#( but I'm so tired )

[itspointydumbass]

My Problems With Veilguard

I've put up a lot of positivity, but I'm getting further in and I have. Issues. Under the cut because not everyone is gonna want to read negativity.

I don't know how to explain it, but getting further into Veilguard, I still like it, but it's just like. I don't know. It's fine. It's fun. But I don't feel satisfied the way I wanted to. There's a lot of lore I feel is missing, a lot of loose ends that aren't getting tied up because they only carried over, like, three of my choices. The more I'm playing the more I feel like I should be wearing a full clown outfit because I waited ten years for this game and the moments that make me feel something (which I've posted about - Minrathous vs. Treviso, Bellara's backstory etc.) are getting outnumbered by intense disappointment. There's a lot of backpedalling going on here and yet I still feel like I need to defend it because the problems with this game have very little to do with being "woke" like some people are claiming. I have to be 20x more invested in this game than I actually am because a lot of the comments are just wah wah it's woke and that. Isn't the problem.

The romances feel bland. I enjoy slow-burn, but it's going at an absolute glacial speed, and it's actually painful.

I barely feel connected to any of the characters. They all got these really interesting introductions, only to fall flat on their faces and be pretty bland from there on out. I think part of the reason is that you can't talk to them out of your Regularly Scheduled Cutscenes. In Inquisition and Origins, you were able to have these off-the-cuff conversations that made the world feel more real and lived-in. You could ask questions of your companions, could agree with them, could disagree with them, could gain or lose approval from your chats. In this game, outside the cutscenes, all you get is them talking to each other. Rook is a spectator to their chats, and it makes me feel disconnected from them.

I'm being handheld through certain parts of the story. Taash's story has so much potential, but at this point I feel like I'm being spoon-fed explanations. Instead of working through a character's story, I'm being told what non-binary means. Over and over again. Again, there's so much potential! Their relationship with their mother, with their culture, with their gender could have been handled so well, but so far it's falling flat.

I know not everyone likes the dialogue wheel, but I always have. Maybe it's the neurodivergence in me, but give me too many choices and I start to agonise a little. I like the fact they've brought back the DA2-style Purple!Hawke sort of responses. I like still having things from Inquisition, like the sad responses and the stoic responses and so on and so forth. Gives a bit more personality to Rook. But some of the replies are just... the same reply in different fonts? Is it just me? Like. Huh???????????

The stakes. Every time the tension gets ramped up, it somehow manages to fall flat again. I'm left with a feeling of that's it? every. Single. Time.

I don't know. I just feel very little need to continue with the game. It's been out for more than two weeks and I still haven't finished it. I've played Stardew Valley 1.6 more than I've played Veilguard. And I'm really pissed because I WANT to like it more. I want to feel more than this is fine about a series I really, really love. But I felt more connected to ANDROMEDA than this. Andromeda had issues, but it wasn't pacing issues and it wasn't nearly as. Just. Dull.

I don't know. Ten years, folks. Ten years.

[0sourpancakes0]

I can’t feel my hand but drawing this duo was worth it

[bee-unknown]

Isn't it crazy how AFAB people were raised to never trust a strange man or a group of them, and now that most of us are adults who don't trust strange men, suddenly "a man existing is not inherently threatening", like make up your fucking mind dude, are men the most dangerous creatures on earth and we should never trust one because we never know their true intentions or not?

Why the fuck are we being mocked for not going out at night or not leaving our drinks unattended when YOU told us not to?!

Whenever a woman is blamed for getting raped at a party there's at least 3 dudes going "you would never park your McLaren at a shit neighborhood yada yada it's her fault", so why the fuck are we being dramatic and overreacting for not "parking our McLaren at a shit neighborhood"? MAKE UP YOUR FUCKING MIND

[naomiknight-17]

Just got home from rehab

Exhausted

But Jill demands fetch time

Must play fetch. Must placate screaming biting kitten

[brighten-the-rainy-day]

Now that there's proof that I actually got dressed today, I can change into pj's, grab a blanket and a cup of herbal tea because this cold refuses to let me live!

[operafish]

It's just me and my weird little hobby against the world

[box-architecture]

Dream looked beautiful.

He was in his wedding dress, disheveled and covered in grass stains. His shoes were abandoned off to the side, and considering the way his ankles were rubbed raw from the heels, Sam couldn't blame him. His hair was out of it's usual knot, and his face was red from crying, but still. He was beautiful.

These things were not important right now though, so Sam carefully tucked the image away in his mind, loafing an arms length away. That was probably a safe distance. He didn't know how much space a person needed after a failed wedding, but an arms length was probably decent.

Dream smiled without humor, making no effort to protest Sam's arrival.

"Hi Sam."

"Hello." Sam greeted hesitantly. "Are you… okay?"

A snort was his reply.

They sat in silence for a few moments. It was a little awkward, but Sam fought the urge to shuffle around. He needed to be there for Dream more than he needed to be comfortable.

Finally, Dream spoke. "What do you want, Sam?"

Sam's paws gripped the ground. "I wanted to make sure you were alright after… I wanted to help."

Dream blinked. Then he chuckled, bitter and low. "Well, you came, you saw, and I'm fine. I don't need any help, but it was nice of you to ask."

Sam couldn't help himself- he shuffled a little closer.

"But your ankles-! I have a healing potion, or some food." Thoughtlessly, he pulled out a potion and popped the cork, only managing to set it against Dream's lips before a strong hand gripped his own.

"Stop." Dream commanded, and Sam froze, wide eyed. "I didn't say I would take that."

Sam felt overly aware of the callouses on Dream’s fingers, their strength in comparison to his own. He could push against them, force Dream to heal himself; he needed it, and Sam wanted to give him what he needed. But Dream had told him no, and would likely be more upset than when he had found him if Sam disobeyed.

Conflicted, Sam crumbled.

"Please?" He pleaded. "Dream, you're hurt."

Dream's grip tightened.

"What do you want in return for this?" He demanded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Why do you care so much?"

"I just-" Sam stumbled over his words for a moment, at a loss. He couldn’t say he thought about a deeper motive. There hadn't been a lot of thinking in the wake of Dream fleeing his own wedding. Just the image of his distraught face that haunted Sam even now. He wanted to wipe it away, to see Dream smile like during Sam's first week on the server. Anything to bring that cherished memory back.

"I miss you." Is what he comes up with.

"…What?"

"I miss playing together." Sam insisted, stronger now. "We were all having a really good time, and now things are getting complicated and big and we're all separated these days. I just want to have fun with you again. I miss you."

Dream was very, very still. Sam couldn't tell what he was thinking, but he kept his gaze firmly on Dream, as if by staring him down he could somehow prove he wasn't lying.

"…Okay." Dream said softly.

Sam startled, but Dream was already directing Sam's hand and tipping the potion into his mouth. Suddenly, all remaining air left his lungs as Dream began to swallow the concoction down, as if Dream was drinking away his breath itself. He reached out to cup Dream's cheek with his other hand, marveling at the way the man leaned into his touch.

Beautiful. Even now, Dream was beautiful.

As soon as the last drop passed his lips, Dream released Sam, licking his lips. Sam let the empty bottle disappear into his inventory and dropped his hand from the man's cheek. The urge to touch him again was strong, but Sam wouldn't be greedy. Dream had just escaped a failed wedding; Sam's unwanted affections would only further hurt his friend further. Sam felt his heart twist at the thought.

Dream seemed to be of a different mind.

"Thank you," he murmured, and pushed himself forward to wrap his arms around Sam.

Sam made a small, warbling noise. "Dream?"

"I missed you too." His friend mumbled. Hesitantly, Sam hugged him back. He let his creeper paws stretch out as well to hold Dream's waist, and buried his nose in fluffy blond hair.

The world felt heavenly. He couldn't remember the last time he had gotten a hug, much less from Dream. It was soft and safe, and his hair smelled like the world after a rainstorm. He nuzzled Dream's nape and tried very hard not to knead holes into the already ruined dress.

He could feel the smallest kiss against his neck. He shivered. Another kiss, slightly higher. A tiny warble left his throat. Sam's claws dug deep into the waist of the skirt, causing Dream to wince and draw back, away from their hug and away from Sam.

"I'm sorry!" Sam panicked, sheathing his claws and forcing himself to keep his paws flat on the ground. "I didn't mean to- please-"

Desperate, he peppered Dream with kisses, replacing the look of pain with something far sweeter that melted him and tugged painfully at his heart in turn. He made sure to leave kisses everywhere, until Dream's face was flushed and red.

"Sam." Dream tried to speak, but Sam tilted his head to press kisses down his throat, sucking in a mark for good measure. He would make sure Dream felt properly worshipped. His trust wasn't misplaced in Sam.

As a heady fervor settled over his mind, he let his teeth graze over the flesh before biting down and sucking hard. Dream keened, high pitched and wanton. The surge of arousal heated him to the core, and Sam's cock began to slide out of it's sheath. He grinded down to relieve some of the pressure.

"Sam, wait." Dream stuttered out a breath. Sam whined at him and grinded down more. He needed to make Dream feel good. He needed-

He found himself forced on his back, the sky a gorgeous blue to compliment the gold of Dream's hair as the man straddled his waist. His pupils were dialted, and his hands had Sam's wrists in an iron grip, so close to handholding that Sam's cock twitched at the thought.

"I told you to wait." Dream scolded, but there was clear amusement on his face, and Sam couldn't help but preen a little; Dream looked so pretty when he was happy.

"Are you going to listen now?" Dream leaned forward to press their lips together.

"Yes." Sam breathed. He would. Unless there was a reason to not. Anything for Dream.

"Good boy." Dream murmured, and Sam's hips jolted. Dream laughed and kissed him again.

"I want you inside me."

Oh. Oh that sounded wonderful. Sam moaned as Dream released his hands to wiggle down his creeper torso. His paws reached out to hold him steady, and his partner paused. He reached out to grip one and placed a small kiss on his pawpad.

"Thank you." He said softly. There was a shade of something sad in his expression. It wasn't right. Sam needed to fix it. With carefully sheathed claws, Sam tugged his partner forward to rest on the length of his fluffy torso, cuddling him close.

"This is kind of making it hard for you to fuck me, Sam." He laughed with a little bit of wheeze. That was good. That was better. Dream should be laughing. Dream should be brighter than the sun, always.

"I like holding you." He told him, unashamed. "You look good like this."

Dream laughed more, although the flush on his cheeks showed he wasn't entirely unaffected.

"You can hold me after I sit on your cock." He pushed himself up again. "Do you have another pot on you?"

Sam produced one, though anxiety suddenly fluttered in his heart. "Are you still hurt?"

"What? No." Dream scoffed, all smiles and affection. "Have you ever heard of lube, Sam?"

"I just had to be sure!" Sam protested. Dream snickered at him, and then he was sliding his skirt up to reveal the lace underneath, and then any words died on Sam's tongue.

"That's what I thought." Dream murmured.

[londondziban]

my brain throwing out banger after banger of fic prompt ideas but simultaneously having ZERO motivation to write is cruel. please I just want to write about gay people from the 80s being in love, is that too much to ask?

[garrettwrites]

The meme of "finding absurd excuses not to go to a social outing" is fun but honestly I could be burning with fever and still go unless explicitly told not to, because having shit cancelled on you for the smallest of reasons really makes you ponder why you even try to make plans. Why you even bother trying to please your friends and make something work for all of you.

[blanketforcas]

it's so weird and very frustrating to be in a situation where you know you have grown as a person but you're just not in a place/position where you're able to thrive, so it feels like you're constantly gaslighting yourself

[headcarsbendlng]

i ended my own birthday party after like an hour and one drink. when matty wrote frail state of mind he wrote it about me

[physicsgoblin]

The problem with taking time off work is that it doesn't so much "refresh me" or "prevent burnout" as much as make me realize how much I hate my job

[void-dragon4]

tired of how ecology is seen as biology's useless cousin because it won't get you into med school. ecology is so fucking important but the only people who seem to recognize that are fellow ecologists.

when i do a basic surface level search for ecology jobs all that comes up are flavors of park ranger, educator, and researcher. which completely ignores the policy/engineering sides of ecology but also makes those other jobs seem so insignificant when I've seen people have some of the most fulfilling and impactful careers working in museum collections or being professors.

it's not environmental studies either. sure environmental studies is incorporated but ecology is an individual scientific field that overlaps a lot with biology, genetics, chemistry, geology, hydrology, and so much more. it is the science of connections.

in conclusion fuck you and shut the fuck up ecology is underrated and yall better give it more respect as a science.

[kirk-goes-to-gallifrey]

.

[frikatilhi]

I am so tired