#the harvest moon shit from years ago was mostly because that's just the clothes I had access to

[zombiesama]

as soon as my trip is over and I can use my money how I like I’m fixing our sewing machine so I can start sewing VKei stuff and finally dress how I want to

[jendarknight-blog]

SO THE HARVEST MOON AU IS BACK.

I found my notebook with my notes, and...well. Considering TYTNW, it’s going to be a long time since I write this out, so I’ll just post this verse’s version of the Heart / Romance events here. Check under the cut for details! <3

For those who haven’t seen my posts about this AU before, Izuku is a farmer who moved to the small town of Musutafu, and meets Katsuki, the young (and handsome) town doctor. They are childhood friends, but they don’t remember, since it’s been years since they last saw each other.  Full Cast: 

Izuku: Farmer (Toshinori used to own the land; Izuku inherited it) Katsuki: Town doctor (Aizawa was his mentor) Mina: Works as a pharmacist and nurse at the clinic. Aizawa: Former town doctor; lives in a small place not far from town. Ochaco: The town carpenter. She handles all the building and repairs. Sero: Works with Ochaco; specializes in furniture. Tokoyami: Runs the town library. Shouto: Chef at the inn. Rikidou: Sous Chef at the inn; specializes in cakes. Hagakure: Hired help at the inn. Usually does cleaning. Momo: Proprietress / Hostess at the inn. Iida: The farmer next door; he sells chickens and chicken-related products. Kirishima: A miner and a blacksmith’s apprentice. Mei: A genius blacksmith and inventor; Eijirou is her pupil. Mitsuki and Masaru Bakugou: Run the town’s general store. Kouda: The town vet. Ojirou: Works with Koji. Kaminari: Works part-time at the general store. Mineta: A traveling merchant who likes to take up shop in the inn (to ogle Momo) Kyouka: A wandering musician. She officiates the music festival every year. Eri and Kouta: Two orphaned kids that live with Bakugou’s parents. They help out at the general store. Shinsou: Another doctor who studied under Aizawa. He visits in the winter. Aoyama: Runs the town winery, though he mostly handles the business end. Shouji: Handles the physical labor at the winery.

First, as a quick run-down, let’s go over the heart levels: 

In classic Harvest Moon games, a bachelor/ette’s affection goes from black to red, and the levels go a little like this:  Black: Who are you? You barely know each others’ names. Purple: You are acquaintances. Not really friends, but not strangers, either. Blue: You’re friends. You like each others’ company, but aren’t particularly close. Green: You’re close friends. You trust each other a lot. Yellow: You’re very close. Romantic feelings are starting to blossom. Orange: You’re dating, or at least close to it. There’s definitely mutual attraction. Red: You’re in love. Head-over-heels, marriage-and-babies love with each other. This AU has similar events, with an extra tacked on proposal event for good measure.  Okay, so we’re going in order from black to Proposal. These are just descriptions for now (with little gameplay notes, because I’m a friggin nerd), but I’ll probably write these as drabbles at some point. Here we go!  Black Heart Prerequisites: Walk into the clinic for the first time, or let Uraraka show you around on the first day. 

Deku moves into town, and Uraraka shows him around. As one of their last stops, they poke their heads into the clinic, where they hear Katsuki berating a patient. “If you’d listened to me, you wouldn’t have gotten worse! When I say to take your medication, I mean take it. Not when you feel like it, not just a little; take all of it, exactly how I prescribed. Now you’re even worse than you were before, and I’m going to have to prescribe a higher dose because of your negligent bullshit.” Ochaco chastises him for his lack of bedside manner, but Izuku assumes the best of him, which leaves Uraraka surprised and Katsuki flustered. He goes into the back to grab some things for his current patient, and Izuku continues on his tour. Purple Heart Prerequisites: Enter your farm after 5 PM with less than 10 percent of your stamina left. Izuku has been working all day, but his job is almost done. He trips, lands on his face, and gets knocked out. Katsuki, who went there on an errand from his mother (because Kaminari ‘was busy’, but it’s just a ploy to get him to actually leave his clinic and talk to people for once), finds him and helps him up, carrying him back to his home. When he wakes up the next morning, Izuku finds a note, some salve, and bandages. (He is also bandaged up around where he hurt himself.) The note tips him off that it’s from the town doctor, who addresses him as “Deku”. That name sounds familiar somehow, but he can’t pinpoint it (though he knows that it means ‘useless’, which gives him a bit of a twitch). The next time Izuku stops into the clinic, there will be a cutscene where he gives Katsuki some fresh milk and eggs as thanks for helping him. The moment is interrupted by Mina and Kirishima’s snickering, and Katsuki chases them away. Blue Heart Prerequisites: Enter the mines when Kirishima is there (Wednesday - Friday, noon - 3 PM), and be at less than 50 percent stamina. Izuku goes in the mines and starts digging for ore. Something moves in the distance, which spooks him; turns out it’s a cave bat, and Izuku falls through a mineshaft, down to another level. Kirishima panics, climbing down and bringing him back to the surface.  Deku wakes up in the clinic. "Where...?” “Hair-for-brains found you and brought you here after you fell down a mine shaft. How are you even working on that farm when you can’t even mine or take care of your fields without breaking something?” Izuku gives Katsuki a wry smile. “It’s a talent of mine, I guess.” Katsuki chuckles a little at that, and Deku thanks him for taking care of him, even though it is literally his job. Izuku thanks him anyway, and because he broke his arm with his fall (”You’re lucky that’s the only thing you broke, idiot”), he’s told to not use it until it heals. He has to come in once a week until he’s fully recovered (about four weeks). During this time, stamina will be down by 25 percent. Katsuki makes personal notes during Deku’s recovery, depending on how well he takes care of himself. Green Heart Prerequisites: Enter the Inn on a Tuesday night, when alcohol is available (5-9 PM).

Izuku stops at the bar after he’s done with work, and notices Katsuki at a table by himself.  “Kacchan! I never see you in here.” Deku asks if he wants to have a drink with him, and the two decide to drink together. Just a few, though -- they have to wake up bright and early tomorrow, after all. After a while, Kirishima and Kaminari crowd the table, and ask Izuku to get some drinks for all of them.  He does just that, heading to Shouto at the bar, who gives him an even look and says that Katsuki’s been happier since Izuku moved in. He’s no less of an asshole, but he’s not drowning himself in work nearly as much and even leaving his clinic every now and then -- he hopes Izuku stays friends with him for a long time. “Of course I will. Kacchan’s my best friend, after all.” As Izuku turns to join the others, Shouto smiles a little and says, to himself:  “Is that all...?” Yellow Heart Prerequisites: Enter the clinic on a snowy winter day with low stamina.  Izuku comes into the clinic, overhearing some good news: Momo’s pregnant! Katsuki gives his congratulations, but laments a world with more Todorokis running around in it. Izuku awkwardly gives his congratulations, as he’s sopping wet and his nose is stuffy, so it comes out less as words and more like hacking sounds. He keeps a good distance away from both Momo and Shouto, in case he gets either of them sick. Once they leave, he goes to sit on the examination table. “Wow, Deku, you look like shit.”

“And I came in before I fainted for once.”

“So miracles can happen.”

Though it isn’t long before Izuku ends up collapsing on the examination table, from a combination of being extremely cold, covered in snow, and sniffling from a cold.  He wakes up in Katsuki’s house, with the blankets tucked to his chin. Izuku tries sitting up, but Katsuki’s there, already easing him down. It’s winter, Hair-for-Brains can feed the animals for a few days, but he is going to rest. Izuku gets fed soup, takes medicine, and then notices a small trinket on Katsuki’s dresser: an All Might figure.  Izuku starts to remember...he gave one just like that to a little boy he used to play with before he moved away, but he never quite remembered him...And then he and Katsuki realize in unison: Izuku gave Katsuki that figure, and they were the kid they’d played with so long ago. 

Katsuki coughs to himself, and says: “Well, whatever. I’m not giving it back.”

“I’d never ask you to.”

“Good.”

And Izuku lays back down, warm for reasons other than his fever. Orange Heart Prerequisites: Own more than three pets, and leave your farmhouse, barn, or chicken coop after 5 PM on a clear day.

Katsuki shows up at the farm at around 5 at night, fiddling with his clothes. He asks if Izuku would like to have dinner at his place.  “That sounds great. I just finished here; let me take a shower first, though, okay? I don’t want to stink the place up.”

Katsuki comes in the farmhouse, ready to get comfortable, when Izuku’s swarm of pets greet them at the door. Izuku goes and showers, and sneaks towards the living room, where Katsuki is covered in his dogs and cats, contentedly petting one of them in his lap. Katsuki suggests a change of plans; his pets are holding him hostage, so they could eat here instead. The two have a quiet night in, and Izuku finds himself falling asleep on Katsuki’s shoulder, both with animals in their laps. Red Heart Prerequisites: Enter the clinic on a day it’s open (any day that isn’t a Wednesday) with a blue feather in your rucksack. You must have the max size house and the big bed, as well.

Izuku steps in the clinic...and sees that Katsuki isn’t inside. Mina tells him that he hasn’t been feeling well, but Izuku might be just what he needs. So he goes upstairs (Katsuki lives above the clinic) and finds him lying flat in bed.

“Mina told me you weren’t feeling well.”

“Raccoon Eyes needs to mind her own business. I told her not to let anyone up here.”

“I’m not just ‘anyone’, Kacchan.”

“Fuck off. I need to sleep.” After a lot of back and forth, and plenty of protesting, Katsuki relents to Izuku’s mother-henning, since he’s going to do it regardless of what he says, since he’s so stubborn. Izuku brings some hearty soup and some fresh fruit from the farm, and he sits by the bed, watching over him. “You know, Kacchan...this is pretty nice.” 

“What, seeing me flat on my back?”

“No! I mean--being with you. Like this. I wouldn’t mind doing it for the rest of my life.”

Katsuki, watching him for a moment, moves his hand towards the bedside table, but thinks better of it. Instead, he rolls over, covering his eyes. “I’ll hold you to that, nerd.”

Proposal Prerequisites: See the red heart event. This will take place a week later. After you receive the letter, go to the beach after 7 PM. A letter appears in Izuku’s mailbox:  Tonight. The Beach. Don’t be late. ~K

The two meet up at the beach, and it’s already dark. Both of them stumble over their words, increasingly frustrated, devolving into a bickering match, until fireworks shoot off overhead and distract them (thank you, Bakusquad).  They stare, transfixed, up at the sky, before they turn to each other. They look into one anothers’ eyes... And both pull out blue feathers at the same time.

They share a kiss under the fireworks, before pulling away just a little. “Hey, nerd.”

“Yeah?”

“Come home with me tonight.”

“...Okay.”

In the distance, the Bakusquad (Kirishima, Kaminari, Sero, and Ashido) exchange high fives, and Mina kisses Kirishima in her excitement.

...Izuku and Katsuki get married a week later.

[shamelessly4shameless-blog]

The Sand In Your Shoe (pt 18)

The rest of the week goes by in a blur of sex and sand. Ian has almost forgotten about his return flight to Chicago but on his final afternoon, the pending separation looms over him like a harvest moon, casting long shadows.

He reaches for Mickey’s hand a little more frequently and stands a little closer. He tries to commit every detail of his lovers face to memory, tries to absorb his laughter into himself so that he might carry it with him and generally becomes as clingy as a new puppy.

“What are you gonna do when I have to take a piss?”

Mickey asks tersely as Ian bumps into him for the fourth time since Mickey started trying to change the bottles. Mickey gives him a sort of half-hearted frown, reaching for a cloth to wipe the spilled vodka. Ian understands him being a bit annoyed because he is loitering too close and following Mickey’s movements like a puppet on a really, really short string.

“Sorry.”

Ian takes a hesitant step back, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his board shorts to prevent them straying toward Mickey.

“I’m just giving you shit, man. What’s up?”

Mickey smiles slightly, his own fingers tucking into the waistband of Ian’s shorts and tugging him forward playfully.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“I know.”

Mickey nods as Ian sucks in his lower lip and casts his eyes downward miserably.

“Well … I wish I wasn’t.”

Mickey makes a sympathetic tutting sound and reaches up to cup the back of Ian’s head lightly in his palm, running his thumb over the neatly clipped hair.

“Good, means you’ll come back quicker.”

Ian’s lip quirks upwards and then widens to a proper grin as Mickey slips his free hand into his shorts and takes a firm grip on his dick, kneading the soft flesh.

“Jesus, you really are miserable. Can’t have that, can we?”

Mickey winks and pats Ian’s cheek affectionately, before dropping to his knees and taking Ian’s shorts with him.

“Right here?”

Ian sounds positively scandalised and stares helplessly at the open door and the family on the beach a few yards away.

“We’ve done worse here; Mandy reckons the kegs smelled of ass.”

Mickey’s smile is downright filthy and Ian can’t help but laugh.

“At least let me close the door, there’s kids out there!”

“They can’t see anything and you oughta be looking at me, not them.”

Ian makes the mistake of shifting his gaze to the top of Mickey’s head, the beautiful straight edge of his nose and the dark sweep of his lashes against his cheeks and his body betrays his outrage without second thought.

“Atta boy! There we go…”

Mickey takes Ian into his mouth, and what little resolve Ian has falters and then gets lost in the deep blue of Mickey’s eyes.

Mickey reaches behind Ian and grips his ass hard, making the redhead shiver happily and tighten his own grip in Mickey’s hair.

“Ah … excuse me …?”

Ian’s eyes snap open and fix on the woman now blocking the doorway. She is maybe forty with the sort of cheerful disposition of someone who enjoys Labrador calendars and knitting circles.

“Hi! How can I help you?”

Ian’s voice is far too loud and he is frantically trying to move his hips but Mickey doesn’t stop and Ian wonders briefly if his boyfriend has gone deaf and doesn’t know that there is a woman talking to Ian. He glances away from her and down at Mickey.

If Ian had not seen it for himself, he would never have believed that a single arched eyebrow has the ability to convey such unreservedly gleeful mischief! The fingers on his ass tighten a fraction and Ian gasps before turning his attention back to the woman.

“Sorry … how can I help?”

“Do you serve ice cream?”

Ian’s thighs are quivering with the effort of holding still. Mickey’s mouth is hot and wet and absolutely fucking perfect and every now and then he sweeps his tongue in a way that makes Ian’s eyes lose focus.

“N… no… sorry!”

Ian stammers, he is going to kill Mickey! No, he is going to fuck Mickey. Oh God! He’s going to fuck him every which way and leave his boyfriend a panting, gasping wreck …

“How about soda cans?”

“What?”

“Soda, honey? Are you OK? You’re shaking and you look a little clammy.”

“I’m …”

Ian tries to answer just as Mickey takes him to the back of his throat and makes a very low humming noise, applying the very gentlest pressure with his teeth.

“OH GOD!”

Ian slaps his hand down on the bar, laughing and almost crying. It is the most exquisite torture he has ever known and he can feel Mickey smiling around the length of him. The hands are now massaging his ass, smoothing over the patches that will surely blossom into tiny perfect bruises.

“Honey, what is it?”

The lady takes a few steps into the bar and Ian shakes his head desperately.

“Closed! Sorry, we’re closed!”

“Oh! I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine just … bye!”

Ian chokes, he is gripping the counter so hard his knuckles are standing out starkly and he is so close … so close.

“Bye then!”

The lady looks a little concerned about leaving the sweating, shaking young man on his own but without the lure of ice cream or soda, she mercifully seems ready to take her cheerfulness elsewhere.

Ian glances down and sees a look in Mickey’s eyes that cannot be mistaken for anything but love. It is pure, whole, and so faultless that Ian drops his fingers to gently stroke the thick lengths of his hair despite still having a half captive audience.

Mickey pauses his movement giving Ian a couple of seconds respite and Ian manages to smile convincingly at their would-be customer, who finally leaves. The moment she is out of sight Ian crashes his hips forwards demanding and urgent and Mickey doesn’t hesitate. Ian throws his head back and surrenders himself completely as Mickey finally takes him over the edge.

“I fucking love you!”

Ian is so exhausted that the words tumble out of him on the crest of a sigh. Mickey wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and stands up, settling Ian’s clothing back into place. He is smiling the exact same smile Ian remembers from Mickey’s days robbing Kash, a delinquent, reckless smile that is utterly beautiful in its menace.

“You’re a dick.”

Ian grins and gently rests his forehead against Mickeys.

“Yeah, kinda. But you need to relax. I’ll still be here when you get back.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah. I promise.”

Mickey’s hand is resting against Ian’s face again and Ian realises that he is doing exactly the same thing as Ian himself has been, committing the details to memory and savouring the nearness of him in preparation to be separated.

“I will come back, Mick.”

“I know.”

Mickey nods but doesn’t move his hand.

“Listen, ah, it’s your last night and all, so I was wondering if maybe you wanna go and get something to eat with me later? It’s not Sizzlers but there is a steakhouse in town … the food is pretty good.”

Ian’s eyes light up and he cocks his head to the side, giving Mickey a patient smirk

“You trying to ask me out on a date?”

Mickey smiles shyly and rubs a finger against the side of his nose.

“Yeah. You wanna go on a date with me?”

Ian nods and kisses his lips softly, almost chastely. He knows it is most likely the first time Mickey has ever asked anyone on a date and he wants his response to be perfect.

“I would really love to go on a date with you, Mickey.”

Ian says carefully, looking deeply into Mickey’s eyes as he enunciates each word, his fingers working at the buttons of Mickey’s jeans.

“Hey, come on, I gotta get these bottles done…”

“Five more minutes won’t hurt …”

Ian murmurs, gently tugging the well-worn denim over Mickey’s hips.

“I thought you nice, Irish boys didn’t put out on the first…”

Mickey starts to quip as Ian slides down his body but the words dry in his throat as Ian licks his middle and index finger, never breaking eye contact.

“Shut the fuck up, Milkovich.”

Ian smiles. Mickey was already mostly hard but Ian giving him that cocky smile and speaking a just a little roughly … Holy fuck!

“Spread your legs.”

Ian orders and slides his slick fingers along Mickey’s perineum, before gently probing at his entrance at the same time as he takes him into his mouth. Five minutes was an over-estimate. Ian twists his wrist, angling his fingers upward and exerting a little more pressure and Mickey convulses with a strangled cry, hands interlaced behind his head and panting with breathless laughter, startled by the force of his own orgasm.

“Damn, Gallagher!”

“You can do your bottles now.”

Ian grins nonchalantly, sidling past Mickey and giving him a firm smack on the ass as he crosses to the jukebox. By the time Mickey has re-buttoned his jeans ‘Love Is A Battlefield’ is starting up and Ian has his sunglasses on and is headed toward the door.

“Hey! Where you goin?”

“To work on my tan. I got a hot date tonight.”

Ian grins and heads out the door, singing loudly as he strolls down to the beach leaving Mickey beaming after him until he catches himself and quickly returns to his work.

*

Ian takes his time getting ready. He borrows a smart button down from Mickey and carefully styles his hair in the small bathroom mirror before giving the tomato plants their evening feed from a bottle of plant food that Mickey still maintains was there when he arrived.

Mickey is sitting outside on the porch when Ian finally comes down, but he practically leaps up when he hears the door opening. The sounds of the bar in full flow briefly join them and then fade out as Ian nudges the door closed again.

“You look great.”

Mickey says instantly but Ian barely hears him he is so focused on the shirt that Mickey is wearing. It is a little worn and faded across the shoulders from constant wear but there is no mistaking it. It is the Hawaiian shirt that Mickey rescued from the luggage all those years ago.

“I can’t believe you still have that shirt.”

Ian smiles, the corners of his mouth trembling slightly.

“Oh … yeah I can go change?”

Mickey looks down self-consciously, his smile faltering a little

“Don’t you fucking dare. You’re the sexiest thing I’ve seen.”

Ian blinks away the film of moisture from his eyes and kisses Mickey deeply, his mouth tastes of mint toothpaste but his skin is a little salty from his evening swim and it is a taste that Ian is coming to think of as home.

They break apart to let a couple of party goers squeeze past into Galagers.

“Ready?”

Ian asks, holding out his hand and Mickey licks his lip before nodding and placing his hand in Ian’s palm and linking their fingers.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

*

The restaurant is simple and the music is low. It is gently lit and intimate but informal in a very casual way. It is absolutely perfect. They get a couple of looks when they enter, whether it is two men holding hands or Mickey’s loud shirt, Ian isn’t sure but he doesn’t care.

They get seated toward the back of the restaurant which is ideal as it allows Mickey to relax completely, away from other diners. They are given a two seated square table and Mickey moves his chair to sit next to Ian rather than opposite him without comment.

“Have you come here much?”

“No, just a couple of times.”

Mickey is doing his usual glance around, an anxious habit nearly as old as he is and Ian waits patiently for him to be content that they are both entirely safe before picking up the drinks menu.

“Should we order a bottle of wine?”

“Don’t they have beer anymore?”

Mickey squints over Ian’s arm as his boyfriend laughs and kisses his head.

“Yeah but this is a date, it’s about the communal experience of dining together.”

Mickey gives him a puzzled frown and then shrugs.

“Alright. I like red.”

“Reds good. Which one?”

“Ah …”

Mickey peers at the menu before flicking his gaze up to Ian who is looking like a puppy with a new chew toy

“What?”

“Just you and me, choosing a bottle of wine in a candlelit restaurant …”

Ian waggles his head dreamily and Mickey rolls his eyes

“Keep it up, I’ll order beer and fries.”

Mickey says sternly but reaches a hand under the table and rubs Ian’s leg affectionately

They manage to order, though the waiter has a little difficulty understanding Mickey’s request for a bottle of ‘Ree-o-ja’ and Ian doesn’t have a clue how to pronounce it differently but guesses that they are way off, so just points at the menu.

“I don’t think that guy knows shit about wine.”

Mickey whispers and Ian feels his heart squeeze so desperately with love it almost makes him dizzy.

The steak is good but Mickey’s conversation is better. He seldom talks and eats at the same time and normally glares at anyone who tries to do so, but he makes a special effort and Ian makes an equally special effort not to take advantage and babble a million miles an hour.

When the bill comes they bicker over who is going to pay and settle on a game of thumb-war to decide which Mickey realises was a mistake when Ian’s huge thumb traps his almost effortlessly and Ian slaps his cash on the table triumphantly.

“You’re makin’ me feel cheap. I wanted to buy you dinner.”

Mickey grumbles but Ian just kisses his cheek and happily pays the waiter.

“Next time.”

It is a small promise but a wonderful one and Mickey cheers up instantly. The wine is heavier than their usual beer and Ian is pretty drunk by the time they leave and even Mickey is giggling and swaying a little.

“No fuckin’ fear man. No fear.”

He thumps his chest and then points at Ian

“I love you and I want the whole fuckin’ world to know it.”

“Yell it! Yell ‘Mickey Milkovich loves Ian Gallagher.”

Ian grins, wrapping an arm around Mickey’s shoulders and pointing toward the horizon as if the words are emblazoned there already.

“No! Jesus! You want my ass hauled back to jail?”

Mickey asks and for some reason they both find that utterly hilarious. Ian takes a couple of steps back and then hops up onto Mickey’s back

“TO THE OCEAN!!!!”

He yells and points his arm ahead like a lance. Mickey dutifully sets off at a staggering trot. Ian jumps down after a few metres and they take off running together. They round the corner of the last street before the beach and lean against the railings catching their breath.

Night is mostly drawn in but there is still a red glow over the horizon. It makes Mickey’s eyes look violet as he stares outwards, and Ian is overcome with a sudden irresistible desire.

“Mick …”

Mickey turns to face him and understands instantly, his need rising up to rival Ian’s own. He grabs Ian’s hand and together they run down to the water, shedding clothes as they go. The waves are cool but not yet cold and as Mickey wraps his legs around Ian’s hips, letting the current bear his weight, he feels the delicious hardness of Ian’s muscles warm against his own chest.

“I don’t want to hurt you…”

Ian mumbles into the salty tangle of Mickey’s hair. It is a practicality that Mickey had over looked and he shrugs, grinning fiendishly

“Fuck it, you’re away for a little while after this – won’t need it working anyway.”

It is a slightly difficult start but Mickey is more than ready and after a few tentative strokes of Ian’s fingers they manage to find their rhythm. Ian buries his face in Mickey’s neck, his hand wrapped tightly around Mickey’s cock and closes himself off to everything except the sound of Mickey’s breathing and the waves lapping around their shoulders. Mickey has his teeth set lightly in the flesh of Ian’s shoulder as he begins to melt around him and Ian is suddenly aware of Mickey’s pulse beating hard and strong beneath his cheek. It is all that matters, it is everything.

*

That night they curl up together in bed, a thousand promises and words of reassurance lingering in the air between them, unspoken but understood all the same. This is their home. They are the sand in each other’s shoes. They are in this for life. It is as simple and as perfect as that.

[allthevmff]

Marsh Mallow Wishes and Logan Dreams

by Irma66

Veronica was still sound asleep, flat on her stomach, spread into an X. For a tiny person, she took up a lot of room in their bed. With the coast clear, Duncan slid out from under the covers as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb her before he could see…well…before he could check.

In the bathroom, he took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling and scrunching his face tightly. “Not this morning, please,” he muttered, then looked down.

Crap. Third morning in a row. His flaccid penis had tiny black spots all over it, that were rough and loose as he took it in hand to do further inspection. Ugh. All over his nuts too. What the actual fuck?

Of course, he knew which actual fuck had done this. Damn Madison Sinclair. Why they’d bothered to go to the ten year high school reunion, he had no idea. Veronica hated nearly everyone in their class and the only real exceptions, Mac and Wallace, she saw fairly regularly without needing a Neptune High reunion to bring them together.  She’d argued long and hard against accepting the invitation, but his mom had insisted they come back to town when she heard about the reunion, and even though Veronica had threatened to make him go alone, eventually she’d caved.

And honestly, he wished she had stayed home. Because who else should decide to attend, but Logan? Logan Fucking Echolls, his once-upon-a-time best friend and the guy that Veronica almost ran off with in grad school, before Duncan convinced her that she’d never have a normal life with Logan. The reunion was supposed to be a good time, and the last thing Duncan needed was his wife watching Logan the whole night, but, tough shit, that’s what he got. Oh, except for the part where they danced. That was even worse. The look on Veronica’s face as she gazed up at fucking Logan, her arms loosely around his neck, Logan’s hands resting on her hips, that look is what drove him out of the ballroom and straight into Madison Sinclair.

The reunion wasn’t the first time he’d seen Madison.  She’d been working for the design company Kane Software used for renovations for several years, and somehow she got herself attached to decorating the Bay Area offices that he’d opened when Veronica refused to come back to Neptune after they graduated from Stanford. Madison had done pretty much everything short of taking her clothes off to entice him, making sure she was the one who’d decorated his office personally, bending over his desk to point out details on the plans in skirts that were barely there to begin with and got even shorter as she posed. 

He’d resisted the blatant come-ons, valiantly if he did say so himself, through all of that; he loved Veronica. Most guys wouldn’t have passed up that opportunity, but he wasn’t most guys and he wasn’t going to cheat on his wife. In fact, he’d made it a point to never even mention the presence of her old high school rival, in his office, nearly every day for months. Why bother her about it? But watching her look at Logan, with an expression that he’d never seen when she looked at him, he couldn’t take it anymore. When Madison had flounced in front of him out in the lobby, he’d stopped fighting fate. It’s Veronica’s own fault, he thought, as he followed Madison into a unisex bathroom and banged her between the towel dispenser and the urinal.

But now, a few weeks later…every morning, this weird black stuff all over his junk…what had she given him? Some kind of crabs? It washed off, but it kept coming back. He needed to see a doctor and get rid of this. He couldn’t pass it onto Veronica; then she’d know. He had no illusions that infidelity would be something she could forgive, although he was confident that even if Madison told her, Veronica wouldn’t believe her. An STD though? That would be proof.

A knock on the door and Veronica’s muffled voice jarred him from his tortured thoughts. “Duncan, honey?”

“Of course. I’m just getting in the shower.” He realized he was still clutching his penis in his hand and dropped it, grimacing at the black flecks all over his palm. He moved to the sink and rinsed them off. He didn’t want to spread whatever this was.

“No!” He shook his head, irritated at himself for shouting at her. “I mean, no, I’m just going to be quick and then I’m going into the office.”

“Got a lot of work, Veronica. Can’t be helped.” He turned the shower on. “Go back to bed, sweetheart. I’ll let you know before I leave.”

Duncan heard her sigh and then shuffle away from the door. He shook his head. He had to make a doctor’s appointment. Soon.

Veronica stopped to brush the loose black seeds out from between the sheets before she crawled back into bed. She should have known this was a stupid idea.

Seeing Logan at the reunion had apparently fried her brain if she was making choices like this. The jackass had actually tried to remind her how things were between them once upon a time.  And he’d actually made something of himself, so the fears that Duncan had preyed on when he convinced her that she needed to be with someone who was going to ‘buckle down’, it turned out that those fears were groundless. Truthfully, it could probably be said that Logan had made more of a mark than Duncan, since he hadn’t had his daddy’s business to join and his success was all his own.

Knock it off, Veronica. It wasn’t fair to Duncan to compare him to Logan. It wasn’t Duncan’s fault that his life had been mostly planned for him. It’s hard to get a fire in your belly to succeed when everything’s comfortable. Life had never been as comfortable for Logan, in spite of what most of the world thought about all the fame and fortune that had swirled around him continuously since birth.

He’d gotten to her though, as they danced, and he’d had the gall to ask her if she was truly happy with Duncan. If he made her feel how Logan used to make her feel. If he’d ever managed to make her…that was the point where she’d left him in the middle of the dance floor. Where did he get off talking about her sex life with her husband?

Of course, her husband had been nowhere to be found when she’d decided to storm away, so she’d had to cool off with Wallace and his crowd of jocks she didn’t know, to keep Logan from moving in on her again. Then, Duncan did show up and suddenly he wanted to leave. It was for the best anyway. Logan was still stalking around, giving her those ‘gimme a chance’ eyes that had worked on her a lifetime ago, but she was a married woman now, and despite what Logan might think, that was a real bond, and she wasn’t tempted by him anymore anyway. He wasn’t the only person capable of exciting her physically, okay, yes, he was the only person who had ever really excited her sexually, but she loved Duncan. Maybe he wasn’t a sexual dynamo, but he had other qualities.

But she could admit, to herself at least, that it was the thought of Logan that drove her to purchase the little bag of seeds. Not because he would ever need them, and certainly not with her, although who knew anyway, it had been three years since the last time they’d been…intimate, and maybe he did need them now. She’d heard that it happened to some guys, even at their age. Not Duncan, but he’d never been as…enthusiastic or frankly, interested, as Logan always had been. Duncan was more of a once every couple of weeks kinda guy, unlike Logan, who’d never missed any opportunity to get her naked and gasping and…oh fuck, just knock it off, Veronica.

Of course, the whole thing was actually Mindy’s fault anyway. She was the reporter who Veronica worked with most frequently and she’d brought Veronica along on a research mission for a piece on alternative medicine and folk healing.  It wasn’t exactly investigative journalism, but at least she was working. Duncan had tried to convince her to stop, but she was pretty sure he understood now that that wasn’t going to happen.  Most everything she worked on with Mindy was fluff anyway, so it wasn’t like she was going to accidentally uncover corruption by any of his friends. Not that Duncan would have friends like that. His dad might, but not Duncan. 

A week after the reunion, Veronica accompanied Mindy to a small spiritual and metaphysical supply shop in the heart of San Francisco. As Mindy questioned the shopkeeper with the highly dubious name of M’Beam (my given name is Moonbeam, but it’s so cliché) on alternative medicines and a holistic approach to life, Veronica crept around the store, looking for interesting shots. There weren’t a lot that would look very exciting in a photo, but she’d found a little book with page after page of crazy things that different plants could supposedly do and had chanced on a page for a plant called a Marsh Mallow, something she’d never heard of before, but that made her laugh, since that was Wallace’s joking nickname for her. Learning what the Marsh Mallow could do made her laugh again.

Steep the flowers and leaves in oil and apply to your skin before astral traveling.

I’ll be sure to do that, she thought.

Use for love spells and sex magick.

Does it somehow become real if you give the word magic a strange spelling?

Harvest seeds under a full moon to use for aphrodisiac oils and powders.

Seeds act as aphrodisiac when eaten by women.

But only when harvested under a full moon of course.

Sprinkle seeds on a man’s genitals to increase his sexual appetite.

That was the one that made her laugh out loud as she tried to picture Duncan sprinkling himself with seeds. She didn’t know what these seeds looked like specifically, but for some reason, the thought of Duncan with his privates covered in sunflower seeds kept recurring.

“What do you find so amusing?” She jumped at the shopkeeper’s voice. She hadn’t heard Mindy and the rather odd woman approach.

“I’m trying to decide if I know any guys who would sprinkle seeds on themselves to increase their sexual drive.”

“I highly doubt it,” Mindy said caustically. She said most things caustically, which is why she and Veronica got along so well. “Most men I know are pretty sure their drive is exactly where it should be. If you want less, you’re frigid. If you want more, you’re a slut. That’s why I mostly only fuck women these days.”

“Well, you'd need to feed these seeds to your girlfriends,” Veronica informed her. “The pharmacist’s instructions are taken by mouth for women, sprinkled on the junk for men.”

Mindy shook her head. “Nah. I don’t date women who need to be chemically enhanced, even natural chemicals. And no guy I know would agree to sprinkle himself with something. Again, they all think they’re perfect already.”

Veronica considered the two men she’d actually had sex with in her life. She had to admit, Duncan was exactly what Mindy was describing. He would never agree that maybe there could be a little more kick in their sex life. Logan though, he probably would let her sprinkle him with whatever she wanted, and then he’d go down on her, and make her scream his name, before letting her climb on top of him and... She shook her head. Knock it off, Veronica. Enhancing Logan would probably kill his partner. She fought a grin. Oh, but what a way to go.

“Generally, the sprinkling is done surreptitiously, with ground seeds,” M’Beam said. “You’re largely correct about many men’s interest in being enhanced, so sometimes you have to resort to, a little silent assistance.”

“They don’t notice the ground seeds on themselves?” Veronica asked, skeptical.

“If it works, no, probably not, and the seeds are not harmful when introduced to vaginal tissue.” Veronica blushed at what the woman was telling them. “If it doesn’t work, well, chances are the man isn’t going to notice before the powder falls off on its own.”

“Because he’s so sexually backward that he doesn’t even touch himself,” Mindy said, elbowing Veronica in the side. “Come on, get some.”

“I know that husband of yours can’t be any kind of sexual powerhouse. You’re way too frustrated all the time to be getting any good action. Give it a try.”

Veronica gasped. “Mindy! Don’t talk about Duncan like that.”

“You are not denying it.”

“I wouldn’t dignify this with a denial.” She slammed the book closed, glaring. “Are you done with the interview? I want to get home.”

“Not to get any,” Mindy mumbled under her breath and M’Beam tittered a nervous laugh. Veronica glared again and Mindy held up a placating hand.

“Look, I’m sorry, V, I went too far, as I often do.” Mindy made a face as she apologized, that made her look not as sorry as she probably should be.  “But come on, give it a try. I will if you will.” She threw her arm around Veronica’s shoulders. “I’m trying some of the other herbal supplements to see if they work for part of the story. Let’s try this one too.”

“It’s not right to drug someone secretly,” Veronica said, hoping that the moral high road might work when nothing else seemed to deter Mindy.

“You don’t have to. Take it yourself if you’d rather. See if it increases your drive.”

“And it’s not something that alters consciousness,” M’Beam added. “I fully concur with your reticence. I would never advocate for something that takes away someone’s free will.”

“Isn’t that what you’re doing with this stuff?” Veronica volleyed back. “If they aren’t interested in having sex, isn’t an aphrodisiac taking the decision out of their hands?”

“Not the decision itself. The powder just gives them a heightened interest. It doesn’t necessarily mean they act on that interest.”

“Come oooonnnnnn.” Mindy’s wheedling tone earned her another glare, but honestly, this was part of the reason Veronica liked working with her. She reminded her a little of Lilly, with her refusal to ever take no for an answer.

“All right, fine. It wouldn’t hurt either of us if Duncan was…a little more avid, in the bedroom.”

Don’t you mean a little more like Logan? The voice in her head was really starting to piss her off. No. Knock it off, Veronica.

“That’s the spirit, V. We should never stop trying new things.”

A week later, Veronica shook her head at how dumb this idea had been. She’d chosen Duncan, not Logan, so why all of a sudden was she trying to turn the man she married into the one she hadn’t? She flicked another bit of seed dust off the bed. This is just from seeing Logan again at the reunion.  She’d known it was a sucky idea to go there in the first place. She’s nearly talked Duncan out of it when Celeste got wind of a way to get her precious son back in the hellhole that was Neptune. All that had come of it was Logan in her head again, with those puppy dog eyes, trying to remind her why they were so good together. But life wasn’t just sex. It was responsibilities, and obligations, and the paths chosen. Crap, that sounds grim. It was about the people in her life too, and how to make them happy, and her happy as well. And she was happy. Right?

Duncan came out of the bathroom then, a towel around his waist, and his eyes widened at the sight of her, sitting up, leaning against the headboard. 

“I thought you were going back to sleep.”

“No. I’ve got some photos to print for a project with Mindy. I might as well get up.” She flipped the covers back and cringed at the sight of more of the seed powder on the sheets. She apparently hadn’t been very careful last night when she sprinkled the powder on the sleeping Duncan. She slid over to the side of the mattress, hoping he wouldn’t notice as she brushed it off.

“Veronica, no!” Her head snapped up as he darted toward her. “Don’t touch that.”

“Dammit.” He grabbed the comforter and pulled it back over the loose dust. “Look, I’m so sorry.” He dropped onto the bed, basically holding the bedding in place over the evidence of her silly gameplaying.

“You’re sorry? Why are you sorry?”

“I…I didn’t mean for you to find out. It was just once and it really wasn’t my fault. I mean, you were dancing with Logan, and I just felt like—”

“Hang on.” Veronica pushed back to her original spot, putting some distance between them. “What are you talking about?

“You saw that black stuff.”

“I was just going to get it taken care of. No need for you to find out and be upset. And I’ve been very careful not to do anything that could infect you too.” He looked at her sadly, his lower lip pouting out. “The last couple nights especially were hard. I felt like…” His voice trailed off.   

“You felt like what?” Did this dumb stuff work after all?

“Doesn’t matter. Look, I’m going to call the doctor. Whatever I’ve got, I’m sure some antibiotics will clear it right up.”

Veronica froze, not sure what she was hearing. “What do you mean? What do you have?”

“I don’t know. I can only guess it’s like some kind of crabs or something.”

What the fuck? He thinks the black dust is coming from him? “Why would you have crabs, Duncan?”

“Look, I’m sorry, but it was just that one time, and it was Logan’s fault.”

“Logan gave you crabs?” What the actual fuck?

“Veronica!” He sounded scandalized. “I’m not into guys.”

She did not understand where the sense of calm came from, but she was grateful for it as she sorted through this mess. “Then who gave you crabs, Duncan? And how was it Logan’s fault?”

“You were watching him all night, and then you were dancing with him, and the way he looks at you...it’s not right that he should look at my wife like he’s in love with her. People will start talking.”

“So what, pray tell, did you do to get back at Logan for looking at me?”

He looked at her apprehensively, and she gave him an encouraging smile, then patted his hand. She really wanted to know what he did.

“If you hadn’t been looking at him…” He paused, like he was considering how much to try to blame her for whatever indiscretion he was trying to confess. “You know, we shouldn’t even have gone to that reunion.”

“I completely agree. Which is why I said that about a thousand times. But you wanted to go.”

“I didn’t expect Logan to show up.”

“What did you do while I danced with my ex-boyfriend, Duncan?”

“He’s my ex-friend.” Now he wants to debate semantics?

“True. An event that occurred around the time I started dating him, as I recall. Before you convinced me that he was unstable and untrustworthy and that I should come back to you.” She gave him a flat stare. She was done trying to charm the truth out of him. “So what did you do?”

“I had sex with Madison Sinclair, and she apparently gave me some STD, and now you’re going to leave me, and it’s all Logan’s damn fault.”

At Madison’s name, her mouth fell open, shock and disgust flooding her. At Logan’s name, it snapped shut, teeth knocking together sharply. She nodded, then flipped the covers back on her side of the bed and climbed out.

“Thank you for telling me,” she said as she went to her closet.

“Aren’t you mad?” he asked tentatively.

“Yes, but not as much as I would have expected.” She wriggled into a pair of underwear and then tugged jeans on over them. “It’s good that you shared this.”

He stood and walked toward her slowly. “Yeah. Honesty’s important in a relationship. We can get past this; I know we can.”

She grabbed a blouse and shrugged into it, not bothering with a bra. “Yeah, we’ll get past this. Not to worry.” She slipped her feet into her shoes, then turned toward him. “Get your antibiotics, Donut. I’ll be back for my stuff in a couple of days. I’ll let you know when, and then, please don’t be here.”

“Veronica, no!” He rushed at her then, hands outstretched, but she dodged him and grabbed her bag, then headed for the front door.  “Come on, Veronica, give me a chance.”

She stopped at the coat closet and grabbed her leather jacket. “You know what, I really do need to thank you, Duncan. You’ve made me realize something I’ve been trying not to admit for a long time.” She dropped her bag at her feet to pull the jacket on. “It has been Logan all along. That used to scare me, a lot, and when you tried to convince me he was a mistake for me, I let you, because it gave me an excuse to play things safe. But the last couple of years with you…they were the mistake. If he still wants me…I’m going to try to fix that. Convince him he didn’t make a mistake too, when he chose me.”

She grabbed her bag and spun for the door, but his voice stopped her.

“He’ll never make you happy, Veronica.”

She looked at Duncan and smiled. “I think you’re wrong, Duncan, and I’m willing to take that chance.”

“Hold your horses, I’m coming.”

Logan wasn’t sure who was at his door, but they were very insistent. He’d ignored the first knocks, not being particularly interested in company, but when it continued, he finally decided to answer it and cuss the pesky intruder out. That might make him feel better. His bad idea to attend his class reunion almost a month earlier had put him in a perpetual bad mood. Knock it off, Logan, you know what’s got you in a bad mood.

He flung the door open, ready to launch into a tirade, but he was stunned into silence at the sight of the source of his bad mood herself.   

“Hi,” Veronica said, and like magic, the bad mood lifted.

“Hi.” He couldn’t really move, but when she smiled, he reflexively smiled back.

“Any chance you’ll let me in?”

“Every chance in the world.”

via AO3 works tagged 'Veronica Mars - All Media Types' https://ift.tt/2YAW4t9 March 30, 2019 at 04:52AM

[ladytitanium]

1,2,7 to 17, 19 to 23, 25 to 70

OKAY SO this got suuuuper long and I’m gonna answer it under a readmore but thank you so much for asking!

1. First game you played obsessively?

Definitely Minecraft. I got it around 2012 and played it whenever I could, although shortly afterwards I moved on to playing a lot of TF2 with some online friends.

2. A game that has influenced you creatively? Writing, drawing, etc. 

TF2 and Portal 2 were the first things I ever wrote fanfic for, so I’d say those two are big and important for sure. More recently, though, Transistor and Pyre have been inspiring me to pursue more art and music.

7. Any games you have multiple copies of?

I have Portal 2 for xbox 360 and PC.

8. Rarest/Most expensive game in your collection?

I had a copy of Link to the Past in great condition, but my ex stole that and my entire SNES so :/

9. Most regrettable purchase?

No Man’s Sky is the obvious answer but I think I have some steam games lying around that I bought and played once, or just never touched. Not sure which ones, though. Usually if I’m going to spend actual money on something, I try to make sure it’s good first.

10. Ever go to a midnight game release or stand in line for hours?

No, but I’d like to someday.

11. Have you ever made new friends from playing video games?

Not in the sense of meeting people in an mmo or anything, but I’ve definitely bonded with people I’ve met over a mutual love of games.

12. Ever get picked on for liking games?

Nah, not really. I’ve been picked on more for not having played enough games, honestly.

13. A game you’ve never played that everyone else has?

I’ve never played Overwatch or most online competitive games, or any MMOs aside from like 5 hours of gw2.

14. Favorite game music?

Anything Darren Korb, the composer for Supergiant Games, has made. Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre OSTs will always have a special place in my heart. Honorable mention goes to the Portal 2 soundtrack.

15. If it was a requirement to get a game related tattoo, what would you pick?

I……. have a triforce tattoo…….. on my left wrist……………

16. Favorite game to play with your friends IRL?

I tend to like watching people play games rather than doing competitive or couch coop type things, so it’s hard to say. I used to hang out with my friends while we all did playthroughs of the Mass Effect trilogy, though, which was wonderful.

17. Ever lose a friend over a game?

Nah. Had some arguments over the Souls games, though.

19. Favorite handheld console?

3DS, definitely, although I do have some nostalgia for the good ol’ GBA.

20. Game that you know like the back of your hand?

Portal 2, although it’s been a few years since I’ve played so I might not be as familiar with it as I once was. Barring that, Stardew Valley.

21. Game that you didn’t like or understand as a kid but love now?

I can’t think of any, honestly, since I almost never played anything as a kid.

22. Do you wear game related clothing/accessories?

The occasional Zelda t-shirt, and my old Aperture Science tanktop. I’d wear more if I owned more.

23. The game that you’ve logged the most hours into?

TF2, I think? I used to play for hours every evening.

25. Were you ever an arcade game player?

Sadly, no. My mother thought arcades were giant wastes of time and money and would corrupt me and make me stupid. 

26. Ever form any gaming rivalries?

No, I don’t get competitive much. 

27. Game that makes you rage?

Any kind of roguelike makes me angry just thinking about it. I hate losing progress. Really difficult platformers make me frustrated and angry too.

28. Ever play in a tournament?

Dear god no.

29. What is your gaming set up?

Currently, none. I have a shitty, half-broken laptop.

30. How many consoles do you own?

I own a Switch and a 3DS. I have access to an XBONE though.

31. Does the 3DS and/or Virtual Boy hurt your eyes or give you headaches?

I’ve never tried a Virtual Boy, but leaving the 3D on high on my 3DS is something I’ve only done once due to the nasty headache it gave me.

32. Did you ever play a game based on your favorite show/cartoon/movie/comic?

I don’t think so, no.

33. Did you ever have any bootleg games or plug-n-play games?

I had a Sonic handheld game from a happy meal, does that count?

34. Do either of your parents play video games?

My dad does, a lot. Mostly MMOs. I think my mother did too, but mostly Civ, some ancient Egypt themed MMO, and Guild Wars, from what I can recall.

35. Ever work in a game store? Or do you have a favorite game shop?

I worked in a game store for about six months late last year/early this year. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

36. Have you ever shed actual blood, sweat or tears over a game?

Oh, tears, absolutely. Plenty of games have made me cry. FFXV, Persona 5, Transistor, Portal 2, the list goes on.

37. Have you played E.T. for the Atari 2600? Do you think that’s the worst game ever, or do you have another nomination?

I actually have played it! Perks of working at a game store that sells Ataris. I was utterly baffled by it, so I think “worst game ever made” is a fair title.

38. A game you’re ashamed to admit that you like?

I really enjoy all the walking simulators/art games I’ve played. I know a lot of people say they aren’t real games or whatever but I think most of the ones I’ve played are genuinely enjoyable experiences.

39. A sequel that you would die for them to make?

...Portal 3, but with the same writers+VAs+team in general. I know that’ll never happen now but I need it like I need air.

40. What to you think of virtual reality headsets or motion controls?

Motion controls can be hit or miss. I think they need to be integrated well and very functional to be enjoyable. Like, wii sports and stuff? I loved it. Those tilt puzzles in the shrines in BOTW? Absolutely horrendous. As for VR, I really want to try it someday. I think it’s neat.

41. A genre that you just can’t get into?

Roguelikes, Souls-like (where the only purpose of the game is to be as difficult as possible so people who master it can be snobs about it), and any realistic online-only FPS things like Call of Duty are the three main things I will never, ever touch.

42. Maybe it wasn’t your first game, but what was the game that started you on your path to nerdiness?

Pokemon Ruby, absolutely.

43. Ever play games when you really should have been concentrating on something else?

All through the second half of high school, tbh.

44. Arcade machine that has consumed the most of your quarters?

I’ve never actually gotten to play arcade games much.

45. How are you at Mario Kart?

I’m only decent at Mario Kart Wii, because I played it a lot.

46. Do you like relaxing games like Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon?

Absolutely! Animal Crossing New Leaf and City Folk are games I love dearly and have spent a LOT of time on over the years.

47. Do you like competitive games?

Almost never. I only ever played TF2 with friends, and that pretty much extends to any competitive game I might play. Only with friends, and only sometimes.

48. How long does it take your to customize your player character?

So. Long.

49. In games where you can pick your class, do you always tend to go for the same type of character?

Yeah, mages are kind of my thing. I get jumpy when I have to do a bunch of melee so I tend to prefer to stand back a little. I always went full biotic in Mass Effect for that reason.

50. If you were a game designer, what masterpiece would you create?

That’s a tough one. I’ve had a few concepts over the years, but none that have really stuck with me.

51. Have you ever played a game for so long that you forgot to eat or sleep?

Yeah, definitely. I lose track of time really easily if I’m absorbed in something.

52. A game that you begged your parents for as a kid?

All Pokemon games from gen 4+5.

53. What’s your opinion on DLC these days?

Any DLC that adds characters or plot necessary for the full enjoyment of the game should be free imo. Skins/weapons/maps/non-essential quests and missions can be behind a paywall. Like, ME3′s From Ashes DLC should have been free, and I go back and forth between whether it was cool to have Citadel and Omega DLCs behind paywalls, but all the weapons/armor/alternate appearance packs I’m totally fine with being paid DLC.

54. Do you give in to Steam sales?

Only when I have money.

55. Did you ever make someone you hated in the Sims and did mean stuff to them?

I never played any Sims games.

56. Did you ever play Roller Coaster Tycoon and kill off your guests?

Never played Roller Coaster Tycoon either.

57. Did you ever play a game to 100% or get all of the achievements?

Minish Cap, I think? I tried to 100% Super Mario Galaxy but I couldn’t ever quite do it.

58. If you can only play 3 games for the rest of your life, which ones do you pick?

Oh, shit. Uh. Animal Crossing New Leaf, Pokemon Sun (or Moon), and... I can’t pick a third one. Probably something with multiplayer.

59. Do you play any cell phone games?

Yeah, but most of them are just little time-wasting puzzle games.

60. Do you know the Konami Code?

Yes!

61. Do you trade in your games or keep them forever?

I’ve never traded in a game but I might if I bought a physical copy of something I didn’t like.

62. Ever buy a console specifically to play one game?

Does the Switch count, since till Splatoon 2 came out I only had BOTW on it? I’ve considered getting a PS4 just for P5 and Horizon Zero Dawn.

63. Ever go to a gaming convention or tournament? 

I went to GenCon a few times when I was really young but I barely remember it, and I’ve tagged along to a handful of Warhammer 40k tournaments with my dad, but that was also like 10 years ago. So no, not really.

64. Ever make a TV or monitor purchase based on what would be best for gaming?

I’ve never bought a TV or monitor myself.

65. Ever have a Game Genie, Game Shark or Action Replay? Did it ever mess up your game’s save file?

I had an Action Replay for shinies in X and Y.

66. Did you ever have have an old Nokia with Snake on it?

No, my first phone was a Windows phone when I was 14 because my mother hated technology and wanted to control me so a phone was way too much freedom and entirely out of the question :/

67. Do you have a happy gaming-related childhood memory you want to share?

I remember the first time I beat Portal 2, sitting on the floor in front of the TV and crying tears of joy. That was pretty great.

68. Ever save up a ton of tickets in an arcade to get something cool?

I wanted to, but didn’t go to arcades enough.

69. In your opinion, best game ever made? 

Transistor. Can’t think of a single bad thing about it, honestly. Persona 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn are near-flawless too.

70. Very first game you ever beat?

The first game I beat was Pokemon Ruby, but idk if that counts since I shared with my brother, and I think my dad had to help us beat the Elite 4 because we were young and didn’t grind enough. I took turns with Portal 2, too. Portal 1, maybe?