104th, his role as a morality pet for RBA, and his role as a symbol of the destruction of innocence as expressed in his ties to Zeke.

First, Connie as an emotional lodestone. This has to do with the amount the 104th seems to care for him and rely on him as a support system – and what might happen if that support system were to suddenly be damaged in some way. This is the idea that scares me the most, because it involves breaking Connie to break his friends, in order to use the inevitable fallout as a plot point. If done properly, this has the potential to be devastating.

Second, Connie’s bond with RBA. With Annie stuck in her damn crystal, this means Reiner specifically, especially because Connie has explicitly stated that he owes both him and Annie a life debt. There’s no way Reiner is going to side with Eren now, not after what he’s done – but that doesn’t mean his other ties to the 104th aren’t still there.

Third, Connie’s gradual loss of innocence over the course of the series and its ties to Zeke. Connie’s been handling the whole situation with remarkable maturity – but as I’ve stated, there are hints that he might not be as together on the inside as he makes himself out to be. And as far as the culmination of that character arc goes - in my experience, people like that don’t tend to bend so much as they, well….

Snap.

Let’s just say that Zeke better hope whatever Zekerets he’s holding onto aren’t ones that are dangerous for Paradis.

So, anyway – if you made it this far, congrats, you’ve successfully managed to get though 2.5 K words of me waxing lyrical about Connie Springer. Whoops! whoops my ass i totally meant to do this and we both know it

TL;DR

Connie is not irrelevant – he’s our view into the world of the everyman, the key emotional lodestone and morality pet for the rest of the 104th, and a symbol of the destruction of innocence that is one of the major themes of the series. His role is subtle but important – so don’t you dare write him off as pointless again.

[entergamingxp]

DualShockers’ Favorite Games of 2019 — Kris’ Top 10

December 28, 2019 4:00 PM EST

2019 was unquestionably a great year for video games, thanks to the likes of Devil May Cry 5, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and so many more.

As 2019 comes to a close, DualShockers and our staff are reflecting on this year’s batch of games and what were their personal highlights within the last year. Unlike the official Game of the Year 2019 awards for DualShockers, there are little-to-no-rules on our individual Top 10 posts. For instance, any game — not just 2019 releases — can be considered.

2019 in video games has been…interesting.

While the western triple-A industry has been in a contest to see who can devour itself the fastest, the Japanese triple-A giants in 2019 have built on last year’s successes and risen to even further heights. The gaming populace is bitter and cynical, fighting monetisation and poor industry practices at every turn, yet throughout all this the actual video game releases have been exceptional and beloved. It’s practically given me whiplash from all of the back and forth.

In keeping with this, I had to cut more titles from my 2019 shortlist than were even in contention for previous years. Numerous games that I know for a fact would be strong contenders weren’t in discussion because I just didn’t get to playing them enough yet: Resident Evil 2, Sekiro, Control, Trails of Cold Steel 3, Outer Wilds…the list goes on.

But that’s enough preamble. Let’s get into the list — and incidentally, my first proper article on behalf of DualShockers. You’ll see more of my work in the coming year, so here’s a sneak peek of what I might write about.

10. Remnant: From the Ashes

This was possibly the biggest surprise of 2019. Slotting in right at a time of big releases that were somewhat underwhelming, Remnant had almost no marketing or fanfare; it just appeared one day and turned out to be excellent. It’s a really solid third-person shooter that built on the Soulslike formula, but nonetheless empowered the player and gave you everything you needed to succeed.

You’re given plenty of guns and abilities to adjust to your liking, as well as customization in your builds with what perks you want to level. Those levels carry over into new playthroughs for replayability, whether solo or co-op, and the variety in side areas that might appear kept me keen to try it again. It’s worth mentioning how good the UI and sound design is, further giving the player crucial information to keep them from dying to bullshit off their screen. It’s even been updated recently with free content, so I shall likely drop back in again sometime soon. Check out Remnant if you haven’t heard of it; it deserves the attention.

Check out DualShockers‘ review of Remnant: From the Ashes.

9. Wargroove

As Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have not deigned to grace us with a new Advance Wars in over a decade, Chucklefish decided to relieve them of that duty in 2019 with Wargroove…assuming you don’t mind the fantasy aesthetic. Wargroove is a content-rich turn-based strategy game, with little to no RNG. You control a selection of generic unit types, such as Swordsmen, mounted Knights, flying Witches etc. in order to claim territory on the map and ultimately best your enemies.

With a lot of soft and hard counters at play, strategy and positioning is important, as is using your faction’s Commander unit power to turn the tide as needed. The campaign is well-sized and features a simple but charming story. There’s plenty of maps and options whether versus AI or other humans, and the overall presentation is gorgeous. If nothing else, it definitely proved that my itch for more Advance Wars style games is alive and well, while simultaneously scratching it thoroughly.

Check out DualShockers‘ review of Wargroove.

8. Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark 

Speaking of turn-based strategy game series that haven’t had a new entry in over a decade…much like Wargroove did for Advance Wars, Fell Seal managed to fill the gap of a new Final Fantasy Tactics. As a turn-based strategy-RPG with a little more “small squad” focus in missions over something like Fire Emblem, Fell Seal wears its inspirations on its sleeves and carries it off with clout. It might not trump Final Fantasy in terms of presentation or story, but the gameplay is the highlight by far; the fact that it was primarily assembled by a team of two in addition to supporting contractors is quite the feat when compared to Square Enix’s juggernaut series, however!

Each character has a primary class, and can equip a second set of abilities from another class they’ve unlocked, as well as two passive buffs and a reaction. Given that there’s about 20 classes, as well as some unique ones belonging to set characters, the options on offer are ridiculous. From start to finish, I was just enjoying myself experimenting with new combinations, figuring out good setups for certain encounters, finding class synergies, and so on. Even after finishing, it’s likely to be a game I return to in short bursts just to play around with character builds and missions.

With a little refinement, this could absolutely exceed the Final Fantasy Tactics games, but Fell Seal remains a great game even as it stands currently. I look forward to seeing what devs 6 Eyes Studio will work on next!

7. Enderal: Forgotten Stories

Some might argue that this doesn’t belong on the list, given that it’s both a Skyrim mod and has been released in an earlier form for a while. Still, it received a release on Steam in 2019 with its own splash page and library entry, so I think that’s perfectly eligible. As for the fact that it’s a Skyrim mod? Well, calling it just a mod is an utter disservice to Enderal, and I urge you to give it a try if you haven’t.

Enderal takes the game that it was built on and completely rebuilds it, with a new world, solid story, actual characters and writing, major gameplay modifications over the base game, and so much more. It plays like a more traditional “gain experience and level up” RPG, with a number of adjustments that allow for much better balancing and less system exploitation than Skyrim. And did I mention the actual characters and writing? It has those, and they really are exceptional examples not just for Skyrim, but for gaming as a whole.

Given that I personally don’t feel like Bethesda has evolved or really done anything but streamline and prettify their games since Morrowind, Enderal is exactly what I’ve been hoping for ever since. This absolutely deserves to be held up as an excellent game on its own merits, and the fact that it was built on the bones of a (in my opinion) lesser game is icing on the cake. Give it a look.

6. Devil May Cry 5 

This game should, by all accounts, not exist. It’s been over a decade since DMC4, and the lukewarm response to the reboot DmC: Devil May Cry really slowed any further development on the series for a while. As such, the existence of a new numbered Devil May Cry in 2019 after all that time is a miracle on its own. But the fact that the game is an excellent iteration on the systems of its predecessors, ties up a tremendous amount of plot threads in a satisfying manner, and just kicks tremendous amounts of ass all around? Like I said, DMC5 shouldn’t exist, but it does, and I’m really glad.

Three playable characters with their own movesets, plenty of nuance and variety within each to reward player skill and expression. A solid campaign with a good mix of combat encounters, explorations, and bosses. Lots of options for difficulty. But most importantly, non-stop Devil May Cry style, flash, and utterly ridiculous yet badass moments all throughout. Yes, Devil May Cry 5 is a goddamn miracle, and Capcom is back in force. The only reason this isn’t higher in my list is because, well…it’s really not the style of game I prefer, as I’m not the sort to keep coming back and repeating levels while trying to perfect my performances. That didn’t stop me from having a blast when I did play though, so I’d feel wrong not giving it due diligence!

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Devil May Cry 5.

5. Bloodborne

The only game not released in 2019 on my list, I’m nonetheless only now getting around to clearing my backlog of FromSoft titles. I didn’t have the chance to play Sekiro yet (I’m allergic to Activision’s name on the cover), so consider this a corrective measure! There’s been plenty said about Bloodborne over the years, so I almost don’t need to repeat it; suffice it to say, the game is legendary and deserves all the praise and discussion it has garnered. It’s brutal, visceral, macabre, and oh so satisfying.

My explorations of Yharnam and beyond have been eager, fascinating, challenging — nay, maddening — and I have truly enjoyed my stay with it. From the immensely detailed aesthetic to the variety of weapons and encounters, the winding maps, the many secrets…even when taking a break after getting torn apart by beasts, my mind hasn’t been far from Bloodborne for long. I’m close to finishing it now, and I intend to see this night through and wake from the dream once more. It shall no doubt remain a strong memory even after waking, though.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Bloodborne.

4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

The 3DS era of the Fire Emblem series started strong but quickly turned shaky. Awakening was an excellent game in my eyes, though the lean in towards more anime sensibilities over medieval wars would prove a portent for things to come. Fates went way too far in that direction, becoming a jumbled mess of plotlines and anime stereotypes with questionable gameplay decisions. Shadows of Valentia was a fine game that was nonetheless hampered by being a remake, and thus its adherence to game design from over two decades prior.

All of this made me approach Three Houses with some trepidation, but I was pleased to discover that it had taken all the best lessons of these games while shaving off most, if not all of their rough edges and mistakes. This is a fantastic game, with some of the most charming and well-written characters in the franchise. The gameplay options are extensive and allow you to deploy your chosen faction and cohorts in ways that suit your play style, and each house had enough variety in their stories that I truly couldn’t tell you which one I like the most.

Perhaps my only misgivings are with the narrative writing, as this is handled quite clumsily and proves quite disjointed in execution even after finishing all the available paths. But that wasn’t enough to stop me from sinking almost two hundred hours into this one, and enjoying nearly all of it. A great return to form for the Fire Emblem franchise!

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

3. Disco Elysium 

As a guy who grew up playing the likes of Baldur’s Gate 2 and Planescape: Torment, I had always hoped that further tech and budgets would go into making more RPGs like that. The genre didn’t exactly die out during the time between then and now, but it certainly didn’t head in that direction. Even the crowdfunded revivals like Pillars of Eternity and Torment: Tides of Numenera felt more like iterations rather than evolutions of the concept. These were all fine games, but Disco Elysium is the first time since playing Planescape: Torment that I finally feel like somebody is building off that groundwork.

Quite frankly, Disco Elysium is a triumph of video game writing and RPG design, in 2019 or any other year. There’s no direct combat, and instead the bulk of the game sees you untangling an absolute spiderweb of interrelated conversation choices that feed off one another in remarkable ways. Every action I took, decision I made, or political stance I leaned towards returned somewhere down the line. Whether it was a bonus granted to a skill check, a spoken nod by other characters, or some rather striking changes to events, it all came full circle to me somehow. The level of detail is immaculate, and the variety in approach based on preferred skills is excellent.

This carries over to the actual plot, also. You play as a detective who has just come down from an alcoholic bender to end all benders, in which your entire memory and history has been obliterated and the player becomes as clueless as the lead character. Piecing everything together and rebuilding this broken detective’s life in the way I envisioned became one of the key driving points that kept me pushing onward. This clever use of the amnesia trope elevates it beyond stereotype, and every new thing that was discovered or hinted at lead to a thread that I just had to follow. Before I knew it, one hour became four, and I was devouring the game at a rapid pace. Disco Elysium is something special, and I really urge all RPG fans to try it out.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Disco Elysium.

2. Judgment 

I’d imagine a lot of readers were surprised to see that Judgment was the Game of the Year for the DualShockers staff, but…well, probably not as surprised as the DualShockers staff. I wasn’t surprised, though, since I was one of the most adamant in pushing its merits. The longer the debates raged on, the more people just kind of stopped in their tracks, thought for a moment, and ended up declaring “Damn…Judgment was a really fun video game, huh?” And it was, and is, and I love it.

The latest game developed Sega’s Ryu ga Gotoku Studio (of Yakuza fame) took the chance offered by Yakuza 6’s conclusion to take a breather and approach a spinoff in the setting of Kamurocho, Tokyo. These are familiar streets, but a new cast, new direction, new plot, but same great Yakuza taste. As detective and ex-lawyer Takayuki Yagami, you work to clean up and solve a murder mystery that’s causing strife on the streets and in the yakuza clans.

Everything the Yakuza series does in spades is present here in Judgment. The world is fully-realized and dense with activities and diversions, the combat is frantic and flashy, and the story is superb. Players are rewarded for paying attention and putting the clues together, and the murder mystery at the heart of the game is well-paced and expertly delivered from beginning to end. There are great character arcs and development, tons of heart, strong highs and well-paced lows…really, it’s just an exceptional game. If you’ve never played Yakuza, you’re missing out, but thankfully Judgment is a fantastic place to jump in and try it out. In my personal view, it’s only narrowly beaten out by Yakuza 0 or Kiwami 2 as the best title in the franchise, but even the third best Yakuza means it’s one of the best games out there.

But…despite my pushing for it in DualShockers‘ GOTY 2019 Awards, it’s still not actually my first choice of the year.

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Judgment.

1. Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Final Fantasy XIV’s story is, as a software development project, unlike any other told within the industry. The initial release in 2010 was legendarily bad and almost killed Square Enix, let alone the Final Fantasy franchise. Its cycle of updates and eventual server closure and rebirth as FFXIV: A Realm Reborn had never been accomplished in such a scale before (or since!) in game development. FFXIV turned around from being a terrible game into a good one, with the first expansion of Heavensward furthering that into being an excellent game.

But all of that was before Shadowbringers. And Shadowbringers…well; it didn’t just beat the previous Stormblood expansion. It didn’t just match and then exceed the benchmark of Heavensward. It didn’t just correct some of the cracks forming in the game during the 4.x patch series. No…Shadowbringers has seen Final Fantasy XIV transcend to be one of the absolute best games in the entire franchise, and has firmly cemented itself not just as my unquestionable GOTY for 2019, but one of my top 5 games of all time.

This isn’t just more FFXIV, as those outside the game might see this expansion as. Rather than just a big content update, this was a continuation of the core story of the game that has run throughout FFXIV’s long and troubled history. All of the plots and characters introduced up to this point are given the chance to flourish, telling a tale that somehow manages to be deeply personal and emotional despite being in the middle of an MMORPG. The new zones, dungeons and raids tie into this excellently, and the game is mechanically the best it’s ever been. But that story…that story! When I finished the main plot of Shadowbringers, I was an emotional wreck for days afterwards from the combination of satisfaction, sadness, and feelings in general. Back that up with tremendously gorgeous visuals and a soundtrack that was absolutely robbed at the VGAs by its omission, and you have an absolute titan of a JRPG.

It might seem like I’m exaggerating, but I am not. Shadowbringers is the best that Final Fantasy has ever been. I’ve rarely if ever experienced anything like it in gaming, let alone MMOs. It is so worth persevering through the earlier parts of the game to experience, because the build-up and payoff is unbelievable. Shadowbringers is unquestionably my Game of the Year for 2019. I don’t know how they will top it, let alone reach that point again in future content. But you can be sure I will be there waiting to see it!

Check out DualShockers‘ review for Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers.

Check out the rest of the DualShockers staff Top 10 lists and our official Game of the Year Awards:

December 23: DualShockers Game of the Year Awards 2019 December 25: Lou Contaldi, Editor-in-Chief // Logan Moore, Managing Editor December 26: Tomas Franzese, News Editor // Ryan Meitzler, Features Editor  December 27: Mike Long, Community Manager // Scott White, Staff Writer December 28: Chris Compendio, Contributor // Mario Rivera, Video Manager // Kris Cornelisse, Staff Writer December 29: Scott Meaney, Community Director // Allisa James, Senior Staff Writer // Ben Bayliss, Senior Staff Writer December 30: Cameron Hawkins, Staff Writer // David Gill, Senior Staff Writer // Portia Lightfoot, Contributor December 31: Iyane Agossah, Senior Staff Writer // Michael Ruiz, Senior Staff Writer // Rachael Fiddis, Contributor January 1: Ricky Frech, Senior Staff Writer // Tanner Pierce, Staff Writer

December 28, 2019 4:00 PM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2019/12/dualshockers-favorite-games-of-2019-kris-top-10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dualshockers-favorite-games-of-2019-kris-top-10