#the writing immaculate the emotions so gut wrenching

[minnow-doodle-doo]

from one of my favorite scenes in this fic series our days, our months, our years by atlasky. Where Bruce dies in Ethiopia instead of Jason.

[peachdues]

PEACH. ARE YOU TRYING TO PUT ME INTO AN EARLY GRAVE???

My god, TWG has me in complete agony. You've torn my heart out of my chest and stabbed it with gut-wrenching angst, and you know what? Ilysm for it.

You've done it again. Your writing is immaculate. When it comes to media, it takes a ton to move me, like didn't shed a tear watching the titanic kind of ton. So I can gladly say your writing makes me FEEL things. There are so many emotions rising up in me, and I love it so much.

Growing up, I've never properly felt like I belonged anywhere or to anyone I could never connect with anybody. People were there physically but not emotionally or genuinely expressive towards me. The way you write the connection reader has with Giyu makes me feel a little loved, and it's such a nice feeling. Is that weird? I hope not.

You're an absolute blessing to this community. You contribute so much that you have no idea how much you actually do for us. Thank you for your work and simply existing ❤️

WILLOW

WILLOW

W I L L O W.

I’m sobbing hysterically rn. This is SO sweet and it means so, so much!! I’m truly speechless rn.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for being a wonderful mootie, and thank YOU for your writing and your support! It means the world, and I’m so grateful to know you!!

Fr though, I’m so touched by this. TGW is a softer romance compared to what else I’ve written and I’ve loved exploring it. I’m so glad you found it so moving!!

[rayssion]

We had no internet access for the past two days because of a problem ig, anyways I decided to read one of the books I had for months because I got tired of fanfictions.

So I read this book called "my sweet orange tree" and oh my god, I spent a whole hour afterwards just crying, balling my eyes out. The writing style is immaculate, the portrial of the characters is impressive and it does a really good job capturing the scenes from a five years old child perspective, who was way mature for his age. It was full of emotions and scattered feelings, and especially gut wrenching moments.

I fucking sobbed while I was reading, something I haven't done since toa lol. But really such books stays with me for a while, and the last quarter of the book was just, devastating. It reminded me a lot of the book "Grief is the thing with feathers". And to think that this's actually a biography!!

I won't go into it's details because I don't like to spoil anything to anyone, I usually love to see people go in the books blind with no prior thought just to witness their reactions raw.

So after my crying session I decided to read something else, to take my mind of the book. I chose to read "Maus" and what a drastic difference!

For me Maus was kind of.... boring. It was so boring and a lot of scenes were just unnecessary, call me whatever but while I was reading this book I had no interest whatsoever in their life at the moment, I don't care about the father's heart problems nor about how he hates his current wife. I don't care, I wasn't there for this.

I feel like if it was purely just the story narrated by the son it would be better, and let's face it the dad is a slightly-off narrator. That's the problem with graphic novels actually, they often fail encapsulating the feelings within the characters, at least not the way books do. Just compare this book with "Night" by Elie Wiesel and you'll know what I mean.

And this for a banned book is weak tbh.

Another thing and it's completely personal but I hate how dense the pages are, there are a lot of scenes within one page that I got a headache, and I read manga on daily basis. I also hate the font, it made it harder to read some words.

I only read the first book, will I read the second? I don't think so, this book was just a stretch to my brain and I don't want to go through such thing again.

So, that's that!! Y'all better go read "my sweet orange tree" I guarantee you will like it!!

[by-kilian]

These past two chapter were absolutely, gut-wrenching.. you see i went through the 5 stages of greif during every single scene, KW, i sincerely, madly and deeply would like to read an actual novel of yours, you are and absolute gem, one im very glad to know albeit being hidden.. it’s like you’re my little secret.

They way you describe killian and levi, the way you describe everything, make me feel as if im a part of them, i felt the harsh twist of switchblade, i felt the gunshot, i felt sofias sadness, i felt levi’s beating love for kilian, and i as much as i felt greif, i felt it’s warmth and it’s love.. I’m sorry if I’m not making any sense but your words made me absolutely speechless till the point idek what to say..

Every scene felt like a master scene and i really applause you for the way your wrote these chapters, it’s.. fascinating and mesmerizing really, the way you bend words under your mercy like some-kind of an alluring witch your writing is immaculate

When you blinked your eyes open, the first person you saw was Levi. His smile was bright and warm. It made you feel weightless. It made you feel loved. You smiled back, albeit weakly. Levi squeezed your hand gently, still smiling. “Welcome back, sweetheart,” he whispered.  

CMON KW WTF IS THAT AND WHY IS MY HEART SHATTERED ON THE GROUND TO SHREDS.

Spoiler alert because i need to scream:

Okay now let’s first talk about mathias this stinky grey hairy ass stalkish asshole.. i want him dead like absolutely dead no breathing again for him😞 KILIAN MY SLEEPING BEAUTY RISE FROM DEATH AND SLIT HIS THROAT MY BABY ILL HAVE UR BACK

Okay i can’t not mention this jerk and not talk about the amazing.. like absolutely jaw dropping conversation he had with our fallen angel..

“We were bound to meet, and if you didn’t stop, I’m quite sure we would have,”

“What is that expression? ‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t?’ Well. I knew it was only a matter of time before you returned to the work you know best.”

Well i sure as hell didn’t expect that tbh.. i think i can’t describe what I’m feeling from how much I’ve felt during these few hours😭😭 HELP KW WHAT HAVE YOU DONE

Tell me something,” he said, slipping a hand in his pants pocket and sniffling. “Do you ever miss it? You must.”Your fingers ticked along your sides in response and Mathias grinned, like a wolf baring its teeth. “You do,” he said. “Don’t look so enraged at the thought. A devil cannot change no matter how hard they try. It doesn’t work that way. Still,” he said contemplatively, rubbing his thumb against his index finger and studying his hands. “I’m so pleased that in your attempt to change, it merely led you back to me,” he said, blinking fondly at you. You remained unfazed yet quiet, calculating every move possible in the brief moment of silence Mathias offered to you. He tilted his head at you and smiled, empty yet again. “From one devil to another, I really am glad to have finally met you, Kilian.” 

THIS IS ICONIC IN EVERY LANGUAGE KNOWN TO MAN KIND—

Now excuse me i really need to have some sleep to function properly because i binged the 2 chapters and i can’t fathom what I’m saying or even type basic English anymore so that’s part one😭

Your lovely “💙“ anon

Omg, 💙 anon! It is SO lovely to hear from you my darling 😭❤️. I can't even begin to thank you for your thoughtfully detailed asks because you have sincerely made my days, both yesterday and today. I'll answer everything under a cut but seriously, thank you so much for this. I cherish you! 🥹

TRUTHFULLY, I MYSELF went through the 5 stages of grief writing this. LMAO! It was a deeply emotional process, but tbh, it is every time I write in some small way. I am so glad to be considered a gem to you. Really. ❤️ It's also honestly nice to be 'hidden', lol. I have never loved attention but despite that, I have a really solid, loyal following of readers and I love you all so much for sticking with me, whether you've been here since the beginning or just now made it. I love my little corner of solitude over here and I appreciate all of you for helping contribute to that.

And thank you for such a lovely compliment! I try so hard to tap into character emotions so if you can feel what they're feeling, you are fully immersed in the story which is what I always hope to achieve. I also put a lot of thought into each scene, choosing what to say and what not to say, so to be acknowledged for that means the world. Thank you so much for saying that. Also I will so take the title of a witch any day LOL! <3

Also ikr. Levi is such a sweet, sensitive person at his core that to see it spill out without hesitation now is really one of the purest things you could witness.

As for MATHIAS, writing that scene between him and Kilian was honestly like a fever dream. My hands were moving faster than my mind. I always knew from crafting his character who he was at his core, but to be able to reveal it to all of you made it all the more exciting. Like it had always been lurking underneath, under everything he did, and now you finally got to see him for what he was. If he ever alarmed you, you finally knew why. If he ever made you feel uneasy, now you could see why. It was such a pleasure to write that scene between the two of them!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, my lovely 💙 anon for taking time out of your day to message me something so sweet. I will answer your other ask later tonight, but please know how much I treasure you! :3

[sapphicwhxre]

ASTERIA'S 2.5K FOLLOWER FIC REC LIST

i read fics just as much as i write them so here are some of my favourites. tysmsm for this milestone, i love you all <3 quick note: i didn't re-tag anyone if i recommended more than one of your works because of the tag limit.

───────── girls ─────────

hermione granger

tuesdays - @stupxfy

probably one of my all time favs for hermione. it's just so well written and adorable and fluffy and yes.

if i could tell her - @hellounicorn

pining, pining, PINING. the way these emotions and hermione's described is just... art. perfection. there's a happy ending and it is so worth the build up.

darling dearest - @dracolvr

fluffy goodness. read to be hopelessly in love with hermione ─ which, let's be real, we all are.

november rain - @pansydaisy

uhm i love this one sm. it's so simple but amazing ─ everyone has their days like this and having hermione to cure them? it's what everyone needs.

i need more - @15-dogs

i sobbed the first time i read this. it'll break your heart but it's so amazingly written that it's worth the sadness. actual gut wrenching / mindblowing writing.

how the potter girls react to you in lingerie - @pottersanime

the title. need i say more?

honeyed eyes - @minty-malfoy

HEAVEN. being hermione's first kiss as friend? but both of you idiots liking each other? oh my god, sign me up.

hugging her from behind - @pastanest

again, the title. read to feel 🥺💙

grey days - @pepperimps01

PANSMIONE 😌😌 it's angsty with a happy ending and i love it sm. this does such a perfect job of capturing pansy and hermione's relationship growing and having its ups and downs with just a few paragraphs. honestly so good

grenade - @hellounicorn

another one that'll make your heart shatter. but in the best way. these are the fics i live for where the you can't help but feel like it's really happening to you and hermione and god it's so fucking powerful. underrated writing right here in general. and also pansmione is the loml so it hurts in that way.

honeybees - @pansydaisy

fluffy aesthetic heaven.

lead the way - @teacup-tai

more pansmione but this is pure filthy thinking and satisfies all the sexual tension dreams pansmione shippers have.

two queens in a king sized bed - @shysneeze

domestic christmas morning with hermione and it's angelic.

would you still love me if i turned into a worm? - @minty-malfoy

one of those blurbs i never imagined i'd read or love so much. not to mention it's spot on and adorable.

pansy parkinson

right and wrong - @starrkidmalfoy

a first kiss and the overdone trope that i will never get sick of, the bitch who's soft only for you. the descriptions in this are perfection and the writing is beautiful <3

messed up - @writseo

toxic, messed up love fics will be the death of me. insane how well you captured it all and i just yes damn fucking props.

pansy parkinson imagine - @moonlight-imagines

*screams* THE BEST FRIEND BANTER + THE ENDING OH MY GOD OH MY GOD ─ I SCREAMED WHEN I FIRST READ THIS. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.

dating pansy would include - @lotsoffandomimagines

ABSOLUTE POWER COUPLE SHIT and to this day, pansy saying "jealous much?" when being scolded for pda remains iconic.

grey days - @pepperimps01

as i said before: PANSMIONE 😌😌 it's angsty with a happy ending and i love it sm. this does such a perfect job of capturing pansy and hermione's relationship growing and having its ups and downs with just a few paragraphs. honestly so good

new rules - @silversslytherin

excuse me this is immaculate ─ pansy is the best friend and the second you see that she's also the best s/o, you're done for. perfection.

study "dates" - @turning-dreams-into-chaos

the title is self explanatory and this whole thing is fluffy heaven <3

how the potter girls react to you in lingerie - @pottersanime

read the title, thank me later.

lead the way - @teacup-tai

more pansmione but this is pure filthy thinking and satisfies all the sexual tension dreams pansmione shippers have.

traitor - @hufflepuff-writings

a masterpiece where pansy chooses the wrong side in the battle of hogwarts. this ties up so well and the writing is so powerful.

back alley love potions - @a-simple-imagine

this actually hurts but in a beautiful way. watching pansy give draco a love potion is such a fucking concept and this is executed incredibly.

my little bunny - @emmamarie7708

pansy making you do this is so dirty yet she's slightly sweet and i am a sucker for it. god is a woman and her name is pansy fucking parkinson.

pansy parkinson imagine - @moonlight-imagines

i'll let pansy beat people up for me all day. they put me in madame pomfrey's, feel my girlfriend's wrath.

ginny weasley

blissful - @enyastasia

fluffy ginny goodness. the friends to lovers? the amazing kiss? 🥺🥺🥺💞💞 this fic lives in my heart <3

bubble pop electric - @hunnypot-imagines

this is hotter than a lot of actual smut and the chemistry is so... wow. ginny weasley owns me.

dear ginny - @alyssamalfoy

how does this short ass letter manage to make me feel so much. it's sorcery but i don't even care, it's beautiful.

wildflower - @pansydaisy

will i ever get tired of cheeky i love yous? not when loves like ginny weasley and ayli's so so pretty writing exist.

all i want - @hellounicorn

ouch. fuck you harry :) quite possibly the best ginny fic i have ever read. insanely talented writing, i genuinely feel every touch of emotion you put down and you need to know how amazing that is. keep breaking my heart.

linny hcs - @bluebirdlinginthenest

who doesn't need good linny content in their life?

how the potter girls react to you in lingerie - @pottersanime

sexy bitch, fuck me up.

willow - @padmeamiala

ginny is the loml. her brothers can cry about it.

bellatrix lestrange

attempting to bake with bellatrix - @carters-coffee

MY FAVOURITE BELLA FIC ─ there's not enough bellatrix fluff out there but this makes up for the lack of. heaven.

bellatrix prompt - @carters-coffee

this gives me chills. she knows she's a bad bitch and that's what we love about her.

change of plans - @dumb-sbian

why THE FUCK have i not had a rainy morning with bellatrix? she can sleep and mumble something just like this and i'm still head over heels for her.

being tortured as bellatrix's girlfriend - @writings-of-a-british-fangirl

definitely a concept BUT this makes me feel some type of way and i recommend giving it a minute of your time 😌

bellatrix finding out you're a muggleborn - @carters-coffee

the beauty, the nuance omg. this is art.

bellatrix prompt - @carters-coffee

yep jealous bella. trust me, im all yours mommy <3

sex with bellatrix would include - @onegayastronaut

so short but... sign. me. up.

luna lovegood

never leave - @/deactivated

luna smut is hard asf to come by and this is my favourite. it's so luna and the pain over her not knowing, not getting that closure about how you feel until this is an amazing rollercoaster.

she - @hunnypot-imagines

the beauty of falling in love with luna, through this majorly talented writing. ten out of fucking ten. i will not elaborate but there's also majorly good association in this imo.

silver berries and flickering fireflies - @duskgrangers

i love this fic so much. she's so herself and that is why we ✨ simp ✨ and the scene set just sounds so prettyy

how the potter girls react to you in lingerie - @pottersanime

luna + this title? yes please, ma'am i am simping.

would you still love me if i turned into a worm? - @minty-malfoy

put me in your pocket luna. im begging you.

dancing in the rain with luna - @/deactivated

only luna would get you a dress to go dancing in the rain and this is the stuff of blissful, fluffy dreams.

hugging her from behind - @pastanest

short and cute, do me a favour and read it :)

dating luna lovegood would go like - @glossymalfoy

life is NOT worth it if you don't read these cute little headcanons and imagine dating ravenclaw's baddest bitch.

linny hc - @bluebirdlinginthenest

like i said, who doesn't need good linny content?

cho chang

strawberry kisses - @pansydaisy

the only cho fic i've been able to find and it's SO WORTH IT. the cutest, it flows so well, and i absolutely love it. i need this with cho tbh.

fleur delacour

toutes les etoiles - @coffee--writes

im in love with fleur and this amazing writing. and for the first time since i started high school, my three years of taking french feel good for something.

being best friends with fleur would include - @harrypotter-imaginess

not romantic but actually so sweet pls. i want this friendship in my life so bad.

nymphadora tonks

dating nymphadora tonks would include - @imaginesforgirls

dating her + that warm little feeling of bliss that only HCs can give you

taking care of her after the war - @random-imagines-blog

this kind of hurts in that good ass way and i lovee it. they're simple hcs but i feel for tonks so much and then there's that warm lil feeling when you're the one to put her back together aand now my primary life goal is to help this woman heal.

───────── boys ─────────

harry potter

phosphenes - @minty-malfoy

ok shakespeare, the fuck?? this fic will never not get me right in the heart. the angst, holy fuck. and for once, the reader doesn't hurt harry and let draco walk all over them and it's just done so well. the transition from a toxic relationship to a sweet, loving one PLEASE. it's beautiful.

happy memories - @15-dogs

how does this manage to be so. smutty and fluffy at the same time? this is one of those short ones that has lived in my head, rent-free since i read it. and tbh any fic that includes expecto patronum is guaranteed to be good.

come back to me - @wondernimbus

right from the beginning, it's a mess of emotions both good and bad. that kind of good ass writing that hits you in the heart <3

making out with harry potter would include - @badfvith

read this title. done? now thank me later.

harry prompt - @thoseofgreatambition

harry x a sarcastic swooning bitch is an elite trope idc. short and sweet, i'm marrying this fic.

keep your eyes on the prize - @rowema-ravenclaw

first of all, showing harry up and second, pure fluff (and a little steam) right after. i also love how she writes harry in general because he's totally safe/in love with the relationship but still has that awkward lovable shyness and i just... *sighs*

always - @pansydaisy

uhm i will always love him and always reread this a thousand times so its a fit title + a good read.

late night studying - @lumosandnoxwriting

fuck studying, let his hand stay in my shirt. once again recommending fluffy bliss in the form of a short read that makes me feel things <3

would you still love me if i turned into a worm? - @minty-malfoy

he's so stupid. but he still loves you + this is from our resident perfectly talented writer so its a win.

cuddling after a rough quidditch practice - @badfvith

harry james potter is : b a b y

gryffindor's victory - @rowema-ravenclaw

make me gryffindors fucking cheerleader because HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT. AND THE WRITING IS IMMACULATE PLEASE. just read it, you won't regret it.

draco malfoy

silent treatment - @slytherinwh0re

andy's mad talented and this is just... insert a cheesy chefs kiss. unbelievably adorable but so fucking hot and an actually good smut plot (which is rare lmfao). remind me to give draco the silent treatment every time im upset.

rewards - @malfoysstilinski

so hot PLS. hype him up for the match and get your reward, bye. so good.

reading between the lines - @minty-malfoy

i've said this a thousand times but that's what happens when you've got a mad talented mutual BLESSING everyone with beauty like this. butterflies and warm feelings all around when i read this 💓

point of view - @draconisxcaput

its angst for hermione and fluff for you but overall ethereal writing. i am never going to recover from the pure talent that this is.

im not kidding im dying - @malfoysmatrioshka

i hate being sick with a passion but this... this would make it worth it.

hogwarts express - @/deactivated

draco fucking you because he knows harry's watching. the shit of legends and god is it hot.

draco laughing at you because you can't walk after sex - @glossymalfoy

*motions to the title* fluff with this loser 😌

the cheeseburger - @slytherinwh0re

really short read but this is one of those things i just. didn't know i needed. you're missing out and haven't even realised it if you haven't read about introducing him to cheeseburgers. and that ending is so funny/in character to me i fucking love it.

four am - @malfoysstilinski

domestic draco 🥺 but also sad draco 🥺 and then fluffy draco 🥺

hugging him from behind - @pastanest

real short and it'll brighten your day <3

would you still love me if i turned into a worm? - @minty-malfoy

how is it that this is so stupidly adorable. i love it 💘

ron weasley

heather - @hellounicorn

always making me cry with your fics i swearrr. this is a must-read. having someone but them not really being yours is a beautiful trope and this fic absolutely does it wonderful, poetic justice. your angst is addicting.

apple pie - @pregnant-piggy

ABSOLUTE DOMESTIC BLISS I AM IN LOVE. i don't even like kids or baking that much but this made me so soft. the whole cozy, heavenly vibes from this fic yes yes yes.

jealousy - @writeroutoftime

cliché jealousy turns friends to lovers and i am a sucker for it all over again <3

shaking and trembling - @ronsbadidea

if ron doesn't finger fuck me and then make a cheeky comment about it in class later then WHAT IS THE POINT :(

mixed signals - @iamthecabbage

i've always figured ron is this awkward idiot cutie with a crush and yea, this is it.

fred and george weasley

i love you, but you don't - @george-fabian-weasley

fred's a character i really don't read for often but goddamn. it's the saddest, most beautiful mix of rejection and pain and fred desperately caring but not in the way you want him to ─ an angsty masterpiece.

cockwarming george - @roonilwazlibimagines

because of this filthy gem, i one hundred thousand percent believe that he could make me cum without even fucking me and this is just... it's a good fucking read.

would you still love me if i turned into a worm? - @minty-malfoy

their responses are so wonderfully chaotic and adorable and GOD you're missing out if you haven't read these lil blurbs.

─

[trobedficrecs]

One Day She Will Swim with Dolphins 

Fic Rec #1 

https://archiveofourown.org/works/520555 by scioscribe 

There are mature implications in this story if that makes you uncomfortable!

Where do I even begin with this short but remarkable fanfic? One Day She Will Swim with Dolphins focuses on Shirley and is an immaculate character study. The story’s pretty old and was actually written while the show was still on air so I’m not quite sure if the author is active on ao3 or any other social media platform for that matter. I picked this fic as my first review and recommendation because of how much I loved it and because of how rare Shirley fanfic is in the fandom. It’s literally everything I wanted from canon and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I read it. 

The writing style is beautiful and impactful. It’s one of those stories where you feel every gut-wrenching emotion through simple words laid out perfectly by the author and it lingers in your mind long after you’re done reading. 

The writer effortlessly nailed Shirley’s passive-aggressive and judgmental attitude. There is a moment in the fic where Shirley says something off the wall about the stripper Andre cheated with which stays very true to her as a character. It demonstrated her flaws as a person brilliantly in my opinion. 

One of the things I admired about the story is its point. Shirley is more than a wife and is more than a mom. Sure, she is both of those things, but she is so much more than them. Within this story, she’s finally given the depth and emotion that the actual show writers failed to give her. Everything from Shirley leaving Andre for herself (which felt so empowering and moving by the way) to Shirley slowly becoming her own and discovering her worth-- I just loved everything about it. I’m honestly speechless by how well thought out this one-shot was. 

Another thing I was obsessed with was the dynamic between Shirley and Britta!!! They’re definitely one of my favorite duos on the show, so to see it being explored on a deeper level is lovely and satisfying. It hits the core as to why their friendship with one another works and why they’re good for each other. They give the other such an amazing balance and the author showed this well. And ending the story with Shirley hanging with Britta was the absolute best way to do it because it came full circle. We see Shirley finally doing something for herself and shifting from everything she’s “supposed to be” to what she really wants to be! I can’t even put into words how much I adore that conclusion.  

This fic was beautifully and also at times painfully real. It was such a good read and I loved every second of it! 

FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE FIC:

While I loved the whole thing and appreciated the fact that it focused on Shirley, my favorite part was definitely the exploration of Britta and Shirley’s dynamic! Their friendship was beautifully written. I also loved the title because it really shows what the story’s about; Shirley breaking free and becoming her own!

LINES THAT STOOD OUT: 

1. There was a messiness to them that she loved because it seemed more honest than the way Andre had kept buying her scarves and pretty earrings right until he told her he was leaving.

2. She was going to go swimming with dolphins. She was going to scream when she wanted to, shout and holler, and she was going to dance to Chuck Berry in her nightgown, her hands warm around Britta’s, and she was going to keep rocket pops in the freezer. She was going to put up as many pictures of the Lord as she wanted and she was going to hold her head up in church even though she’d left her husband. 

3. Britta didn’t understand why she had left Andre, Britta had never seen that part of Shirley coming, so Britta touched her shoulder with delicate fingers and said, “Did he break your heart, Shirley?”

“No,” Shirley said. “He just didn’t know what to do with it. I do, though.” 

4. They were just so perfect she had to laugh.

DO I RECOMMEND THE STORY: 

Absolutely!! In fact, I highly recommend it!  Especially if you’re a Shirley lover like I am. It’s only 2,902 words long; the story makes its point and hits home with so little time to do so. This fic was so beautiful and powerful. It lives in my head rent-free and I will never forget it! 

END NOTE:

Okay, guys! That was my first review!!! I finally had the nerve to post it. What did you guys think? I can’t wait to read more of your fics and review them- this fandom has such talented writers and I love you all sm. Thank you for reading this if you did! :)

Also, if you want me to review your fic (as long as it revolves around community), inbox me!!! I have a few I’m already doing but I would love more!

All my fic reviews and recs will be under the hashtag trobedficrecs!!! <3

[exhaustedfander]

Hideaway: Chapter Two

A03 link

1 / 2 / ?

word count: 1,716

Ho boy have I been strugling to write lately. With that being said, here’s chapter two! I’d love to hear what you think!

“When you said you had someplace in mind… this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.”

“What do you mean? This is perfect!” Logan glances around the entrance of the castle, his eyes grazing over the lavish and detailed building. Logan had thought perhaps Roman had meant a cottage or a somewhat sizable home, but this? This is a lot, to say the least.

“I’m not so sure about this.” Roman turns to Logan, a look of hurt flashing in his eyes.

“What are you saying? You want to turn back?” Logan can’t stand the strain in Roman’s voice.

“That isn’t what I’m suggesting this is all just… a bit much.”

‘A bit much’ barely begins to cover the extravagance of the castle. Logan’s never ventured this far into The Imagination before. He’s only been in it a few times, brought by Roman who’s shown him a handful of his creations and the sites he’s conjured up. He’s been shown some of the creatures Roman’s prouder of – unicorns, dragons, unicorn-dragons, etc. – but nothing like this.

Logan can’t even begin to ponder how long it took for Roman to construct such a structure. Even from the exterior, he can see that Roman has spared no expense in the detail-department. Ivy climbs high along the castle walls, not overgrown, but coexisting, as though the structure has been here for years and years. The castle sits on a hill, large and grand, and Logan’s almost surprised there isn’t a crocodile-infested mote, too. It would certainly fit the aesthetic.

“Please, Logan. Won’t you give it a chance?” Despite his hesitation, Logan doesn’t know how he’d be able to say no to Roman when his voice is so wounded and fragile. He sounds so close to a breaking point, something which Logan fears to consider the very possible reality of.

“Alright, Roman,” he sighs, “Alright.”

The look of relief that crosses over Roman’s face is a final piece of proof that Logan doesn’t have it in him to fight it. He’ll do what his friend asks, he’ll allow Roman to lead him in almost any direction, so long as it seems like it’s for the best.

Logan wonders when he allowed himself to be so ruled by the emotions he’s so insistent on not having.

“Splendid!” Roman says, smiling bright, though the expression is far more forced than he’s letting on, “I promise you won’t regret this.” Logan stiffens as Roman takes his hand in his and leads him into the castle.

Physical contact has always been something Logan isn’t too sure his opinion of. Patton’s always been a rather affectionate person, making it impossible to avoid bear-hugs from time-to-time. He supposes he doesn’t mind that too much, and every once in awhile, he’ll receive an embrace from another side, though it’s rare. But Roman grabbing hold of his hand feels… different. Different in a way that Logan can’t quite place. He dares to think he might even like it.

=+=

Logan finds himself wandering the palace alone not long after he and Roman have entered. It’s not as though he’s actively avoiding Roman’s presence; quite the contrary, he can’t find him anywhere. Early on, Logan was so lost in the detail and sprawling size of the castle that he hadn’t realized Roman was no longer beside him.

He can’t be sure how long he’s been wandering these halls. Time seems to pass far different in The Imagination, and Logan’s never been here long enough to have gotten a handle on the mechanics of it in the past, but he’s almost positive he’s seen the sunrise and set at least two times now.

Every room is as immaculate and well-crafted as the last. He’s walked through a ballroom, glorious and beautiful, a library rivaling that of Beauty and the Beast, a thrown room, and many other places that have already managed to slip from his mind. How long has Roman spent on this place, he wonders? And more pointedly, how much time does he occupy this castle? He’s seen no one save for Roman when the entered, and he’s positive the creative side can conjure staff and townsfolk on a whim.

Logan despises giving into such silly bouts of emotion… but he’s feeling rather lonely. It doesn’t make much sense, really; Logan is perfectly capable of being alone. He often spends countless hours holed up in his room, doing research, mapping out schedules that will inevitably be ignored, doing things he deems important for Thomas. Doing things that will make him feel important.

But here he finds himself, in an unfamiliar place, ever-expansive and too damn quiet. He’d assumed Roman would keep him company, that Roman needed his company, and without it might fall to a million pieces. But maybe not… Why, then, would he even invite Logan to come? What purpose was he possibly serving here?

“Logan! There you are!”

Logan jerks around, surprised to hear Roman’s voice cut through the hours – had it been hours? Days? Logan can’t be sure – of unbearable silence.

“Oh, Roman,” he says, praying his voice doesn’t betray how relieved he feels, “I was wondering where you’d gone.”

“I could say the same about you, pocket protector. You disappeared on me.” Huh. Had they both simply gone off in opposite directions? Logan supposes it’s possible.  

“I’m fairly sure I’ve seen the sunrise and set several times in the time we’ve been apart,” Logan notes, still a little overcome with the sudden shock of no longer being alone, “How can you explain that?”

“Oh, time’s pretty weird here,” Roman says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. That’s how Roman’s being, abashed and uncomfortable and it’s so wrong. Logan isn’t an idiot; he knows much of Roman’s boisterous confidence is little more than an act. But it’s an act he’s usually so much better at playing. “It’s kind of random,” Roman explains, waving his hand dismissively, “You know, magic and all that.”

“But you have complete creative control here, do you not? At least in your sector of The Imagination? Furthermore, I’m surprised you’d chalk your accomplishments up to mere ‘magic’.” Evidently, that was a poor choice of words. Roman’s ill-conceived smile falters and the look that his face twists into is gut-wrenching. “I-I’m not saying this to upset you. It’s just –.”

“It’s fine,” Roman assures, though Logan’s fairly certain Janus would be calling out the lie if they were in the mind palace, “I’m alright. Of course, I’m alright. It’s just… one of those kinks I’ve never been able to quite work out.”

“Time existing so fluidly?”

“Yes. To my knowledge, Remus hasn’t figured it out at all either. Not that I feel too inclined to ask. Sometimes, days pass with the blink of an eye. Others, they drag on and on. It can feel like a century can pass in here, or no time at all. Sometimes, I’ve got a little bit of a handle on it, but for the most part, it’s very odd.”

“Oh,” Logan says, hearing the disappointment in Roman’s tone, and, oh dear, Roman thinks he’s disappointed in him, “Well that’s… that’s rather fascinating.”

“Y-yeah?”

“Yes,” Logan says, “I think that would be a very meaningful thing to observe.” Then, a thought occurs to him. “You promise we won’t spend too long in here though, right?” Roman blinks.

“Huh?”

“That we won’t stay away from the others, and from Thomas,” Logan clarifies, “We do have a job to return to. We can’t stay long.” Roman shakes his head.

“Right, yes, of course,” he says quickly, a little too quickly, “I’ve never stayed in here too long. We’ll just spend a little while. Oh, goodness, I haven’t even gotten to show you so much of the castle since we got separated. C’mon,” Roman says, grabbing Logan’s hand once more and lacing their fingers together. The logical side is all but hopeless to follow, allowing Roman to lead the way. After all, there’s very little chance of him being alone again this way.

Roman shows him every room of the castle as well as the courtyard, explaining in great detail every detail. Logan has to admit that he’s fascinated, and Roman’s willing to answer any of his numerous questions about this place and this realm as a whole.

He talks excitedly about his creations, that familiar spark lighting up in him. He hasn’t heard Roman sounds so proud in, well… he can’t remember how long it’s been. Even when he doesn’t quite know what he’s talking about, Logan listens intently, pleased to just be hearing Roman talk so happily.

He hadn’t been sure before, but now Logan feels certain this was a good idea after all. Roman seems to be doing better, and Logan’s feeling entirely wanted for the first time in a long time. There are no pressures here, no one to make him feel as though he needs to do everything in his power to prove he deserves to be listened to. Roman’s listening to him when he chimes in, and he’s content to hear out whatever his friend wants to talk about.

Logan is so engrossed in their conversation that he hardly notices that darkness has blanketed the sky for some time. It’s only when Roman suggests that they get some shut-eye that he realizes how long – or rather, that it’s been quite a while, as determining the exact time isn’t exactly possible – they’ve been talking. Of course, it’s a good idea to get some sleep. Logan is always eager to stress the importance of a healthy sleep schedule.

Except… Logan finds little solace in the feelings of a cushy bed in a pleasant room. It’s still dark outside the window, and he should be tired. He shouldn’t feel some odd, primal desire to climb out of bed and walk into the room Roman inhabits. It’s stupid; they were just talking for hours and hours. He’ll see Roman when he wakes up. There’s no reason to feel this way, so childish and needy.

Despite everything, he does. Logan can’t stop thinking about the feeling of Roman’s hand in his, or the sight of his true, dazzling smile. He can’t cast the thought of finally, finally feeling wanted by someone.

And, in turn, he can’t stop himself from wanting.

=+=

Hideaway taglist: 

@tryingtobts , @rainbowsixth 

General Taglist:

@nadiestar , @unoriginalgayboyalex , @maryann-draws  , @bella-in-a-bag, @igonnatalknothing, @elizabutgayer, @wishthefish916, @reptilianwithscallions

=+=

[hugging-jjba-characters]

i absolutely LOVE the way you write!!! your vibe? immaculate *chefs kiss* anyways, what are your thoughts/headcanons on first kiss with the jojos 1-6? i haven’t read parts 7 or 8 yet oops ):

y’all are too nice 🥺 

Seriously, my vibes are wack af in real life. and I’m sO sorry I took over a day to get to this and it’s really bad bc I couldn't focus well but,,, this is what I could do. I tried to write a lot to make up for the quality and time it took but ._.

(cut for length) 

Jonathan 

Your first kiss with Jonathan would be something very sweet and romantic of course 

Maybe y’all’s first date is like a picnic in some flower field 

And it's the nicest thing you’ve ever done with someone 

You’ve both finished your food, so now you’re just sitting on the blanket, vaguely cloud-gazing and talking about various things 

Jonathan looks at you with the most loving eyes 

When you look into them, it's like you’re looking into a deep ocean. They’re full of such strong emotion, you feel as though you’re going to get lost in their tides, but you can’t help to get closer 

So you do get closer 

And they get closer to you 

Until both of your eyes flutter closed and your lips meet for the first time 

Jonathan’s lips are soft and cautious. This is his first kiss too and he doesn’t want to mess it up for either of you 

Because of that, it's also a short kiss 

Shorter than you were really hoping for 

When your lips separate and you pull back to look at eachother, Jonathan is all blushy and shy. You can tell he isn’t sure what to do from there 

He knows all there is about being gentlemanly, but he can’t quite say the same about first kisses. It’s not exactly something his father or tutors felt the need to teach him about 

You’re not 100% on what you’re supposed to do either 

So instead you do what you want to 

Which is bring him back into another kiss with a hand on his cheek 

This one is a little more long-lived 

Jonathan gets a bit more used to the feeling of your lips sliding together 

He’s a quick learner

But I mean… a little more practice never hurt anyone right?

Joseph 

Okay so we all agree that Joseph’s a dumbass, and that extends to relationship stuff, yeah? 

He would first kiss you while doing something dumb like...

You know the spaghetti scene from Lady and The Tramp? 

It's that. With squid ink pasta. You can’t change my mind. 

You’re sharing because he really wanted you to try this stuff, ever since he first had it he’s loved it, surprisingly 

You both take a forkful of noodles and… 

Oh no, it looks like they’re the same noodle, whatever will happennnn? 

Yeah, you kiss 

It’s kind of a quick peck, but you feel your cheeks heating up immeasurably as you avoid eye contact with him

Joseph looks pretty happy with himself 

“Hey, if you wanted to kiss me so badly you could just say it!”

(Your next line is, ‘you’re so dumb, Joseph!’) 

Joseph chuckles and grabs your chin 

“But let's try it for real this time, eh?” 

You both close your eyes and lean in 

Joseph is a pretty passionate kisser. You can feel all his jokes and sarcasm melt away during the kiss in favor of showing you his love 

It’s probably one of the longer first kisses; neither of you want to pull away from it 

But you are in public 

And you really don’t wanna get kicked out, this restaurant has great food 

So eventually you both lean back

Joseph bites down on your lower lip in the process 

You ask for the rest of your meal to be put in boxes, lips buzzing and hearts fluttering in excitement 

Joseph is just a good kisser :) 

Jotaro 

I almost feel like you would have to be the one to kiss Jotaro first 

He’s just too shy ‘cool’ to make that first move, ya know? 

Take him to the beach 

While he’s marveling at tide pools and the little creatures within them, steal his hat 

When he looks up at you to snatch it back, give him a peck on the lips 

He’ll immediately flush and go to bring his hat over his eyes, before realizing that you’re still holding it 

Laugh at him. This is like torture for the poor boy 

Watch him struggle until he decides to just turn around in an attempt to hide his red face and still appear suave 

“Yare yare daze...” 

His voice sounds weird

Never let him live this down 

And don’t let him just brush you off and walk away 

Make him turn back around so you can give him a proper kiss and plop his hat back on 

His lips are the slightest bit rough bc he refuses to use chapstick unless you make him 

Jotaro is awkward as all hell, so please continue to take the lead here 

Once he’s used to your hands on his jacket lapel and your tongue dancing with his, he’s a brilliant kisser 

He’s just gotta get over his nerves real quick and then he’ll give you the most passionate kisses ever

Josuke

You’re playing video games on Josuke’s couch, one of your favorite activities 

You’ve been dating for a few weeks now, still just getting used to the feeling of calling eachother your partner 

It’s not like Josuke’s scared to kiss you, he just… doesn’t know how to go about it 

But then you guys finally beat the last boss, the one that you’ve spent weeks preparing for and dying over and over against 

And you’re both just so happy 

Josuke looks over at you with stars in his eyes 

He’s such a dork 

You think he’s just gonna pull you into a hug 

But then he put both hands on your cheeks and brings your lips together 

It starts out as a quick expression of his glee, but then Josuke can’t make himself pull away (neither can you) 

It turns into a smooth makeout session, with Josuke’s hands moving to your hips and yours around his neck 

When Josuke moves back, he looks stunned 

Andddd then he looks embarrassed 

“Uh-sorry, heh, I didn;t mean for that to happen.” 

His arm goes to scratch the back of his neck 

“I wasn’t complaining.” 

Josuke’s blush deepens 

“Oh.”

“Would you wanna… do it again then?” 

You agree obviously 

The video game is quickly forgotten about 

Giorno

Giorno would try to plan for your first kiss, to make it something cute and romantic bc he doesn’t wanna let you down 

But then you go on a mission 

It's dangerous 

If it weren’t for Giorno, you might not have made it out alive 

As soon as the enemies are taken care of and the two of you are somewhere safe, Giorno’s healing your wounds with tears in his eyes 

You try to tell him it's okay, you’re fine, you’re still here 

He sets his jaw and focuses on using his stand on you

Once you’ve finished bleeding and the scrapes on your skin are basically gone, Giorno brings you into a tight hug 

 “I almost lost you,” is whispered into your shoulder  

“You didn’t. I would have been fine either way.”

“You don’t know that.” 

Giorno’s lost a lot of friends 

He doesn’t wanna lose the one he cares about most 

He pulls his face away from your neck  

His face is a gut-wrenching mixture of grief, anger, and desperation 

He presses his lips to yours in a bittersweet first kiss 

You can feel the tears on his cheeks transferring to yours 

The kiss is gentle, yet emotional 

Giorno’s lips are soft like the hands that come up to cradle your face 

When he pulls away, he rests your foreheads together 

“I care about you, okay?” 

It’s not the candlelit dinner he wanted it to be, but you think it’s plenty sentimental and memorable. 

Jolyne 

Jolyne would probably kiss you before you even start dating, as her way of telling you she likes you  

You’re at her house for a sleepover 

It’s like 2am and neither of you are tired, but you don’t know what to do 

So you're just laying on your backs in her room, talking about everything and nothing 

“Hey.” She grabs your attention

“Have you ever… Kissed anyone?” 

You look over at her. She looks confused about something 

“No… But I’ve wanted to. You?” 

“Same. Sometimes I just, get this urge, ya know? To-to kiss someone, and I don’t even know why. It just pops up.” 

“Ar-have you ever… gotten that urge around me?” 

It felt like a stupid question. You’re just friends, why would she feel that towards you? 

“Honestly? Yeah.”

Jolyne rolled over onto her side and continued talking 

“There are times--kind of like right now--where, I dunno, everything in my body just screams for me to kiss you. Uh-I-I’m sorry that's probably really weird isn’t it? I--”

You interrupt her by putting your lips on hers 

Jolyne stalls for a second before kissing you back and bringing a hand to your hip 

Her lips are nice. They taste like the gloss you helped her apply earlier when you were messing around with makeup 

Like fruit and really cheap glitter (does glitter have a taste?)

The kiss lasts as long as you can go without oxygen, starting out slow and gradually intensifying 

You pull away to gasp in a couple of breaths 

You can barely see Jolyne in the darkness of her room, but you can tell that her eyes are lidded and her oh-so-pretty lips pulled into a smile 

“Can-can we do that again?” 

You eagerly agree 

And if the two of you fall asleep tangled together after your heavier kisses slowly turn soft again, who's to say?

[no6secretsanta]

The Breathings of Your Heart

For @oatmealaddiction from @glittercracker. Happy holidays, and thanks for the fun request!

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”

William Wordsworth

Nezumi didn’t look up from his keyboard as the door to his small office opened, concentrating as he typed rapidly.

“Sir, your 4:30 client is waiting.”

“Sure, almost done,” Nezumi said, glancing quickly over the text on his computer screen and then pushing “print.” It had been a bitch of a letter to write, a father trying to convince his wayward son, yet again, to come home and join the No. 2 council and lead the life of a fat sycophant. Nezumi didn’t blame the kid for the constant refusals. He resented writing the letters, but then again, writing them, and others like them, was what kept him fed and housed in between acting gigs. Fed and housed rather nicely, truth be told, so he really couldn’t complain.

“Let him in,” he said absently to the secretary, re-reading the last sentence of the letter one more time. Even as the printer whirred, he wasn’t convinced that it was quite right. Too flowery? Certainly too much influenced by the book he’d just finished reading – something southern, with language that was both overwrought and beautiful, and far too full of symbolism.

“Of course,” the secretary said. “Sir?”

Thinking that the secretary was speaking to him, Nezumi looked up expectantly from the printer basket from which he was retrieving the letter; and then he froze. The man had not been speaking to him. He had been speaking to the client he was showing in, a young man in a long, dark trench coat, with a shock of silvery hair. As he shucked the coat into the waiting arms of the secretary his face became visible, though still, he did not look at Nezumi. It didn’t matter. Nezumi would have known him anywhere, if only for the crimson stain that ran from his left cheek to his neck and under the collar of his immaculate, white, button-up shirt.

The resemblance to his old friend ended there. Both face and form were longer, leaner; he wasn’t certain that he would best the other man in height, anymore. There was also a long, fine scar slicing through the one the parasite had left; and there were others. Smaller, but numerous. Nezumi felt them like a punch to the gut.

Shion’s violet eyes met Nezumi’s in a long, hard stare. Nezumi shuddered despite himself. This was not the boy he’d left behind two years previous. This was a man, one he no longer knew, and one who had every right to demand payback. Nezumi wanted to say his name; he couldn’t make his lips move to form the word.

The secretary, of course, was ready to absolve them both of the overdue greeting. “Mr. Shion asked specifically for your services in writing a letter,” the man said, a warmth in his tone that told Nezumi that Shion had not lost his old charm, for all his new aloofness. He could not bring himself to consider that the aloofness was purely a function of meeting Nezumi again.

“Of – of course,” Nezumi said, opening a new file on the computer. “Sh – Sir,” he corrected quickly at the hard flash of Shion’s eyes on his own, “would you care for refreshments before we – ”

“No,” Shion said, the once-warm timbre of his voice chilled and hardened, like tree sap in winter. “Let’s get right to it.”

“Okay,” Nezumi said, flicking a glance at Shion’s cold face and then nodding to the secretary that it was all right to leave them. He turned back to his computer screen, opening a new file. “Would you care to sit?”

Shion considered the chair in front of the desk for a moment, and then sat, though nothing about his posture relaxed.

“To whom would you like to address your letter?” Nezumi asked, trying to force his voice to even politeness, though it was straining to leap and tatter like a flag held against a gale.

“Mao Fumei,” Shion said evenly.

Nezumi faltered at that, turned shocked eyes upward. Shion’s own eyes were like damsons frosted in an early cold snap. “Shion – how did you know my – ”

“I’ve engaged you to write a letter,” Shion answered calmly. “If you can’t do it, I’ll find someone else.”

Nezumi bent his head, unable to hold those eyes. Though it might lie beneath a layer of frost, there was emotion swarming in them, too much for him to face. “Okay. So, you’d like to address it to…to…”

“Mao Fumei,” Shion repeated, his voice soft in that it was not abrasive, but it was still, somehow, sharp. As if he knew what that name meant to Nezumi. Because, of course, he did. How couldn’t he? But how on this blasted earth had he ever uncovered it?

Nezumi began to type, relying on muscle memory alone, because that name had paralyzed his mind. “Dear Mr. Mao,” he said as he typed, and then waited, expectantly, staring at the blinking cursor. There was a long silence. Too long. At last he looked up: those wide, purple eyes were fixed on him, unblinking. The skin of the other man’s face was snowy, aside from the brilliant scar. He could have been a wax replica of the boy Nezumi had known through that brief and endless winter; the boy whom he’d –

“Over the two years of our separation,” Shion said, cutting Nezumi’s thoughts brutally short, “I’ve had a good deal of opportunity to consider what I would like to say to you, should we ever meet again.”

A long moment passed before Nezumi realized that Shion was dictating. The screen and keyboard swam in front of his eyes as he comprehended what was happening – or did he? Was Shion really capable of something so calculating? Not the Shion he’d left; but this was not the Shion he’d left, and because he had no one but himself to blame for that, he began to type, though the words sickened him.

“It was a beautiful day when you walked away from me. Far, far too beautiful for the grief that leaving caused. You had your reasons, Mr. Mao. I do understand that. Your life had been a misery, and the city we had leveled together was the architect of that. No sane person would choose to stay there.”

Shion paused; his eyes focused on the window and the springtime trees budding beyond in audacious, acid green. Nezumi stole the moment to look at him: still beautiful. No, that was wrong. He was now far, far more beautiful than the soft boy of two years previous. More beautiful than the maddened one who had killed a man to save Nezumi and then turned the gun on himself. He might have lost his softness, but the sinew and bone he was made of now were like the taut stone of sculpture. There was an unforgiving cast to the set of his jaw that told Nezumi, even beyond the scars, that he had faced hardship they had never anticipated in the wake of the city’s fall, and he had overcome it by force of will. But his lips were full and his eyes were deep and dear lord, how had Nezumi ever walked away from –

“But,” Shion continued, his eyes snapping back to Nezumi’s face. It took him a moment to resume typing. “But I don’t think that those months we spent together were miserable. They weren’t miserable for me, even though I’d lost so much. And I don’t think they were miserable for you, either. How long had it been, Mr. Mao, since you’d had someone to talk to, to argue with – to dance with?”

For the first time, there was a chink in Shion’s armored voice; tiny, such a little thing, but Nezumi’s fine ear caught it. His fingers halted over the keys.

“How long had it been since you were warm?” Shion’s voice was lower now. “Since someone held you at night? Since someone cared whether or not you were breathing? Since someone fit their own breaths to yours, so that you were like one person in two bodies? How long…”

There was a pause; Nezumi realized that he hadn’t typed any of what Shion had just said, and he rushed to catch up, although his fingers shook as the words formed beneath them. As they flowed forth, there was a slow wrench of something inside of him shifting; tearing.

“How long did you mean to let that mean nothing to you? To let all of it mean nothing?”

The words were a brush above a whisper, and when Nezumi finally looked up, Shion’s head was bent and tears were falling into his lap. They glinted gold in the shattered late-afternoon light that filtered through the tree branches.

“Shion,” he said softly. The other man only bent his head farther, wept harder. “Shion, come here. Please?”

There was a long moment when Nezumi didn’t know whether he would do it; whether he had even heard him. And then the white-haired man swept a hand across his face, looked Nezumi in the eye with his own, wet, bruised ones, and said, “Why should I?”

Nezumi sighed, shook his head. “You shouldn’t. There is absolutely no reason why you should.” And then he stood up, and rounded the desk until he stood in front of Shion. He offered him shaking hands. “But please. Please…”

Shion looked at the extended hands for a long moment, and then, reluctantly, he took them in his own. A sob rose in Nezumi’s throat at their warmth; at their hardness. They were covered now with callouses to go with the scars he’d noticed; what had Shion been through in the years he’d been gone? Far worse that he had, that was certain. He tugged gently on Shion’s hands, urging him to his feet. Shion looked up at him, his eyes swarming, questioning.

“Please,” Nezumi said again.

Shion stood, still holding his hands. They were eye-level now; no height difference separated them; no material distance, and yet such a wide, black sea of pain.

“Why did you come here?” Nezumi asked, his eyes hard on Shion’s.

Shion didn’t flinch, though the old Shion would have. “Because I needed to know.”

“Know what?”

“Whether you ever really meant to come back.”

Nezumi looked into the other man’s eyes, saw the wells of doubt. Knew that he had dug them. He sighed. “Yes. I did.”

“When?” Shion asked.

“When I thought you would have forgiven me.”

Shion laughed bitterly. “And you would know that, how? For that matter, how did you know that I hadn’t already? That I didn’t forgive you the moment you walked away?”

Nezumi shook his head, and laughed a little. “I meant to send you a letter.”

Shion narrowed his eyes. “But where would you send it? You didn’t know that anything in No. 6 would stay the same, not even my mum’s bakery.”

“Well, exactly.”

“So?”

Nezumi sighed, let go of Shion’s hands and then rounded again to the computer. He opened a file he’d kept on his desktop for the better part of a year, and pushed “print.” He waited until the pages had filled the basket, and then he withdrew them, handing them to the waiting Shion, who began to read.

He didn’t even turn the first page before he asked, “When did you write this?”

Nezumi turned his eyes away. “Every day. Every single day that I was away from you, beginning with the first, I added to it.”

At that, Shion crushed the pages in his hands and leaned into Nezumi. “Why? Why didn’t you just come back? Or if you couldn’t do that, why not come get me and take me with you?”

There was wetness on Nezumi’s cheeks, shocking as a blow. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried. “Because I didn’t think you’d want me, anymore.” The words were so low, he didn’t know whether he’d actually spoken them. But when Shion’s arms came around him, tight and certain, he knew that he had.

It let loose then: everything he’d kept inside himself for so long. The black skeleton of a house engulfed in flames, accompanied by a baby’s screams and a woman’s calling, “Run, Fumei! Run!” Bitter days in a cold place with an old woman’s colder admonitions never to love, never to strive, never to speak his own name. Crime to survive, capture, flight, pain, blood – and then, the kind of warmth he’d almost forgotten existed. Shion’s body next to his in a child’s bed, a whisper of that which had once been his for the taking. And Shion again: out of nowhere, a living body beside his, someone who didn’t want him to die. The soft and steely heart of someone who loved him. Who loved him, when he’d come to believe himself unlovable.

“I’ll want you forever, Nezumi,” Shion said. And then, carefully, “Fumei. I’ll always want you. And that’s what I came to tell you, because I thought that if you wrote it, if you saw the words, if you could touch them, you might believe them.”

Nezumi could only bend his head and weep into Shion’s shoulder, while Shion stroked his back. When his tears finally subsided into shuddering breaths, Shion pushed him to arms’ length. “The question,” he said, a little of the hardness returning, “is whether you want me.”

Nezumi looked at the pale, beautiful face in front of his: earnest eyes, parted lips, tremulous with the need for the right answer, no matter how strong he’d grown in their time apart. He brushed the silver hair back from Shion’s face, ran a thumb along the scar on his cheek, smiling to himself at the hitch in Shion’s breathing. It was still just as sensitive as it had been years ago.

But now, well; now those two years’ worth of words needed to be spoken. “Shion,” Nezumi said, unable to resist brushing the scar again, or the shudder that ran through his old friend at the touch, “don’t you realize that I’ve always wanted you? I wanted you so much, I didn’t know what to do with it.” He lowered his eyes as Shion’s widened. “I thought that I would destroy you with wanting you. That’s why I left you, because I never learned the right way to love…but still, I’ve loved you since you stood on the balcony of a posh house, screaming into a hurricane.”

Shion uttered a choke of laughter. “I was an idiot. But you were an idiot, too: taking me in, when you had nothing, and I could only be dead weight.”

Nezumi dropped his head again to Shion’s shoulder, his cheek pressed to Shion’s neck. Dear gods, the skin was so soft, the pulse beating so fast. He couldn’t resist pressing his lips to that flutter; Shion let out a sigh, and then leaned into it.

“So, we’re both idiots,” Nezumi breathed against his skin. “But I’m not enough of an idiot that I’d leave you again. If,” he pulled away, looked into Shion’s shining eyes, “only if that’s what you want.”

“Fumei,” Shion said, his voice low and soft.

“Yes?” Nezumi answered, struggling to keep his voice even. If Shion rejected him now, he didn’t think he would ever recover.

“Can you cancel the rest of your clients for the day? We have a letter to finish.”

Nezumi raised his eyebrows. “Really? You want to sit here and write a letter?”

One side of Shion’s mouth quirked up; his eyes glinted. “I never said we had to do it here.”

Nezumi smiled, maybe as widely as he had in his entire life, and tightened his arms around Shion. “Consider it done, Your Majesty.”

[terryblount]

Ori and the Will of the Wisps PC Review

It is hard to believe five years have passed since Ori and the Blind Forest debuted on our screens. Developers Moon Studios crafted a momentous game that not only reinvigorated the metroidvania genre, but also reminded gamers how beautiful and intricate these titles can be. Now the long-awaited sequel is finally on our shelves, but how could any studio follow up on lightning in a bottle like this?

The answer is in Ori and the Will of the Wisps. I mentioned in my Rage 2 review that all good sequels have the ability to reach the full potential of their I.P’s. It is not just about more, bigger or prettier. Good sequels elevate themselves to those untouched areas of gameplay that their predecessors never reached, and this is precisely what Moon Studios achievedwith their second Ori game.

Enjoying the pleasures of home

If ever there was a write-up willing to criticise Ori and the Will of the Wisps (hereafter Ori 2), you will not find it here. Perhaps this will not be a review of Ori 2, but my best attempt to express what a masterpiece this sequel has turned out to be. Moon Studios maxed out every strength from their first game, and remind us once again why metroidvanias can be some of the most fulfilling experiences in our industry.

A picture is worth a thousand words

One of the highlights from Ori and the Blind Forest was Moon Studios’s incredible talent for using visual language. Like many other metroidvanias, the first Ori game could impart a lot to the player using only modest resources. There wasn’t much exposition, there were limited snippets of dialogue, and the game had a very conservative use of cut scenes.

Nonetheless, it was still an experience you could get lost in. The devs allowed their game itself to communicate with the player on a visual level, and this design philosophy spills over into almost everything in Ori 2. In short, Ori 2 is a game that shows rather than tells in that the visuals of Ori’s story are a fundamental bridge between both the narrative and the gameplay.

Take the eponymous (and very cute) Ori, for example. Even a noob taking a cursory glance at this little critter would immediately tell there is something agile, yet vulnerable about… it. Hold on a second, is Ori a boy or a girl? Only thing I know is that the name has a Hebrew origin meaning ‘my light’, so perhaps Ori is Jewish?

Name of the game (Image from Ori and the Blind forest Wiki)

Anyway, I digress. True to the sloping lines and gossamer-like luminance of the character model, Ori once again felt super smooth and an utter pleasure to control for the thirteen-ish hours I spent leaping and bounding throughout the various biomes. There is a weightless momentum in how Ori handles, which encourages the player to keep moving and to experiment with acrobatics.

It seems that virtually niggles and annoyances have been ironed out from the first game, and it is clear the devs wanted to push the boundaries of traversal in this series to the next level. Moreover, Ori’s revamped animations are equally slick in this sequel, both in the twirls or somersaults when leaping weightlessly through the levels, but also in the combat or ranged attacks against enemies.

A battle in spirit

Ori has been given quite a substantial upgrade in terms of how players will fight against the malicious bugs, slugs and even bosses scattered around the world. Combat is now closer to the metroidvanias that have followed in the interim from the first game’s release (for example, Hollow Knight) in that Ori can now swap on the fly between a spirit sword, ranged spirited projectiles, heavy weapons, and more.

The player will really have their reflexes tested on normal or hard difficulties since the combat is fast and frantic. I strongly recommend a first playthrough on ‘easy’, particularly since you cannot adjust the difficulty later. Nonetheless, this spirit bunny is every bit as agile and responsive during battle as he is with traversal, and there is a decent variety of ranged and melee attacks to make up your fighting strategy.

The spirit trees that give Ori his abilities

It is from the combat I noticed that Ori 2 now boasts a more varied menu and progression system. Moon Studious have swapped out the linear style of the previous game, and have implemented something closer to an RPG’s structure, which allows for abilites and weapons to unlock quicker, and thereby leaving the choice to the player on what to upgrade and define their own playing style.

The forest lives on

The reason why Ori possesses these abilities and, frankly, why he glows in the dark, is because he was one of several spirits inhabiting a mystical willow tree – the heart of the entire forest’s spiritual energy. The first game saw Ori being adopted by a creature called Naru after falling out of the willow tree during a great storm, and eventually setting out to rescue the forest dying from a malicious corruption.

With the forest now restored to its lavish glory, Ori 2 opens with a touching scene of the pair living a serene life, along with their new friends Guma and Ku. All is well until Ku, who is the cutest little owlet EVER, finally becomes overwhelmed by the desire to fly. Unfortunately, Ku’s tiny little wing got mangled, leaving the owlet grounded and very depressed as it watches the other birds go by.

First flight

Ori and co. therefore try to help Ku with a makeshift wing which seems to work quite well until, during its first flight, Ku is caught in an angry storm, not unlike the one that shook Ori from its tree. With Ori riding on Ku’s back, the duo crash land in a desolate area of the forest, and they become separated.

The stage is set for Ori to embark on a rescue mission, and as a surprise to no one, Ori finds that all is still not well in the deep, forgotten places of the forest. The mission to rescue Ku therefore becomes intertwined with restoring the forest’s life force to an abandoned and hostile world, and Ori soon finds that it is not only Ku’s life that hangs in the balance.

In certain segments there are chase sequences. You really feel Ori’s vulnerability here, and it is utterly terrifying.

Thanks to absolutely superb animation and expert use of potent imagery, the story in Ori 2 is nothing less than sublime. Without spoiling anything, I will just say that the narrative plays out as a riveting and engrossing mix of fairy tale tropes, which are interspersed with gut-wrenching climaxes of triumph and failure.

The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack is also a crucial component here. The melody is a beautiful reflection of the game itself in that the orchestral swells alongside dream-like notes are constantly tinged with an undertone of sadness and melancholia.

In all honesty, I was taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions during my play-through, and it has been a long time since a game has had this effect on me. Seeing that poor baby owl frightened and alone in the dead forest wasteland brought me right to verge of tears, while I beamed like adoring parent during the more happy moments. This is really fantastic story-telling.

Breaking boundaries

Both the story and the gameplay is of course sustained by two immaculate pillars: The graphics and the level-design. You often hear about video games blurring the boundaries between art and entertainment, but Ori 2 utterly shatters this division. This game IS art. The visuals are so imaginative and aesthetically pleasing that it looks like you are playing through Bob Ross painting brought to life.

With Unreal dominating the source-available market at the moment, I am really glad Moon Studios showed us how Unity still has a lot more to offer

Running on the Unity engine, the devs have created a massive world rendered with more detailed textures, a much higher particle count, and a more complex lighting system than the first game. The forest feels alive and breathing with several different biomes for Ori to explore, and each area has been coloured with a very distinct palette to reinforce the player’s awareness of location.

I mentioned visual language earlier, and it is in environmental design that Moon Studios have really put this to work. The greens, browns and blues represent colours that guide Ori, that beckon the little critter to safety. The reds, yellows and purples on the other hand represent danger, and it is astounding to see how consistently the devs have endorsed this system throughout the entire game.

I simply could not get enough of this beautiful world. From races against the ghosts of other players, to doing small quests for animals that inhabit in the forest, to feeling that satisfaction of nimbly making it through heavily-spiked, narrow corridors, it is mesmerizing that all of this is functioning so well in one game. It is a model of excellence in environmental design.

Ori, the paragon

We often hear people complaining that ‘they don’t make games like they used to’ and I somewhat agree. I feel like modern studios tend to put money before their vision for making their game because of how alarmingly competitive the industry has become. As such, games rarely take risks, and the industry often faces something of an identity crisis.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps stands as a shining contradiction to this ethos. This game oozes creative energy, and was quite obviously made by people who really have a passion for this genre. It shows how we can use technology not just to enhance everything in a game, but also how complex systems can be made to function alongside one other.

It is so rare that we see excellence in our games these days, which is why Ori and the Will of the Wisps truly is a non-negotiable moment. This is not just a game: It is an education to what gaming as a medium can accomplish. You simply have to play this.

Breathtaking soundtrack

Gorgeous art style

Immaculate level design

Great story

Controls well

Good dev support

Some bugs

Long start up loading time

          PC Specs: Windows 10 64-bit computer using Nvidia GTX 1070, i5 4690K CPU, 16GB RAM – Played using an Xbox One Contoller

The post Ori and the Will of the Wisps PC Review appeared first on DSOGaming.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps PC Review published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/

[doomonfilm]

Ranking : P.T. Anderson (1970 - present)

This isn’t going to be my new thing or anything, but I had such a nice, insightful time doing an ordered rundown of my favorite Stanley Kubrik flicks that I figured a follow-up edition was due sooner than later.  Since I started with my favorite director of all time, it was only fair that my follow-up be my favorite modern director, P.T. Anderson.  

P.T. (Paul Thomas) Anderson has written and directed all of his films released via major motion picture distribution, and therefore his entire catalog will be taken into consideration. 

8.   Inherent Vice (2014) The thing that sucks about having to list the films of a director the caliber of P.T. Anderson is that something has to be ranked last by default.  The placement of this film is by no means a reflection on it’s greatness or how I feel about the film, it just simply falls victim to a process of elimination : Anderson got a more captivating performance out of Joaquin Phoenix in a previous film, and the whimsy found throughout does not match the tonal weight of other Anderson fare.  Possibly the roughest last place choice I’ve ever had to make.

7.   Phantom Thread (2017) Another victim of the process of elimination game, this time due to the fact that it is the most recent offering, and therefore has not had the pleasure of allowing time to provide deeper reflection.  I’d argue it’s one of the more beautiful films of his, but The Master and Punch-Drunk Love are equally beautiful, if not more so, by comparison.  It does have one of the most haunting scenes in the Anderson canon during the mother vision within the poisoning sequence, but there are moments in Boogie Nights or Magnolia that are equally as compelling.  And while this performance, as subtle and subdued as it is, was the one that finally helped me understand how immersive Daniel Day Lewis’s process of characterization is, it made me respect his portrayal of Daniel Plainview that much more in retrospect.

6.   Hard Eight (1996) Another gut-wrenching choice on a list full of them.  This film is the epitome of films that I wish I could write and direct... compelling characters, deep connections among characters, stakes the average viewer can relate to, calculated and diverse tonal shifts... the film is technically proficient in ways that many first time films are not, and you can tell this story is one that Anderson lived with before committing to screen.  If you’ve not seen this Anderson debut, make sure to do so as soon as possible.

5.  There Will Be Blood (2007) While many consider this to be his best film, I consider it to be more of a transition piece from deeply personal films to deeply symbolic films.  His choice to move to Jonny Greenwood for scores from this film forward was definitely a stroke of genius, and this may certainly be his most epic film in terms of pure spectacle, but I personally believe that he made films just as grand prior to this one, and ones that cut much deeper emotionally.  Still one hell of a ride when it comes right down to it, however.

4.   Punch-Drunk Love (2002) When asked what my favorite P.T. Anderson film is, this will be the answer the majority of the time.  The sheer dedication to romance, the sweeping Jon Brion score, the rotoscope animations, the brilliant use of color throughout the film, the dolly shots, the casting... everything about Punch-Drunk Love is immaculate in a way that only the work of Jean-Luc Godard can usually be.  Possibly the biggest risk of his career in regards to letting Adam Sandler take the lead, but a stroke of genius in hindsight.  A film that moves me every time I revisit it, though not the only P.T. Anderson movie that continues to be moving upon repeat viewing... more on that later.

3.   Boogie Nights (1997) The breakout film, and only his second film at that.  Few films short of Goodfellas capture a moment in time and an energy many are not privy to so well.  The world is presented in a way we can easily understand and navigate it, even if we do not agree or understand or agree with the choices made by the world’s inhabitants.  The movement of time through multiple decades is handled through intelligent music cues and top-notch set design/costuming.  The familial feel of the ensemble cast, however, is not something that can be faked or manufactured... you have to be lucky enough for your cast to click, aware enough to nurture and encourage it, and adept enough to capture it all.  The first P.T. Anderson film I had the pleasure of seeing, and my first indication that this man was a cut above the rest.

2.   The Master (2012) Truly an achievement in a career full of masterful (no pun intended) work.  It’s hard not to look at the film through the scope of Scientology, and therefore make connections/analysis in that light, but looked at as a standalone idea and work, the film is quite compelling in regards to the examination of self-identity, self-worth and the ways that we seek validation from others and for ourselves.  The element of Joaquin Phoenix (who is brilliant in this film) as a photographer provides an opportunity for some deeply artistic cinematography used to contrast the documentary-like cinematography used during the reoccurring emotional deep dives that take place.  The final collaboration between Anderson and frequent collaborator Philip Seymour Hoffman, and a fitting final collaboration at that based on the reverence his character was given.  Of the second wave P.T. Anderson selections, this is the standout work.  

1.   Magnolia (1999) What do you do when you’re given the chance to produce any project you want without worry of promotional and budgetary restraints?  If you’re P.T. Anderson, you write a three-hour long sprawling epic about Southern California, you cast everyone you’ve ever worked with or wanted to work with, and you put everything but the kitchen sink in it in terms of emotional content, narrative twists, intrigue and character moments.  Magnolia was a celebration of P.T. Anderson as a director, his influences, where he’d come from and where he was headed, and all wrapped up into a riddlebox of a film that looks as majestic as it is hard to decipher.  You may not always get this film on a logical level, but it’s hard to deny it’s emotional impact.

I often find myself in awe of P.T. Anderson’s career.  He came right out of the gate with deeply personal films, then stepped into the realm of meaningful cinema with almost imperceptible ease.  He’s not showing any signs of slowing down anytime soon, and I’m one hundred percent invested in the trajectory of his film career.

[terryblount]

Ori and the Will of the Wisps PC Review

It is hard to believe five years have passed since Ori and the Blind Forest debuted on our screens. Developers Moon Studios crafted a momentous game that not only reinvigorated the metroidvania genre, but also reminded gamers how beautiful and intricate these titles can be. Now the long-awaited sequel is finally on our shelves, but how could any studio follow up on lightning in a bottle like this?

The answer is in Ori and the Will of the Wisps. I mentioned in my Rage 2 review that all good sequels have the ability to reach the full potential of their I.P’s. It is not just about more, bigger or prettier. Good sequels elevate themselves to those untouched areas of gameplay that their predecessors never reached, and this is precisely what Moon Studios achievedwith their second Ori game.

Enjoying the pleasures of home

If ever there was a write-up willing to criticise Ori and the Will of the Wisps (hereafter Ori 2), you will not find it here. Perhaps this will not be a review of Ori 2, but my best attempt to express what a masterpiece this sequel has turned out to be. Moon Studios maxed out every strength from their first game, and remind us once again why metroidvanias can be some of the most fulfilling experiences in our industry.

A picture is worth a thousand words

One of the highlights from Ori and the Blind Forest was Moon Studios’s incredible talent for using visual language. Like many other metroidvanias, the first Ori game could impart a lot to the player using only modest resources. There wasn’t much exposition, there were limited snippets of dialogue, and the game had a very conservative use of cut scenes.

Nonetheless, it was still an experience you could get lost in. The devs allowed their game itself to communicate with the player on a visual level, and this design philosophy spills over into almost everything in Ori 2. In short, Ori 2 is a game that shows rather than tells in that the visuals of Ori’s story are a fundamental bridge between both the narrative and the gameplay.

Take the eponymous (and very cute) Ori, for example. Even a noob taking a cursory glance at this little critter would immediately tell there is something agile, yet vulnerable about… it. Hold on a second, is Ori a boy or a girl? Only thing I know is that the name has a Hebrew origin meaning ‘my light’, so perhaps Ori is Jewish?

Name of the game (Image from Ori and the Blind forest Wiki)

Anyway, I digress. True to the sloping lines and gossamer-like luminance of the character model, Ori once again felt super smooth and an utter pleasure to control for the thirteen-ish hours I spent leaping and bounding throughout the various biomes. There is a weightless momentum in how Ori handles, which encourages the player to keep moving and to experiment with acrobatics.

It seems that virtually niggles and annoyances have been ironed out from the first game, and it is clear the devs wanted to push the boundaries of traversal in this series to the next level. Moreover, Ori’s revamped animations are equally slick in this sequel, both in the twirls or somersaults when leaping weightlessly through the levels, but also in the combat or ranged attacks against enemies.

A battle in spirit

Ori has been given quite a substantial upgrade in terms of how players will fight against the malicious bugs, slugs and even bosses scattered around the world. Combat is now closer to the metroidvanias that have followed in the interim from the first game’s release (for example, Hollow Knight) in that Ori can now swap on the fly between a spirit sword, ranged spirited projectiles, heavy weapons, and more.

The player will really have their reflexes tested on normal or hard difficulties since the combat is fast and frantic. I strongly recommend a first playthrough on ‘easy’, particularly since you cannot adjust the difficulty later. Nonetheless, this spirit bunny is every bit as agile and responsive during battle as he is with traversal, and there is a decent variety of ranged and melee attacks to make up your fighting strategy.

The spirit trees that give Ori his abilities

It is from the combat I noticed that Ori 2 now boasts a more varied menu and progression system. Moon Studious have swapped out the linear style of the previous game, and have implemented something closer to an RPG’s structure, which allows for abilites and weapons to unlock quicker, and thereby leaving the choice to the player on what to upgrade and define their own playing style.

The forest lives on

The reason why Ori possesses these abilities and, frankly, why he glows in the dark, is because he was one of several spirits inhabiting a mystical willow tree – the heart of the entire forest’s spiritual energy. The first game saw Ori being adopted by a creature called Naru after falling out of the willow tree during a great storm, and eventually setting out to rescue the forest dying from a malicious corruption.

With the forest now restored to its lavish glory, Ori 2 opens with a touching scene of the pair living a serene life, along with their new friends Guma and Ku. All is well until Ku, who is the cutest little owlet EVER, finally becomes overwhelmed by the desire to fly. Unfortunately, Ku’s tiny little wing got mangled, leaving the owlet grounded and very depressed as it watches the other birds go by.

First flight

Ori and co. therefore try to help Ku with a makeshift wing which seems to work quite well until, during its first flight, Ku is caught in an angry storm, not unlike the one that shook Ori from its tree. With Ori riding on Ku’s back, the duo crash land in a desolate area of the forest, and they become separated.

The stage is set for Ori to embark on a rescue mission, and as a surprise to no one, Ori finds that all is still not well in the deep, forgotten places of the forest. The mission to rescue Ku therefore becomes intertwined with restoring the forest’s life force to an abandoned and hostile world, and Ori soon finds that it is not only Ku’s life that hangs in the balance.

In certain segments there are chase sequences. You really feel Ori’s vulnerability here, and it is utterly terrifying.

Thanks to absolutely superb animation and expert use of potent imagery, the story in Ori 2 is nothing less than sublime. Without spoiling anything, I will just say that the narrative plays out as a riveting and engrossing mix of fairy tale tropes, which are interspersed with gut-wrenching climaxes of triumph and failure.

The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack is also a crucial component here. The melody is a beautiful reflection of the game itself in that the orchestral swells alongside dream-like notes are constantly tinged with an undertone of sadness and melancholia.

In all honesty, I was taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions during my play-through, and it has been a long time since a game has had this effect on me. Seeing that poor baby owl frightened and alone in the dead forest wasteland brought me right to verge of tears, while I beamed like adoring parent during the more happy moments. This is really fantastic story-telling.

Breaking boundaries

Both the story and the gameplay is of course sustained by two immaculate pillars: The graphics and the level-design. You often hear about video games blurring the boundaries between art and entertainment, but Ori 2 utterly shatters this division. This game IS art. The visuals are so imaginative and aesthetically pleasing that it looks like you are playing through Bob Ross painting brought to life.

With Unreal dominating the source-available market at the moment, I am really glad Moon Studios showed us how Unity still has a lot more to offer

Running on the Unity engine, the devs have created a massive world rendered with more detailed textures, a much higher particle count, and a more complex lighting system than the first game. The forest feels alive and breathing with several different biomes for Ori to explore, and each area has been coloured with a very distinct palette to reinforce the player’s awareness of location.

I mentioned visual language earlier, and it is in environmental design that Moon Studios have really put this to work. The greens, browns and blues represent colours that guide Ori, that beckon the little critter to safety. The reds, yellows and purples on the other hand represent danger, and it is astounding to see how consistently the devs have endorsed this system throughout the entire game.

I simply could not get enough of this beautiful world. From races against the ghosts of other players, to doing small quests for animals that inhabit in the forest, to feeling that satisfaction of nimbly making it through heavily-spiked, narrow corridors, it is mesmerizing that all of this is functioning so well in one game. It is a model of excellence in environmental design.

Ori, the paragon

We often hear people complaining that ‘they don’t make games like they used to’ and I somewhat agree. I feel like modern studios tend to put money before their vision for making their game because of how alarmingly competitive the industry has become. As such, games rarely take risks, and the industry often faces something of an identity crisis.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps stands as a shining contradiction to this ethos. This game oozes creative energy, and was quite obviously made by people who really have a passion for this genre. It shows how we can use technology not just to enhance everything in a game, but also how complex systems can be made to function alongside one other.

It is so rare that we see excellence in our games these days, which is why Ori and the Will of the Wisps truly is a non-negotiable moment. This is not just a game: It is an education to what gaming as a medium can accomplish. You simply have to play this.

Breathtaking soundtrack

Gorgeous art style

Immaculate level design

Great story

Controls well

Good dev support

Some bugs

Long start up loading time

          PC Specs: Windows 10 64-bit computer using Nvidia GTX 1070, i5 4690K CPU, 16GB RAM – Played using an Xbox One Contoller

The post Ori and the Will of the Wisps PC Review appeared first on DSOGaming.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps PC Review published first on https://touchgen.tumblr.com/