#$ brynn's journal

[brynn-lear]

[sobbing] I'm so sorry for this but I'm gonna need Perry's soon and I really don't know where to pull that sht out. I think I can buy second hand at around 60 USD when converted from PHP (I'm begging tf out that those FB marketplace who sell their used Perry's for lower won't run out huhuhu). If you have a dollar to spare, let me know 🙏 I'd sketch your fave character as well huhu

[boomerdangs]

Reintroducing my gravity Falls oc, Brynn!

She met Ford during the years of adventuring Gravity Falls (shortly before he called Fidds and met Bill). She was honestly looking for some company, and a reason to stay in town after wanting to drop out of college (or rather “take a gap year”)— she ended up finding it however unrequited that was. Essentially, she’s one of those people who if she thinks she finds a home with or if she finds that you’re “her people”, she’ll want to stay even if she probably shouldn’t.

[savepc2023]

Heyoooo! More questions for your PCs!!

If Angel, Brynn, and Caelan were LIs, how would they be like? How do we romance them? If they are impossible to romance, how to befriend them?

ヾ(*ΦωΦ)ツ

OOOH OK SO THIS WAS VERY FUN TO THINK OF ACTUALLY!! I GO A BIIT(A LOT) INTO DETAIL SO I'M KEEPING IT UNDER READ MORE!

also uhmmmmmmmmm suggestive at Brynn's part.

Angel the Delinquent:

"Yeah the nurse isn't here right now," A student sitting on a bench near the nurse's table says. "In fact, they haven't been back for a while now. Said Leighton called for them or sum'. Anyways, what's up with you?"

Species: Human

Personality: Boyish, Confident

Occupation: Student

Role: Love Interest

Relationship: Determinant

Interests: Drawing, Comic Books, Gardening

Angel is a possible love interest that can be encountered either in the school infirmary or the orphanage. If you do not enter the infirmary at least twice within the first three weeks, you'll automatically trigger the second meeting, where you bump into her either in the morning before school, or any time after school. Their dialogue remains mostly the same regardless of when you bump into them: he apologizes before saying they recognize you from somewhere, then she snaps their fingers before recollecting that you have an english class together. They also say you should hang out sometime, just for fun. If you encounter them after twelve am, she'll add that you both should probably get to bed soon.

The infirmary encounter is more interesting, though. It'll happen any random time you step into the infirmary except for the first time. When you walk in, your character notes the nurse isn't present, but there is a student sitting on a bench near their desk. This encounter gives more content, because you get to interact with Angel more. They tell you the nurse has gone to have a talk with Leighton, and ask if he can help you. Then your character notices that she has a bruised lip and a bleeding nose. You have options to either:

Ask for painkillers: -Pain

Say you want to use a bed: -Fatigue

Ask for their name

Choosing either of the first two options has Angel either gesturing towards where the pills are kept or based off of how high your fatigue is: tell you that you do look a bit tired/tell you that you don't look that tired, but they don't give a shit.

If you ask for their name, she introduces himself as 'The great Angel, always at your service. Unless you're a jackass. You can pay me for spending time with my glorious self anytime, but I don't mind hanging out for free, either.' Then they recognize you to be from the orphanage, and invite you to hang out with her sometime.

After taking the pills/taking a nap, you're forced to ask for his name. So you can't exactly go without knowing the mf lmao

After the first encounter you have the option to look for Angel's room in the orphanage, which permanently unlocks that location for you(unlike with Mickey. ..I wanna pay them a visit so bad tf). You can read comics together, go out to the arcade/cafe together(which I won't elaborate much about bc it would become...too long) and vent to her about your day/recent events.

When going into the flower bed it gives you an option to mess with Angel's plants for some godforsaken reason. --Love

Like with Sydney and Robin(and Kylar.. and Whitney. ..) there's almost always an option to flirt with him, but unlike the others, it raises Angel's Amusement, instead. The more this special trait is raised, the easier it is to raise Angel's love and lust for you. Lust is raised only with provocative poses and expressions.

When Angel's love and amusement is high, she approaches you during lunch at school and asks you out mid meal. If you accept, they ask if they can give you a kiss and give you a little peck on the lips. If you reject them, they look disappointed, but shake it off and say they don't really mind you not liking her romantically, but he hopes you don't feel too weirded out to remain friends, because he enjoys your friendship a lot.

After a rejection things pretty much go back to how they were. After accepting, they're more affectionate than usual, almost always wrapping an arm around your waist or holding your hand. There is always an option to tell them to give you some space, and their love is never lowered because of it.

Brynn the Model:

"Oh... so Niki asked you to model for him/her too? ...Nice. I'm Brynn. You're really cute..."

Species: Human

Personality: Quiet, Aloof

Occupation: Student, Model

Role: People of interest

Relationship: Determinant

Interests: Scrapbooking, Listening to music

Brynn is an NPC that can only be encountered at the Photography Studio, and only if you ran into Niki by random in town after gaining a significant amount of fame.

After you're greeted by Niki, Brynn walks by your character and is described as looking 'angelic', because of his snow white hair and ice blue eyes. He catches your eye and asks if you were asked to model for Niki too, after which he remarks you look pretty cute.

You can not encounter Brynn at the orphanage or the school, only at the Photography Studio, and even that is only once a week. His route would be annoying ngl. The second time you walk in for a photoshoot, Niki asks if you'd be open to doing one along with Brynn, saying they'll pay you more for it, an extra £50.

Accepting will raise both Brynn's Curiosity and his lust. There is no love trait for him. Rejecting will have no affect.

During the photoshoot, Niki will ask if you'd be willing to do few topless shots, then some in your underwear and then some nude. No matter what you choose Brynn is always down for all of them. You could go as far as nude shots, after which you get options to get frisky with Brynn🗿.

Finish shoot

Stroke Brynn's thigh: +Brynn's Lust

Choosing the latter will have Brynn flushing ever so slightly and wow would you look at that. Encounter.🗿 And Niki keeps taking shots throughout, dw they pay extra extra.

After the first lewd photo shoot, Brynn always asks you if you'd want to do another one every time you walk into the studio. If you reject, he doesn't say anything and only watches Niki take photos of you for the entire three hours and then sorta. Corners you and asks you if he's done anything wrong. But they don't really do much, only just like. stare at you with big eyes. If you explain you don't wanna fuck he'll leave you be. Either that or you can say you just didn't want to have another lewd photo shoot. The latter starts another encounter, in which Brynn starts by asking if you'd be down for fuckin' without the camera pointed at y'all's naked asses. You can ask him to stop and that'll instantly end the encounter or you can go with it.

If you accept then it's basically the first lewd photoshoot all over again, you stroke his inner thigh, he flushes and leans into you and sex.

It's important to note, during these encounters with Brynn he's always submissive.

It's also important to note that your relationship is more fuck-buddy than anything, you cannot increase Brynn's love for you.

Caelan the Bartender:

"Ha...you're not supposed to be here, are you? Hm. Neither am I. I suppose we can keep eachother's secrets?" The bartender chuckles.

Species: Human

Personality: Calm, Respectful

Occupation: Student, Bartender

Role: People of interest

Relationship: Determinant

Interests: Reading

You can encounter Caelan after buying a fake ID from Briar and getting a job at the Strip Club. After meeting Darryl, you make eye contact with Caelan, who looks surprised for a second before making their way over to you with a knowing smile on their face.

Once near you, they remark that they've seen you around the orphanage, and then talking about how you're not supposed to be here. But neither are they, they joke.

Caelan's interactions are somewhat similar to Alex's. You go through work together, take a break to chat maybe. If you get into an encounter and choose to scream, Caelan gets there to help before security does. Their presence scares off the creep, but Caelan calls the security on their ass. They then proceed to keep a close eye on you throughout the rest of your shift.

During your break, you can choose to either-

Gossip

Ask Caelan about themself: +Caelan's respect

Choosing to gossip has Caelan listening to you talk about stuff you've heard the people at both school and the club say, mostly funny sex related stories. Your most common topic will be the students at the library. They are are freaky. Asking Caelan about themself will not reveal much, they simply state that they're an orphan themself and that they'd been working as a bartender at the club for four months now. It's not much, but you could note that they don't ever invite you to hangout in their room. This is only because they don't spend much time in there anyways, don't worry.

Caelan doesn't have a love or lust trait, instead they have the Caelan's Respect trait. Their respect is raised just by being a decent person and fairly nice, while ignoring Darryl being groped by a random person at the club or fucking someone while you're bartending(they don't give a shit if you're getting freaky while you're doing anything else, they just want you to do your part bro they're tired)

The lower their respect is, the lesser they say when you ask them about themself.

Outside of the strip club, you can sometimes see them taking a walk in the park or bump into them in the school hallways. These interactions are always short however, just a quick wave or hello.

They're the only one out of the three that has a christmas event. If you go to work at the club during christmas, they put a large sized santa hat on you before chuckling and handing you some cash. They admit that they don't know you well enough to know what you'd appreciate as a gift so they decided to let you choose for yourself instead of a shitty mug or something.

[mmxxviii]

kristen and cassandra: prophet, apostate, saint, god

(you can find the majority under the cut - this is quite long)

Oxford Languages // (could not find) // Wikipedia // Berlin Syndrome, Sparky Deathcap // the hero who couldn't save anyone, m.a.w // Prayer for the Newly Damned, Ocean Vuong // Deaf Republic, Ilya Kaminsky // confessions, k.a. // Little Bird, Clementine von Radics // (could not find) // If My Body Could Speak, Blythe Baird // (could not find) // Prelude, Brynne Rebele-Henry // Crossing the Water, Sylvia Plath // (could not find) // Hell Followed With Us, Andrew Joseph White // Half Hanged Mary, Margaret Atwood // Power Politics: Poems, Margaret Atwood // (could not find) // Rachel Wolchin // Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters, John Steinbeck // Editor's Pages: The Long and Short of It, Richard Siken // Not Forgotten, Israel Houghton // (could not find) // Churching, Kristin Chang // I'm Your Man, Mitski // Cassandra, ABBA // Dimension 20 LIVE presents Fantasy High: Sophomore Year (2019) // Dimension 20: Fantasy High: Junior Year (2024)

[astor-and-the-endless-ink]

Character Profile: Rhys Lucen

Full Name: Ghostspeaker Rhys Alexey Lucen

Nickname: Rhys

Age: 16

Pronouns: He/him, but he also doesn't really care

MBTI: ISFJ maybe? Idk I can’t type him he's Difficult

Personality Description: He’s kind, stubborn, and curious; he's also incredibly loyal, but shy. He can be a bit awkward, but fakes confidence when necessary. He loves people tho.

Backstory: His mother, Ghostspeaker Deirdre Lucen, died soon after he was born, leaving his father, Nikolai, both to take care of Rhys and become the Ghostspeaker since there was no heir old enough to take the position yet.

Rhys was then raised by a mostly absent father, who was more concerned about furthering the Ghosts’ goals for his own glory than his own children, since the Ghostspeaker had adopted Val by then, too. The only time Rhys really spent with his father was in training to become the next Ghostspeaker, and this led to a huge fear of failure for him, as well as fear of what taking the position would do to him.

And then Val ran away, and Rhys’ father hatched a plan to recover the people’s hopes—bring back the Ghostborn, children Gifted to a Ghostspeaker by the Ghosts themselves.

So Rhys became an older brother to a winged baby girl named Brynn.

Rhys now adores Brynn with all his heart, so when the people find out she exists and aren't receptive to bringing back the species they thought was cursed, he takes her on the run just in time to become the next Ghostspeaker and receive an impossible mission:

Kill all immortals, the only people in the world who can’t be killed…to his knowledge.

Likes: Reading, journaling, taking care of kids, being helpful generally, classical music

Triggers/Dislikes: The dark, the unknown, any mention of his future

Relationships (by the end):

- Nikolai Lucen | Father

- Valentine Lucen | Sister

- Brynn Lucen | Sister

- Ellis Lucen | Brother

- Sterling Pierce | Friend

- Devin Snyder | Girlfriend? It’s complicated

Theme Song:

[secret-smut-sideblog]

where does your light not shine?

Brynne Rebele-Henry - Prelude To Becoming Holy, Joakim Skovgaard - Christ in the Realm of the Dead, Lingua Ignota - The ORDER OF SPIRITUAL VIRGINS, Mary Szybist - Holy, James Tissot - The Apparition, Margaret Atwood - The Journals of Sussana Moodie, Deborah Sengl - Of Sheep and Wolves, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

[middleearthpixie]

This is the artwork I commissioned done by the amazing @crowrelli for the @tolkienpinupcalendar's 2024 event organized by @frosticenow and @the-girl-with-the-algebra-book!

And here is the fic—Second Time Around—I wrote to accompany it!

Second Time Around

Summary: For Brynne, Minas Tirith is the last place she wishes to be, as every corner holds bittersweet memories of the love of her life, the Captain of the White Guard, Boromir. Determined to keep her distance from him, she nonetheless cannot stop thinking about him, and those very memories torment her on ever level.

But when he asks for a second chance with her… old feelings are rekindled and passion proves too much to ignore, leaving Brynne has to decide if the pleasure they share is worth risking her heart once more. 

Fandom: Lord of the Rings - Post war of the Ring, AU, Everybody Lives 

Pairing: Boromir x ofc Brynne 

Warning: unprotectedintercourse 

Rating: M

Word Count: 4.3k

***

He watched her. Brynne refused to look up and give him the satisfaction of knowing she knew he watched her, but he did. Just as he had for the last four days she’d been in Minas Tirith, buried in the subterranean archives that housed the city—and Gondor’s—history. His expression remained the same—sober and unsmiling, but she didn't think he was exactly unhappy that she was there. Then again, she had the King’s blessing and since the King outranked the Captain of the White Tower, whether or not Boromir was happy did not exactly matter. Of course, that didn't mean his gaze didn't make her uncomfortable or uneasy. Because it did. Well, it made her uncomfortable more than anything else. Not uneasy, because she didn't feel as if she was in any danger. No, she just felt that if a ceiling beam dropped onto her, he wouldn’t be all that unhappy about it.  She tried to put it from her mind as she pored over the somewhat-ragged, very dusty ledge she’d found and picked up her quill to make a note in her own journal.  Boots sounded against stone and as a shadow fell over her, a low voice broke the silence. “How much longer do you need?” She set down her pen and looked up. “I have no way of knowing that. Does my presence here trouble you? And if so, why? I need no babysitter, you know. I’m perfectly capable of asking the archivist for help, should I require it.” His eyes—those beautiful green eyes—narrowed slightly. “I’m still not entirely certainly why you’re here. And I think you know exactly why your presence here would trouble me.”

Now Live on AO3

[blondieshifts]

about me

hi! my name is brynn. i joined shiftblr a couple months ago but realized i never did a proper introduction or really used this account since then, so now i am

as i said before my name is brynn! i'm 21 and I use she/her pronouns. and i'm a taurus!

i've been apart of different shifting communities (tiktok and twitter) for a little while now. if you want to find me on other platforms it's under the same username (@blondieshifts)

i started my shifting journey in the summer of 2021. although i haven't fully shifted to any of my drs, i have mini shifted a handful of times. i also think i shifted to a parallel reality a couple months back (only for like a minute or two though).

i want to use this account as like a shifting journal and talk about my drs and my shifting experiences. so feel free to ask me questions about my drs, or my shifting journey, or anything really! i'm hoping to be more active!

current drs

⤷ batfam dr

⤷ marauders uni dr

⤷ stranger things dr

⤷ six of crows/shadow and bone dr

my s/os

⤷ dick grayson

⤷ james potter

⤷ steve harrington

⤷ kaz brekker

also I don't mind if we shift for the same s/o

two more things! one if you are not a shifter please just ignore this and move on with your life! and two i will follow back shifting accounts only if you are over 18 and have your age in your bio, otherwise, i will not.

that's all! bye!

[a-ramblinrose]

A Weekly Reading Journal 10.13.24

My All Hallows Read is still a blast! I'm currently reading just a bit at a time from many books but I am reading so that's a win!

Currently Reading:

Fiction:

It Devours! by Joseph Fink & Jeffrey Cranor

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

Harrowing the Dragon by Patricia A. McKillip

Poetry:

The Collected Poems 1912-1944 by H.D.

Poems For Tortured Souls by Liz Ison

Wound Is the Origin of Wonder: Poems by Maya C. Popa

Nonfiction:

Lady Killers by Tori Telfer

Graphic Novels:

Dead Boy Detectives by Toby Litt & Mark Buckingham

Something Under the Bed Is Drooling by Bill Watterson

Just Finished:

Fangs by Sarah Andersen ★★★★

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver ★★★

Everyone In My Family HAs Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson ★★★★★

DNFs/Try Again Later:

Underground Hocus Pocus by Denise Nicole ( just a meh kindle freebie)

Spookily Yours by Jennifer Chipman (another kindle freebie and it felt really juvenile for an adult romance so out it goes)

General Reading Thoughts:

Started the week off strong and then I slowed down a bit due to fanfiction distractions. No regrets! XP

🖤👻🎃🖤🎃👻🖤

Happy Reading!!!

Current Reading Tag || General Original Content || 2024 Reading Page

And a few more ramblings under the cut:

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead is one I kept seeing on booktube so spotting it thrifting was neat. This is going to be a weird one and I'm excited for it. Probably a book where I'll read a chapter or two at a time but not binge.

Angela Carter!!!! How did it take me so long to read her stuff??? I have a bunch of it so really how? Amazing!

Lady Killers is annoying me. When writing/publishing a group of what's basically mini biographies group them either chronologically or my theme. Not randomly with no pattern. No. Almost a dnf but it's easy to read when I walk with my Grams in the mornings.

Dead Boy Detectives is just meh so far. I looked at reviews and a lot of people say the show is better. I wanted to read at least some of the source material 1st but maybe it would of been better if I hadn't. I will finish because it take some epic bad for me to dnf comics.

Butcher & Blackbird was fun junk food but I could not take it seriously with how bad the two serial killer main characters were about NOT GETTING CAUGHT. Real names with witnesses around, obvious travel plans, texting details, and so much more. How did they not get caught? As a romance it was fun but noting special. I've heard horrible things about book 2 so I'm done with the series unless book 3's reviews are GLOWING!

[kellysbookblog]

Title: His Forever

Series: Banachi Family Saga, Book 4

Author: Winter Travers

Release: October 2, 2024

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mafia Romance

Series Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Second Chance Romance, Best Friend’s Sister, Age Gap, Sworn Off Love, Wallflower, Opposites Attract

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199561553

Amazon Review: TBD

GR Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6892415443

Blurb: 

Over twenty years have passed, but some things never fade...

Brynn is back in Leo's world, even though neither of them expected to see each other again. In Leo's world, danger is a constant threat, and with Candace determined to take out everything he loves, he’s never been more vulnerable.

As old feelings resurface and the spark between them reignites, Brynn holds the key to saving Leo from the chaos surrounding him. She’s the one person he never would have expected to return and fight for him.

Will Brynn and Leo finally have a future together, or will they find that forever is just out of reach? Get ready for the thrilling conclusion of the Banachi Family saga.

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/HisForever

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3N8b8cc

iTunes: https://bit.ly/3BzSbwk

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4epnPvc

Kobo: https://bit.ly/4epBWRh

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3BtR2qf

Smashwords: https://bit.ly/3Br6XWm

In The Series: 

His Reward → https://books2read.com/HisReward

His Claim → https://www.books2read.com/hisclaim

His Sacrifice → https://books2read.com/HisSacrifice

Author Bio: 

Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons, and to the place they now call home.

Winter spends her days writing happily ever afters, and her nights being a karate mom hauling her son to practices and tournaments.. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, puppies, and baking.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/wintertravers

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wintertravers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wintertraversauthor/

Website: www.wintertravers.com

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2HD0UAm

Mailing List: https://www.wintertravers.com

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2vAJPm1

BookBub: https://bit.ly/2HQtk7y

[brynnmorgan]

Mindful Living in the Face of Tragedy: Incorporating Ghostly Symbolism into Daily Rituals for Healing and Growth

Finding comfort and purpose during tragic times can feel like an impossible task. On the other hand, adopting a conscious lifestyle and introducing spectral symbolism into regular routines can offer a route to recovery and development. By identifying ghosts as representations of our past experiences and feelings, we can overcome adversity with increased awareness and fortitude. In order to promote mindfulness, healing, and personal development, we will examine how to incorporate ghostly symbols into our everyday lives in this article.

Acknowledging the Ghosts of Our Past

We must acknowledge the ghosts of our past—the memories, traumas, and unresolved emotions that lurk in the background of our consciousness—before we can set out on our path toward mindful living. Spend some time daily thinking about these ghosts and accepting them without fear or condemnation. We can start to comprehend the lessons these dark corners hold and the ways they influence our current reality by shedding light on them.

Creating Rituals of Remembrance

Rituals greatly enhance our lives, which provide us comfort, structure, and a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves. Adding spectral symbolism to everyday routines can help to remind us of our historical connections, the value of paying tribute to our ancestors, and the events that have created who we are. Rituals of recollection, such as journaling to explore our deepest desires and anxieties or lighting candles in memory of loved ones who have passed away, can be a source of healing and consolation during difficult times.

Embracing the Impermanence of Life

Ghostly symbolism revolves around impermanence, which holds that everything is temporary and transient, including life itself. Accepting this reality can free us from attachments to the past and give us more clarity and thankfulness to live in the present. It can also be liberating and empowering. Dried flowers, leaves, or pictures of crumbling ruins are examples of impermanent symbols that we can include in our everyday lives to help us become more conscious of life's cycles and find serenity in the midst of tragedy.

Navigating the Shadows of the Mind

Tragic events have a way of throwing a shadow over our lives, impairing our judgment and perception. But by accepting ghostly symbology as a metaphor for the dark corners of our consciousness, we can illuminate the shadows and travel through our inner terrain with more compassion and clarity. Take up activities like dream interpretation, shadow work, or mindfulness meditation to delve into your subconscious and reveal its hidden riches.

Finding Meaning in the Aftermath

It might be challenging to give our suffering significance or purpose after a disaster. But we can find significance in the most unexpected places if we accept ghostly symbolism as a metaphor for the transformational power of loss and grief. Look for clues and coincidences that indicate a greater truth or purpose, and have faith that light can always be found, even in the most dire circumstances. Through the integration of spectral symbolism into our everyday routines, we can welcome the process of recovery and development with open minds and hearts.

Conclusion

Embracing spectral symbolism into everyday routines provides a potent framework for compassionate living when tragedy strikes. We can develop a stronger sense of awareness, resilience, and compassion by facing the ghosts of our past, establishing rituals of recollection, accepting the transience of existence, navigating the shadows of the mind, and deriving meaning from the aftermath. Therefore, keep in mind that even in the darkest of circumstances, brightness can be discovered in the presence of ghosts as you negotiate life's trials.

Discover the transformative journey within "The Haunting of Hastings House" by Brynn Morgan. Dive into a world where ghostly symbolism intertwines with daily rituals, guiding characters toward healing and growth. Explore how incorporating these elements into your own life can offer profound insights and solace. Don't miss the chance to embark on this hauntingly beautiful tale, where the presence of ghosts becomes a beacon of hope. Unlock the secrets of healing through ghostly symbolism.

[brynn-lear]

😭

Looks like... Looks like I'm ready to sell my soul. If. If anyone's willing to take it, it's for sale on kofi or something-

[slippyandthelandsharks]

[Entry #5: That morning (and why Brynne didn't have time to put on makeup):]

Dear Journal,

I should be angry that my entire worldview was flipped upside-down, and part of me still wants to be angry at Solasei, but truth is, I just feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for all of them, I guess. I mean, there are probably still bad ones. There's a plane of endless torment—pretty sure the guy who's running that's a dick of some kind—and anyway, I'm pretty sure the world didn't get flooded by a mortal. We're still pawns, I think, in some game none of us get to know the rules of.

But the thing is, I'm starting to think the gods are pawns too, but the difference between us is that they do get to know the rules, and we don't. And I can't be envious or pissed off at them about that. If Solasei's telling the truth, and it's hard to argue with a Zone of Truth and Luka, then they didn't get to decide who knows what rules.

And, see, that's the problem, I think. Somebody's deciding something and making decisions on behalf of an entire universe of people, and I don't think that's right. Oh, sure, I'm sure there's gotta be some sort of order, but I feel like all this talk about purpose and destiny or whatever—that's the part that shouldn't be in somebody else's hands. We should all get the choice to decide who and what we are for ourselves, not spend all our lives having our strings pulled by someone with a hell of a lot more power than they should have.

Speaking of, I had some suspicions about certain people before now, and Solasei's all but confirmed the whole lot of them, except for the whys and what-the-fuck-are-you-doing-this-fors. It makes me think that the sooner we clean up Trinity's in-laws and get back to the Seaskimmers, the better. I know Velsha can defend herself and Sori has an entire guild around her, but I don't like leaving either of 'em alone anywhere near Balthazar. My only comfort is as far as I know, he hasn't a damn clue that I'm on to him.

So first priority when we get back is maybe propose that Velsha travel with us for a while and Sori up the Seaskimmers' security. Maybe send somebody or few to keep an eye on Balthazar. I gotta figure out what to do about him, because I doubt the most powerful mage I know's gonna let me just run a sword through him, and given what he did with the Five-Man Band, I'm not asking the party to go after him unless I'm sure he's not gonna send another lich or something after them.

Look, I know at some point, I'm gonna have to deal with him; people like him shouldn't be trusted to stay alive. Then afterwards, I figure out what to do about the string-pulling stuff? Now that I'm writing this out, there's a lot on my plate. I'm gonna have to tell the others at some point, but not literally a couple days before we're set to invade a city or something. (I think that's what we're doing? I didn't realize how much I needed sleep until just now—it feels like I'm missing details, but not in the way I did, you know. When I first woke up as this thing. I'll figure it out. If it's slimy and murderous, stick a sword in it; can't be that hard to sort through.)

Meanwhile, Betty's still pissed at me. I wasn't expecting her to not be, but I hope her attitude's not gonna be a problem. How do you reason with a sword?

Also, who the fuck is Kelfira? Bob? Is that Bob? I should probably ask before we throw ourselves at mind-scrambling tentacle monsters.

[savepc2023]

You know what. I wanna know what your PCs love language is.

Like are any of them cuddly? Are any of them cheerleaders? Do they lurk in your life to show love? I want affection and how do they give it-

HI DEE

Angel (they/he/she):

Physical touch! They looove hugging people and keeping her arm wrapped around the other person's waist. Even with people they aren't very familiar with, (if the other person is ok with it) she tends to pat their shoulder or their back a lot. Maybe even ruffle their hair. When you sit next to him, they'll probably hold your hand and draw little stars onto the back of your palm with her thumb.

Brynn (he/him):

Gift giving! He tends to go on shopping sprees a lot, mostly because of how quick his clothes are to be ......torn apart. But while there he'll probably see something that reminds him of you, or something he remembers you saying you liked! It's common for his friends to get atleast three gifts each month. He sees something that can even vaguely be related to you and he's suddenly paying with cash with not a single thought behind his eyes.

Caelan (they/them):

Acts of service! It was a bit of a draw between this and quality time for me because since they tend to be very busy, they can really only spare time for their most favorite of people. But i think acts of service is a bit more suitable! Sometimes even without thinking they make more food than they'll eat and give the rest to Robin. Similar to Angel, they're a bit more leisurely with this love language as sometimes they help Sydney finish up his work even though they're simply friendly acquaintances. He's nice and his eyebags make Caelan want to immediately take over his workload.

[opuspace]

Same here. It wasn't enough that she intentionally got pregnant, abandoned the Nexus and the people who needed her expertise, stole dwindling resources from a group who were facing hostile forces, she had also doomed her kid to a future that had no pleasant end in sight until Ryder started making major steps in turning the odds around.

And she had the. Gall. To be patronizingly smug with no remorse for what she did.

The game even acknowledged she's prone towards selfish actions but instead of giving the player and Ryder a chance to be furious with her for it, we're forced into a position and dialogue where we're supposed to admire her for it when she gives birth.

And the game does not let you refuse this quest. You will see it every time you go to the map or your journal.

This mission makes me so mad I've never finished it. I cannot stand talking to Zoe or Addison about it and there are no consequences to make me want to save this selfish woman from her actions despite me having a completionist streak for even the most innocuous side missions.

On a side note, has anyone else noticed that every single pregnant character in Mass Effect is written to be as obnoxious as possible?! Rebekah being willing to take a larger risk with her baby, Brynn rubbing the fact that she went after Jacob in Shepard's face if Shepard romanced him and that he's better off with her WHILE SHEPARD IS RESCUING THEM, what is up with Bioware doing that?! It's as weird as their tendency to write every one of Femshep's male LIs needing to talk about their exes before she can romance them.

CONFESSION:

For the most part, I enjoyed Andromeda despite the problems/flaws but there was a couple of quests that infuriated me, with one being "The Little Things that Matter". I thought Dr Kennedy was freaking selfish. I wanted to call her out and Addision out for kissing her friend's ass. If I ever do another playthrough, that will be quest I won't do.

[stargazer-brynne]

Missing Cargo

“Miss Thorush?”

Brynne turned from her massive folders of incoming cargo and ship ledgers to face the young miqo'te girl. The small member of the Arcanist Guild shifted her weight back and forth, stroking a strand of her light pink hair.

“Yes, Mi’haila, what can I help you with?” Brynne responded, putting down her notes.

“Th-There’s an invoice from one-one of the ships that came in… They’re missing a lot of crates fro-from their ledger- I don’t know what happened!” Mi’haila answered, fingers quaking as she handed over the slip of paper.

Brynne took it and started reading each item, line by line. Imports consisted of basic materials; blacksmithing metals and tools for the most part, sent over by the various artisans of Ul’dah. However, circled in red were the more useful and expensive materials: iron, steel, mythrill, and other precious metals needed for weapon smithing. Not surprisingly, those materials were missing.

Brynne narrowed her eyes and looked over at Mi’haila, who jumped at the sudden attention. “Are they still in port? Have there been any reports of pirate activity or the like nearby?” She asked.

The miqo'te nodded.

“They’re still in port, Miss. As far as we know, there has been limited pirate activity in the normal places. The Rhotano Sea has been mostly quiet, with minor activity in the Strait of Merthor. But-but that’s been happening for the past few months!”

Brynne leaned back in her chair, playing with a brown to blue curl along the side of her face. 

Merthor had been a hot spot for some minor, harmless pirating activity. It was mostly to scare off potential threats to their territories. A small monetary fee here, a warning shot from cannons there. But if they were starting to plunder cargo ships and affect their ledgers, then they'd have stepped out of bounds.

Brynne stood up,  long ears slicked back in annoyance. She grabbed her pen and started writing down the report for the Guild’s records. Once satisfied with it, she stood up and beckoned for Mi’haila to follow. Brynne grabbed her coat and strapped her grimoire to her side. A small, Emerald Carbuncle followed along, sniffing her master’s coattails. Brynne paused, patting her on the head.

“Who else knows of this incident?” She asked.

“Just you for now. Should I report to the Guildmaster?” Mi’haila replied.

“Not yet, I have some sway, so I’ll reach out first before getting her involved.”

The two traveled over to the docks and down the way, reaching where the ship who reported the missing cargo was moored.. It wasn’t the largest ship she’s ever seen, little more than a rowboat compared to Merlwyb’s impressive vessel, but it was a decent size for transport nonetheless. 

She waved down one of the crewmembers, asking for the captain. The deckhand rushed to what Brynne assumed was the captain’s quarters, and soon a small Lalafell man walked out on deck.

The man had a big bushy mustache and a hat that looked like it could completely hide him should he be so inclined. The hat was then removed and placed against his chest as he bowed. 

“What can I do for you, Miss?” He asked in a particularly high voice.

Mi’haila hid behind Brynne, who rolled her eyes. “Captain Kalale, I presume?”

“The one and only. What can I do for you two lovely ladies?” He smiled, replacing his hat.

“I understand there was an incident with missing cargo, and as a member of the Arcanist’s Guild, I came to investigate. Do you have a moment for a few questions?” Brynne said, taking out a pen and notebook.

“Anything for the Arcanist’s Guild, my lady. This opportunity to get in good graces with you lot is a good business practice. I make your life easier, you make mine easier.” Captain Kalale explained, rubbing his hands together.

“Were all items accounted for before leaving the ports in Ul’dah?”

“All were present and accounted for," he said, his hands searching for something in his breast pocket.

“Around what area did you discover the goods were missing?”

“After we finished getting through the Strait of Merthor. We were approached by a vessel after stopping for a time. They demanded compensation for safe passage, or there’d be dire consequences. I’ve lived long enough to know when I’m up against someone who’ll actually carry out those threats, so I gave them the metals they wanted. They left our ship, and we went on our way with our lives,” Captain Kalale explained, lighting a cigar. He offered one to the ladies who shook their heads no.

“Were there any identifying features of the ship? Noticeable crew members?” Mi’haila asked.

“Now that you mention it, one was a big Roegadyn. Two full yalms taller than yourself, green skin, and a big ol’ scar that ran from his right eye all the way down his collar. Nasty lookin’ thing!” He leapt into the air, flailing his arms to show just how big. Though, it really didn’t help his case-- the two were already much taller than him.

“Any flags of note or crests?” Brynne asked.

“I think it was a dark red flag with yellow symbols… Like a dragon eating a moon?”

Brynne groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Alright, thank you, Captain. As you were…” She turned on her heel and stormed off the deck, Mi’haila running after her.

There was only one ship with that flag and one captain with those features. And Brynne knew them all too well. In fact, they’d just landed in port not too long ago. She stormed past the guild’s crystal and through the marketplace, where it was jam packed with merchants and buyers from all over the country. Mi’haila tried to keep pace, having to hurry a few steps every so often to stay beside her.

“M-Miss, where are we going?” She asked, clutching her notes to her chest and fixing her glasses.

“To the lower decks, where most underground dealings are made. I have a bone to pick with a certain pirate…” Brynne replied, bringing a hand to her ear. 

She barked a few orders into her linkpearl before hanging up. Her Emerald Carbuncle bounded after her, staring up in confusion before nodding and vanishing, her ruby counterpart replacing her with a scowl on her face and her tails twitching in anticipation. 

Hopefully it wouldn’t come to using her, but Brynne didn’t hold her breath. These guys were notorious for being unpredictable.

They reached the docks by the fishermen’s guild, sun beginning to set for the day. On a good day, this would mark the end of her work and she’d have a lovely dinner prepared with her father. And she was looking forward to the new recipe that came in from the Bismark too. Her father wasn’t going to like the next report she sends to the Marauders Guild.

The ship was massive in comparison to Captain Kalale’s vessel, but still not large enough to warrant more than two inspectors, minus her carbuncle.

Out of the corner of Brynne’s eye, she could’ve sworn she saw a head full of red braids, but when she turned to get a better look, there wasn’t anyone there. 

Damn rogues, always in the shadows, Brynne thought.

However they always did their job well, so she couldn’t complain too much.

The two ladies boarded the ship and were greeted by accordion and drums, followed by drunken laughter and shouts. Brynne thought she heard giggles mixed in there, but she wasn’t certain until she saw the Roegadyn in question drinking from what she could only assume was his sixth ale, given the five empty tankards beside him. Two young women, a Midlander and a Raen, clung to each arm as he poured his drink into their waiting mouths.

Brynne sighed and stomped her foot. The music and laughter stopped from all but the captain, who looked the Viera up and down before handing his drink to one of the girls. They greedily drank the rest on her own.

“Captain Fraedoen.” Brynne narrowed her eyes.

The captain grinned from ear to ear, standing tall in front of her. He was exactly as the Lalafell described, though he’d forgotten to mention the reek of alcohol. Some drops had missed his mouth and dribbled down his chin and onto his ripped red coat.

“That be I, lassie. Ye and yer friend here to join in the party? T’is a celebration!” He exclaimed, throwing his arms out. His crew cheered and resumed their laughter and playing, some calling for another round. “There be plenty o’ room fer ye lovely lassies to join us.”

“Actually no, we’ve come to collect the stolen cargo from one of our import vessels,” Brynne responded, puffing her chest out. The captain barked out a laugh and got right up in her face, coming close enough to touch. She could smell the salty sea and sweat mixed in with the strong alcohol.

“And what makes ye think we stole cargo? We’re just humble pirates, followin’ the same rules as anyone else! You can’t prove shite,” he said, his voice getting gruff and low.

Brynne stared this man straight in the eye, refusing to back down. 

He scoffed and threw up a hand. The rest of the crew put their drinks down and began drawing their swords. “So what are ye gonna do about it, eh?”

Brynne slowly reached for her grimoire, Mi’haila backing away slowly but was suddenly blocked from behind by two more pirates. She gripped onto Brynne’s coat, trying to hide.

One of the crew members froze, a glint of recognition in his eye. “C-Captain. We-we really sh-sho-”

“What is it, ye blubberin’ oaf! I’m gonna toss this bitch inte the sea fer tresspassin’ on my ship!” He shouted, turning to him. Brynne glanced over, seeing the recognition in his eye, and the quake in his knees. She grinned.

“You should listen to your crew, Captain,” she taunted, opening her book to a seemingly random page.

“Th-That’s no ordinary inspector, sir!” He stuttered, backing up and clutching his knife to his chest.

“Out with it, man! Spit it out or ye’ll be next!”

Another piped up “Th-That’s Brynne Thorush, sir!” He shouted. The captain froze on the  spot, slowly turning back towards the Viera. Brynne witnessed the color drain from his face and his jaw go slack.

“Th-Thorush? Ye-Ye mean THE Thorush?” He asked, voice suddenly quiet.

Brynne licked her fingers, flipping through the pages before slamming her grimoire shut. Every member of the crew jumped.

“The only daughter o’ the notorious Captain Nycolas of the Indigo Deep?” Captain Fraedoen asked, backing away as slow as he possibly could. There was more sweat beading down his face now, and his eyes were wide. “Th-The one who sa-sailed with the Knights of the Barracuda and is a General of the Maelstrom?”

“The one and only,” she replied, examining her nails. Slowly, she began to walk forward towards him, eyebrow raised and grinning from ear to ear. “Now, about that missing cargo.”