#[ goes into sassy disappointed dad mode ]

[thanksjro]

More Than Meets the Eye #22- If You Don’t Love Thunderclash, Get Better Soon I Guess

One last issue before we reach Comic Event Hell.

Time to use a dead man to set up the rest of the nonsense that’s got to happen, because apparently 14 issues of setup, including six issues of literal prelude, wasn’t enough.

The first bit of information we’re presented with is the fact that Chromedome and Swerve are on the opposite sides of the camera-shy scale. I guess that’s bound to happen when your spouse has had his video-cam literally connected to his brain for at least several thousand years.

The art may look really gritty and hardcore here, but this is actually due to a filter Rewind has over all his footage that he’s neglected to take off, because it made all the wartime propaganda he would stuff into people’s heads all the more brutal-looking.

No, this is the style of our artist for this issue, James Raiz, who we’ll be seeing a fair bit of over the next several issues. Raiz has worked on the Transformers franchise over the course of multiple license-holders, as well as contributed to both Marvel and DC comics. He also works in special effects, including matte painting and VFX. That’s just neat.

Anyway, the reason Swerve’s completely frozen in place isn’t because Rewind  switched out his head-mounted camera for a gun that goes off if it hears you make a self-deprecating joke, but rather because he’s conducting interviews with everyone in the main cast. We get all their introductions, Cyclonus makes a statement about his political stances, Drift sounds like he’s high as a kite, First Aid strikes a sassy pose while not being bitter in the slightest, and Ultra Magnus makes a move that would get him murdered on any given film set in the universe.

You do NOT use your bare fucking hand to clean a camera lens, mister. Go get a microfiber cloth and try the fuck again, you complete and utter duffel bag of a creature.

We get a quick cut of the speech Rodimus made back in issue #1, with an angle that implies that Rewind was in the front row of the front row, then cut over to Rodimus asking Rewind to document their Capital-Q Quest. This is where we establish that this film doesn’t only contain footage from Rewind’s personal camera, but also that of the Lost Light’s security system.

Which feels like the sort of access you maybe wouldn’t want to give some nosy little film buff, especially when you have a secret giant serial killing sadist living in your basement like a disappointing adult child.

See? He was given the job to record the adventures of the Lost Light not five minutes ago, and he’s already using his powers for evil. Eavesdropping evil. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, Rodimus, and you just handed it to the guy with a massive Dominus Ambus-shaped chip on his shoulder.

So Rewind’s got permission to film just about whatever he wants, and Rodimus figures it’ll be nonstop action from here to the finish line! Fights! Intrigue! Mild hijinks and peril! Explosions aplomb! Oh man, I can’t wait to see what kinds of crazy shit will happen on this absolute roller coaster of a Quest!

Smashcut to Swerve literally falling asleep in the middle of a conversation. Yeah, as it turns out, no quest, capital Q or not, is nonstop action. Which is good, honestly, because that kind of seems like it would be exhausting after the first week or so.

Swerve, Tailgate, and Rewind are discussing cool alt-modes, which seems like an odd topic, seeing as Tailgate and Swerve have basically the same situation going on there, leaving Rewind alone in the camp of “does not have wheels”.

I worry about you sometimes, Rewind. Internalized Functionism is a very real problem. Uh, well, in your universe anyway. Us humans have to deal with regular ol’ classism and racism.

Rung gets brought up, and it’s revealed that the wheel on his back is almost purely cosmetic; it doesn’t even actually attach to his body. The lads decide that they’ve got nothing better to do, and set up a gentlemen’s wager- first one to figure out Rung’s whole deal gets 100 space-dollars.

Throwing shit at people’s heads will be a major plot point in the climax of this comic series.

Swerve’s go at trying to win the bet involved tossing a grenade at Rung to hit him in the neural cluster, which is rumored to be able to force an involuntary mode change if done correctly. Obviously, it didn’t work this go around. Then our narrative focus switches over to the crew’s hobbies.

You were listening to Prince, weren’t you, Magnus? Not even deep space is safe from the Cease and Desist.

Skids’ hobby is meeting new people, because he suffers from the terrible curse of being so fucking good at everything he tries, he always ends up dropping whatever he picked up, because what’s the point? This acts as a segue into another flashback, to even MORE bullshit that the fellas got roped into on Hedonia.

These are the Stentarians. They’re like the Cybertronians, if they were better in every way.

And by “better”, I, of course, mean “more bloodthirsty, warmongering, and driven enough to make their civil war last about as long as the Jurassic Period”. Also, they’re all combiners by default, and Whirl seems a little TOO into their whole situation. So much so, in fact, that when the Imperial Guard of their race show up to kill them, he decides to do them a solid by single-handedly ending their entire war.

You know, in most cases you’re supposed to show and not tell for visual media. This is way funnier, though, so it can be excused.

We jump back into the interviews, and Rewind’s just asked everyone if they’re happy. This might seem like an odd question, until you remember that everyone on-board this ship has crippling depression and PTSD, and Rewind’s married to one of the saddest motherfuckers to ever exist, so he probably has this question loaded into the proverbial chamber at any given moment. We won’t cover all of the answers here, because they’ll be more poignant to reflect back on later in the comic run, but let’s take a gander at the characters who’ve completed the first leg of their character arcs this season.

Drift, is that perhaps… an honest expression of your inner thought processes happening right there? Has Rewind broken through your carefully crafted persona, if even for just a moment, with his question? Perish the thought!

Because Tailgate outed himself as being baby in issue #21, I have zero doubt he’s not exaggerating here. He was a janitor, then he fell in a hole and became Dirt-Nap Supreme for six million years; even the most boring day on the Lost Light’s got to be better than that.

And it’s nice to see Chromedome on a good day for once. Hopefully he reveled in it while he had the chance, because this interview takes place maybe a couple weeks before he fucks everything up big time and has to blow up his husband with a missile strike.

Getting back to the Mystery of the Rungian Alt-Mode plotline, we see Rung using his backpack as a wheelbarrow- no idea what he’s actually pushing in the damned thing- and wearing the most disgruntled face I’ve seen him pull in a hot minute. Someone yells for him to come down the eerily unlit and sinister-looking hallway, which he does. Rung would not do well in a horror film.

He winds up at Swerve’s, where Tailgate, Swerve, Brainstorm, and someone who is most likely Trailcutter, given the colors, are hanging out in their alt-modes. Tailgate’s ploy to find out Rung’s deal is to do what he does best- lie! They’re having an alt-mode party, and wouldn’t Rung like to join in? There are, of course, logistical issues with being a car in a bar, especially when your drink is on the table and your head is tucked up somewhere in your torso, but never mind all that! Let’s get crazy!

This doesn’t work either. Maybe we should cut out the middle man here and just get Rung drunk enough to agree to a wet alt-mode contest.

No, I don’t have any idea how that would work.

In our next vignette, Rodimus comes into the comms room, Rewind trailing behind him like a grim shadow of death, to see what the hell Blaster wants, other than just the hugest glass of water.

Raiz’s work is very detailed, and you really feel the weight of these giant metal space robots, but everyone looks like they’ve been put through a food dehydrator.

We get a lot of build up to the character who’s about to be introduced, with a common opinion being shared amongst everyone- even Tailgate, who hates successful people like his life depends on it.

Lovely readers, put your hands together for the ideal male partner for Autobots, Decepticons, and Neutrals alike:

A man with so much charisma and charm that only Rodimus could hate him, Thuderclash brings to IDW what everyone wishes Optimus Prime would, making our disappointing space dad even more mediocre by comparison. He fights for justice, and freedom, and the good of the universe- and he does it all while having a chronic medical condition that forces him to stay within a certain distance of his ship that is also a life-support machine, otherwise he will die. Despite his handicaps, Thunderclash seemingly brings to others what they need most, even if they don’t even realize that they needed it in the first place.

He also, in this one scene, appeals to Drift’s religious sensibilities, does a secret best-friend dance with Ratchet (who he helped to pass his medical exams- yes, Ratchet), and congratulates Rodimus on his questing so far.

Thunderclash is one of those characters that everyone in-universe is supposed to love, and I completely buy it- because he’s completely genuine and humble about all of this the entire time.

Compare this to the last time Roberts wrote Thunderclash, in Eugenesis.

Where he was an ex-Decepticon.

And kind of an abrasive asshole.

And then he died.

Y’know, now that I think of it, Eugenesis Thunderclash and MTMTE Ambulon being basically the same character makes a whole lot of sense, even without the horrors of Roberts’ Twitter getting involved.

Thunderclash reveals that he, too, is on a quest to find the Knights of Cybertron, much to Rodimus’ chagrin. But first he needs the Lost Light to break out the jumper cables, and then for his second in command to stop threatening his life.

Turns out, not everyone is as obvious as the Cybertronians with their naming conventions. Whirl assassinated the wrong folks; I’m sure the Galactic Council is utterly thrilled. Paddox wants to steal the quantum engine technology for the good of his people, so they can kick the ass of the up-and-coming Terradore leader.

Completely unaware of the situation unfolding here in the lab, Swerve is directing Rung towards the warm, loving aura of Thunderclash for another go at winning the gentlemen’s wager- through the power of lying about having friends, Swerve’s “agreed” to get Rung Thunderclash’s autograph, in exchange for getting to check that Rung’s transformation cog is still working. Then they bump into the nightmare currently unfolding. My, whoever will save us from this dreaded menace, who holds a gun to the head of the Autobots’ greatest warrior, confidant, friend, and perhaps even lover?

How about a bartender and a giant vape pen?

Okay, so Rung doesn’t actually turn into a vape. It turns out that the Mystery of the Rungian Alt-Mode is also a mystery to the man himself. Because Rung is old as shit, the Functionists got to see this bullshit for themselves, and ended up testing him over and over and over trying to figure it out, lest he prove to be a flaw in their fascist ideologies. Fun fact: fascists HATE it when people they’re trying to oppress don’t play to their expectations.

The Functionists were the ones who gave Rung his little wheelie backpack, to make him at least appear useful. This sort of treatment tends to warp one’s head a bit, which would explain why he’s bothered to keep it for so long- internalized functionism’s a real bitch.

At least he’s not giving teenagers nicotine addictions under the guise of being somewhat better than cigarettes.

Back with Rodimus and Cybertron’s Autobot of the Year for 40,000 consecutive years, we get the unfortunate news that jump-starting Thunderclash’s ship is going to make the Quest go a bit slower for the Lost Light, much to Rodimus’ horror, though he does his best to put on a brave face; after all, that’s what heroes do, isn’t it?

It’s at this point that it’s revealed that “Little Victories” was being screened to all the Circle of Light members who didn’t get murdered or turned into Legislators on Luna 1, and man are these guys pissy. What was meant to be a recruitment video turned out to do just the opposite, because none of these guys want anything to do with what the Lost Light’s got going on.

Too bad Rewind didn’t have time for a cleaner cut for showing. Maybe they could have at least snagged a couple of these guys to tag along.

As all of the Circle of Light leave the theatre to go call everyone’s favorite Autobot to see if he needs a more crew members, the film plays on behind Skids, back to the interviews, as everyone promises more adventures just waiting on the horizon.

You’re not even on this trip anymore, you dork.

Chromedome gives us the title drop for the movie and issue, and we cut to Rewind organizing a group photo of all the interviewees.

And then Rewind died horribly like a week later. Thus ends season one of More Than Meets the Eye!

While I’m here, I’d like to take the time to cover a little bit of cut content from this issue, a scene between Drift and Ratchet.

Drift, during his interview, recalls the time that Ratchet called him into his office for a very serious discussion about his/Pharma’s hands.

Yeah, turns out they’re haunted.

Well, no, not really, because this is a prank. But Drift doesn’t know that yet.

Ratchet demonstrates this hand-haunting by punching Drift in the face, as he screams damnation at Pharma’s ghost. Drift, because he is a spiritual man, knows exactly what to do to deal with this possession; he draws his sword and chops Ratchet’s hands off, then throws them out the airlock.

This, too, is a prank, not that Ratchet knows it right away, yelling at Drift that he’s crippled him.

Clearly, these two belong together.

This bit of cut script was lucky enough to have gotten drawn by the colorist for MTMTE Season 1, Josh Burcham. Burcham’s line art is iconic- you won’t mistake him for anyone else. It’s rough and angular, and honestly just very charming. I’m a sucker for this sort of style. If you want to see his adaptation of this chunk of script- and trust me, you do- the link’s right here:

https://dcjosh.tumblr.com/post/107665292031/its-done-the-mtmte-22-deleted-scene-in-all-its

[notcaring99]

To The Rescue (Teen Reader x Tony Stark)

Warning: Human Trafficking, violence, bullying 

Request: “I loved your Bucky x teen reader where the reader called Bucky dad. Could you maybe do something similar to that but with Tony Stark, but the reader gets really embarrassed when she calls him dad?” - Anonymous

A/N: Hello readers! I have the flu, and bored out of my mind. No idea if this is good, just not feeling good about this one. I am sorry if I disappointed you to the person that requested this. I will be keeping up with request a bit faster, sorry for the delay. I have just had a rough couple of weeks. Well enjoy! Tell me your thoughts and also don’t be afraid to request! I love doing these.

“Kid! It’s time to go.” You hear Tony call downstairs as you are getting ready for your first day of public high school, and you were nervous as hell. You were worried that something will set off your instincts today. You have been fighting those instincts since Tony came into your life.

Tony has been a father figure in your life ever since he found you being used as a weapon against the US military in a foreign country that is to be remained unnamed. You were being trained to be an assassin at the age of 10 until Tony found you at the age of 16. You were brought back to SHIELD where you were put into an interrogation room with handcuffs since you did fight back.

You were locked in the interrogation room, handcuffed to the table. You have stayed quiet as multiple agents have come in to talk to you. You didn’t recognize anyone, you just wanted to talk to someone who you trusted or seen before.

“Hey, kid. I heard you won’t talk to anyone else.” In walks in Tony, the guy who saved you from those monsters. He takes a seat in front of you as you lean back in your chair, happy to see a familiar face. You did beat him up pretty good though. You see the black eye you gave him on his face clearly.

“I am sorry about your eye.” You mutter out, and he shrugs his shoulders.

“Honestly not the worst injury I’ve had, but it’s one good black eye from what a 14-year-old?” Tony asks you, and you shake your head.

“I am 16. 6 years of my life spent there.” you shudder at the thought of your life there, a bare white-walled room, locked in and never to let go unless you killed an innocent.

“You were 10 then when they took you. How did they get you, kid?” Tony asks and you look at your hands.

“I was kidnapped. But everyone gives up on the cases with foster kids. They just assume you ran away, but I was taken into human trafficking.” you state with tears coming, but you suck them up looking at Tony.

“So they wanted to know if you had a family.” Tony states and you shake your head.

“My family died, all I had was my parents, and they died in an accident. I have one messed up life right?” you ask leaning your head on your handcuffed hands. Tony looks at you with sorrow in his eyes but looks at you closely.

“So you were kidnapped, and have no one?” Tony asks you, and you nod your head pointing at him making a ‘ding ding’ noise.

“No here I am in a sketchy place locked up again. Tell me, you want to use me for my skills too?” You ask him with your hands folded in your lap before tears begin to come forward. “At least tell me that much so I don’t get my hopes up on a normal life,” you state as tears start to fall. You take your handcuffed hands and lower your head to wipe your tears. Tony puts his hand on yours making you look up at the man.

“I promise I will get you a normal life.” Tony states and you smile at him.

A few months later you were released from SHIELD’s custody, and Tony adopted you, well sort of. You are to be in his care till the papers were dealt with legally. You and Tony got along very well with your sassiness and sarcasm being equal to each other. It got on Happy and Pepper’s nerves the way you two would bickered back and forth.

After a month, Tony decided to send you to school. Luckily those terrorists gave you an education while you were locked up, and you were able to follow with peers in school. “I’m coming!” You yell before making your way downstairs with your backpack to see that time. “Shit! You didn’t tell me what time it was old man!” You yell as you run towards the door where your bus should be in about five minutes.

“You need to eat breakfast!” Tony calls out, but you run towards the open elevator and take it all the way to the main floor. Luckily the bus just pulled up, and you climb in just in time.

“You are one lucky kid.” The bus driver states looking at the tower behind me. “Is Tony your uncle or something?”

“I am just an intern right now.” You spit out before taking a seat closest to you. Luckily that was alone.

“Is she related to Tony?” you hear a girl murmur, but you slip in your headphones as more mumbling is heard. “Great I am going to be talked about now.” you think to yourself as you look out at the road.

Walking into the school, you get to your locker and unlock it with ease. Just as someone closes it for you. You turn around to be welcomed by a jock. You take out your headphones and look at him in terror as you tell yourself you are okay. “I was talking to you freak.” You take a gulp before he goes on. “Are you related to Tony Stark?” You feel your fight mode kick in, but you push it down.

“Not really. He is just a guardian for now.” You mumble out, and the jock hits the locker next to you making you jump. You are looking at your feet trying to stop your fight mode from kicking in, but this jock kept hitting the locker.

“What was that? I can’t hear you.” He hits the locker three times this time. You look up at him, and grab his wrist, twisting it till it is between his shoulder blades.

“Why don’t you try being a little more patient? What is your name?” You ask as you have him shoved against the locker.

“My name is Chad.” You almost laugh at the douche name. You lean in close to where you are near his ear.

“I said it is none of your business.” You state when you are pulled away from Chad by a teacher.

“Principle’s office now, both of you!” the teacher yells, and you sigh picking up your bag and trudging to the office where they make you call Tony. Chad got dismissed with his mom from the principle a few minutes ago, and now you are to wait for Tony to show up in the office as the principle stares you down. You are playing with your nails as the doors burst open.

“What happened?” Tony asks the principle before looking you over. “What did you do?” He asks after assessing you are okay.

“Well Mr. Stark, your daughter here decided to almost break another students arm. Though she was provoked, it is still worrisome on our part.” The principle states. He goes on and on about policy to Tony, and finally Tony interrupts.

“Can I speak to her alone?” Tony asks and the principle looks at me then Tony.

“Okay. I will be outside.” the principle states before leaving you two alone.

“What happened, Y/N?” Tony asks looking at you. You explain the story one last time, and look him in the eyes.

“I tried to push it down, but I couldn’t.” Tears evident in your eyes, and Tony leans forward. “I am sorry dad.” You realize the words that come out of your mouth, and feel a blush come onto your face. “I didn’t mean to call you that. I am going to go.” You get up to leave, but he grabs your hand.

“You can call me dad. That is what I am.” Tony smiles at you, and you smile back at him. “Right, well clearly you were the one that was the victim. I am going to make sure you get left off with a warning. We will work on your fight urges.” Tony states, and you nod your head. “Now go learn.” Tony states, and you get up to leave. The principle stops you as you open the door.

“Wait just a moment-” but Tony interrupts the principle.

“Let’s not interrupt her learning. We can discuss her punishment with me, and me alone.” Tony stands up to you. The principle looks at you with a glare before looking at Tony with a smile.

“Of course Mr. Stark.” the principle states before stepping aside letting me go back to class.

[review-duck]

Life is Strange : Before the Storm Episode 1 : Awake

Repost from previous blog. Warning, Life is Strange and Life is Strange Before the Storm spoilers (not huuuuge spoilers but still, so you do you.)

Last night I was fixating on my ps4, watching the countdown, waiting for midnight croissant-time (Paris GMT) to be able to play Life is Strange : Before the Storm that I pre-ordered (Deluxe version that allows you to have bonus outfits, mixtape mode and a bonus episode at the end with Max). So the clock stroke midnight and I played until 3.30am.

You have to know that when I play, I go everywhere, I talk to everybody, so if you don’t, I guess you can finish it in 2h30.

I was really nervous as I hit « New Game » as I was really expecting it, to learn more about Chloe and Rachel, but knowing it was from a totally different studio and that the Chloe I fell in love with in Life is Strange wouldn’t be the same as her voice actress, Ashly Burch (a.k.a the best voice actress ever, sorry not sorry but a 71hrs platinum of Horizon Zero Dawn and a platinum in the first Life is Strange will do that to you. And Borderlands. And I mean I saved her grandpa and fought Baba Yaga for her in Rise of the Tomb Raider so…) wasn’t able to come back as Chloe. I didn't know that when I pre-ordered it, and knowing the reasons why I kind of regretted giving them money. Link if you want to know more.

So in a mix of fear and excitement I started to play and didn’t stop for almost 4hrs (except for some screenshots and pitiful tweets)

Story

No mosh pit for you shaka brah.

The story begins with Chloe wanting to go to a concert, kind of a playground intro as it shows you the ropes. You make your first graffiti (Chloe’s version of Max’s pictures), you talk to some people, you ponder in front of the fire to think about your shitty teenager life and when you try to enter, you have your first « Backtalk Challenge » which is a list of insults/arguments to help you talk your way into what you want.

So you enter the concert and then you meet your angel, Rachel Amber. And it goes really fast from there.

Basically it’s love at first sight for Chloe, and the next day you ditch school to spend it with Rachel, flirting with her like crazy (if that’s your choice -even if I feel that no matter your choice you end up making a fool of yourself) and that’s basically it. The core of the episode -minus some weird dreams about your dead father and some family drama- was Chloe trying to please Rachel Amber and Chloe falling in love with her and Rachel kind of returning those feelings but when you’re 16, nothing is simple.

Although I liked it, it felt really fast for me. I do believe in love at first sight but this story happening 3 years before the OG Life is Strange, I’m wondering how long the girls are going to spend together before Rachel goes missing. The short life expectancy of the game, being a 3 episodes game, is probably the reason why it’s all happening so fast. I’m kind of wondering if it’s not just a « let’s give the gays what they want right away » as we already know Chloe had a special bond with Rachel. Maybe I would have preferred a slower burn. Even William is on it.

The ending of this episode was kind of predictable, with a question that I read a few times « Did Rachel have powers? »

I stayed away as much as possible from trailers, theories and all but I think it was a legit question to have about DeckNine implementing a supernatural element into Before the Storm or not.

Dialogs

Ugh. Okay.

First of all, the writing.

I know we are playing a 16yo who lost her dad, but some of Chloe’s lines were so cringy it made my heart ache. In the first Life is Strange Max had some « loser-Max » lines that I thought were really funny but in Before the Storm, it looks like they are trying too hard for her to be emo. We know, Chloe is a rebel. But shit.

And in another hand, some lines made me burst into laughter. The scene with Rachel where they invent people’s life was really funny, Chloe’s « flirting » skills felt real and spoke to the 16yo me, and that tabletop game session was one of the best thing I’ve seen in a while (I suspect someone with A.B initials helped write that but I obviously don’t have any proof of that.) written by Christopher Means.

…

Some prime Chloe Price as « People can eat a dick », her love of booty and of course her first mention of « hella » were mandatory but the delivery of those lines. Man.

I’m not going to compare the actors with the previous ones (not only Chloe’s voice actor changed but basically all of them -although I have doubts about Chloe’s mom but she doesn’t have the same Southern accent so…) because it wouldn’t be fair. But in my opinion Chloe’s voice actress, even though I’m sure she did the best she could, was flat. Her delivery was pretty monotone and even if sometimes I was hearing the old Chloe in the musicality of her voice, it wasn’t it a lot of the time. Rachel’s voice was a lot better than I expected for the few images I saw before, but in the end it was really a shame that seeing the characters you once knew and loved/hated meant you wouldn’t be able to hear the characters you once knew and loved/hated.

There was also another problem in the rhythm of the dialogs that were in « cutscenes » (meaning you don’t have a say in them) as there was some latence at some points, like a silence before the second part of a sentence or when someone answers to someone else. I guess it could be fixed to make it a bit snappier and more real.

Characters

Chloe Price

As I said before we meet a younger natural haired colored Chloe, and the roles are kind of reversed with the OG Lis. In Before the Storm, Chloe is the one trying to follow Rachel’s idea, trying to please Rachel, to be cool with the most popular girl in Blackwell. She’s not the alpha to Max’s beta anymore. She lacks confidence, she doesn’t have friends and it pains her.

Rachel Amber

Aaaah Rachel. Rachel Rachel Rachel. We heard so much about you. Blackwell’s most popular girl. You didn’t disappoint. Witty and sassy and sexy. Just like Chloe. It’s kind of difficult to trust her, knowing what we know from the OG Life is Strange, so I’m not giving her my heart just yet (you know, the pics in Frank’s trailer and stuff). Even though the choices were pretty easy to do as we know Chloe loves her (asshole).

Old Faces

Funny to see Nathan being bullied, Victoria being Rachel’s kiss ass, the science teacher and the skater we knew Chloe was familiar with in Lis. And Frank I hope you’ll have some beans.

New Faces

I decided that Eliot is the new Warren. Except he may be Chloe’s bf ? Ex-bf ? He left a note about a two month anniversary and Chloe said her v-card had been punched (that was hilarious btw).

I really liked Stephanie, she was really something. Can I please date her instead? Even if she crushes on Rachel.

We got a new bully, a guy named Drew who bullied Nathan (whom we learned bought his way into the team) and we have a new security guy who makes really good music.

Choices

Before the Storm works on the same mechanics as Life is Strange, meaning you have choices to make. The ones you faced in episode one seemed pretty inconsequential, but I guess the game being a prequel doesn’t give you much options to change the story. Unlike Max, it’s really nice that they don’t torture us after every choice, knowing you can’t undo them. (I’m thinking about the paint on Victoria’s face, whether you chose to take a pic or be nice to her, once you did what you did Max automatically say she should have chosen the other option.) Although you have a very easy way to go back with the « Load last save » option which is an easy way to explore other dialog options or other choices.

But it’s kind of hard when you know what you know. I chose to help Nathan, but it won’t change what will happen in Life is Strange. And I was kind of nice to David even though you can’t betray LiS Chloe as it wouldn’t make sense to have her being super nice to him and then angry in the sequel.

But honestly, the best option of the game was probably being able to pet the dog.

Life is Strange legacy

There were a lots of elements reminding me of Life is Strange (as it should) with a lot of mentions of Max that freaking broke my heart. You are able to see Chloe’s texts and Max not answering (freaking bitch) and you had some nods to the LiS plot as Rachel saying she could just leave at any given moment without telling anybody.

The soundtrack is in the line of the first one but a little bit more rock to fit Chloe’s taste, and the bonus outfit with the design we knew as Max’s was a sweet idea. Some line as a guy wanting Rachel to pose for his portfolio. (I’m obviously not going to list everything)

Chloe is also keeping a journal that she dedicated to Max because she doesn’t want to risk her not answering and damn, my heaaaart. There are a lot of little things screaming « Chloe is gaaaaay » and I honestly wish it was a little more subtle (but nice Blade Runner dream Chloe.)

It’s also difficult as a Pricefield shipper to be totally into it, because in my heart Chloe belongs with Max, someone that truly appreciates her, never used her and because we were Max. So we wanted her to be happy. Even if we knew Chloe loved Rachel. But without Rachel there wouldn’t be a blue haired Chloe Price so I have to put her needs and her young love before my own agenda.

Next episodes From the pictures presenting the two next chapter, we can assume that the girls will go on a roadtrip, probably to try to leave Arcadia Bay. And in the last pic, Chloe is wearing a flannel we all know as the “ready for the mosh pit shaka-brah” shirt and her legendary tri-bullet necklace.

So yeah, it’s a prequel to Life is Strange, from another studio, with new actors, but overall it was pretty decent and I’m looking forward to the next chapter (even though they lose points for using Comic Sans a few times.) I really got the feels at some point, I laughed, I got really emotional during the junkyard scene with the car, and even though it wasn’t perfect, I still want to protect Chloe Price at all costs. So that’s a win. Not a huge win. But it’s one. Quack - Monotony of Chloe’s voice Lots of loading points Things moving too fast between Rachel and Chloe Dialogs lacking rhythm Lines that make you want to stab yourself The graffiti are really easy to find You can’t skip forward in collector mode Too much gay (not subtle enough) Most of the small choices you make just change one line of the other choice Use of Comic Sans The time I had to pause the game because my cat was playing with the biggest spider I’ve ever seen.

Quack + Legacy of the first LiS respected (ost, graphics, nods in the storyline) Better graphics than first game but still in that same line Some hilarious lines The tabletop game You can pet the dog All the gay

[yuriplisetskysglove]

Child AU: some Dmitri things

Or Mitya for friends and family, lil’ monster for Otabek and Yuri <3 If you have read my Child AU OS, you might know that Dmitri is Yuri and Otabek’s son, whom they adopted. So here we go for a more thorough introduction of this sweet cinnamon roll, who easily is my favorite out of the whole 2nd gen (I shouldn’t be doing favorites. That’s like, a mother choosing between her children. But Dmitri is waaayyy too relatable for me not to love him) !! 

Dmitri is three when Otayuri adopt him, merely a few months after he was sent to the orphanage

His biological parents were very loving and plain adorable, but they unfortunately died in a fire. He has no memory of it though

Dmitri is a sassy, salty, trolling human being who has literally no filter

He grows up to be freakishly tall for his age and is super lanky. I’ll post his design later <3

This boy loves music more than Yuri loves pirozhki. He listens to pretty much anything and everything and also writes music, sometimes with the help of Otadad and his big bro Altair (EDIT: the Altair masterpost is here !) ! He wrote some of the pieces Ekaterina used in her programs, too

Btw, he was pretty much raised with Ekaterina and they have a sibling-like relationship. She calls him Mitya, he calls her Ekate to reference the Greek goddess Hecate and he’s the only one allowed to call her that

Viktor and Yuuri are family to him, and he loves them very dearly. He likes calling them ‘Gramps and Grandpa’, respectively, to mess with them

Of course, he really loves his dads, and would do anything for them. While Yuri often acts like a mama bear with him - a salty, sassy and angry mama bear -, Beka is more on the soft and understanding side of things (don’t worry, domestic Otayuri + children are coming 8D)

He also has a really good relationship with Altair; despite them not growing up together, they treat each other like brothers and both are extremely grateful to the other for it

He is a giant history and pop culture nerd (granted, this is kinda cliché but I guess we all love that cliché lmao), as well as a freaking Memelord

As stated in the Child AU OS, Dmitri has no interest in taking up his dads’ legacy in ice skating and he feels really bad about it. He’s always afraid he’ll end up disappointing everyone

He’s mentally gifted and very often overthinks things, which makes his relationship with others a bit difficult as he tends to doubt pretty much everything

So Dmitri is panromantic, asexual and polyamorous, and here comes the fun part

His “canon” age, the one I’ll most of the time be writing him in, is 15 years old. He’s dating three people (who know about it and are perfectly okay with it, even though they do compete to see who Dmitri loves the most out of the three of em xDD)

First is Adam Giacometti, who is Chris and Steven’s eldest son. He’s 18, so, the same as Ekaterina

Second is Camille Leroy, 17 years old. He is agender but uses masculine pronouns (I’ll develop that part later in his very own post <3) and is the child of JJ and Isabella

Last but certainly not least is Yu Li de la Iglesia, 15 years old, who is Leo and Guang Hong’s daughter ~

The first time Dmitri introduces them all to his parents, as his lovers, Yura just goes into Mother Hen Mode

“If even one of you little bitches dare hurting my beautiful son I will tame my cats so they will fucking destroy you”

“Yura, you can’t be so rude to our son’s lovers”

“YES I CAN AND I WILL BEKA”

“… How does that even work, though. These relationships I mean. Wtf Dmitri”

“Shut up Altair”

Dmitri isn’t a dog person, nor is he a cat person. He’s a squirrel person (anyone who finds that reference will win a cookie. And no @rilya-dewilder, you can’t play, I know you know what it is xDD). But cats and dogs always seem to love him (Makkachin does, and the feline army permanently crashing at the Altin-Plisetskys’ place do as well)

And I think we’re done for today 8D Of course, there’ll be a lot more of him in future posts ~