#I wanna play the world quest but I also don’t want to

[chubbybunny25]

Hello, I hope you’re doing well :D

Recently I was thinking about the “X falls first, Y falls harder” trope with specific regard to Percy and Nico and idk in my head you’d be the best at playing around with and breathing life into it so here goes:

Nico’s confession and how he does it is still canon (in vibe, maybe not word choice), Percy ponders that confession, breaks up with Annabeth (for reasons separate to the confession), builds a friendship with Nico, falls SO hard, but Nico has been trying so hard to get over this man at this point and put so much into feeling Platonic Thingz™️ only that his response to Percy’s confessions and advances is denials and soft rejections—dodging what look like one on one dates, “I love you” R being met with “I love you” P, and, when Percy outright says “I wanna be with you” Nico is like “Ummm… no you don’t?”—but eventually Nico confronts himself and they wind up very happily together?

Yeah :)

Hello! The “X falls first, Y falls harder” trope is definitely perfect for Percy/Nico. However, as sweet as it sounds, there's also a lot of potential for drama and.. angst.

One of the things that us, percico shippers usually love to delve on is the interactions between Percy and Nico in canon (tbotl is such a percico book 😏), hence their chemistry. But also, that's the thing!—they had so much history it would definitely take time (years, maybe) to fully unpack everything and realistically get them together.

This might be longer than I'd intend it to, so I'm putting more details under the cut:

It is undeniable that Nico indeed fell first. But what makes Percy fall harder? It's time—the time that has passed since Percy knew Nico (but Percy has to reflect on that) and the time Percy would only ever have after everything is over (outside quests and saving the world). Inevitably, it's also the same time that wasn't allowed for perc*beth to have (which might be the reason why Percy and Annabeth haven't fallen hard enough for each other, but that's for another time).

Going back to what makes it angsty.. What if Nico can't wait that long? What if by the time Percy wanted to be with him, Nico had already accepted that they're not meant to like each other that way?

As for Nico's self-confrontation, ig we're taking the hoo!Nico route where Percy hasn't done enough to be his friend (which again, Percy didn't have the time). Some of the reasons why Nico would dodge Percy's advances are 1) Nico thinks Percy is just being too kind to him; 2) Nico thinks Percy is still guilty and would want to take responsibility for how Nico turned out to be; or 3) Nico enjoys their friendship too much and thinks that being "more" would destroy everything between them.

I took the "mild" route in one of my fics because I gave Nico time to go away and Percy stepped back. But with your ask, if Nico and Percy are always together, and Percy is more.. forward, I think no matter what Percy does, it wouldn't be enough to make Nico believe that Percy loves him.

Again, the waiting time here is crucial. Yet we know that patience is never Percy Jackson's strong suit. So Percy just.. snaps, either by outright kissing Nico or (adding drama here) yelling something along the lines of "I love you, Nico! Why wouldn't you believe me?" Going from here, there has to be an outside intervention (e.g. Hazel or Jason or Reyna or even Persephone if Nico runs to the Underworld)—anyone or anything that would make Nico realize that he and Percy actually can have the chance.

It ends maybe with Percy finding Nico, Percy saying "Fine, if you don't believe me, just never leave like that again. I'd take what you'll give me." And that's when Nico sees himself in Percy—that somehow cements his belief, that maybe, Percy Jackson has fallen for him, too.

Whoo.. I hope you're ready for such a ramble, because I can never stfu about them. Thanks for the wonderful ask 💀🌊

[ordinaryschmuck]

With Doomsday/Secret Wars rumored to lead to an END of the main MCU timeline and beginning a sort of soft core reboot for the franchise, I thought that I’d make a little list of all the ideas and unresolved storylines that the MCU introduced and proceeded to do fuck all with. And likely won’t do anything if that soft reboot is for real. Feel free to add to it if I’ve missed anything.

Mordo gaining a vendetta towards Strange and all sorcerers. Introduced in 2016 through an end credit scene and is barely touched upon outside of a throwaway line from Strange in Multiverse of Madness.

Scorpion wanting to kill Spider-Man. Introduced in a post credit scene where he wants to know who Spider-Man is to get payback for messing HIM up and his weapon’s deal. COULD be resolved in Spider-Man 4, but rumors surrounding THAT movie make it unlikely. At least Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man TRIED to scratch that itch.

Vulture knowing who Spider-Man is. Introduced in the same movie and likely will NEVER come into play again considering how Sony shoved him into Morbius’ universe to form a Sinister Six to fight a Spider-Man THAT DOESN’T EXIST YET! FUCK!

Luke Cage being the biggest crime boss in Harlem. Yeah, we’re going into Defenders territory. All that stuff is considered canon again, unlike Agents of SHIELD, Inhumans, and Runaways (RIP in peace). And in 2018, Luke Cage’s second season ended with him becoming a crime boss in Harlem so can control crime and prevent his neighborhood from turning into the Wild West. This WAS gonna play a role in Season Three, only for the show to get cancelled and for Luke Cage to YET make a return due to Disney prioritizing Daredevil making a return over any other Defender (Which is somewhat valid). This idea COULD make a return through Daredevil: Born Again, but it’s unlikely.

Speaking of ideas that were scrapped due to forced cancellations, let’s just go over all the crazy shit that happened in Iron Fist’s final season. Danny gave his powers to Colleen Wing so SHE can be a better vigilante, Joy Meechum is practically held hostage by a mercenary with multiple personalities, and Danny Rand is traveling the world to learn more about the Iron Fist and SOMEHOW got pistols that have the power of the fist instilled into them! That’s a lot of stuff to leave alone, and showed just how overconfident the writers thought they were getting a Season Three, as the show also got cancelled in 2018. This is a choice made for the better, though, as NO ONE liked Iron Fist. I doubt anyone even tolerated it. However, it means that NONE of these plot lines will likely continue as the show and character were so hated that Disney seems to be erasing the character from the MCU. His show isn’t deleted—YET—but if the rumors are true that Shang-Chi 2 will introduce that Iron Fist from Marvel Rivals, it’s not a good sign for Mr. Rand. Supposedly the mercenary with multiple personalities is a Daredevil villain and Colleen Wing being a vigilante could put her in Kingpin’s Vigilante Taskforce’s crosshairs. Meaning that they MIGHT make appearances or vague references in Daredevil: Born Again, but that’s a VERY BIG might with no potential follow through.

And that’s just the scraps leftover from what you could call the Infinity Saga. You wanna know how much the Multiverse Saga introduced and left alone? Let’s just preface this by saying too much…

White Vision has still fucked off since WandaVision. That happened in 2021, it is now 2025, AND WE STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM! He MIGHT have a TV show coming out and leaked concept art of Doomsday shows that he MIGHT be just chilling with Star Lord as they jerk off in Grandpa Quill’s basement. And that’s all well and good, but Vision Quest doesn’t exist until a TRAILER does, and concept art is nothing but that: A CONCEPT. Ideas changed all the time, and considering how Marvel THRIVES on surprising people, it’s entirely possible that they’re moving away from that idea. Again, it doesn’t exist until it actually HAPPENS, and it has yet to frickin’ do so.

Shang-Chi’s ten rings summoned SOMETHING. It was implied that he summoned Kang, because they were still setting him up as the next Thanos and some symbols of Kang’s tech looked similar to the rings. However, with Marvel steering AWAY from Kang the Conqueror due to…SEVERAL reasons, that now means Shang-Chi sent a message to someone ELSE. Could be Doom, could be some secret villain in Shang-Chi 2. Who knows. This happened in 2021, and they still haven’t given an answer.

Also, Shang-Chi’s sister restarted her father’s criminal empire. This one more gender inclusive. And we STILL don’t know what came of that and it’s likely this idea will go the way of Baron Mordo’s vendetta. SHANG-CHI WAS SUCH A GOOD MOVIE! WHY DO YOU IGNORE IT, FIEGE?!

Arishem YOINKED The Eternals, threatening to give Earth a final judgment…Yeah, remember that? People have been throwing fit after fit since 2021 that NO MOVIE OR SHOW has mentioned that the Earth was an egg for a Celestial. Yet no one seems to care that The Eternals were pulled away to their home planet to represent Earth and explain if it’s worthy to live while a Celestial dies. Four years and still no response. I guess Marvel’s saving that for a bigger event than Doctor Doom erasing the Multiverse.

Also, Thanos has a brother. Yeah, remember him? He’s played by one of the twinks from One Direction and has YET to become relevant after showing up with Patton Oswalt to team up with the remaining Eternals.

And let’s not forget Circe’s boy toy. REMEMBER HIM?! He was apparently going to be Black Knight, going to grab his ancestral sword before being interrupted by the voice of Blade. And Blade, by the way, has yet to have a movie of his own because Kevin Fiege still doesn’t know HOW TO PRODUCE A MOVIE ABOUT A MAN WHO KILLS VAMPIRES! IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE! JUST HAVE SWORDS, GUNS, AND BUCKETS OF BLOOD, YOU IGNORANT CUCKS…What was I talking about? Oh, yeah, Black Knight. He was GONNA be a character, but didn’t because not a lot of people liked Eternals and Marvel mostly distanced itself from that movie ever since. Man, they REALLY had a lot of faith in this film with how much sequel baiting they did, huh?

A bit of Venom was left behind in the 616 universe. Happened well over three years ago when Eddy Brock was teleported there during his vacation in Mexico. How did that happen when Doctor Strange’s spell brought over people who knew Peter Parker is Spider-Man? No idea, has yet to be explained. Same going for what happened to that bit of Venom. As far as we know, it’s still crawling from Mexico to New York. Whether or not it gets there for Spider-Man 4 or gets COMPLETELY erased by Doomsday, it’s anyone’s guess at this point.

Kingpin escaped jail. And this is less of a resolved storyline and more like an unanswered question that has been left ignored since Hawkeye in 2021. Given how it’s a HUGE thing that Daredevil chose to send Kingpin to jail instead of killing him, it doesn’t make sense that him AND his wife are free to roam once again. Granted, this was during that weird phase where Marvel was trying to give Daredevil and his cast a soft reboot and completely ignore the original TV show in its entirety. And those pesky execs would have gotten away with it too, if not for fan outcry and Fiege forcing a creative overhaul on Daredevil: Born Again. Still, it leaves how Kingpin got out of jail a mystery, and so far it feels like a disservice to Matt’s arc in Season Three. I imagine Daredevil: Born Again will address this EVENTUALLY (Because they kind of HAVE to), maybe through a flashback or something. Until then, this is unresolved.

Moon Knight has a third alter. One that’s more violent and apparently more willing to do what Konshu says. This one particularly pisses me off because the show put SO MUCH mystery behind who is, to the point where he stopped the big bad of the season OFF SCREEN to make fans excited when Jake’s name is finally referenced. So the fact that they never addressed this big part of the character because Moon Knight has yet to OFFICIALLY return since 2022 is no short of annoying. I know the character didn’t sell well with Moon Knight fans (And rightfully so, from what I’ve heard), but you can’t beg fans to like this character for six weeks and force them to forget him for three years at this point.

Doctor Strange is cursed by the Darkhold. And I don’t know what’s more insulting. The fact that the MCU has yet to bring up this shocking reveal at the end of his movie, or that the film immediately brushed aside the surprise with a post credit scene that shows he already got over it. Oh, and let’s not forget…

Doctor Strange is teaming up with Clea. Remember that? She showed up, tore a hole into the Dark Dimension, and Doctor Strange got ready to join her as they jumped in for Doctor Strange 3. OR Doomsday. Anyone’s guess at this point…Starting to notice that a lot of these are just sequel baiting moments with no payoff, yet.

Thor is the adoptive father of the living embodiment of Eternity. I know a lot of people want to just FORGET Thor: Love and Thunder, but that’s a big thing. And because a certain director went too silly with the film, it forced Marvel to PROMISE Thor 5 will be more serious. And I’m not sure if Thor’s plucky daughter will fit a serious tone. Nor do I think the Russos will have time to address her existence in Doomsday. It’s a “Wait and see” situation.

Same thing for whether or not Thor 5 will remember that Zeus sent Hercules to vanquish Thor in his honor. Surprisingly, Hercules is a HUGE character in Marvel’s lineup and often a rival to Thor, sometimes being playful or downright antagonist depending on the story. So for Love and Thunder to tease him and the greater MCU to forget him is…a disservice, to say the least.

Ms. Marvel is a mutant. A change so huge that the comics bent over backwards to make her a mutant too. So it’s a little infuriating that the MCU just let this happen and did NOTHING yet to justify it. Maybe when they finally introduce the X-Men, but we’re gonna have to hope Ms. Marvel survives the soft reboot, considering Kevin says they’ll show up AFTER Secret Wars…

Hulk has a son. It’s revealed in the She-Hulk series and the character explicitly told Kevin to save the background info on that for a movie…Still waiting on that movie, by the way. For now, Skarr’s just chilling with She-Hulk in the corner of the MCU Kevin wants you to forget because they made the Neckbeards angry and spent $2 million on a show that depended on making a CGI character look realistic (She never did).

And let’s not forget that Wong busted Abomination out of prison. Guess he’ll be chilling in the Sanctum Santorum for another thirteen to fourteen years before Marvel decides to use that character again.

Oh, and T’Challa had a son too. And I looked at that little bastard, and my mind, cynically, thought that he’s going to be an INVESTMENT for Marvel. They’re going to wait for him to grow up and make HIM the next Black Panther. We just got a LOT more waiting to do. Assuming Marvel chooses to remember HIM.

THE COUNCIL OF KANGS! An idea that Marvel is choosing to ACTIVELY ignore! And not because of the controversy surrounding Kang’s actor. They could have easily recasted him or kept him on and ignored it altogether. I mean, they still keep the guy who plays Ms. Marvel’s dad, why not Majors? No, the only reason they’re ignoring Kang altogether is because Quantumania failed critics and audiences because some idiot thought it was okay to mix an Ant-Man movie and it’s screwball comedy with a sci-fi epic that sets up the next big bad. All while that big bad loses to Ant-Man, Wasp, and their army of giant ants…Who could have guessed that people would hate that. In any case, it forces Marvel to steer clear of the Council of Kangs, being vague about whether or not they’ll address them again, but no official promises yet.

Rhodey MIGHT have been a Skrull since Civil War. Maybe. We have NO idea when he got abducted, but him in a hospital gown heavily implied that they scooped him up when they were doing surgery on his spine. And that COULD be an interesting idea if done right. The problem is that we don’t know if it WILL because Secret Invasion was the absolute BOTTOM OF THE BARREL for the MCU, being so bad that I can guarantee that Marvel will just pretend that the whole thing never happened. I’m calling it, when Armor Wars happens (Whenever the fuck THAT will be), they will never address Rhodey being a Skrull, however long he might have been one.

OH! And, of course, there’s also the fact that there currently exists THE MOST powerful being in the MCU. Yes, let’s not forget that Skrull teenager with the power of every single hero and minion that fought in the final battle in Endgame. Or how she got those powers through bullshit science and the DNA of all those characters inexplicably existing in a single bottle…Have I mentioned that Secret Invasion sucks and is still outdone by an animated series FOR CHILDREN?!

Ms. Marvel is trying to form the Young Avengers—I mean Champions. FUCK! This is going to lead into a TV show and will likely be built up in the background of other shows and movies. Most likely won’t get wrapped up before Doomsday, so let’s hope that it survives the soft reboot in tact.

Monica Rambeau is trapped in another universe. Though, in fairness, given certain casting announcements, it’s very likely this will get addressed in Doomsday. It’s speculation, however, so don’t hold your breath. But for now, it’s still unresolved.

Billy is going to find his brother Tommy after putting his soul in another dead boy with the help of his mother’s grouchy, lesbian neighbor. This will either lead into Champions or another mini-series that will act as WandaVision and Agatha All Along’s spiritual successor. Who knows and who cares as long as it’s GOOD.

And that’s about all I can remember or know about. It is the end of March as I type this, Daredevil: Born Again has YET to finish its first season, and I still haven’t watched Captain America: Brave New World. Regardless, from what I have seen (And sometimes heard), Marvel is starting to be a little SMARTER with its sequel baiting. Every BIG set up is either saved for movies that are going to almost immediately lead into the next big story, and are sometimes saved for quick, fun films. Plus, for the most part, they seem more focused on keeping things a little more self-contained, keeping their attention on making something good for the MOMENT instead of planning for the future.

BUUUUUUUT…look at this list. LOOK AT WHAT’S left! There are a lot of loose ends left untied and so many questions unanswered and the MCU is STILL moving forward to reboot the whole thing because the Multiverse turned out to be a bad investment (It WASN’T. It was just bad PRACTICE). The Infinity Saga left its fair share of stones unturned, but not to THIS great extent. Even if you argue that some things are worth forgetting, look at how much they want you to just let go and move on. Marvel spent too much time introducing new characters and ideas, offered next to NO follow through, and the fans end up suffering because of it.

All I can say is…PLEASE don’t let us down with the next saga.

[yeetmania]

hi! i've been following you for awhile and i like your video game posts. i bought a switch last year - first console i ever bought, i was gifted a gamecube when i was a CHILD - so im enjoying having something that's fun just for me. i like "cozy" games i guess but with a good story. games with combat are A Lot for me, i get overwhelmed. or even platformers where it's unforgiving you die and go back wayyy earlier instead of right before you die. anyway, im messaging because of your stardew valley post "game of all time" - what is it about it that makes it so good? i have been playing cozy grove which I LOVE and just finished alba's wildlife adventure which was soooooo cute. also mario kart is a fave of mine, but super mario odyssey and wonder i sometimes find challenging lol (same with 3d world + bowsers fury which i also recently bought). do you have a list of your top switch games for chill people like me? are there open world games that give you quests but still the choice of what quest you want to do depending on your mood. wylde flowers is a recent one Ive started playing that I enjoy because its unlimited inventory, and the story has already made me cry. tldr: is stardew valley something i should get even tho cozy grove has the same idea (what am i missing out on from SV?)? is animal crossing worth the hype (never played it and that price point is uh)? do you have any fave games of yours that aren't stressful? thanks in advance! 💜

hiii, love!! Awe, thank you!! 🥹 for me, video games have such a special place in my heart, so anytime I can showcase that side of myself on this blog, it makes me really happy!

I really wanna answer this in the most effective way possible! I’m gonna break your ask down into various bits and answer those bits to the best of my ability, and because there’s a lot I wanna say!! 🤭

i bought a switch last year - first console i ever bought, i was gifted a gamecube when i was a CHILD - so im enjoying having something that's fun just for me. i like "cozy" games i guess but with a good story. games with combat are A Lot for me, i get overwhelmed. or even platformers where it's unforgiving you die and go back wayyy earlier instead of right before you die.

i have been playing cozy grove which I LOVE and just finished alba's wildlife adventure which was soooooo cute. also mario kart is a fave of mine, but super mario odyssey and wonder i sometimes find challenging lol (same with 3d world + bowsers fury which i also recently bought).

Love to hear that you got a switch for yourself! It’s a very easy console to pick up and fall in love with!! I’ve been playing games from the moment I was able to hold a Gameboy SE and play a very grainy “That’s So Raven” game from the mid 2000s. From playing “Smackdown vs. Raw 2006” on the PS2, to being introduced to my first Kirby game on my DSi, to putting in an ungodly amount of hours on my island in “Animal Crossing: New Hoizons,” it’s been… a time lol.

In terms of games where the combat can be overwhelming, that’s valid! I enjoy watching others play the types of genres I wouldn’t see myself playing just because I don’t think I’d be any good at them, but enjoy the stories they portray (horror, action/adventure, heavy combat games, etc.). I would classify myself as a “time management/farming” type of gamer!! I was obsessed with games like “Diner Dash,” “Cooking Mama,” this one farming game that was on an app that my mom and I would play together where you tended a farm and stuff like that (kinda like “FarmVille,” I believe 😅) and the list goes on!!

anyway, im messaging because of your stardew valley post "game of all time" - what is it about it that makes it so good?

I didn’t jump right away on the “Stardew Valley” train until junior year of college when my roommate showed it to me on her computer! Because I like time management and farming, like I mentioned before, I just knew it was something up my alley, like- who doesn’t want to tend to a farm while also being able to forage/mine for materials and battling little monsters (not very battle intensive tbh) and romancing various people who live in the town of Stardew valley? While there are many games now that fall under this genre now, Stardew Valley was my intro. back into the cozy game sphere!! 😅

While it is a cozy game, the only thing I kinda find stressful about it is how fast the days move. If you’re all the way across town before the clock strikes at 2am, you’ll pass out automatically and you can loose materials you’ve gathers if you’re not careful and pass out in the mines. But other than that, people like it because of its charm. The different characters that you can befriend/romance have interesting stories (especially with the update that came out around this time last year on PC where they extended a lot of newer character interactions, materials, things to craft and cook, events, etc.).

“What is it about it that makes it so good?” It depends on who you ask, I suppose. Other than for its aesthetic, It’s just all around a pleasing game (while not perfect cause no game is, but very enjoyable nonetheless). It’s also opened my eyes to try new games who happen to share the same kinda pixelated, simple style!!

Then again, I tag a lot of games as “game of all time” because of their general popularity overall, as well as how the story and gameplay mesh with one another in a pleasing way to me! 😅

do you have a list of your top switch games for chill people like me? are there open world games that give you quests but still the choice of what quest you want to do depending on your mood. wylde flowers is a recent one Ive started playing that I enjoy because its unlimited inventory, and the story has already made me cry. tldr: is stardew valley something i should get even tho cozy grove has the same idea (what am i missing out on from SV?)?

Oh, most definitely!! I’d be honored to list off some games that I’ve enjoyed and ones that I’ve heard of or that are coming soon (since the most recent Nintendo Direct was today!!) that I’m looking forward to playing at some point!! All of the games mentioned are either already on or going to be available on the switch at some point!!

(Bit of a disclaimer: If I’m being quite honest, I haven’t sat and properly played and finished a game since “Princess Peach Showtime,” so I may not be very 100% familiar with the games you’re currently playing atm just because it’s been so long since I’ve picked up a game to play. I’ve heard of “Cozy Grove” and “Alba’s Wildlife Adventure,” but never played them myself! I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself with the games though!!)

In terms of cozy games with an open world concept that are on the switch, these are some that come to mind:

Faefarm: it’s very much like any other farm-simulator RPG where you can customize your home, farm, outfits, etc. centered around this enchanted island. Very cute artstyle and based on the games you’re currently playing , I think you’d enjoy it!! Not too sure if there’s combat involved unfortunately.

Potion Permit: It’s very similar to Stardew Valley (or any cozy game based in a town) in the sense of being able to grow your relationships with the people in the town you move to. You play as an alchemist in a part of the world where they don’t believe in the power of alchemy to cure the ill. It is open world in the sense of going to different parts of said world to find particular ingredients for the potions you make in order to help out the people in the town through missions. Just another one where the art style is super cute and, while there is combat, isn’t very difficult once you get the hang of it!!

Spiritfarer: the definition of a cozy game, even when dealing with themes of death and the afterlife. I have big regrets of never finishing this game, but I recommend it wholeheartedly!! So so so good!! The characters you meet can range from being super friendly to very sassy and you can customize the placemat of their homes on your little ship that you get around the different worlds in (that makes sense when you play the game lol).

Bear and Breakfast: it’s exactly as it sounds. You’re a bear. And you manage various bed and breakfast establishments in an open world game lol. The controls on the switch are a little wonky in terms of opening/closing certain menus, but not a bad game!! Very funny and cozy!!

These are games that were announced in todays Nintendo Direct that I’m looking forward to just based on overall casualness:

Witchbrook

The Wandering Village

Rhythm Heaven: Groove

Rift of the NeceoDancer

These are games I’ve enjoyed that, while combat does play a big part in how they are played, are very story driven and thought I’d mention:

Sea of Stars: It’s a turn-based RPG where you play as one of two protagonists (referred to as the “Children of the Solstice:” one being the child of the sun and the other the child of the moon) who, when powers combined, produce “Eclipse Magic” -> that being the magic that is used to defeat the big bad in the end. That’s just a general description of the game, but the art style is just so cute and as an enjoyer of the Pokémon games, I love the turn-based aspect of it!! It’s not very open world in the sense of a “Cozy Grove,” but you are able to travel back and forth between worlds. The combat is easy enough to understand one you get the hang of it! It’s not quick-time, so you have time to think about what your next move is.

Octopath Traveler 2: It’s a story heavy turn-based RPG where there are 8 different protagonists to choose from and they all have an intertwining story within one another!! It’s open roam at parts and takes a little thinking in terms of what you should be doing next! But again, the art style is just beautiful to me and worth mentioning!!

is animal crossing worth the hype (never played it and that price point is uh)? do you have any fave games of yours that aren't stressful? thanks in advance! 💜

My proper introduction to Animal Crossing was “New Horizons.” I’ve since played the iterations before it, like “New Leaf” for the 3DS. Is it a very fun game? Yes!! Do I think it’s worth the price? Eh lol. It’s hard to see games as successful as “New Horizons” ever go down in price on the eshop. I wouldn’t recommend paying full price for it (as someone who did.. lol). If you’re able to find a physical copy out in, like, a local gaming store that’s used, that would be your better bet if you are interested in playing it!!

Also, about a year ago, I found this YouTuber who talks about cozy games (older, newer, and the up and coming!!) that I recommend watching to be in the know when it comes to all things cozy (or just any of them when you search “cozy games). That’s how I found most of these games.

This was a really long response, but I hope you find some enjoyment in my ramblings and, hopefully, an enjoyable game to play in the future!! 💕✨

[aprhampshire]

I have noticed I’ve been playing Sky a bit less. Or rather missing out on CR (Candle Runs).

Not sure if I’m the only one in this group, but I do kinda enjoy the grind of Candles and collecting cosmetics, new or old. Specifically the “Running” in candle running. I love finding new ways to navigate the world of Sky to get quicker and more efficient. And it’s also a nice break from the rest of the world. 30 minutes to an hour of just, “Speed. I am speed.”

Work, School, and a probably slight addiction to Overwatch (again, probably will last a few more weeks). Are all reasons for me missing out days, but I don’t really mind. I know someday I’ll stop playing this game, someday I’ll have other things to do. I’m at a point to where the newest cosmetics don’t really catch my eye or isn’t my style, like I’m happy with how rad (or silly) my Skykid looks :).

I’m happy with where I’m at now.

…

BUT AM I LEAVING, HAHA HECK NO!

Season of Duet is still here, New Traveling Spirit, and I still have those constellations to finish >:D!

Kind of wanted to leave my thoughts somewhere, if you’ve made it to this point, rad, and if not, still rad, I hope you enjoyed the picture! Still have 3 more quests to finish, so I’ll be sure to set some time aside for that :). I have a few more thoughts, but I wanna get those flushed out a bit more. Thank you all, and as always, more Sky: COTL soon!

[seaglassmelody]

I’m trying to turn my frustration with bad Veilguard takes into positivity. But man is it hard when I just wanna argue. But here’s an attempt.

Today I’m thinking about the romances and how they’re executed.

(Under the cut because this got way longer than I intended)

I’m going to couch this in the context of the fact that I am currently replaying the entire series. I just started Inquisition this weekend after playing DAO and DA2.

I cannot comment on the DAI romances because I’m still in Haven, but in my opinion the DAO and DA2 romances are incredibly heavy-handed. They often boil down to “I have trauma-dumped on you and you do not find me violently repulsive so I will shove my tongue down your throat now”.

ESPECIALLY Anders and Fenris. Zevran doesn’t even wait to trauma dump on you, though I understand the difference between having sex with him initially and building up the romance (after he’s trauma-dumped on you).

I’m not COMPLAINING about this fact- the games are shorter, older, and iterating on the roleplaying systems that get us to Veilguard. But you can see the age that these games have, and the change in cultural attitudes (honestly, the amount of “but I’m a man??” In the m/m romance with Zevran…)

Versus in Veilguard, I love that a lot of the “flirt” options come out as subtle, personal statements that aren’t coming on too strong and express a deeper interest in the person as an individual. It makes things build slower and more purposefully.

But I also love that there’s a range! Lace’s flirting is sweet and a little awkward. Davrin’s is more obvious but still more natural than Hawke and Fenris’s flat-out “you’re very hot” conversations. Lucanis’s flirting is very much rooted in showing him that you aren’t scared OF him but FOR him, which is important to him!

And the biggest thing- romance or not, I love that a lot of the companion quests are just “hey go to this place and hang out with me.” Rook actually gets to build friendships, see characters outside of crisis situations, and have some moments of peace in between saving the world. That breathing room between plot points is very valuable to me- it’s fertile ground for fanfic and character building! And you don’t have to find a way to cram it in between crises because the game shows you it exists.

I guess for some people this approach doesn’t work (I can’t really imagine why not, but maybe that’s the aroace talking) but for me it’s incredible. The team is a TEAM and the romances feel like actual adults navigating relationships.

For a more contentious point, I really cannot get on board with the idea that the romances are “lacking” compared to the older games. DAO is basically throwing gifts at companions, a romance confirming conversation, minimum one sex scene, and then some endgame dialogue. Even then, by the time I got to Zevran’s “uhoh I guess I love you” convo I did feel like it was earned. But you don’t get a lot of individual romance time and you REALLY gotta dig into those dialogue trees to get places. It’s not very natural-feeling.

Now DA2? It HAS to be nostalgia goggles. I LOVED Fenris’s romance when I first played the game (Fenris was the reason I started playing DA at all) and replaying it was honestly a letdown?? He’s so angry through the entire game It’s very difficult to make sense of why he would love Hawke so much if they’re a mage supporter. The scene where he leaves after they sleep together in Act 2 was sad, but it was impossible to react in the way I wanted (which was understanding sympathy, of course a personal relationship is overwhelming when you’re suddenly getting over amnesia!). Getting back together immediately after killing Danarius feels rushed.

At this point I’m just rambling but I can’t help but feel that people are using 10-15 years of fanfic and daydreams to fill in gaps for the older games and when they’ve only sat with 1 playthrough of Veilguard for 2 months and spent most of that time angry about it, I can’t help but feel they’re missing the beauty of the execution of natural-feeling adult relationships.

[timecma]

2 things! 1-Do you play HSR (Honkai Star Rail) and 2-No pressure or anything but when is your story coming back?

I played a bit of HSR but I’m nowhere near as far along in it or as active on it as I am in Genshin. The last character I got was Boothill lol (I live laugh love Boothill).

It still astounds me that people actually enjoyed reading my story haha. I know it’s been a while, but with school and everything it’s been hard to even find time to write. I think I mentioned before that I’m kind of revamping literally everything—so I also have to find the time to draw the chapter art. So many characters are being scrapped/added/changed to help facilitate the storyline a bit better without me having to be so long-winded with it. The problem I was having was I would just write and write and write without really taking the story anywhere. I want to have a bit more structure to it so that it’s easier for me to get chapters published and easier to read as a whole. But, I won’t be able to do anything until school gives me a break ���

It takes a bit of time to plan out a story lol. I also don’t wanna be like Chris Colfer and have inaccurate timelines and stuff 😔

I promise it won’t be away forever, but since you’ve been so patient, I’ll give you a couple things you can expect in the new version:

1. Further fleshed out backstory lore for Aurelia (and her mother 😒) along with her and Cyrus’s father (people who know about him seem to like him a lot don’t worry)! But why does Aurelia have light skin and gold hair if her biological father has dark skin and blue hair?? Something’s going on there…

2. More Negative content in general since he seems to be a fan-favorite. He also gets a new underling/sidekick! And when I say more Negative content, I also mean his role in other worlds and what that has to do with his identity and his overall plan. OoooOoOoOoOooOo….

3. Actual Demon King stuff (and he’s updated too) 👀

4. Cyrus’s home world is almost fully fleshed out so seeing some of that too! Probably a lot of that too… I might include a small fetch quest there to give you all a tour. I plan on making a completely separate story for that world (that does not have Cyrus as a main character), but that’s A LONG WAYS AWAY and not fanfiction so 😔

5. Some new characters who are projected to be fan-favorites too. Such as Vincent. Y’all might know who Vincent is, but, if you don’t, trust me you will. We will also be exploring more of my fanon backstory for the Demon King and how it connects to Xanthous as his reincarnation. The Demon King himself WILL be an added character (I’m so excited to actually do a art piece of his new design)! This is gonna be fun.

Here’s some questions that hint at lore drops:

What the heck is going on with Aurelia and why does her mother scare me?? Why does Indicum work with her but seem to be on Cyrus’s side?? Is it maybe because Aurelia’s true intentions are not what we think they are??? 😦

What is Negative’s secret ambition that makes him side with Aurelia? Why do his hands always hurt?? Why does he also have the ability to travel between worlds?????

Xanthous has got some insane lore! What’s going on with his underworld (and what’s going on in the aboveworld??) Why is he so secretive about the demons?

Where is Elrik? Where did he go?? Somebody must know! (Somebody does indeed)

Why is Cyrus’s scepter starting to talk to him?????

What does the design on the back of Cyrus’s neck mean? Is it a continuation of his tattoo?? Doesn’t seem like it. Why does he have such a bad reaction when that mark is hit??? And why can hear a voice in his head reacting to it too?

And finally, does the Inamoratos Grimoire actually exist? If so, who has it? Who made it? Why? What does it have to do with Xanthous and Cyrus specifically???

Well there you have it: Some fun things that are in the works! Thank you again for being so patient.

[spacetravels]

i am so unwell about dragon age and knowing u from the choices fandom i got so excited ur playing soooo what did u think of dao? da2? who did you romance and what was ur character like? how are u liking dai? got pics of ur inky? 🥺 (only if u want!! no pressure to share ofc 💖) i myself am an alistair anders solas girlie 😔

WEHHH thank you… veilguard looks so good i have to speedrun dai but man all of you who’ve been waiting since like 2014 are my heroes cuz i’m just gonna trot in like lalala… (has been here like three months)

dao is my favorite by far i think… i’m easy to please LOL it has my favorite story and i love the cast so much ;_;/ i played warrior lady cousland so i did marry alistair HUHU he’s my favorite romance across all the games but i wanna replay so bad to romance morrigan and have a diff silly little world state (trying not to think about doing this until after dav LOL) but god . HoF is just so so funny and i had so much fun…

da2!! i played blue warrior hawke <3 i liked running around kirkwall LMAO i think it was really fun to just contain the story around this one city and just hang out with my best friends 🥹 but goddamn. no one warned me about everything hawke goes thru LIKE 😭 HAVE A VACATION!!! i didn’t romance anyone though in my first playthru HAHA i kind of regret it though cuz by the end i wanted to romance isabela but i also think for my hawke i was happy to not have had a romance cuz it makes sense for my thoughts about her … like she’s just happy to still be alive and wants to do right by everyone who’s ever believed in her so she never thought about it but maybe after all gets said and done she’d seek out izzy… one of those real Slow burns in my brain heehee.. (pro mage .. btw)

AS FOR DAI !!! i’m terrible with open world games. NFKSJFKSKFKL but i sincerely am enjoying it cuz i’m following a quest guide so i don’t lose my marbles… it’s funny cuz i like. technically knew the most abt dai before playing through the games cuz [gestures at solas] but that’s alright cuz most of it has actually been a treat and a surprise :-) just not. the ending

my inky’s name is deirdre & she’s a human rogue 🙂‍↕️ i don’t have pics rn i’m at work JFKSLDK but ! kind of a little shit. it’s nice that everyone humors her stupid ass. as for romance…. blackwall…. he compels me… something is wrong with him and i like it <3

i’m close to starting wicked eyes & wicked hearts but i’ve been taking the time to explore places and do side quests stuff cuz i wanna be overleveled LOL and i need to switch up my groups more. except for varric. that’s my emotional support companion

BUT WWWWW i wanna draw my inky more & more da fanart when i’m not swamped with other projects and/or playing dragon age & fields of mistria bahahah.. i’ll remember to share more thoughts as i play 🥹🫰

[dunadaan]

Still annoyed at the Angle of Mitheithel quests and honestly the lack of good quests and general world building.

Like you introduce the first and only permanent settlement of the Dúnedain and have like. Barely any info on their culture. Like they give us hints of things but little more- why do the old couple not live among the Dúnedain, their own kind? Non-Dúnedain I don’t think would live in the Angle and Tolkien is very strict abt the Rangers being Dúnedain- so maybe Thorn is Dúnedain on his moms side, and decided to live with her husband in Bree? Like you could’ve delved into THAT as a story- how Thorn found out he was a a dúnedain and set off to join them. How it might’ve been a struggle for him to fit in at first and the complications of (presumably, since she wouldn’t keep her own name if she had a last name but take her husbands) her mom leaving to be with a man of Bree. There’s a lot that could be explored there with that story alone.

I want to know more about daily life for the people here, the domestic things. I want to know more about them hiding in the caves- we could’ve had quests where we help prep and move things to said caves and gotten some background or stories of times where they did have to flee. (Which like. Could’ve played into the main story had they not WRITTEN it weirdly).

I wanna know more about their customs or how they raise their children, on stories or if their children get to go on little road trips to Rivendell or if elves come to Tornhad to teach them lessons. Like the little info you get in the deed log says “some (of the children) are additionally fostered in Rivendell.” But how do you choose which ones?? Like I shouldn’t have to read that in a deed log only.

I wanna know more about the women, like Ivoreth! That was a really neat inclusion and honestly highlights even more that Tolkien ignored most the women in family lines in his stories. Halbarad’s got a mom who’s ALIVE and kicking. We LOVE to see old rangers. Calenglad Golodir Ivoreth old ranger club.

I wanna know more about their housing situation…do houses stay with the same families? Do they ever build new homes for newer rangers who have no ties, or simply open up rooms? If you decide to be a ranger, do you keep your own room to return to, or is every house open to whichever Ranger needs a place to lay their head, since you’re not around long anyways? Who are the ones that go into civilization to trade? (I’m thinking more along book canon than the game) There’s little to no places of real trade beyond Bree or Rivendell, so they’d have to be pretty self reliant.

What about little quests where it talks more about the other jobs and duties…like sewing or carpentry or whatever. Parents excited for their child becoming an adult and sewing them clothes for the journey to be sworn in, lovingly stitching each seam. A father carving a truly fine bow as a gift, teaching his child to hunt and track. The community coming together and giving them a newly made pack, and it can never be gifted empty- freshly made rations and jerky and a lovingly sewn cloak and warm gloves and boots and sigghhhh. I think about it too much but we robbed of seeing these dynamics tbh…..

Also another thing that annoys me is the places being called Hidden Place and being glaringly obvious as to where tf it is. You couldn’t have maybe thrown some trees and bushes and shit to cover the place a little better? Put it more off the beaten path maybe?? SSG what is up with that design

[kingofbodyrolls]

My Heart’s Home (m) | pjm | chapter 1

*this is a re-upload since I deleted my old account 🫣

You arrive back at the ranch, a place you used to call home as a child. But it doesn’t hold the same meaning anymore. With the passing of your mother, you stand to inherit part of that very ranch– and you don’t want it. Only problem, your sister doesn’t want to give you her signature for you to sell your share.

→ Pairings: jimin x reader (main) and jungkook x reader (one time ONLY).  → Characters: female reader (isn’t mentioned by name and no “y/n”), Jimin, Jungkook, Namjoon, Yoongi, Hoseok, Seokjin, Taehyung and four female original characters. → AUs: ranch!au, slice of life!au, cowboy!au, soulmate!au → Genres: smut, humor, fluff, slow burn and angst (yes, it’s got everything lol!) → Chapter warnings: mention of past character death of parents, exhibitionism, explicit smut in the form of protected sex, quick and dirty sex, doing it against a barn, creampie, nipple play, clit play. Doing it in public/outside. Mention of past infidelity (of parents). Spoiler ahead!!! Jungkook and Jimin are (half) brothers and reader sleeping with JK is necessary to happen for the sake of the plot 🥲 It sucked to write that part, and if you feel like the smut if ’eh’ it’s because it was written that way because reader isn’t meant to be with JK! So, please, don’t let that discourage you from reading it, the rest of the story is really good and MC realizes she’s made a mistake… anyway the smut with Jimin when it eventually happen, is just 🥵🥵🥵  → Status: completed. → Word count: 8.2k → Now playing “Theme from McLeod’s Daughters” by Rebecca Lavelle. → Author’s note: this story has been in my head forever, and I’ve spent months outlining it and planning it– so I’m so stoked to finally post it! 🥳 I love both McLeod’s Daughters and BTS, so why not combine it?? I am not sure anybody will read this story, but if you do, thank you! It truly means the world to me. I also want to give a very big thank you and shout out to my dear friend, Lua, for reading it while I worked on it, hyping me up and giving me such fucking wonderful feedback 😭✨ Thank you so much @letjungcoook7 💖🥹 → Read on AO3? [link]

“I said, I wanna touch the earth I wanna break it in my hands I wanna grow something wild and unruly I wanna sleep on the hard ground In the comfort of your arms On a pillow of bluebonnets In a blanket made of stars Oh, it sounds good to me I said, cowboy take me away Fly this girl as high as you can into the wild blue Set me free, oh, I pray” - “Cowboy Take Me Away” by The Chicks

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The tires of your car dig into the unforgiving dirt road with a tenacious grip as you navigate the rugged terrain. A symphony of sand and dust dances before the windshield, yet your focus remains unyielding. The landscape is open and inviting, yet there’s tall mountains in the distance framing the idyllic nature. 

The pulsating beat of the music reverberates through the vehicle, echoing the determination coursing through your veins. Your fingers tighten around the wheel, your resolve unshakable. 

Amidst the chaotic whirlwind outside, you’re on a singular quest: to get your sister’s signature to sell your share of the ranch.

You yearn to sever all ties with the place. 

It’s not a matter of hatred, per se, but rather an aversion steeped in memories you’d rather forget. 

The grounds echo with a tapestry of recollections, most of which cling like shadows to the recesses of your mind—a gallery of moments you’re desperate to erase from the canvas of your past.

The passing of your mother, a woman absent from your life for over two decades, casts a melancholic hue over this reunion, that leaves much to be desired.

Separated by the passage of years, your sister remains a distant specter on the horizon of your past. A chapter of familial connection was abruptly closed when your father took you away from the ranch during your formative years, the sprawling fields replaced by the relentless rhythm of the city. 

The city, with its towering structures and ceaseless energy, has woven itself into the fabric of your existence. Amidst the hustle, the stress, the eclectic cafes, and the teeming crowds, you’ve found a peculiar treasure trove of experiences that pulse through your veins like a vibrant heartbeat. The city’s flaws, laid bare like urban scars, only deepen your affection for its complex tapestry, making each chaotic street corner and neon-lit club a cherished fragment in the mosaic of your life.

As an undesired song infiltrates your playlist, you find yourself questioning its very existence on your curated soundtrack. 

Swiftly, you dismiss its intrusion, replacing its notes with the growling intensity of a much angrier anthem. 

The need for focus on this mission is paramount, an unyielding commitment that not even the persuasive tones of Jessi, with all her influence, can sway or alter.

A familiar sign with your family’s last name emerges on the horizon, unleashing a flood of memories from an idyllic childhood—filled with the echoes of hide-and-seek, the warmth of love, and the harmonious symphony of laughter—that paints both your irises and your heart in hues of nostalgia. 

Yet, as your fingers instinctively clench around the steering wheel, you staunchly refuse to be swayed by the emotional undertow. Determination courses through your veins, a steadfast resolve not to let sentiment cloud the clarity of your purpose.

With a resolute spirit, you navigate the winding road that leads to the ranch. 

As the familiar landscape unfurls before you, a creeping uneasiness takes root within the recesses of your being. Despite the passage of two decades, the ranch appears frozen in time, an unchanged picture that sends shivers down your spine. The unsettling familiarity of the place only amplifies the weight of the past, casting a shadow over your determined journey back to a place that seems to have resisted the relentless march of time.

Bringing the car to a halt before the imposing main house, you silence the engine with a decisive twist of the key. A heavy sigh escapes your lips, mingling with the weight of anticipation that hangs in the air. Inhaling deeply, you draw in the essence of the moment, your fingers betraying a nervous rhythm as they tap anxiously against the steering wheel. 

The stillness belies the turmoil surging within, as you ready yourself to encounter the ghost of your past.

A mere thirty minutes— an hour at most, and you’ll resume your journey on the open road, bound for the comfort of home in the city. 

Determination courses through your veins, intertwining with the staccato rhythm of your anxious heartbeat, the pulsations reverberating so forcefully that you can sense them echoing all the way to the depths of your ears. 

The moment your car door swings open, a subtle shift in the wind whispers a tale of transformation. The landscape may echo familiarity, but an intangible alteration lingers in the air, an elusive metamorphosis that leaves you questioning the very essence of this place. Is it a mere illusion, or has something truly shifted, maybe within the confines of your own soul? 

Navigating the uneven terrain in heels proves to be a challenge, but undeterred, you conquer the dirt road and arrive at the tall front door. It stands before you, a sentinel of memories, somehow appearing taller than in recollection. The weathered, dark-red wooden door remains stoically unchanged, a silent witness to the passage of time. 

Two deliberate knocks break the stillness, and you retreat a step, a reverberation of anticipation coursing through the air as you stand on the threshold of both the past and the unknown.

The door frame, once pristine in its white coat, now carry the scars of time, its paint chipped and revealing glimpses of the weathered wood beneath. 

Stationed in front of the door, you endure a suspenseful five minutes, an eternity compressed into every passing second, yet the silence remains unbroken. Undeterred by the absence of response, a resolute determination guides your actions as you seize the handle. With a deliberate press, the handle yields, surrendering to your resolve and releasing a cacophony of creaks—a symphony of protesting hinges announcing your entrance into the realm of memories.

“Hello?” 

Your voice, tinged with uncertainty, dances into the air as you cautiously poke your head through the threshold, a hesitant entry into the familiar realms of the house. 

A gentle warmth envelops you, tenderly kissing your skin and infusing an instant sense of calm. The scent, aged and rich, swirls around you like a tangible embrace of wood and cherished memories from your childhood. The hallway stretches out before you, adorned with snapshots frozen in time—images of you and Jessi playing in the fields, your first pony, and a cherished trio with your mom. Each picture pulses with the erratic beat of your heart, echoing the palpable journey down the corridor of reminiscence. Amidst this gallery of the past, you navigate the tapestry of nostalgia, your destination set on what memory deems to be the kitchen.

The staccato clank of your heels resonates boldly against the unpolished hardwood floor, a deliberate announcement of your presence that reverberates through the silent expanse as you press deeper into the heart of the kitchen. Despite the resounding echo, a mysterious absence lingers, the emptiness amplifying the solitude within the room, a poignant contrast to the persistent cadence of your steps.

Surveying the scene, your eyes capture the delicate dance of white curtains adorned with lace, their elegance offering a stark contrast to the weathered state of the kitchen. Time has etched its story on the cabinets, pleading for a rejuvenating touch—maybe a cleansing and a new coat of color to breathe life into the tired, faded cream. A wistful smile graces your lips, an emotive response to the tactile connection forged as your fingers trace the countertop. The surface, a touch dusty yet evocative, sparks an odd familiarity, transporting you to a realm of forgotten times and the comforting essence of what was once home.

A sudden voice startles you from your reverie, its unexpected presence slicing through the air like a well-timed interruption in the symphony of memories. 

“Can I help you?”

A jolt courses through your body, a startled response to the abrupt intrusion of the voice, yet you pivot on your heels, meeting the owner of the enigmatic, yet somehow airy, tones. 

In the face of the unexpected presence, you lock eyes with the source, a meeting that feels like a convergence of past and present, each heartbeat resonating with the electric charge surging through your body.

A nervous chuckle escapes you, the residue of your earlier determination dissipating in the charged air as you assess the man standing before you. 

His eyes, a deep and authoritative brown, lock onto yours, unraveling a silent narrative in their depths. Blonde and untamed, his long hair falls with a disheveled grace, framing a face that exudes both strength and mystery. His slender physique conceals well-defined, lean muscles beneath the snug embrace of a gray shirt, each contour subtly hinting at the strength within. Clad in blue denim jeans with artful rips at the bottom, and adorned with chunky western boots boasting intricate ornaments, he carries an aura of rugged elegance. 

“Can I help you?” he repeats, the query hanging in the air like an unspoken challenge. 

Crossing his arms over a torso that amplifies the definition of his biceps, his deliberate posture commands attention, drawing your gaze to the undeniable display of strength.

“I’m so sorry,” you quip nervously, a hint of self-awareness coloring your tone. Inwardly, you curse the fact that you were caught in the act of checking him out, and you’ve yet to acknowledge the man properly. “I’m looking for Jessi?”

A low, rumbling chuckle escapes the man, accompanied by a soft smile that carries a subtle mystique, rendering his eyes nearly elusive. 

“Who are you?” he inquires, his arms still defiantly crossed, and a flicker of realization dawns upon you—this interaction holds a peculiar tension. The awareness sets in that, in essence, you are an intruder, a stranger trespassing into the intimate space of a home that isn’t yours anymore. 

“I’m Jessi’s sister,” you declare, a succinct introduction that hangs in the air. His response is a simple “Oh,” a word that resonates with a spectrum of unspoken sentiments. 

As his arms fall to his sides, his posture eases into a more relaxed stance, and his gaze, now unhindered by the barricade of crossed arms, traverses the contours of your figure. Your choice of attire—heels and a summer dress that daringly grazes your thighs—doesn’t escape his notice. 

You sense his eyes lingering on your exposed legs for a beat longer than societal norms might deem appropriate.

You find yourself unapologetically appreciating his attractiveness, recognizing the allure that binds both of you in a silent dance of mutual fascination.

“You don’t remember me?” 

His question pierces through the air, catching you off guard, and instinctively, you lean back against the countertop. A subtle shake of your head accompanies the inquiry, and as you witness a shadow of sadness flicker across his eyes, an unexpected weight sinks into the chambers of your heart. The unspoken question lingers—should you know this man?

“It’s me, Jimin,” he asserts with a voice steeped in pride and certainty, a declaration that sets your mind into a whirlwind of attempted recollection. His name resonates with a familiarity that dances on the periphery of your memory, like an elusive wisp slipping through the cracks of forgotten moments. 

“Park?” 

You question with a voice that wavers in uncertainty, the mere utterance of the name carrying the weight of a fragile hope. As the word escapes your lips, you cling to the fragile threads of memory, desperately seeking confirmation that you’ve pieced together the puzzle of identity correctly.

“Yeah! Don’t you remember? We played together when we were kids,” he chuckles warmly, the nostalgia of shared memories evident in his eyes.  

With a warm gesture, he invites you to take a seat, a silent acknowledgment of the intricacies of your shared history. As he crosses the room to the sink, a subtle limp marks his stride—a detail you keenly observe as you pull out a chair. Your curiosity about his altered gait tugs at your thoughts, begging for expression, yet you restrain the impulse, deeming it too forward. Silently, you observe him reaching for a glass from the overhead cabinet, pouring water with a practiced ease. 

“Here you go,” he offers, placing the glass before you. As you take it, your fingers brush momentarily, and an unexpected electric jolt courses through your body. You respond with a sheepish smile, expressing gratitude for the simple gesture. “Jessi is out riding; she’ll be back soon.” 

You nod, the cool touch of the glass against your lips serving as a momentary distraction from the impending wait. As you take a measured sip of water, the realization sinks in — a quiet acknowledgment that the road back home may stretch longer than initially anticipated.

“I’m sorry about your mom,” he offers his condolences, and a palpable pain reflects in his eyes. The depth of his empathy hints at a connection with your mother that might surpass your own or maybe, he carries the weight of loss in his own experiences. Regardless, you express gratitude, but as you do, a nonchalant shrug of your shoulders accompanies your words. “It’s whatever,” you say, attempting to downplay the complexity of emotions that linger beneath the surface, yet the weight of grief echoes in the unspoken spaces between you.

He offers a minuscule smile, a mere flicker that fails to reach the depths of his eyes, and a subtle shift in the atmosphere becomes palpable. A quiet tension weaves through the kitchen, the air thickening with unspoken complexities. It’s as if the very walls themselves have become sentient, closing in with a slow and deliberate intent, creating an immersive sense of confinement that mirrors the unexplored territories of emotions lingering between you and Jimin.

The rhythmic clank of boots announces her arrival before she materializes in the doorway — Jessi, a force of raw determination, a cascade of muttered curse words trailing in her wake. 

With an aura of purpose, she strides into the kitchen, a whirlwind of energy that disrupts the tension-laden air.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” she demands, a subtle undercurrent of anger weaving through her voice as her gaze fixes on Jimin. 

You sense that you’ve slipped beneath her radar for now. Jimin responds with a casual chuckle, turning his head in your direction. In that moment, you feel the weight of her steel gaze bore into you.

You observe the subtle tensing of her body, her gaze meticulously scrutinizing every inch of you. Arms crossed defensively, she acknowledges your presence with a guarded stance. 

“Long time no see. What do you want?” The words, delivered with an edge that slices through the air, reverberate with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, embodying the complex web of emotions that intertwine your shared history.

Your lips involuntarily tighten, the already tense atmosphere escalating to an almost suffocating degree as Jessi’s presence intensifies. A rhythmic tapping of her foot reverberates through the room, an erratic metronome that hints at a cocktail of emotions—maybe nervousness, maybe anger, the fine line between the two eluding your understanding. 

“The inheritance,” you utter, and a visible transformation sweeps over Jessi. Her countenance, already frosty, plunges into an even colder abyss. The pallor that washes over her skin accentuates the darkness of her brown, curly hair, transforming it into a cascade that seems to absorb the shadows of her perturbed soul.

A nervous gulp echoes in the charged silence, your attempt to fortify a wavering resolve. The mission is clear — secure her signature, liberate yourself, and sever the lingering ties. The weight of unspoken history and familial complexities hangs in the air, urging you to complete this fraught encounter, hoping that once the ink meets the paper, you’ll leave and never bother her again.

“I want to sell my share of the ranch. I just need your signature.”

The declaration hangs in the charged air, a revelation that sends a ripple through the room. Jimin tenses visibly, gaping in clear surprise at your bold proclamation. Your sister, on the other hand, is barely faring any better. The undercurrents of anger surge to the surface, a tempest of emotions that bobs precariously, threatening to breach the veneer of composure that barely holds. 

She hisses, the sound cutting through the charged silence like a serpent’s warning, and grinds her teeth together with a simmering intensity. “You’re not getting that,” she declares with a venomous resolve, the words laced with an unmistakable determination that resonates with the unyielding clash of wills in the room. 

The sternness and anger in her voice reverberate through the room, creating an invisible barrier. Undeterred, you summon a quiet resolve and press forward, attempting to cut through the emotional tempest that surrounds her. “I just need your signature, and then I can go,” your words, a delicate plea amidst the tumultuous clash of emotions, hang in the air, a fragile bridge between the chasm of familial discord and the resolution you seek.

She strides purposefully towards you, anger etching furrows into her brows. Coming to a halt just before your seated form, she looms over you with a fiery intensity in her eyes. 

“No. Get the fuck out,” she commands, the force behind her words reverberating in the charged space between you. The air crackles with the energy of unresolved conflicts, and her words hang in the air like a proclamation, leaving no room for negotiation.

Jimin’s expression no longer holds surprise, his features now marked by a disapproving shake of his head. As Jessi retreats from you, turning with a storm brewing in her wake, the kitchen becomes an echoing chamber of unresolved tensions. She storms out, leaving you and Jimin in the wake of her departure, the remnants of conflict lingering in the air like an unspoken presence that refuses to dissipate. 

You clench your hands into tight fists, the physical manifestation of the internal turmoil that courses through you. The realization dawns, like a belated epiphany, that her vehement reaction was all but predictable. A heavy sigh escapes your lips, and you slump back into the chair, the weight of disappointment settling upon you like a shroud. This isn’t unfolding as you had envisioned.

The wind whips through, mercilessly tossing your hair into a chaotic dance across your face. Grumbling, you navigate the exterior of the main house, entering a realm where nature and grandeur coalesce. The yard unfolds before you, a testament to meticulous care, stretching expansively with paddocks extending for miles. To the left, a substantial stable stands as a regal sentinel, while to the right, three cottages punctuate the landscape.

Your gaze sweeps across the panoramic expanse, capturing the undulating beauty of the paddocks that cascade over the hills while the sun slowly sets. Cows and horses graze lazily, mere dots in the vast canvas of the countryside. The scene unfolds before you like a living painting, each blade of grass, each creature contributing to the symphony of nature. Amidst this serene image, you find yourself standing at the crossroads of contemplation, pondering the labyrinth of decisions that now lay before you.

Jessi won’t give you her signature, and you need her damn ink on that paper to be able to sell your share of the ranch.

Maybe if you get on her good side, she’ll reconsider? It’s worth a try at least.

“Hi,” a lilting female voice disrupts the current of your thoughts, a melodic intrusion that yanks you back from the recesses of contemplation. Your pivot is swift, attention now redirected to the stranger who has materialized behind you.

Her hand extends gracefully towards you, a gesture that transcends the usual formalities. “I’m Soo-ah, one of the stable hands here,” she introduces herself with an easy confidence, her words resonating with a sense of belonging and familiarity within the expansive realm of the ranch.

“Ah, hi,” you muse with a soft smile, extending a handshake that bridges the gap between stranger and newfound acquaintance. Her stature is modest, a curvature of curves, with a disarming smile that reveals a charming imperfection in the form of endearing crooked teeth. Clad in short denim shorts adorned with delicate white lace on the trim and a pink tank top, she exudes an aura of comfort and warmth. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of blue, gleam with a radiance that speaks of love and hope, amplified by the contrast against her sun-kissed tan skin.

“Your trip didn’t go according to plan?” she inquires, the gentle cadence of her question accompanied by the sweep of a hand, gracefully gathering her long blonde hair away from her face. 

A chuckle escapes you, accompanied by a nonchalant shrug of your shoulders, as you confess, “Not really.”

“You know, this place means a lot to Jessi. It’s her home. She wouldn’t want you to sell your share for some random people to buy it or worse, use the land for housing or something.” Her eyes mirror the softness of her words, and a gentle smile graces her lips, a gesture that carries an unexpected soothing effect on your conflicted heart. 

The weight of her words settles on your conscience, a realization you had secretly dreaded. You grasp the depth of your sister’s emotional connection to this land, an affection you once shared but have since outgrown. The prospect of selling your share, allowing strangers to lay claim to the cherished homestead, unfolds before you, and you acknowledge why Jessi vehemently opposes it. Yet, your heart remains indifferent to the sentimental ties that bind others to this place. It ceased being home long ago, and the notion of it ever regaining that status in your life appears as elusive as a distant memory fading into the horizon.

“Say what. It’s late, and dinner’s almost ready. Why don’t you come eat with us and meet the rest of the gang? After that, I’ll show you one of the guest rooms!” Her invitation resonates with a contagious enthusiasm, her voice exuding a warmth that almost verges on giddy. The surge of energy she emanates feels almost overwhelming, a stark contrast to the subdued atmosphere that has accompanied your arrival.

“I haven’t packed anything. I didn’t plan on staying…” you mumble, your words trailing off into the evening breeze. Despite your half-hearted protest, she seizes your hand and playfully pulls you towards the main house. Reluctance threads through your steps, a tangible resistance to the unexpected detour that fate seems to be orchestrating. 

“There’s a guest room in the house, and you can borrow some clothes from Jessi or me. Those heels and that dress aren’t exactly farm-friendly attire.” She laughs, a melody of warmth that resonates through the short walk to the house. Soo-ah guides you to the guest room where you’ll be spending the night, and then you both make your way to the kitchen. 

There, you encounter another enchanting presence—a statuesque woman, tall and slender, her ebony hair culminating at her neck. Her eyes, a captivating shade of incredibly dark brown, bordering on obsidian, stand out against her lovely fair white skin. Clad in a simple yet elegant ensemble of a dark t-shirt paired with dark blue denim jeans, she moves gracefully around the kitchen, orchestrating what appears to be a culinary feast in the making. 

“I’m Ha-rin.” A casual wave accompanies her introduction, a seamless dance of gestures as she deftly grabs a handful of vegetables with the other hand.

“This is Jessi’s sister,” Soo-ah introduces you with a warm smile, and Ha-rin nods in a gesture that suggests a preexisting understanding. “How can we help?” she inquires, her words carrying a blend of genuine curiosity and an unspoken readiness to extend hospitality. 

“You can set the table. I’m almost done with the food,” she declares, seamlessly transitioning to the task of cutting carrots with a professional speed that leaves you duly impressed.

Soo-ah guides you to the location of plates and glasses, and in a synchronized dance, you both embark on setting the table in the dining room. The collaborative effort carries an unexpected warmth, a departure from the solitary routine you’ve grown accustomed to. The act of sharing this communal task conjures a sense of nostalgia; it’s been a long time since you’ve partaken in such simple yet meaningful rituals. Your dining experiences have often been solitary, occasionally shared with a partner, although those instances are rare occurrences in the tapestry of your solitary meals.

In no time, Ha-rin completes the culinary masterpiece, presenting a spread of oven-cooked chicken, a colorful assortment of vegetables, and tantalizing kimchi. The table becomes a canvas adorned with the promise of a delectable feast. As you all take your seats, another presence joins the gathering—Ara, a tall woman with big brown eyes and chocolate-brown hair cascading gracefully over her shoulders. Her curves and paler skin distinguish her from Ha-rin, yet she radiates the same warmth that characterizes the group. 

The door swings open, and into the room strides your sister, a pronounced frown etching lines of disapproval on her face the moment her sharp eyes lock onto your figure seated at her dining table. 

“Didn’t I tell you to leave?” Her voice cuts through the air, laden with an undeniable tension that hangs like a storm cloud, casting a shadow over the gathering. 

With an exasperated roll of your eyes, you confront the directness that has always characterized Jessi, even if it doesn’t always come across as nice. “It’s getting dark, and Soo-ah graciously provided me with a room for the night. I’m not leaving until I get your signature,” you assert, the declaration hanging in the air like an unyielding challenge. 

Jessi’s voice carries a distinct air of deflation, and it becomes evident that obtaining her signature won’t be a victory achieved tonight, if at all. Resigned, she takes her place at the head of the table, a silent acknowledgment of the impasse. 

A stretch of silence envelops the dining room as everyone engages in the act of eating, a temporary truce. However, the calm is shattered as Jessi, unable to contain her emotions any longer, erupts like a dormant volcano. “Why can’t you just keep your share of the ranch, huh?” Her words punctuate the air, each question a stab to the atmosphere, accentuated by the forceful plunge of her fork into the unfortunate chicken.

“Honestly?” You draw in a deep breath, preparing for the verbal fallout, fully aware that you’ve stepped into a minefield. “I just need the money.” The words hang in the air, a stark admission that lays bare your motivations. Jessi’s frown deepens, her disapproving expression not eliciting the slightest surprise from you. 

“Why can’t you just buy my share?” The words escape you in a frustrated huff, irritation building with each passing moment. Jessi’s ability to get on your nerves becomes increasingly evident, a skill she’s always excelled at. 

“I don’t have the money to buy you out,” she states bluntly, her voice carrying a mix of blankness and anger, turning the tension at the table sour. Your plate, once adorned with the delicious offerings crafted by Ha-rin, now sits neglected, the food losing its appeal in the wake of the strained conversation. What a shame, you think, as the beautifully prepared meal becomes a casualty of the familial clash, and your appetite dissipates like the vanishing aroma of an abandoned feast.

“Why are you so mad at me?” you sputter out in frustration, resisting the almost overwhelming urge to pull at your hair in exasperation. The room echoes with a tense silence, interrupted only by the subtle sound of your sister’s scuff, a precursor to the deep inhale that precedes the unleashing of her fury upon you.

“I haven’t seen you in twenty years. You stomp in here, wanting to take my home away from me. And you didn’t even attend Mom’s funeral. Some balls you have.” Her voice is stern, each word laced with venom, and her glare cuts through you like a knife. To punctuate her disapproval, she slams her hands down hard on the table. “I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” 

Then she stomps off. At least she has some manners, you think, acknowledging the begrudging ’goodnight’ she offered. Nevertheless, you sigh, the rest of the girls casting pitiful glances in your direction.

You lean back in the chair, contemplating the daunting challenge of ever getting on your sister’s good side. The prospect seems as elusive as catching a shooting star, an almost impossible mission. Just as you sink into the depths of your thoughts, Ara shatters your contemplation with a beaming smile. “We’re having a party tomorrow. Won’t you stay for that?”

You take a few seconds to mull over her offer: a party in the countryside does sound intriguing, but the prospect of extended time with a sister who harbors animosity towards you gives you pause. Soo-ah, sensing your hesitation, steps in with a persuasive grin, “There’ll be hot men!”

Then, in an instant, thoughts of Jimin flood your mind, and the prospect of his presence at the party becomes a tantalizing factor. A glimmer of optimism flickers; maybe attending won’t be as unbearable as you initially thought. Contemplating the possibility of a good time, you decide, “Who can say no to that?”

A forced laugh escapes your lips, but within it, there’s a hint of genuine enjoyment. Sometimes, you remind yourself, you have to fake it until you make it.

The barn pulsates with the rhythm of the music, a lively mix of country tunes, not exactly your preferred genre, yet the melodies weave seamlessly into the rustic ambiance. Couples and friends sway to the slow beats on the dance floor, creating an intimate atmosphere that, despite your initial reservations, feels oddly fitting. Most attendees linger along the walls engaged in conversation, and as your eyes scan the scene, you notice a handful of men. The girls weren’t exaggerating – the company includes some undeniably attractive men.

The majority of women sport casual dresses, much like the one you’ve borrowed from Ha-rin. Clad in a long black lace dress that subtly accentuates your curves, you navigate the sea of familiar and unfamiliar faces. In stark contrast, Jessi’s attire veers towards practicality – shirt, jeans and boots, a reflection of her enduring tomboyish nature. While you entertain a fleeting thought about the silliness of her choice for a party, a deeper understanding dawns. She’s always been more practical, and her choice of clothes tonight might align with that too. 

Surveying the lively scene again, your eyes lock onto your sister, deeply engrossed in a conversation with Jimin, an interaction that sparks both curiosity and a twinge of apprehension within you. 

As Ha-rin diligently tends to the culinary offerings, ensuring a variety of light snacks for everyone, Soo-ah and Ara steal the spotlight on the improvised dance floor. Their laughter echoes through the barn, a harmonious blend of joy and camaraderie, and you can’t help but be drawn into the dynamic and diverse interactions unfolding around you.

Turning on your heels, a craving for the crisp embrace of fresh air seizes you. Opting for the subtlety of a quiet exit, you make your way toward the back door of the barn. The metallic touch of the door handle graces your palm with a forgiving chill, a stark departure from the warmth and vibrancy pulsating within. Pushing the door ajar, the night air rushes to greet your face, prompting a sigh of contemplation. 

However, as you step outside, your serenity shatters with a startle – a towering, muscular figure leans against the barn, arms crossed, waiting in the shadows of the night.

A startled yelp escapes your lips, accompanied by an inadvertent inhalation of lingering smoke in the air. The features of the stranger remain elusive, shrouded in the haze, as they release a deep and resonant chuckle in response to your momentary disarray. 

“Scaredy-cat?” he teases, the resonance of his laughter causing an animated jiggle through his entire upper body. Your gaze inadvertently drifts to his well-defined pectorals, emphasized by the snug fit of his ripped tank top. The exact hue of the fabric eludes you in the dim light, a mysterious darkness with a hint of, maybe, deep blue.

You approach him, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance, though inwardly acknowledging the undeniable truth – you are indeed a scaredy-cat. Closing the distance, your eyes trace a path from his broad shoulders down his right arm, a canvas adorned with a full sleeve of tattoos. Among the intricate designs, some manifest in striking black and white, while others burst forth with vivid splashes of color, each telling a silent tale waiting to be unraveled.

Approaching him, you realize you’ve left his question hanging in the air. Coming to a halt in front of this enigmatic figure, you find yourself captivated by his deep, dark brown eyes. In the obscurity of the night, tiny glints of light echo the stars above, gleaming in his gaze. His pitch black long hair, with small curls at the end, frame his handsome face. Contrary to the rugged bulk of his body, his facial features exude a surprising softness. Thick, black eyebrows frame his expressive eyes, while a slim, pointed nose adds to the symphony of features. A sharp, defined jawline contrasts with the plushness of his rosy lips, gently circling a half-smoked cigarette.

“Jessi’s sister, huh?” He inhales deeply from his cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke that dances in the air beside you. 

“Y-Yes,” you stammer nervously, a feeble symphony to the deep timbre of his laughter. Nonetheless, you summon the courage to introduce yourself, your name a tentative melody lingering in the night air.

“I’m Jungkook.” He announces, the remnants of the cigarette meeting its demise beneath the sole of his boot, extinguishing any lingering embers. A subtle caution against the spark that could set the night ablaze.

“You look hot. Want to make out?” His gaze boldly traces over you, and a sudden self-consciousness grips you in the delicate embrace of your lace dress. Your cheeks ignite in a bright red flush, caught off guard by the unexpected boldness of his proposition.

Your flabbergasted expression seems to amuse him, and his laughter echoes, revealing an endearing smile that prompts a soft, airy chuckle to escape your lips in response.

“I’m serious, you know,” he says, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively. Another blush creeps up on you at his bluntness. Initially thinking he was joking, you now realize he’s actually serious. As you assess him, you can’t deny his incredible attractiveness, coupled with a nice smile and soft eyes. Maybe he can’t be all bad, right?

You saunter closer, conducting a swift yet thorough assessment of him. With a teasing lick of your lips, you signal that you’re up for the game. “Sure.”

In a bold surge, he captures your lips, biting down on your lower lip as if seeking entrance. Yielding to the magnetic pull, your tongues engage in a fiery dance. His hands firmly grip your shoulders, giving a reassuring squeeze before deftly maneuvering you against the wall.

In a ravenous and swift embrace, his lips claim yours, leaving you breathless when he breaks away, his gaze smoldering with a lustful intensity that ignites a fiery sensation beneath your skin. Though not one to engage in impulsive encounters, the intoxicating allure of the moment fans the flames of excitement within you. Reminding yourself of the imminent departure tomorrow, you boldly lean in, craving another taste, and surrender to the intoxicating dance of desire.

As the kiss deepens, his demeanor doesn’t exude sweetness or tenderness, and strangely, you find solace in that. After all, tomorrow marks your return home. The intensity of his kiss, possessive and profound, spirals you into a mindless whirlwind, your thoughts dissipating into nothingness, overwhelmed by the feeling of his rugged frame pressed firmly against yours.

His gravelly voice breaks the kiss momentarily as he breathlessly declares, “Your lips are so damn soft.” 

Locking eyes with you, he plunges back into the intoxicating exchange, this time with an urgent and fervent intensity that mirrors his escalating desire, leaving little room for restraint.

Your fingers dig into the firm contours of his hips, tracing an electrifying path along the sculpted landscape of his toned body. The rhythmic play of his muscles beneath your touch is a tactile symphony, every ridge and sinew a testament to his strength, creating an intricate dance beneath the fabric of his shirt.

His lips embark on a tantalizing journey, lingering on your cheek with teasing kisses before reaching your ear. A low, guttural growl escapes his lips as he presses his pelvis against you, sending a bolt of electricity through your body. The warmth of his breath against your ear ignites a wildfire of sensations, and the undeniable presence of his arousal is impossible to ignore. Control slips away like sand through your fingers, and you find yourself succumbing to the irresistible pull of desire.

You bite down on your lips, the struggle to suppress a moan palpable. Despite the lively party unfolding just a breath away, Jungkook possesses an uncanny ability to whisk you into a world of his own creation, making the chaotic celebration fade into insignificance.

His hands explore the contours of your breasts, coaxing a soft moan from your lips. The absence of padding in your bra leaves your nipples immediately responsive to his teasing fingers. Sensations surge through you, and as your panties cling uncomfortably, an urgent desire to shed them intensifies.

His breath hot against your ear, he whispers, “I want to fuck you so bad, can I?”

The firm squeeze on your breasts sends a wave of desire through you. Fuck. The craving intensifies, and the anticipation of being with him grows insatiable. It’s been an eternity since you felt this desire, and you’re already on the edge, yearning for his touch.

Your response escapes in a breathy whisper, “Hell yes.” 

Your fingers find purchase on the contours of his chest, seeking stability amid the whirlwind of desire that envelops you both.

The symphony of desire crescendos as you catch the melodic jingle of his belt being undone, the tantalizing slide of metal against leather, and the whisper of a zipper surrendering its secrets. Soon, his jeans cascade down, pooling around his knees.

Your curiosity takes over, compelling you to cast an audacious gaze downward, and even through the fabric of his underwear, the impressive outline of his arousal is undeniable. The undeniable bulge hints at a restrained intensity, and summoning your courage, you boldly cup him, your touch sending a low, guttural groan reverberating through the charged air.

“Are you good to go without any prep?” His question, a tantalizing whisper in your ear, sends shivers down your spine, and the resonant, lust-laden timbre of his voice resonates deep within you. 

Nodding in affirmation, you can’t help but bite your lip, feeling the promise of an exhilarating encounter ahead. “Yes,” you murmur, a breathy admission to the impending intensity.

As he lowers his underwear, his dick is unleashed, an impressive display of length and girth, veins tracing its sculpted form. The engorged head, flushed and intense, undergoes a few suggestive strokes from his skilled hands, droplets of precum glistening as they descend to the ground below.

His touch is commanding, fingers tracing a path down the contours of your dress, gathering the fabric in his strong grip. Swiftly, his hands venture beneath, reaching the apex of your panties. In one bold motion, he removes them, allowing them to cascade to the ground as you gracefully step out, shedding inhibitions along with the delicate undergarment.

Unexpectedly, he seizes your hips, effortlessly lifting you into the air. As you leap, your legs instinctively wrap around his tiny waist, aligning your bare core with his throbbing dick, a subtle gasp escaping your lips as your wetness coats his cock.

A soft moan escapes your lips at the tantalizing contact, and Jungkook, seizing the opportunity, grips your supple curves, pressing you firmly against the wall for stability. Skillfully, he produces a condom out of thin air, wraps his cock with it and positions his dick at the entrance of your eager pussy. Your hands instinctively clutch his neck, a mixture of anticipation and desire written across your face as you brace yourself for the impending ecstasy. With a devious smile playing on his lips, he tantalizingly teases the velvety folds of your cunt with the head of his cock. But the pretense of gentleness is short-lived, as he discards any lingering pleasantries and thrusts his dick into your warm and eager core in one seamless motion.

A gasp escapes your lips as an exquisite stretch engulfs you, momentarily testing your limits. Yet, the generous coating of your arousal ensures that the discomfort swiftly transforms into an intoxicating wave of pleasure, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake.

He moves with an urgency that suggests an impending deadline, setting a pace that mirrors a sense of immediacy, as if time is a luxury he can’t afford. The reasons behind his haste remain a mystery, and in this moment, you find yourself indifferent to the ticking clock, wholly absorbed in the intensity of the present.

“Mmmhh. You’re so tight.” 

You gasp at the force of his thrusts, feeling the impact resonate through your body as your back collides with the wall. The slight discomfort is eclipsed by the overwhelming pleasure, and his raspy pants only intensify the raw, visceral connection between you, each movement a symphony of pleasure and urgency. He thrusts forcefully, plunging into the depth of your pussy.

Wrapping your legs around him, you greedily pull him closer, breathless huffs escaping your lips with each relentless thrust. “Yes! Right there!” The pleasure becomes almost blinding as he unerringly targets that sweet, sensitive spot, sending shockwaves of pleasure that build an exquisite tension, promising an impending climax that pulses in the depths of your core.

“Shit.” He pants huskily into your ear, a shiver running down your spine in response. The intensity of his thrusts is unparalleled, each powerful movement leaving an indelible mark on your senses. The realization hits you that tomorrow might bring soreness, but in the heat of the moment, with a dick this good, you decide it’s a price worth paying.

Your moans have evolved into uninhibited symphonies, each thrust hitting that exquisite spot that sends shockwaves through your body. The coil in your tummy tightens, ready to snap, just waiting for that final nudge to propel you over the edge. “I’m so close.”

Jungkook’s grip on your ass tightens, but with skilled precision, he frees one hand and navigates it down the narrow space between your bodies. Despite the limited room, his large hand finds your clit and begins to rhythmically rub it to the beat of his thrusts. The sensation is mind-blowing. Every rub and thrust unravel your body, sending waves of ecstasy through every inch of your being.

Then he leans in, his hot breath grazing your ear, and he moans, pushing you right over the edge, “Come on my cock, pretty.”

“Jungkook!” You pant his name erratically as the coil inside snaps, and you release your fluid over his cock, synchronized with his relentless thrusts. You gasp for air, momentarily feeling your vision blur as your orgasm surges through your spent body.

He keeps thrusting into you, and you feel utterly spent, so you’re just hanging on and clinging to him for dear life. You bury your face in the crook of his neck, closing your eyes as he relentlessly fucks you, searching for his own sweet release.

At a particularly hard thrust, you open your eyes, and they collide with a figure standing in the shadows. 

Brown eyes and blonde hair meet yours. 

You gulp, feeling your core clench instinctively. 

It’s Jimin. 

His eyes reflect a mix of sadness and disappointment as they lock onto yours for a few lingering moments. He turns away and retreats back into the lively party. You don’t appreciate the unsettling expression on Jimin’s face, but there’s little you can do about it now. A strange and disconcerting feeling settles in your stomach.

“Fuck, you just got tighter, babe. I’m almost there.” His hands tighten their grip, his biceps flexing as he pulls you closer, syncing your movements with the intensity of his thrusts.

You sense Jungkook’s thrusts growing more erratic, a telltale sign he’s close. Despite his exhaustion, he strives to give his all in those final fervent moments, and you feel the warmth of his release filling the condom inside you as his pace slows. He’s visibly breathless, and you empathize; after all, he exerted himself, utilizing every ounce of strength to keep you elevated. In his position, you’d likely be a panting mess on the ground.

“You good?” He inquires, scrutinizing your expression. Whether he discerns the melancholy etched on your face or not, he doesn’t comment. Gently withdrawing from you and discarding the condom, he steadies you on shaky legs. You respond with a pensive smile and a nod. The night was undeniably enjoyable, yet Jimin’s forlorn gaze lingers in your thoughts, casting a shadow over the post-passion atmosphere.

“I had a good time, thank you.” You muster a smile, though it feels a bit strained. Whether he perceives it or not is uncertain, and even if he does, you doubt it holds much significance to him.

“Same here. Thanks, babe.” His laughter rumbles as he rights himself, adjusting his underwear and fastening his pants. As he tends to his attire, you scan the floor for your abandoned panties.

As you retrieve them, you notice the dirt clinging to the delicate fabric, deciding against putting them on. Instead, you allow them to slip from your grasp, figuring you’ll retrieve them tomorrow for a wash. The last thing you want is to flaunt dirty underwear at the party.

Jungkook strides confidently back into the lively party, and you trail closely in his wake, anticipation and a lingering heat coloring the air around you.

As you reenter the vibrant party scene, a sudden hush falls over the crowd, and the weight of all eyes on you feels like an invisible spotlight, making you wish for a momentary escape beneath the ground.

As you scan the crowd for Jimin, your gaze briefly collides with his, only to witness him quickly diverting his eyes elsewhere. 

A perplexing mix of emotions lingers in his gaze—maybe hurt or frustration. Puzzled, you question the impact of your intimate encounter outside, contemplating why he might be affected when, by all accounts, you share no significant ties.

As you enter the dining room, the tempting aroma of Ha-rin’s carefully prepared breakfast envelops you, offering a flavorful farewell before you embark on your journey back to the bustling city.

As you approach the table, a surprising sense of harmony fills the room, with everyone already seated, including Jessi, who appears to be in higher spirits—maybe fueled by the knowledge that she’s getting rid of you today.

Soo-ah’s eyes sweep the table, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she starts, “ I discovered a pair of lacy red panties outside the barn this morning.”

You nearly choke on your food, a sudden realization hitting you like a ton of bricks. “Shit. Those are mine. Completely slipped my mind. My bad.”

All eyes suddenly fixate on you, their curiosity palpable. Soo-ah’s gaze is practically bulging out of her eyes, Ara looks equally stunned, and Ha-rin can’t help but release an amused ‘ooohh’. Even Jessi, with her usual nonchalant demeanor, can’t completely hide the flicker of intrigue in her eyes as she rolls them at the unfolding gossip.

Curiosity and a mischievous glint spark in Ara’s big brown doe eyes as she leans forward, her cheeks tinted with a hint of red, and pops the question, “Who did you fuck?”

Between casual bites of scrambled eggs, you drop the bombshell, “A guy named Jungkook. You know him?” The nonchalance in your tone does little to mask the intrigue dancing in your eyes, leaving the table hanging on your every word.

A heavy hush descends upon the table, and you scan the faces around you, perplexed by the sudden silence. Disapproval lingers in Jessi’s slow shake of the head, while the exchange of disconcerting glances among the girls hints at a shared, unspoken concern.

“What’s wrong?” Concern etches your voice as you inquire, the subtle panic seeping through, unable to grasp the sudden tension enveloping the table.

Soo-ah leans in dramatically, her words hanging in the air like a heavy secret. “You fucked Jungkook,” she drawls, the gravity of her statement sinking in, and a chill coursing through your veins. “The same Jungkook who’s been with half the town—Park Jungkook.” The weight of his name leaves you wide-eyed, a sinking feeling settling in your gut.

Your jaw practically hits the floor, or it would if that were humanly possible. Park? Jungkook and Jimin are brothers?

Fuck.

→ Requested series taglist: @kookswifesblog, @kiki-zb, @babejinnie, @ownthesunshine, @allie-is-a-panda, @glllhjh, @bergandysam, @13-manggaetteok, @jeonsbabygirlsworld, @antisocial-mochi267

→ Permanent taglist: @nora12379, @jeonsbabygirlsworld, @fancypeacepersona, @ktownshizzle, @pjmxxjm, @ajoonniice, @kookiewithluv, @mikrokookiex, @rapmonjoon94, @parkitrighthere

→ Author’s endnote: Thank you so much for reading! 🌸 I would very much appreciate it if you reblogged the chapter, if you liked it ✨ A small review or a comment would also mean a lot to me, and even a like. But please, don’t be afraid to let me know what you think; your kind words makes me extremely happy 💜 Omg 🫢 How did you like the ending??? I hope you won’t be too mad… The fling with Jungkook only happens this one time, but necessary to happen for the rest of the story to make sense 🥲

© @/kingofbodyrolls 2024 // Please don’t copy or repost! You are more than welcome to reblog it, leave a comment or ask me anything about the story 🥰

[luffysprincess]

Genuine question, is Wuwa's story any good? I tried playing it on launch and I only lasted until after we got into the city and the game started throwing all these lingos at us and made us run around the city doing stuff with characters I did not care about yet, so I got bored. Although my biggest gripe was that I played on iOS and they had no controller support, so it felt horrible to control. I end up deleting the game after that and have only pieced together stuff floating around the internet since and I have no idea what to feel.

I've also tried to watch streamers playing the beginning of Rinascita(?) mission but I found myself going "???" on some scenes... Like that church scene where Rover went towards the (supposedly) 'secret' tunnel door thing that led to the confessional. And does that mean the confessional (and the harbor ig) is the only way to enter/exit the city?? And how is everyone in the city so chill with our talking mascot Echo despite the game highlighting in the past how talking Echoes are supposed to be God-tier rare iirc? Once again, I got to the point after Rover rode the boat with Carlotta(?) and didn't feel like continuing, so I stopped watching.

Anyway, I guess the main thing is that I really want to get back into Wuwa cause the characters look so good, but the beginning of the two 'seasons' I've seen so far felt so lacking that I'm worried it'll just go downhill from there... So if you don't mind sharing your thoughts about that, I'd like to seek the opinion of a more seasoned player who has properly gone through the story... Thank you for your time reading this /gen

Hi!! Okay you bring up some good points so I’ll try to address them to the best of my ability!!

You mentioned that on iOS, theres no controller support and I can’t say anything about that issue bc I’ve never played on iOS. I played on pc when it first came out and now on the ps5. So I’m sorry I have nothing to say about that!!

Regarding the story, I actually really enjoy it. There are times where I got confused in the beginning bc like you said they throw a lot of big terms at you but overtime you’ll start to understand it!! I will also admit that the characters you interact with in the main quest of the first season did not pique my interest very much. These two specifically but that is bc I personally found them to be a little bit boring. They are sweethearts!! but I wish there was more to them than just nice girls who are color coded by their elemental power.

However the story picks up and you meet some other very interesting characters that got me hooked bc they were more complex. And very quickly the story gets really good. I don’t wanna spoil anything so I’m trying to be vague about it but it really did outdo my expectations of it.

Within Rinascita, the harbor is the only way to reach the city bc it’s a city that was made in the middle of the ocean. The secret confessional exit in the church is I think just a secret escape way. I say “I think” bc I’m still in the middle of this quest and haven’t explored enough of Rinascita to double check this. I wish I could hop on now but unfortunately the damn PSN is down :(

The reason why everyone is lax with our talking echo is bc word is already out that Rover is incredibly important. I’m not sure how much the rest of the world knows but Rover is essentially very fundamental to Solaris-3. Again I don’t wanna spoil much so it’s vague. Also somethinf to consider is that Rinascita is the land of echoes. They have advanced echoes and know a lot about them so perhaps that’s why.

In general, I’ve not been disappointed by the game story line yet. It’s been really fun and to me the plot has been v interesting. Especially the cut scenes and the fighting that happens towards the end of the quest. Those get me really excited!!

Also you’re so right, the characters look so good!! I wish I hadn’t take a break from the game bc there were a lot of characters that were released when I stopped but I regret not having them now.

Anyways, if you ever try the game out again I would love to know how you feel about it again. And thank you for asking, I hope this was helpful and motivating!!! Keep me updated if you do play wuwa again!!

[s0zzles]

Helloo!!

okay, so I might have ignored a few too many world quests… and now they’ve piled up to the point where I’m overwhelmed and just want them GONE. I’m begging for help here :{

also, please don’t criticize my builds too badly—I know those artifacts don’t belong with that character okay? I’m working on it I swearr!! (if you do have some advice though I’d really appreciate it!!)

I just want a decent team or two, but right now most of my characters don’t even have artifacts. My baby boy Kinich is out here doing 7k on a good day he’s trying his best, don’t judge him..

that said, I’d love to play with more people in general! I might not be great at handling my own quests or exploration, but I love helping out with other people’s stuff. let’s co-op and struggle together!! just let me know if you wanna play together and i’ll send my uid!!

[astriddestelle]

So the live action avatar I wasn’t super hyped before but now im even less hyped.

Sokka’s sexism wasn’t as big a deal as eveyone made it truth be told, he’s only super sexist that for like four episodes before he mellows out. Also I get it, sexism hits different in cartoons vs live action. It’s easier to play things for laughs in cartoons

Them changing Katara to make her less ‘motherly’ or whatever has me raising eyebrows cause the whole point of Katara is that she confirms to gender norms she’s super motherly cause she lost her mom it’s the way her culture is that being said it doesn’t stop her from being one of the most badass characters in the show. It’s honestly cool that this sweet mom character is also the one who’s most likely to legitimately try to kill you if you piss her off or hurt the ones she love. Why would they change that.

Them getting rid of Aangs side quests is the biggest wtf for me. Like the whole point of Aang in the first half of season 1 is that he doesn’t want to be the avatar which is why he spends all that time doing stupid shit, penguin sliding, elephant koi fish, etc. getting rid of that and just having him be like on I’m the avatar gotta say the world is a disservice to his character.

Like obviously they’re trying to make it more adult/realistic because again it being a cartoon gives a lot more leeway. But I feel like there getting rid of the things that make the characters them.

If they wanna get rid of stuff get rid of the great divide, get rid of the cabbage guy (while a great running gag is useless), maybe get rid of Bumi tricking Aang (I get it but at the same time it’s not like super necessary) get rid of Iroh doing absolutely nothing when his nephews face got burned off (😤😤).

Like there’s so many other things they can do sigh. Will I be watching. Tbh I don’t know. The original is right there and this show didn’t need a reboot.

Also why are you showing Ozai so early I know we all know what he looks like but the whole point is that he was this faceless evil, wdym Azula will have a big role in season 1. The whole point if her is to show up in season 2 like oh you thought Zuko was bad well I’m worse 😭

Sigh it’s giving do it all in one season in case we get cancelled but I feel like that’s worst cause then people are gonna be like wait what Azula and Ozai did nothing why were they even in this season etc etc

[unhinged-summer-fun]

Thank you so much for common grounds! This is such a wonderful story and I'm thrilled with every update. Thanks for sticking with it and us!

I saw a reblog for questions for writers and I wanted to ask how did you come up with concept for CG and if you ever had had a creative block what do you do to power through or recharge?

Hello!! Thank you so much, I’m so glad you’re enjoying common grounds!! (Sorry about that cliffhanger last week 😬) the answer to your question below the cut~

Well the concept came about when I got on a post-finale voice call with my buddy (this was before I knew there was a burgeoning fandom so we only had two brains’ worth of insanity to work off of) and I said “I wanna write something” and they just said “boxing??? Sol is dad?? Maybe Qimir was injured? He has a weird relationship to his name?” and I’d already been angling toward making sure the Acolyte had a coffee shop au (as a fandom biological niche that needed filling) and I blacked out and had three chapters

I had a bit of a creative block called I Can’t Stop Playing Assassin’s Creed and another one called I’m Moving Across The Country By Myself which sucked to be in the middle of but in my opinion you gotta look at writer’s/creative blocks as like, unskippable side quests. You just gotta figure out what your brain is telling you needs to get done whether it be school or social efforts or Ezio Auditore or simply taking care of yourself. Sometimes I def struggle with finding places to take breaks, but listening to your body will help your body (and mind!) listen to you. Sometimes you just gotta take care of the meat suit so the think-meat has time to install updates.

One thing I’ll also say is never discount a single creative idea. Even if you’re like “this is actually the worst” it still counts as a guidepost of where you don’t want to go next. Initially I was going to have Idise be a fully forgettable NPC type OC, and I wrote quite a bit of the fic with that mentality, but then when I realized how cool it’d be if she was important, it made my storytelling a lot more intentional and I felt it flowed easier. You don’t need to find your way out of the maze on the first try. Let your mind wander into dead ends and explore where things CAN go until you realize where they SHOULD go.

That said, there are often times where the spirit is willing but the think-meat is not and you just have to be patient and kind to yourself. Fatalistic determinations on your self-worth are common in this period, so fight the urge to light the world on fire just because things feel bad right this moment. Everything you made before does not merit punishment for the supposed sin of stalled creativity, and neither do you. The more understanding you are of your creative mind, the more it will want to please you in turn.

I know that’s a bit philosophical and long-winded, but such is the price to pay when asking me about writing LOL

Thank you so much anon! And if yall have any other questions pls ask~

[elvhenmage]

DAV ending spoilers

do not read if you don’t wanna know one of the possible endings!!!

I DOOMED EVERYBODY. oh my god—

listen ….. i don’t have all the time in the world so yeah i’ll admit it. i didn’t do all of my faction quests or even most of them bc i wanted to finish the game before i got spoiled. so my endgame was TRASH 😭 holy shit. i don’t even rly know what to say honestly but i just got so pissed off at smth courtney said about an early game choice potentially affecting the ending in some way that i don’t even want to reload before the endgame to do my faction quests 😭

man i loved the high stakes of the endgame though. like i was completely caught off guard bc i never imagined they’d actually commit to that but wow. that’ll teach me to speedrun…

also the way a very angry solas yanked rook right up to him with magic had me twirling my hair i can’t lie. so it wasn’t all bad

urgh. i do have gripes as i’m sure everyone does but for a first playthrough overall it was sooo much fun. the abilities were way too complicated for me to bother with on a first run so i played on storyteller, but i liked the base combat itself a lot. i thought it was fun to play, if repetitive sometimes. absolutely will be playing again for my “canon” run and to do everything possible and i’ll have fun doing it :] esp getting to experience the companions again & in different ways, i liked them a lot but there’s always room for improvement.

(but me and courtney will be having More Words abt things we didn’t like, especially after we get the real ending)

ALSO (late game spoilers)

you guys have no idea how stoked i was at the varric reveal LMFAO we called it pretty early on and after that it was just a looming sense of unease and us both going “he is NOT REAL!!!” every time he showed up on screen

[deludedfantasy]

Trimax Vol 8 Ch 4-6

Once again, to no one's surprise, I am suffering about Trimax. Also, the last chapter of this volume makes me wanna scream and cry about Wolfwood. Fair warning, this one is a little long, but here goes.

Ch 4

Hang on, I just realized there’s no indication Wolfwood’s working with Home whatsoever. It’s a lot more likely that Home attacked the Ark hoping to either knock it down or somehow get Vash to appear, and Wolfwood used it as his opportunity to attack. Does Home even know Vash is trapped on the Ark?

This also implies that Wolfwood has been just as trapped on the Ark for seven months, watching the world be destroyed while being completely unable to do anything about it and feel guilty about his part in causing it. This is ten times worse than what I originally thought. 

Has…has Legato just been standing in that room, staring at Vash for seven months while controlling him so he doesn’t escape? That’s just so insane and would take so much concentration. Though I don’t know what else I could expect from Legato at this point. He’d do literally anything for Knives. 

“Don’t hesitate,” Wolfwood says. He’s been taught not to hesitate or ask questions, just pull the trigger. But this is the third time that, for whatever reason, he’s pointed a gun at someone and not pulled the trigger. First Knives, then Vash, and now Legato. No matter how necessary he knows the kill is, something holds him back. At the end of the day, he doesn’t want to be a killer, because he always hesitates. 

A battle of wills ensues between Wolfwood, Vash, and Legato. Wolfwood is right, Legato has been concentrating nonstop for over half a year, he can’t control all of them without one of them slipping. I wonder how much Wolfwood turned over this escape plan in his head, all the different possibilities as he waited for his chance to strike. 

Mini Angel arm!!! And Vash is actually able to control it this time!!!

Oh my god, did Legato make Wolfwood shoot himself in the gut? And then Wolfwood just went and casually slung Vash over his shoulder and walked out? The guy has nerves of steel to be able to do that without falling over.

Wolfwood is trying so hard to appeal to something in Livio that would care about the world and not this holy mission the Eye of Michael has indoctrinated into him. But of course, he’s too far gone, and they serve different purposes now. Nightow really likes writing about brothers who drifted apart and created completely opposing ideals. 

Oh no, that’s so much blood. Wolfwood can’t drag both Punisher and Vash around and protect himself. He took all of Livio’s bullets protecting Vash…I don’t like this, I don’t like the implications. 

Chapel is no longer in a wheelchair and dodged Wolfwood’s rocket. The Eye of Michael really doesn’t play around. 

I don’t like this!!! I don’t like this!!! Wolfwood has finally met his match in battle. He can’t fight off Livio and Chapel, and protect himself and Vash. So he chooses to protect Vash. And the other thing is, I can’t tell if he’s shooting to kill or not. Has he already started on final quest for redemption? 

Livio and Wolfwood were once just children together!!! They loved each other and now they’re trying to kill each other!!! But Wolfwood won’t give up just because it hurts or because of what they’ve become!!! He still has people he needs to protect!!!

Oh, oh, Wolfwood’s prayer! Every time he prays and shows a moment of faith, I break down a little. And this one is so vulnerable! He just wants a measure of forgiveness, to be someone different, someone better. He did horrible things to protect the people he loved and he became a monster to do it. He doesn’t think he can ever be forgiven but he’s asking anyway.

And then!! AND THEN!! Vash answers his prayer. This literal angel says, “Yes, you do. I believe you deserve to be saved.” And he uses his wings to shield him!! I’m gonna go curl up into a ball and cry.

Wait, I thought he was saying this prayer in his head. But Vash answers him out loud. Unless Vash can somehow hear his thoughts?

Also, what a beautiful spread honestly. Love it when Vash willingly uses the powers that scare him to protect instead of destroy. 

Oh, Vash is very angry. He’s threatening people. We see this so rarely, and we know this means business. After being trapped and tortured for months and nearly watching his friend die to save him, Vash is done. And honestly, Chapel fucking deserves it, I hate that bastard.

Whatever the hell Knives just did was terrifying. That was a lot of power used at such a great distance. How is he keeping this up?

Vash still doesn’t value his own life at all but he’s found his will to fight, because Wolfwood was willing to put himself on the line to save him. Because he cared enough to do the right thing. I’m chewing on glass again, I can’t do this. 

Look at Vash, going just a little feral. He deserves it after everything he’s been through. And he’s using the Angel Arm while fully in control of it and himself to save himself and his friend. I mean, he did mean to use it to shoot Knives but when that avenue closed, he used it to protect instead. 

Hey, Knives, what the hell were those mouths on your weird new Plant body??? That’s freaky as hell.

Ch 5

Omg BABY WOLFWOOD!!!! 

No matter how many times I read or watch what happened to Wolfwood and how he was essentially experimented on, I am always overwhelmed by how horrible it is. Not only did the Eye force him to become someone he wasn’t spiritually, emotionally, and metaphorically, they took away his ability to grow and mature on his own, so he didn’t recognize his own body and neither would anyone who’d known him before.

All of Wolfwood’s betrayals have been in service of protecting the kids from what happened to him. But even as he’s saying this, he’s thinking of Livio. Despite everything he did, he still failed to protect him and that failure haunts him. 

Wolfwood, full of bullets and healing serum in the middle of nowhere after confessing to Vash the worst of his sins: And now it’s nap time. I can’t blame him, dude literally just fell out of an airship and is probably so tired, but the image of it is hilarious. More than it should be after everything Wolfwood just revealed, but Nightow has a talent for unexpected humor. 

Also Vash’s “Don’t die on me!” makes my heart hurt. 

They are so goddamn lucky Wolfwood decided to use Home’s attack on the Ark to rescue Vash because otherwise they’d be stuck in the middle of nowhere, injured with no way to get anywhere. This is why I originally thought Wolfwood was working with them! It’s just too convenient. 

Blankie Vash and Wolfwood, my beloved. They deserve to be wrapped up in blankets and be all snuggly more often. 

The most interesting thing we learn from all this is that Knives seems to be losing control of the Plants a bit. He intended to absorb them, but it seems he’s becoming lost in them himself. 

Meryl!!! She never gave up hope that Vash was alive and out there. She found Marlon and got him to make another gun because she believed Vash would come back, and he’d need something to fight with. 

Is Knives accidentally killing the Plants as he uses their powers? Another instance of Knives’s never ending hypocrisy. He condemns humans for using Plants to stay alive, but when it’s for his own goals, it’s a worthy sacrifice. 

Wolfwood is leaving…I don’t like this one bit. (She says knowing exactly where this story is going)

Ch 6

Oooh, a Wolfwood centric story!

This is the first time I’ve seen bird imagery used to represent not pure unfettered freedom, but the burden of it. Constantly having to flap your wings to stay aloft and without any hope of shade from the harsh sun. It’s an interesting way to show Wolfwood’s beliefs about freedom. Mainly, that it’s not all it's cracked up to be. 

Love that Wolfwood just goes, “Yeah, sure, I’m a priest, whatever you say.”

I can’t tell if Wolfwood’s congratulations is sarcastic or sort of sincere. Because the story Maylene tells is pretty messed up. She’s being strong-armed into a marriage in order to protect her family’s livelihood. Wolfwood’s response feels very out of left field, even if it is sarcastic. 

“How does the world look when you are able to choose your own path?” Wolfwood is the wrong person to be asking that question of, Maylene. He has no idea. He’s never had a choice about who was or what he could do. He’s been following orders longer than he’s ever had a modicum of freedom. And the only time he tried to forge his own path by killing Chapel and going after Knives, he ended up caught in a cage yet again. 

Does Wolfwood envy Maylene’s luxurious cage? I think he does. It’s a peaceful life, after all, where you’d get everything you need and not have to worry about the rest. It’s interesting that Wolfwood would prefer a luxurious cage over what he currently has, because in my opinion, he’s just trading one kind of cage for another. 

Or maybe I’m reading this wrong and Wolfwood is trying to convince himself that his own life in a cage is okay. And if he convinces someone else of it, he can shore up his own doubts about the life he’s stuck in.

OMG MORE BABY WOLFWOOD. And he’s holding a baby!!! I can’t believe they just foisted a baby on a little kid though. 

Listen, I know Wolfwood was being parentified a little, but he’s so sweet and gentle with baby Maylene. He takes care of her and I think he got attached to her. 

Oh no, he did!!! Look at his face when they’re leaving and Maylene is crying. She’s reaching for him and he’s trying to steel himself against it. He loved that little girl!!!

Hold on, did Wolfwood just…take a beating? He could’ve fought back, but he didn’t. Was he worried that it would make things more difficult for Maylene if he did. 

Also, how does anyone believe he’s still a priest after what he said to Orekano? That guy deserved it, but, man, Wolfwood, that is not how a priest talks. 

There is a price to freedom and not doing what is expected of you. Wolfwood knows that and now so does Maylene. People are dead because she wouldn’t go with Orekano. There are consequences when you make choices and they aren’t always good. That’s what he wants her to see. But his perspective is flawed. Maylene didn’t pull the trigger, Orekano did. You can’t control everything that happens, you can only control yourself and your choices. You can’t protect everyone by doing nothing. Which oddly enough, is something Wolfwood was trying to teach Vash at one point. But he’s not great at following his own philosophy either. 

Side note, I also hate Orekano. What a useless, misogynistic piece of shit. Now that she’s not pure, he doesn’t want her anymore? Better for her to die? I hope Maylene or Wolfwood or someone shoots him. 

THANK YOU WOLFWOOD. THANK YOU PUNISHER. 

I think, more than anything, Wolfwood wanted Maylene to be safe. He wanted her to have a good life. He cared about her, after all. He thinks a life where you fill in the gaps of other people’s lives, where you are someone’s pawn but at least you’re a safe pawn is good enough. Because that’s his own life, and he has to be content with it or what will he do with himself? 

But Maylene wants to be like a bird. She wants to truly be free. The moment where she passes Wolfwood the bird he made her back to him, I think, for just a moment, he remembered how he used to long for that himself when he was younger. Before he was forced into his own cage and made to live with it. 

Idk if the way I’m interpreting this chapter makes any sense at all, but it’s driving me crazy. So much good Wolfwood character study packed into this short incident!!! Very excited to see everyone else’s thoughts on it.

[bg3-game-analysis]

Game Story and Narrative Design 📝

What is Baldur’s Gate 3 about? What kind of story is it trying to tell?

I would argue that the game is attempting to send a message of belonging and also overcoming hardships. Throughout the entirety of the game, the player is surrounded by companions who are all struggling in their own ways. One of your jobs is to help them get closure and essentially end those parts of their stories so they can begin fresh. You become close friends with your party and begin to really cherish them.

The overarching story of the game is of a similar vain. The whole reason the player begins the journey they end up on is because they want an annoying mind flayer tadpole out of their head. A very reasonable request if you ask me. You bond with your companions because they too have annoying little tadpoles in their heads. You learn to overcome the challenges that you and your friends have to face due to the little annoyance and literally grow stronger from it all as you level up.

The design features that support the story

A very prominent design feature of BG3 is absolutely its use of a discovery narrative structure with a little hint of pre-established narrative structure. The discovery narrative relies on the player’s exploration of the world to find out story information (Picucci 107). There are so many random little tidbits of information I never would have learned about the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 if I hadn’t decided to explore as I was running around completing quests. You can learn about past inhabitants of the Goblin camp and explore secret areas in the Emerald Grove just to name a couple examples. The pre-established narrative comes into play with some of the cut-scene usage towards the beginning of the game and when transitioning between acts. They don’t occur too often so that the player loses interest, but actually provides information that you wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. It also just provides a cinematic break for dramatic moments.

The game also uses event triggers and dialogue trees to create a more active experience for the player. The event triggers within BG3 often trigger fights or moments of dialogue. It can also trigger traps if you’re not careful (sometimes even Astarion doesn’t notice them and then it results in him dying from an explosion sooooo be careful, trust me you do not want to go back a save). Dialogue trees also create a more active experience because they give the player more options to decide how they would like to speak.

Can I understand what’s going on all the time?

All of the plots and the narrative I can say I do understand. The game can get a little stressful and overwhelming depending on which act you’re in, but otherwise it’s not as confusing as it may seem. Newer players might struggle to grasp at the mechanics at first if they have never experienced Dungeons & Dragons, but as far as the plot goes, I think it’s pretty easy to follow.

The influence interactivity has on the structure of the story

Because the game is so focused on keeping the players immersed and interactive, there had to be less structure when it came to the story. There really is no cut and dry way the game ends. There are multiple endings all stemming from how your player interacts with the world. Baldur’s Gate 3 really lets the players have control over the narrative more-so than the developers at Larian do. If you want to be a bad person? Go for it, no one’s stopping you. Do you want to ignore the main quest for as long as possible? Sure, go for it. Wanna kiss the Emperor? Only some of the NPCs will judge you, but no one’s holding you back from following your heart.

(Image Source)

Works Cited

Domsch, Sebastian. Storyplaying. de Gruyter, 2013.

Picucci, Marcello, A. When Video Games Tell Stories: A Model of Video Game Narrative Architectures. Vol. 3, 2014.