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companionwolf · 3 days ago

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Cobalt?'s inner safe place--

Okay, so it's the Commander's Quarters from XCOM 2 as the like...base for the room, but it's very obviously inside of an in-flight space ship (it's not on the ground, this is important); otherwise it very much does look like that room.

If you're not familiar with said room...

(My version is... absolutely not 1:1, so some of my descriptions of it won't map to the screenshots much/at all).

Uh, the rest is under the cut for length.

There's one brown bookshelf on the right wall, and another on the wall near the entryway (also brown).

That double bed has a blue weighted blanket and our constellation blanket. Also a lot of pillows. Above the bed where in the game the gun would be mounted is a flag with our personal system unity symbol. There's a small side table built into the wall by the bed on the left; there's books & stuff on it.

Along where the ceiling meets the walls at the top all around is christmas string lights; the general light in the room is low and ambient. There's a long sort of oblong window like thing to the left set in the wall in that space between the bed and computer desk area; it reveals a view of space, often looking down at the earth (this view can be closed if and when it's not wanted).

The computer...station sort of area is more of a typical desk; it has a lamp, 3 big monitors, a coffee mug ('the commissioner is doing a great job!") with some pens in it, and a light up keyboard as well as a desktop computer chassis (somewhat under and to the side, there's room to hide under the desk somewhat comfortably).

In the sort of center of the room is the lounge area; there's dark colored couches surrounding a dark colored coffee table that has various items like game controllers and toys in the table's little shelf things; you can press something on the table's top to make a screen rise up out of it for playing games or watching things.

The only door into the room is like an airport bathroom kind of door; you slide the little latch thing to the left to lock, right to unlock.

The room's PA connected intercom + accompanying microphone (not the part!) are to the right of the door. To the left is a switch for the overhead lights and a mechanism for controlling gravity (it is like the locks in SOMA-- turn and push in to have gravity, pull out and turn to turn gravity off.)

There is a comfy friends Flareon plushie on the bed. I thought...well, I'm not Cobalt. I mean I am. But I'm not. It's complicated. But he likes Vaporeon. And other hims (like uh, I think Cobalt-3) like Jolteon. So I thought...yeah, my fave can be Flareon.

There is a large potted snake plant in the corner where the wall behind the bed and right most wall meet.

The bookshelf on the right wall is regular books & ttrpgs; the bookshelf on the wall near the door is a blaseball merch collection/shrine/etc.

Faintly there is sometimes the sound of indistinct but friendly voices on the room's speaker system (not the same as the PA/intercom); this is a imagined discord vc-- occasionally it will be something else (the 2nd most usual thing is a splortcasting recording).

This is....supposed to be safe place imagery disconnected from the inner world, but I'm not sure if it is or isn't. That's okay. It's still mine either way.

#other post #-ct?#'aren't you supposed to be asleep' going to try now after i post this #those kmages are....i thjnk wolf took them????? or they're from the wiki i domt know #uhh #i don't know how to tag this

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anaveragedisaster · 25 days ago

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Some lore for the reimagined non-XCOM Resistance factions in my Nine Sols/Xcom 2 crossover thing I'm calling the Solcom AU

(By the way, I'm not sure how much the fandoms for these games overlap. I'll try my best to keep things understandable to non-xcom players.)

The Reapers: Similarly to their XCOM version, they're a loose group of guerrilla fighters that live in the wilderness, away from Sol-controlled cities. I don't think it's confirmed anywhere in the OG game's lore, but in this version, they definitely formed out of old-world prepper groups. Instead of using guns, they've elected to go especially primal and use combat bows.

Their leader, so to speak, is Shennong. He's still one of the humans who was abducted and brought to New Kunlun's Apeman Facility to be experimented on. Over the years, the others were successfully brainwashed and genetically modified to be loyal to the Sols, people who could be presented to the public as ideal citizens of the Solarian-ruled Earth (instead of being a disguised alien, the Propaganda Speaker from XCOM 2 would be one of these humans). Shennong, despite being subjected to the same treatments, remains the paranoid, anti-social guy we know. Luckily, either Eigong or Goumang chose to keep him around as a (probably) harmless anomaly they could observe. However, one day he got fed up enough to break out of the livestock pen and, through sheer luck, made it off New Kunlun and into Earth's wilderness, where he was discovered by the Reapers. They were obviously sceptical of him at first, but his conspiracy theorist personality and his ability to create booze out of random stuff he eats wins them over.

Some of the more devoted fighters have even begun to follow his example and eat poisonous animals and plants they find or grow (in small amounts, obviously), which in gameplay would give them immunity against poison and/or other negative status effects.

Once XCOM has made proper contact with the Reapers, Yi and Shennong hit it off over their shared drinking habit. From then on, XCOM can find and pick up both exotic poisons to trade to him, as well as different types of booze from all over the world that he and Yi can enjoy together.

The Skirmishers (will probably change the name, but haven't thought of one yet): In XCOM 2, they were part of ADVENT's genetically altered army that broke free of their mind control. Similarly, here they're soldiers from the biomechanical army, primarily the Red Tiger Legion, that somehow gained sentience and went rogue. I'm not quite set on how they would be in combat compared to game Skirmishers, though they definitely have their grappling hooks.

Their leader is obviously Chiyou. He made it off New Kunlun soon after it landed and began wandering the Earth, marvelling at its beauty and cultures. Once he encountered other self-aware robots, he happily joined up with them, helping them comprehend their newfound state of freedom with his philosophies. Their primary goal now is to keep their freedom, while helping any other Solarian weapons find theirs. Their storyline would involve XCOM having to destroy Xingtian (probably multiple times, like in the actual game) to put him out of his mindless misery.

There's also a group of geno-soldier scholars that has grown to share Chiyou's appreciation for art and belief in nonviolence. Yi's XCOM can find and give their little circle various artistic works to safeguard and contemplate over (though they've promised to return them once peace and freedom have been restored)

The Neo-Fangshi (aka solcom!Templars): Once the Fusang's roots had spread throughout the world, it didn't take long for humans to start developing or even getting born with a connection to it, much like Heng. Some have even accessed the Limitless Realm and witnessed the great Tao. This has led to a revival of Taoist beliefs in places across the Earth, something the Sols haven't been too happy about due to their science-centric worldview.

Geist (I might change his name as well), in this AU, developed a particularly strong connection to the Limitless Realm, catching glimpses of Lear and his younger warrior form. From records the Sols had made public to humans, he learned about Lear's accomplishments as a scientist and fighter and was inspired to follow in his footsteps. Geist and like-minded 'gifted' humans decided that the power the original Fangshi gained from the Limitless Realm isn't to be ignored like the Sols are seemingly doing. Their New Fangshi guild is dedicated to both using advanced technology and cultivating their qi abilities to become more powerful, so that they may one day bring down the Sols' regime and bring humanity into a new era themselves.

Geist's ambitions are challenged somewhat towards the end of the story (which I've been able to develop somewhat), when XCOM raids Kunlun's Grotto of Scriptures and retrieves the holorecording of his dear Lear's Declaration of Inaction, which Yi gives to him. Soon after, both of them are summoned to the Limitless Realm, where Geist gets to properly meet Lear for the first time. The old master lectures them on what being a Taoist actually means, including telling his story about the Demon Dog. This is even more sobering to Geist, who begins to realize that, with how power hungry most of them are, he, like Lear long ago, may have to put down his fellow Fangshi if there is to be lasting peace after the Sols are defeated.

In terms of fighting style, the Fangshi are like XCOM 2 Templars, whose style in turn is incidentally a lot like Yi's style in his game (which is what inspired me to make them Fangshi like him here). Both use basically magic (psionic energy and qi/rhizomatic energy, respectively) to conjure blades for attacking and to avoid damage through parrying. So yeah.

#nine sols #nine sols au #xcom 2 wotc #solcom au #nine sols yi #nine sols shennong #nine sols chiyou #xcom 2 geist

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acidhydra101 · 10 months ago

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wait holy shit i just realized, was the speaker from xcom 2 inspired by this???

#xcom #xcom 2

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etherealvoidechoes · 3 years ago

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Watch Your Tongue

Idea from a few days ago. Slightly capturing the one-sided friendship Faruk and the Speaker have more or less. Especially when dealing with that sensitive topic for her.

She can have pleasant conversations with him, but otherwise doesn��t like him too much. Also me living vicariously through her to punch the darn prick.

About 2k. Mild violence, blood, and some language.

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Walking down the halls of a luxury condo and humming a cheery tune was Speaker Amon. He was visiting the city Tsunamon, somewhere along the coast of Earth Asia, for official ambassador business and what not for the Elders, but was also visiting a friend. A fellow ambassador.

“It’s been a few years since we’ve talked face to face.” He spoke to himself. “I wonder how she and her den have been holding up.”

As he reached the end of the hall, he saw his goal in sight. Two ADVENT guards standing outside of a particular door. He had already passed a few patrols making their rounds through the condo complex, but knew these two were the “extra security” for his friend. He chuckled. She really didn’t need that, since she and her children could defend themselves just fine.

As he reached the guards, he stopped in front of them. “Hello.” He greeted them with a nod.

“Speaker Amon.” One guard acknowledged him.

He smiled. “I’m here to visit my dear friend. She knows I would come today.”

They nodded. They then turned and pressed a button on the intercom.

“Yes? Speaking?” A Viper hissed as she answered. She sounded fairly annoyed.

“Speaker Amon is here, Lujayn.” The guard said.

“Oh!” Several hisses followed as there was a cacophony of pots clanging and metal clashing in the background. A few threats one could assume she was throwing at her siblings if they dared touch anything in the kitchen. “I’ll be there in just a moment.”

Amon raised a hand to his mouth to stifle a chuckle. Sounded like someone got caught in the middle of cooking.

A few seconds later, the door clicked and opened. Behind the door was a Viper, without that cobra-like hood, who had silver and brown scales with hints of red. She was bigger and thicker than most Vipers’ Earthlings had seen, as she was a “Boa” variant. She may have not had the same potent venom as her kin, but her crushing muscles were more than capable. Her “bind and crush” was more lethal than her kin, and she could ensnare more than one foe.

“Sorry about that!” She apologized. All hints of annoyance were gone. She was wiping her hands with a towel. Once done, she quickly stuck it into a pocket of apron she was wearing. A rather blood and spice stained apron. “Come in, come in!”

“My, you’ve grown.” Amon commented as he entered the residence. And as he did so, he switched to their native tongue. A mixture of hisses and shrill sounds.

He looked at her from head to tail, adjusting his sunglasses ever so slightly. Seeing part of her body trailing off and around the corner. “I remember when you were a small little neonate.”

Lujayn giggled, smiling with her eyes. “I’ve been eating hearty meals and have mom’s genes to thank.”

“Yes, yes of course.”

“Mother’s in the living room.” She said before quickly slithering her way back to the kitchen when she heard a pot clatter. “I thought I told you guys to stay out of that!”

He chuckled, shaking his head. Younglings.

As he followed her, he paused as something caught his eye. A mirror on the wall. The glass was shattered. A few slivers of orange blood were on the shards.

“Huh.” He thought nothing of it. Probably a tussle between siblings caused the damage. He continued on his way.

As he entered the enormous living room, he saw more Vipers of all shapes, sizes, and colors mingling and lounging about. Both a majority shared their mother’s scales. A sandy brown and tan with hints of read.

A few neonates slithering around; most escaping Lujayn’s wraith as they stuffed their maws full of meat. A pair of sisters were near the windows leading to the balcony were nesting on some eggs basking in the sun’s warming rays. And then he noticed a few changed like him. Thin Men is what the humans back during the Invasion would call them. Well, the dissenters and rebels still called them that.

Hearing metal pots clatter once again, followed by hissing and shouting, he looked over to the kitchen. Lujayn was busy chasing out a few neonates that were still pilfering some meat she was cutting up. So bold of them.

Then something else caught his eye as he looked around the room. Another mirror. A massive one that covered most of the west side wall. It, too, was shattered. There were several points of impact. Almost as if someone had punched it. Repeatedly.

“Hm.”

As he pondered on what could have caused that, he finally saw her. The reason for his visit.

Pacing back and forth near that mirror was an older man, black hair with white around the sides. Hints of sandy brown and tan scales, with hints of red, were around his neck. He was were wearing a sleeveless dark green shirt, black dress pants, and had a white sash was around their waist.

“Faruk my friend!” He greeted her.

Hearing someone say her name, she turned her head ever so slightly to see who it was. That face of hers was fixed into a scowl. That didn’t disturb him. He was used to it. That was the way she usually looked. A wise, yet ill-tempered elder.

“Hm.” She wrinkled her nose, but nodded at him. Immediately, she turned her attention back to pacing, head looking slightly towards the floor.

“Ha, ha.” He laughed. He took no offense.

“It’s been quite awhile since we’ve seen each other.” Amon said as he walked over to her, making sure not to get in the way of her pacing. “Looks like you have your whole family here. I presume even more of your den is here? Taking up the rest of this floor of the complex?”

“Hm.” A grunt and a nod came from her.

Amon continued to talk, shifting the conversation to their respective jobs and other things. He brought up a meeting they would be having with the Elders sometime later in the week, dealing with some rather troublesome dissenters in the region. Supposedly, they were the remnants of a most troublesome military organization back during the Invasion.

“Ah, no matter who they may be. They will be snuffed out like all others whole hold on to that barbaric past.” He chuckled to himself.

As he continued to ramble, and she continued to barely acknowledge his words, he noticed something. As she was pacing, she was rubbing the knuckles on both her hands. Bandaged hands, stained with blood. He found that strange. What had caused her such an injury? Then something clicked in his mind. He looked at the mirror. That large shattered mirror.

Oh, that again. He finally remembered. He had heard stories about this. About this strange “issue” she had developed sometime after the Elders had secured the Earth and upgraded her form. A disconnect and longing for what she once was. He just couldn’t wrap his head around it. She knew the risks. All of the volunteers did. And they were rewarded well by the Elders for their efforts. But, for some reason… she just couldn’t let go of the past. It’s no longer relevant, we look towards the future.

“You know Faruk,” he paused as he looked at the mirror awhile longer before looking at her again, “if you hate your appearance so much, I believe the Elders would be more than happy to change it for you.”

As he said this, all chatter in the room came to a dead halt. All eyes were on him. Many of her children’s faces were filled with dread and a few “oh, nos” could be heard. Somehow, he didn’t notice this.

“They could, in all likelihood, fix that face of yours.” He said with a teasing grin. He had no problem with how she looked. “Always a constant scowl you have, my friend. Do you ever s— ACK!“

CRAASH! CRANKLE CRANKLE…

Just as Faruk was passing him again, she quickly outstretched her arm. A balled fist struck Amon’s face, shattering his sunglasses, and sent him back and crashing into the mirror. It shattered further and shards clattered to the floor.

Amon sharply gasped as he fell to the floor. He quickly clutched his face. The world was spinning. He shook it a few times to get his bearings.

“You struck me?” His mind was trying to process what had just happened. He pulled back his hand and noticed orange blood. And more dripping onto the floor. Hesitantly, he touched his nose and winced, quickly pulling back the hand. It was broken. “You struck m— HU— URK!”

Faruk had gone over to him, kneeled down, and grabbed his face. Black nails dug in and tore into his face, drawing more blood, as she pulled it towards hers. That scowl on her face had grown worse. Eyebrows fiercely arched and mouth pulled back into a sneer. Her teeth were bared.

Amon grabbed at her hand, clawing at it to make her let go. But she had a death grip. She was a Boa after all.

“The Elders may have chosen you to be the speaker of this world, but remember…,” She paused, bringing her face closer to his. “I outrank you in every aspect.” The next moment, she let go of his face, causing him to drop back to the floor, and got back up. She turned her back to him and started pacing once more. “You have a mind attached to that tongue; learn how to use it properly. Read the damn room. Do not try me again.”

“Is everything alright right?” The two guards from outside came rushing in. “We heard a commotion outside.” Noticing Amon on the floor — and injured by the looks of it — one went over to him and helped him up.

Faruk turned to look at them. “Everything is fine… minus my friend here had a little accident. So clumsy of him.” She said in a matter-of-fact tone. “The poor man slipped on the rug, cracked his nose against the table, and then crashed into the mirror.”

Amon’s jaw went slack. Was she lying? And doing it so boldly?

“Is this true? Speaker Amon?” One guard asked him.

“Please do get him to a doctor quickly and safely. I would hate to see that lovely face of his permanently damaged.” Faruk spoke again before he could reply. Her eyes were now on him. Intense, piercing eyes locking with his. “No, no, no can’t have that for the cameras and broadcasts.”

It was slowly clicking for Amon. She wasn’t going to tell the truth of what happened. And neither were her children. He had finally noticed just how quiet the room had grown. A mixture of concerned faces all looking at their mother and the other half trying to ignore what had just happened. Looks like he had struck a nerve.

“Speaker Amon?” The guard was waiting for an answer.

“Huh? Uh, y-y-es! Y-yes!” He swiftly nodded, slightly muffled, as he was cupping his face. “Silly me, not watching what I stepped on.” A nervous laugh slipped out.

He played along. Out of fear. There was a look in Faruk’s eyes that was frightening him. A look that said, “I will kill you.”

Once back on his feet, the two guards began to escort them out. One calling in the incident and asking for transport to the nearest clinic.

“See you at the meeting in a few days, Amon.” Faruk said to him as he was being escorted out. She even waved. “And be so kind to keep that subject between us.”

“Y-yes! Of course, my friend!” He wouldn’t even tell the Elders. “My lips are sealed!”

“Good.”

#Xcom #Xcom 2 #writings #xcom 2 vipers #xcom vipers #xcom speaker #xcom 2 speaker #*Faruk #oc: Faruk #fan fic writing #thin men #xcom thin man #XCOM 2 WOTC #XCOM Fic

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advent-citizen-id2b38 · 3 years ago

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#advent #SPeaker #xcom 2 #advent rp #advent pr

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advent-trooper · 5 years ago

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So citizens!

I was recently asked by a fellow trooper to tell you all my top three favourite people I know! Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed to mention civilians in particular so I apologise!

1: Definitely The Assassin! She’s lovely and kind, but don’t underestimate her! Those rules only apply to those she likes!

2: The Speaker! I cannot explain why, it’s like it’s engrained in my head to respect him? Weird!

3: Last but not least, my Supervisor! Although he refuses to interact with us he’s the one who controls how comfortable we are! He provides the rations and our sleeping quarters!

#xcom #xcom 2 #the assassin #the speaker #the supervisor #advent

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mrbattery · 6 years ago

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I can't be the only one seeing this, right?

#xcom #xcom 2 #advent #megan rapinoe #the speaker

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one-that-had-to · 7 years ago

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XCOM x wolfpupy (x)(x)(x)

#xcom #xcom 2 #wolfpupy #screenshot #the speaker

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fooblesdraws · 7 years ago

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Seems about right (forgive the lazy art. It was a spur of the moment idea)

#xcom 2 #xcom 2: war of the chosen #chosen hunter #the speaker #based on that one vine

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commanderguixi · 7 years ago

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I’ve been looking at reference images for Ishmael and there’s something unsettling about his appearance and I can’t quite put a pin on why exactly he’s just Unsettling(TM)

#dres muses #speaker ishmael #it's his hair it's just so wrong #but his face is so wrong too #everything about you is wrong ishmael #i mean that's intended. he's. a fuckin viper in what is essentially a skin suit #but. unsettling.#in which dres makes xcom 2 a horror game

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asofterxcom · 8 years ago

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wait. give me liberty or give YOU death. how about that?

#xcom #xcom 2 #ADVENT speaker #asw 465

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witharsenicsauce · 5 years ago

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I love how this mofo just kept talking, totally oblivious.

The ADVENT Speaker

Truly, humanity finally takes its rightful place amongst the stars

#XCOM #XCOM 2 #ADVENT #ADVENT Speaker #this guy is a tool #xcom war of the chosen

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awesomeundertalelover3thesecond · 3 years ago

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I’ve never played Xcom: Enemy Unknown but I have seen some of the characters/Enemies from it

And I’m sitting here like “the speaker?? Isn’t he a Thin Man?” (Yknow, the guy who opens up XCOM 2 at the podium? Him)

He’s got the glasses! And the weird Neck marks!!

I’m certain others have noticed, I just haven’t seen it pointed out

#xcom 2 #xcom enemy unknown #thin man #Leo talks

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hmsquared · 3 years ago

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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reminds me of something.

In XCOM 2, there’s a scene where the Speaker says ADVENT troops are peacefully breaking up a resistance camp. As he says that, explosions and gunshots hit a peaceful camp of people just trying to survive.

I always found that scene unsettling. Now it’s real life.

#politics #xcom #maybe this isn’t an appropriate comparison to make #but it’s what came to mind

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roadsterguysblog · 5 years ago

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Dear Yuletide Author

You are amazing, and thank you so much for this!

I have details for each specific request below the general things. So, General Things:

My prompts are just that, prompts to get your brain spinning. If you have a great idea for a fic that isn’t on the prompts, or one of them sends you off on a tangent, write that! The best fics come from what moves the author.

For general guidelines, though - I love plot. I love something interesting and canonical going on that I can really sink my teeth into. If you write that, and you’re not into slash/ship, then that is amazing and makes my Yule. I love writing that fills in the world of these wonderful fandoms. There’s nothing better than a little line or unexpected note that answers a question that canon didn’t - what’s the bathroom like? What do they drink in the morning? How do they get the news?

I like first-time fic. I love a lot of UST and slow burn and people unable to just say what they’re feeling, until something happens and it does.

I’m a physical H/C FIEND. I love some nice bloody hurt and some nice stoic comfort. I love that combined with the above.

I love a crusty old bastard with a heart of gold. Even if they happen to be young (a young person can pull off a Crusty Old Bastard if they put the work into it). It’s my kink.

I love explicit, in-character sex. If you’re feeling sex, bring that on! Bring on every bit of sex, good and bad - teeth bumping, coming too fast because this has been such a long burn, santorum, sweat and hot kisses and oral leading to anal or whatever. Bring it on.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Enemy Within (Video Game)

I came to this game as an old-school player of XCom:UFO Defense. I really love the narrative additions that they made, and particularly Bradford as a character. I found Zhang and Durand to be great additions to this game too! I particularly love Durand's dialog on missions. She's such a goofy deadly little kid. I like the vague hints at Zhang's past, and would really love to explore that more.

I couldn't choose 'all of XCom' as a fandom, so I chose EW. My 'stretch' ask, then, is for some inclusion of the Legacy missions, XCom 2, and/or War of the Chosen with Zhang/Bradford slash - I love the development of XCom as a guerilla group, I love the classes (particularly Rangers!). I love that Bradford was a Ranger and that he fought as one in Legacy and 2. I'd love to see where Zhang was in 2, maybe even a reunion after the events of 2 and before/during Chimera Squad.

If you're looking to write just EW, that would be fantastic too! I'd very much like some in-EW Bradford/Zhang slash. I'm not one for PWP; I love a good juicy narrative. I love the canon, as discussed above, and would really like a fic that builds off of canon. And there's so much! The downtime between missions and the rapid gear-up for them. Bradford trying to figure out anything about Zhang. Zhang and Durand training - Zhang has the experience killing people but no experience with psionic powers, while powers and fighting are both new to Durand, so there's a lot of possibility there. In-mission and/or post-mission fic. Fic during/after the Base Invasion or the Final Mission. Testing out stuff that Shen is making. Being tested by Vahlen. Or anything else you want to explore!

If you're not into slash, that would be fantastic too! I love a good juicy genfic with a lot of great narrative. All of the stuff I mentioned above! If you want to write a fic from the PoV of some random soldier, that'd be delightful too! Or any canon exploration/gapfiller that grabs you that you want to write!

Do Not Want: Durand/Bradford shipping. I just don't see them as a couple at all and the age difference wigs me. I'm fine with them interacting; in fact, one of the things I love about Durand is how much of an Excited Little Kid she is on the missions! So an older battle-hardened dude helping settle her down and give some guidance would be a nice plotline, and platonic affection would be totally good. Ditto Durand/Zhang - platonic relationship is great, just not romantic/sexual.

Too much Commander. I realize that's a little vague, but since the Commander is the headspace of the player, having too much of their thoughts might pull me out? I'm fully there with the Commander being present to direct missions, chatting around with people, being supportive of characters during the fic, serving as Commander Ex Machina to move the plot along, things like that.

Scat/piss play (I'm fine with playing with the blood (human and/or alien) and sweat of battle as being either potentially sexy or a strange counterpoint to sexiness)

Out-of-character-ness

Homophobia/transphobia/racism by the main characters. As a gay trans dude, I am very down with any of them being gay/trans/queer/etc and experiencing it, and I'm even OK if they accidentally find that some of their activities are - but just no overt, knowing bigotry. (Bradford does have xenophobic tendencies, and I'd actually find that a cool angle to explore, as I think he's a fundamentally decent guy who's had a fuck of a time and suffers from some degree of toxic masculinity.)

XCOM 2 (Video Game)

I came to this game as an old-school player of XCom:UFO Defense. I really love the narrative additions that they made, and particularly Bradford as a character. I love the world of XCom2 - they do such a wonderful job of building Advent's Stepford Cities, the scattered resistance havens, XCom as a guerilla group, the Speaker, the various aliens, the Chosen, the classes of warriors, Lily Shen's badassery, Dr Tygan's smooth stoicism, Advent Burgers (ARE PEOPLE!) - all of it!

I couldn't choose 'all of XCom' as a fandom, so I chose XCom2. My 'stretch' ask, then, is for inclusion of some EW plotlines - particularly Zhang, because I loved him as a character. I love me some Braford/Zhang slash, so if you want to pull him in - see what he was doing in parallel at the time, or reunion after 2/during Chimera Squad - I would be just delighted.

If you're not into writing that or didn't play EW, an XCom2 fic would be fantastic! I loved Legacy, I loved 2 (with the missions Shen and Bradford do), I loved WotC. There's so much there! I love that Bradford was a Ranger (I'd be delighted for fics of him getting down and dirty and bloody with a sword), I loved that Tygan had a Thing for Advent Burgers, I loved that Bradford got mad that the wrappers kept getting left around. I loved that Shen and Tygan kept giving Bradford shit for his flying. I think it's interesting that Bradford turned alcoholic after the base invasion, and I'd be interested in explorations of that, and if he started to get control of it when the Avenger took off and things started to go well. I love the Skirmishers, I love Mox - I'd love some more of their backstory, and/or how things go for them after the events of the game. (Generally, any Adaption To Civilian Life And Living Amongst The Aliens sort of fic really tickles me). If you want to write a fic from the PoV of some random soldier, that'd be delightful too! Or even the PoV of a young civilian who has known nothing but Advent and slowly realizes what's going on. Basically, anything that fleshes out/extends/expands the wonderful rich canon of this game.

Do Not Want: Shen/Bradford shipping. I love love love them as a Surly Old Loving Dad and Spunky Smart Loving Kid, so I love that dynamic, and would love to read some of them awkwardly expressing their mutual affection on that level, but just no to romance or sex.

Scat/piss play (I'm fine with playing with the blood (human and/or alien) and sweat of battle as being either potentially sexy or a strange counterpoint to sexiness)

Out-of-character-ness

Ship Series - Anne McCaffrey

What can I say, I'm a Helva/Niall shipper. That being said, I think there's a lot that's dysfunctional about their relationship. The way chastity is valued so highly, the way that she thinks of herself as a chaste armored Valkyrie (the armor protecting her equally from both sex and physical harm). The awkwardness around any thought of physical contact - and yes, it's dangerous for her to be outside of the shell, but there are so many workarounds. Her shell is wired for sensation, after all, there's no reason that creative ways to make love to a ship couldn't be played with. And they never do anything around physical intimacy with their mental connection, even though it's explicitly written that Helva can sense what Niall does.

I'm also very skeeved by the way she turns off his hologram after he's dead. The hologram seems to have some degree of independent thought, the way it's written. Is it a sentient AI, perhaps? Or did he fully transfer to her subconscious after his body died, and this is his way of having some consciousness? None of these issues were explored, and I'd be delighted if you want to give them a go.

I'm also totally down with fics that don't go into the side of things I laid out above. I'd be delighted for mission fics, gapfillers, fics where they have to deal with Central Command. Action and adventure!

I'd love fics that explore some of the issues of toxic straight culture and toxic masculinity. These characters are great and interesting and flawed, and I love fics that acknowledge and embrace the flaws.

Also, I'm fully down with Niall being written as trans and/or bi/pan, if that strikes your fancy (and if you want to put that into the She Can Sense What He Does context). I know he's represented as being with women a lot, but I'd love a subversion of that as being down to some toxic straight culture (already abundant evidence for that in canon!) and/or overcompensation for being the butt of the flavor of toxic masculinity that considers short stature to be a deficit in men.

Do not want: True downplaying of short guys. Niall is sensitive about being tinchy, but I don't want that written as something that's actually, objectively wrong with him. As a short trans guy, I'm on board with him expressing that insecurity, I'm fine with stories playing with that insecurity, I'd awfully like a fic where the insecurity is helped to some extent.

Scat/piss play

Out-of-character-ness

Lucky Starr - Isaac Asimov

What can I say? Never has 1950s sensibility lead to a more homoerotic set of stories!

That being said, I also love how scientifically based it is. That's what I want from this fandom - a true Lucky Starr fic that is solidly grounded in some real science, and has some of the real science come back as part of the Twist Ending. If you want to put some explicit Lucky/Bigman slash in there, I'd be delighted. But if you don't, a gen Lucky Starr story is already pretty damn slashy to me. :)

I love the whole world. I love the Sirians and all of the biological 'lessons' their perceived but not-actual superiority could represent. I love Sten insulting Bigman and Bigman getting his own. I'd love more exploration of Sten's comment about Lucky making an excellent Sirian.

I'd be delighted with a fic that explores the paucity of females in-universe, particularly in positions of leadership. Ditto a fic that explores how white and US/European the culture is.

I particularly love the Bigman/Yonge friendship. Although Yonge is technically the Ideal Tall Strong Man, he'd be a little at sea now that he's left Sirius - he doesn't know the society, the norms, the conventions. I'd love to explore their friendship a little more, with Yonge getting over all he's been indoctrinated to believe about Sirian Superiority. Particularly since that gets at a very valid biological point, to tie into the scientific underpinnings of Lucky Starr episodes!

If you want to write either Yonge, Bigman, or both as gay, I'd find that an interesting fic for sure! Although my preference is Lucky/Bigman, I'm interested in a Bigman/Yonge, especially if it leads to Lucky/Bigman. :)

If you want to write Bigman as trans, I'm totally down with that.

Do not want: True downplaying of short guys. I know there's a fair bit of that in canon, beyond just Bigman's sensitivity about it, but I don't want that written as something that's actually, objectively wrong with him. As a short trans guy, I'm on board with him expressing that insecurity, I'm fine with stories playing with that insecurity, I'd awfully like a fic where the insecurity is helped to some extent. I'm fine with canon-level teasing of him about it, but always in the context of Lucky genuinely caring for him and him bringing real value to Lucky's work.

Scat/piss play

Out-of-character-ness

Homophobia/transphobia/racism by the main characters. As a gay trans dude, I am very down with any of them being gay/trans/queer/etc and experiencing it, and even if they accidentally find that some of their activities are, but just no overt, knowing bigotry.

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