#Isle of Reveries

[19thperson]

19th's Steam Next Fest Impressions Feb 2025 Edition - Day 6

Day 0/Day 1/Day 2/Day 3/Day 4/Day 5

Wanderstop

Teashop running cozy game from half of the duo behind Stanley Parable and from the creator of Beginners Guide.

You play as Alta, a warrior who had an undefeated streak lasting 3 and a half years before experiencing of string of two (2) losses and having a complete physical and emotional breakdown about it. She journeys to see the illustrious Master Winters to get training, only to collapse partway there, losing the ability to even pick up her sword.

She's saved by Boro, a gentle and emotionally intelligent man who runs the teashop wanderstop. After several failed attempts to leave again, collapsing each time, she agrees to stay and help run shop until she can lift her sword again.

I've said this before but I like seeing cozy games that dig deeper into the iyashi-kei/healing story aspects, highlighting the melancholic alongside the soothing. And this game is going all in on that.

Alta and Boro have a great chemistry, someone putting up a stoic front and someone else who can see through it immediately. He has a wisdom about him that's blunted by an inherent goofy awkwardness that's legitimately funny, and Alta not being sure how to respond to this treatment. The kind of back and forth where either side can take the straight man role.

The demo only gives a taste of gardening and tea-making, but I like how involved each system is. The gardening is basically a space puzzle, where you need to plant seeds in specific formations. Nothing with a strenuous fail state, but adds some texture to the moment to moment stuff. The tea brewing machine is a rube goldberg machine with several steps that have to be done in the right order. It's a good way to simulate being mentally present and involved in small tasks.

Wheel World

Cyclist Breath of the Wild by Messof, the Niddhog guy. I am gald he is no longer self-sabotaging by making his games look as ugly as possible.

Your character, Kat, wakes up confused in the wilderness, and finds a temple. Inside is a bike spirit who explains that his job is to cycle spirits to the moon and back through the sewer of spirits to keep the cycle of life (do you get it) moving and shift the world into a new ger (do you get it). But between his old rider passing nad theives stealing all his legendary parts, he needs your help to fix the situation. The world is filled with bike puns.

The game does nail the "feel" of manual cycling. Hills drastically effect your momentum. Drafting not only speeds you up but further refills your boost. Turns at high speed need to be handled very deliberately.

Mildly worried about the "texture" of the world. The sense of it being a lived in place. The starting island didn't have much by way of landmarks save for some sparse houses and a beach, and most NPCs only existed to make further bike puns. But the trailer makes it look like there will be a lot more.

The first race the demo offered was dead easy, but the optional extended rematch actually provided a bit of challenge.

There's also, as the trailer clearly shows, a lot of customization, but so far the game hasn't given me any impetus to not just pick up everything that make number go up across the board. not much incentive to specialize yet. Expect that in the full game though.

Also if you press up on the d-pad you ring your bell. Ding Ding.

Am I Nima

Horror game about making your mother happy.

You play as Nima, a child who suffered a severe accident. You wake up with your memories foggy, tied up and locked in the basement by your mother. She claims it's for your own safety, yet seems… afraid. Distraught. You have to convince her that you are, in fact, her daughter.

The core gameplay is a word combining system. Either when exploring the basement or talking to mom, you'll get new keywords, which can be combined with other keywords to make further words. Those words can then be used in dialogue choices when talking with mom. While it's not a completely freeform system, the game gives you a lot more words than expected.

A lot of combinations circle back to the same words, like "pain," but that in turn leads to it being a very naturalistic way to deliver exposition and simulate memory recall. Combining words with "dad" will eventually lead to greif, and you realize that dad's probably dead, for instance, while combining words with "mom" leads to words about neglect and resentment.

It's doing a lot with a little.

Sol Cesto

Push-your-luck roguelite about italians delving into a dungeon.

Every floor is a 4x4 grid filled with enemies, treasure chests, traps, and healing items. When you choose a row, your character randomly lands in one of the 4 spots. If they land on an enemy, the enemy dies, but if they had a higher physical or magical damage stat, you take the damage in difference. empty at least 5 squares to unlock the floor's door, although you can spend extra turns there to get more resources.

Inbetween enemy floors you can get upgrades that change your percentages, with some drawbacks. +20% landing on a chest, but +10% chance landing on a physical type monster, for example.

You also have the "sun" ability which allows you to move in a different way than usual. The starting character of the knight can instead choose a column instead of a row. you need to build meter to use these but it refills quickly. You also have items that can heal you, weaken/eliminate monsters or areas, and even skip floors entirely. Despite the luck based gameplay, there are a lot of tweakable aspects.

I never beat the demo's boss because it's gimmick is it turns 1/4th of the map into an instant death zone and for some reason or another I kept doing the gamble instead of going for the 100% safe routes

It's a slot machine but one where the odds are very obvious.

Labyrinth of the Demon King

Feudal era Japan survival horror King's Field.

It is the latter age of Dharma. War and famine blight the country, and demons walk the earth. You're a simple footsoldier, whose army was decieved by a demon and led into an ambush. Having lost your lord and all your comrades, you descend into the demon's stronghold looking for revenge.

This is a game less that I "dislike" and more "I couldn't get my head around." Namely the combat. It has a stamina meter tied to your attacks, a very short dodge, and a parry. But this meter is punishingly strict. I was constantly finding myself on zero and dying at every enemy encounter. I'm assuming it's a me problem, that there's something about the rhythm of combat I'm not picking up, but I spent an hour with it and want to move on.

That isn't to say I couldn't appreciate anything, though. It has a strong atmosphere, and the cutscenes that deliberately up the grain feel very apropos.

Enemy behavior was impressive too. They won't just head straight toward you, they'll fight eachother if given the chance. One time I got lucky enough to whittle an enemy to low health, and it ran away. I was honestly just grateful for the breather, so I stopped for a bit to regain my stamina and slowly crept down the hallway.

The same enemy was hiding around the corner waiting to swing at me.

I may try it again later at some point, I just had other things I wanted to finish.

Isle of Reveries

Game Boy Color Styled Classic Zelda.

You play as a young nameless owl boy on a pilgrimage, to a mountaintop temple said to grant any wish. It's a pilgrimage that many take, but no one seems to come back from, and as you arrive, you realize something is terribly wrong here.

This one took much longer than it should. I got stuck. While being a classical top down zelda, you have the unbelievable power to manually jump. While I smiled at the novelty, I forgot it was something I could do right as a puzzle demanded it, and I sent myself back wandering through the halls thinking I needed to find an upgrade

Aside from my blunder this was a pretty good zelda like. I liked most of the dungeon design. But there were a couple complaints.

The first is… you're not actually stuck to a grid. Or at least, not the grid the pixel art implies. But the granularity of movement means you can easily slip into a pit or water trap by clipping the edge of it. There was a hidden optional upgrade to turn off damage from those but if you recognize that it's a problem you've just giving me a band aid, and an optional one at that.

You got a big chunky hitbox and you're garunteed to eat damage. To counteract this you can pick up hearts everywhere. Makes combat a bit frustrating

There was something that I really liked though. In the last bit of the demo you get the ability to copy a tile and replace it elsewhere. Like an extremely scaled down version of echoes of wisdom's ability. This turns what was previously "single room limited problems" into ones where you can drag anything from any point in the dungeon to a new space. I can see this being really interesting on a large scale.

Moon River

(wider than a mile, I'm crossing you in style someday…)

This is some classic RPG Maker Shit. Some Enterbrain Logo on startup shit. 640x320 resolution at start and hit F5 to fullscreen shit.

The world is ending from an event called "The Dimming." Shadows swallow the world, a void that supposedly leaves nothing but conciousness in a vaccuum. One island remains, where people can only exist in moonlight. Our protagonist, the mariner, arrives from the sea, and aims to read the end of the Moon River cutting through the island before sunrise.

It's mostly a puzzle game, although… not great puzzles. I didn't finish it, this demo was unexpectedly long, but save for a set of block pushing puzzles, it was all fetch quests.

But as a narrative experience, it was interesting. It has a repeating structure. Mariner goes down the river, hits a wall of shadow. It can only be dispelled by filling a nearby lantern with "pure light." You dock, and go to the nearby village to search for it.

Each village so far has been different ways people respond to the end times. Complete lethargy, paranoia, throwing their remaining time into longshot solutions, religious mania. It reminded me a bit of Kino's Journey.

The music is excellent. While the pixel art isn't the most detailed, I like the art direction of having each area use a different color pallete. Both in terms of giving the game a sense of visual progresssion, but also informing the mood of each section. The town of monks who turn themselves into trees, explicitly presented as mass ritualized suicide, is bathed in an oppressive red. The town of the astrologers aiming to reverse the dimming is pained in a gentle but melancholic purple.

Has some very clear technical issues though. I was clipping through areas I wasn't supposed to. One time I brought someone an item for a side quest, and he just responded as if I had already given it to him, while it still stood in my inventory. It's not deal breakers, nothing so far derails progression, but mildly annoying.

[blueeyedrat]

Steam Next Fest, winter 2025. More comments under the cut.

Over half my list is puzzle games, as is typical. Some hits: Is This Seat Taken is a charming little logic puzzle about arranging pieces to fulfill more and more complex requirements, while AI Kill Alice is a different sort of logic puzzle about finding more and more novel ways to use the limited tools you're given. Quadphos is a nice minimalist Minesweeper-esque that ramps up in complexity nicely.

Some misses: Enlightening might be a nice sokoban if it had a better control scheme, but as is it didn't hold my interest. SpreadCheat is a game I had my eye on for a bit, but the humor became grating almost immediately and the math puzzles weren't interesting enough to overcome it.

A couple demos I played are games I first saw as prototypes of on itch.io, and it's nice to see them getting expanded on. Play Twice's demo is somewhat basic, but having already played the prototype I didn't really need the concept proven to me. Hot Wax is an arcade puzzler in the vein of Tetris; the way it iterates on the concept is very interesting, but also it screws with my Tetris instincts in every possible way and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

Programming puzzles have long existed on a spectrum: more mechanical (like SpaceChem, Opus Magnum, Prime Mover, or my recent obsession ABI-DOS) and more raw coding (like Shenzhen I/O, Human Resource Machine, or A=B). If you're in the mood for the latter, QuantumPulse 2A might be what you're looking for. Simple but intriguing core mechanic, with a lot of different ways to solve and optimize. In the grand tradition of Zach-likes, it's even got solitaire. What's not to like?

Another miss: Train Valley Origins feels like a slightly clunkier version of the original Train Valley; I liked the first two games and passed on the third, and I suspect I'll be passing on this one too. On the other hand, I can already see myself sinking time into Islands and Trains; it's a simple sandbox like Townscaper or Tiny Glade, but one that offers just enough options that I might accidentally lose several hours getting everything just right.

Isle of Reveries is another retro Zelda-like, and it more or less lives up to that ideal. The movement's good, the combat's fine, and the demo (consisting of an opening segment and the first dungeon) has a good variety of puzzles and tools to use, with one in particular that could make for some very interesting scenarios further down the line.

Meanwhile, Tall Trails takes the "climb everything" style defined by modern Zelda (and the games that followed in its wake, like Sable), mixes in some speedy 3D platformer movement, and turns the whole thing into a collect-a-thon. Turns out, it's a pretty fun combo! Thumbs up.

Wanderstop is… a curiosity. There are plenty of "cozy" games out there. There are plenty that are specifically about running some kind of "cozy" space, like a garden or a tea shop. There are games that function simultaneously as a space for escapism or simple routines, and as a narrative about escapism or simple routines. And, well, there's a reason for that! These ideas dovetail nicely with each other, if you can pull it off. The demo for Wanderstop only offers a small glimpse of the larger story, but the core concept (essentially, an action game protagonist suffering severe burnout and becoming stranded in the "wrong" genre) is a compelling enough hook that I'm interested to see how it plays out. The demo hits the right beats mechanically, has a lovely aesthetic, and has enough of a dev pedigree that I have high hopes for it.

[out-of-sp00ns]

Dnd Nonsense

The party: We need a distraction...

Reverie, a 6'5 tiefling in a clown costume with a fox mask and currently soaked and shivering from having been sat in cold bloody water for 20 minutes: ... What? *Like 30 seconds later without additional convincing needed*

Reverie, rolling out of the bloody water that is filled with dead bodies and standing up in front of guards of this facility with all the grace of someone who's bones are al dente pasta and the biggest most unnatural grin on his face: Hello! How are you on this fine day!

[skyrim-forever]

WIP Wednesday

What up it's Wednesday my dudes :D Thank you to @labskeever aand @silly-little-diaryfor tagging me. Starting today I'm busy until Sunday so I'll be on tumblr less, but I will get to your lovely stuff <3 No pressure but tagging: @theoneandonlysemla @changelingsandothernonsense @dirty-bosmer @pocket-vvardvark @sanzas-reverie @ladytanithia @sulphuricgrin @friend-of-giants

@heavy-metal-dick @lucien-lachance @sunsettemplar @chiqita @firefly-factory @umbracirrus

Meme is appropriate because they are clowning. I've been working on writing Theodora and Ondolemar's first meeting (from this fic) in her pov because we must examine the blorbos from all angles! Under the cut for suggestive content:

“I can afford to be loose on occasion for if the lesser races want to worship one of their own, it will not change their inferiority. In fact I think it is good, it shall pacify them, making things all the easier.” Oh my Commander. Either he was an idiot himself, yet, with his rank she thinks that cannot be, or he was more drunk than she thought. Or perhaps she was more charming then she gave herself credit for, already far from humble about her social skills. It occurred to her to be funny, insisting she had an amulet of Talos somewhere on her person. Carefully hidden so he must search thoroughly, strip back the layers from her wool dress to her small clothes underneath, just to be certain. He takes his work so seriously so it would be fun and hopefully she will be stripped roughly by him but, she chooses not to speak that yet, deciding to have fun with something else he said. The mer speaks of pacifying the lesser races while rambling to her, grinning at her touch. Not the most versed in Dominion propaganda, Theodora doesn’t expect such behaviour is fitting for a proud Altmer, especially not a Thalmor in a leadership position. So she laughs.

“Yes, yes the famous mer supremacy I’ve heard about. Well Commander if you’re so superior, then why have you been hitting on me half the night?” Theodora lays it on thick, fluttering her eyelashes at him, trying to look both seductive and bashful. It seems she could have the makings of an actor because despite the fact the Imperial is anything but bashful about the carnal pleasures, her mannerisms work perfectly. His gloved fingers brush a piece of hair out of her face and she wants nothing more than to rest her cheek in his hand, except perhaps remove the article of clothing to suck on his fingers; a hint for what else she enjoys doing. But she doesn’t get to do that, nor any other act that’s crossed her mind since their conversation started, for he is an idiot indeed.

“Well, although such relations are frowned upon on the Isle, in the absence of Altmeri women, one must make due with what’s around.”  

[theoneandonlysemla]

WIP Wednesday

Tagged by: @chiqita @labskeever @skyrim-forever

Tagging: @theyli @friend-of-giants @sulphuricgrin @moriche @heavy-metal-dick @pocket-vvardvark @sanzas-reverie @firefly-factory @rikkimora @sheirukitriesfandom @ladytanithia @elavoria @tiredela @rakaiawriter @hircines-hunter @lunarlorkhan @vanilleeistee @dirty-bosmer

As I told you all by lamenting in my posts about it, I was plagued by migraines this week. Also I did not have much time or energy to be creative, as there were many meetings and appointments. I finished my Ria piece tho and that was fun! But I also put in some colour on my cunty Morotar pic and more importantly I settled on a background that reminded me of the Summerset Isles. So, have the Moroturd:

[mxautistic]

A Fresh Slate

Philip Wittebane X Witch!Reader

Philip scrambled in through the doors of the newly built Bonesborough Library. Slamming the doors behind him, he fell against them, chest heaving as he gulped in the air. Those two brothers really were becoming a damnable thorn in his side, especially now that his freshly broken nose gave them more ammunition for their taunts and jeers. He didn't much care for their opinion

they were witches after all, and as contemptible as the rest of their kind  but that didn't make it any less infuriating for these creatures to look down on him as if HE were the lesser being.

"Um.....are you alright sir?"

He opened his mouth to retort before he had even glanced at the witch addressing him, but as soon as he caught a glimpse, his mouth snapped shut. Suddenly, he understood every warning he'd ever been given about the temptation witches could be.

"Sir? Sir are you alright?!"

She sounded very far away, as if through a great body of water, and yet he was shocked to find that she had moved closer to him. Her hand moved towards his face and he snatched it up, unthinking, his base instincts that he had developed over the years setting off their warning alarms. She flinched and let out an unladylike little squeal of surprise (which was quite frankly adorable), and the bubble he was in, this strange, slowed moment of time popped; and suddenly he was himself again. Confident, assured, charming, and ready to fully sweep the most exciting thing he had yet encountered in this Hell off of her feet.

"Oh, pardon me miss. I was running away from some thugs; I think I'm still a bit jumpy. My deepest apologies."

He gave her a sad, long suffering look and her face softened, much to his delight.

"Oh you poor dear! Are you hurt?"

He sighed, casting his gaze down and fighting a rather giddy smile over her sudden fawning over him.

"I don't think so, but could I bother you for a spot to sit down in? If it isn't any trouble."

"Oh of course! No trouble at all dear, right this way."

It was at this moment that he realized that he had never let go of her hand, as she had twisted hers in his grasp to lead him to a small back room with a table and kitchen. This time, he allowed a small smile to spread on his face.

"You are a truly kind woman Miss....?"

She flushed, a smile of her own forming, and he became rather glad that he was sitting down because God if his knees didn't go weak.

"(Y/N). Miss (Y/N) (L/N)."

He let his smile grow wider, still keeping an edge of softness to it. He tightened his hold on her hand and pressed his lips to it firmly. For a moment, he worried he'd gone a bit too far, but soon relished in the gasp she made, and the way her fading blush returned, more prominent than ever.

"Well then Miss (Y/N), it is a true pleasure to meet you."

His smile widened, pressed against her hand, as she spluttered a little. Oh he was going to have fun with her. It had been a very long time since he'd had a true companion. And never one like her. Oh she was already so giving and trusting; too trusting. He'd have to keep her close, for her own protection. And if he happened to find any satisfaction from her presence? Well then, that was just an added delight.

"Would you like some tea?"

Wittebane snapped out of his reverie to look up at her still flushed face, a thrill shooting through him at the sight of it. Yes, he could get used to this very easily.

"Tea would be lovely my dear; thank you."

She flushed a little deeper, and then gently, (Reluctantly? Perhaps he was projecting), detached her hand from his, before turning around and making her way to a stove behind her, adding fresh kindling to the fire within. He watched her go and easily descended back into his previous line of thought. Yes, he would take good care of her. He would offer her everything he could possibly get his hands on; the whole of the isles would be hers, not even if she asked, but if he deemed that she should have it. A familiar voice passed through his head, wind through empty autumn trees, asking him if he wasn't maybe being a bit too hasty in his devotion; if perhaps the loneliness had made him overeager to fill the void with the first pretty girl he'd seen, the passion he'd always repressed overflowing. He told that voice to shut up, with its sage advice, and its familiarity, and go right back to where he had left it, dirty and bleeding on the accursed ground.

Begrudgingly, he acknowledged to himself that there was an infuriatingly sound point to be had though. He was being a bit too quick, tripping over himself a little. Oh but it was so easy when she was so beautiful, and so kind. When this possessiveness was flooding through his veins, fogging up his senses, making everything go soft, was raging in equal measure as the curse that thrummed through him like a second heartbeat; he hadn't felt this human in a very long time. And well, if he'd given himself over to sin already, fallen victim to lying and theft and murder — what was a little covetousness. Just another broken stone slab. Another commandment littered on the ground behind him, with all the bodies and the toil and the blood and tears. After all that, he deserved a little softness. He deserved something to keep, to treasure —

His gaze came into focus on her figure as she poured him a cup of tea, and he schooled his expression into something pleasantly neutral and gentlemanly, suddenly aware of the near feral look of desperation and want that had spread across his face as he had descended into his thoughts.

"By the way...if I may ask, what is your name?"

He faltered for a moment. He knew his name, obviously, of course he did, but it didn't feel...appropriate anymore. He was far from the same man who had come to the Boiling Isles, and no one had called him by anything other than "human" in so long; with those two brothers, and so many others after him, maybe it was time for a fresh slate...

"Belos. My name is Belos."

——————————————-

IF YOU WANT MORE PLEASE SEND IN REQUESTS

they can be anonymous and can just be requests for part 2s

[arcane-vagabond]

Fool's Fare: Chapter Ten

Fool's Fare: Chapter Ten

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Reader

Summary: Captain Jake "Hangman" Seresin had come close to swinging from the gallows more times than he would care to admit. He's stolen, cheated, even killed. The worst thing he's ever done? Broken the heart of a woman. Having broken the heart of the woman whom Davy Jones himself had fallen for six years ago, Jake is now cursed to live as something not dead, but not alive. He's doomed to live a half-life for the rest of his existence unless he manages to obtain the treasure Davy Jones deems most valuable. The problem? He has no idea what it is, and he only had seven years to obtain it.

Content Warning: ASSAULT, ATTEMPTED SA, feelings of jealousy, reader avoiding her problems, smut (pain kink, fingering, dry humping, p in v, dirty talk, slight breeding kink), arguing, descriptions of blood, violence, misplaced rage, idiots in love. I think that's it, but PLEASE let me know if I missed something!

Word Count: Just under 5.7k

Series Masterlist || Moodboards || Playlist

You always thought monsters were found solely in the spoken words of stories passed from person to person in low lights, in hushed whispers, in frantic glances.

They were the things that parents warned their children about, their gnashing teeth and glowing eyes hunting them in the dark, reminding them to stay close, to stay mindful, to stay safe.

You didn’t believe in monsters. You hadn’t since you were little, but now you wondered if monsters weren’t the creatures that roamed the nights, preying on children and unsuspecting folks as they traversed the shadows. Perhaps they were the unsuspecting victims of circumstance, the victims of choices made and consequences dealt with no care for the intentions behind them.

Did any one person ever intend to become a monster? To become the thing that parents warned their children about? Were they born or were they made? Was a monster capable of being a good person? Or did the title bar one from redemption? Were they even capable of love?

Captain Jake Seresin was a good man, of this you were sure and certain. You saw the way he treated the men of his crew with respect and fairness no matter how far down the totem pole they were. You saw how he smiled at the children in the different port town, green eyes twinkling as he waved at the babies and ruffled the hair of the small children that greeted him. You saw the way he closed his eyes in the setting sun, the sea breeze ruffling his golden locks, the smile that lay in a shadow on his lips as he savored the moment.

You watched him in those moments, wondering how anyone could think him a monster. You were no stranger to his harder moments or his rougher actions, but you supposed you had your fair share of the same. Despite seeing the uglier side of him, if you could even call it that, you still found yourself drawn to the rugged captain all the same. Your eyes would wander toward him before you even had the chance to realize what you were doing, green eyes meeting yours and snapping you out of your reverie as heat would rise to your cheeks. It was a wonder the roof of your cabin had no holes in it from the way you lay awake at night, staring daggers into the worn wood as your mind raced with thoughts of the captain, of what would happen should you either fail or succeed in having the curse lifted.

It had been two weeks since the events on the isle, and the captain had yet to lay a finger on you, as promised. On more than one occasion you had waited with bated breath as he would reach for you, only to huff quietly in disappointment as he would stop and let his fingers drop back to his sides. You found you missed his touch, the constant reassurance it brought to you that you were safe under the watchful eyes of your captain.

Truly, you found that you missed having him around you so constantly. You missed the late night filled with quiet laughter and the shared tales of growing up in your different parts of the world. The way his fingers would play with the ends of your hair or smooth over your cheeks as he studied you while you told your stories. Or the way his emerald eyes would light up with joy as he recounted a story of he and Javy back in the days before he took command of the Hangman. You missed him.

Of course, the captain was sure to keep up with your sword lessons, and you were proud to say that his hits were growing fewer and farther in between. You had yet to best him, but you caught the flashes of pride that danced in his eyes every time you came close.

You once again found yourself perched in a chair inside a busy tavern, the other ladies bustling around the room with drinks and ample cleavage on display for wandering eyes of men. You saw several members of your own crew casting longing glances at the ladies, and you suspected several of the newer members would try their hands at sating the undeterrable desire that coursed their veins.

You let out a long, labored sigh as you rested your chin on your fist, eyes scanning the room with disinterest as the men spoke around you. Natasha sat across the room, a gaggle of men surrounding her as she regaled them with titillating tales of her adventures and coy flirtations disguised as teasing japes. You wondered if you could ever find yourself feeling so carefree, envying her ability to forget the current circumstances as the deadline to end the curse drew nearer with each passing day.

The tension from your group of friends was palpable as they watched the blond captain oversee the signing of the poor, new souls sign away their lives to one of servitude. Javy stood at his side, arms crossed with a stoic expression on his face, but the way he would glance over towards Natasha just a few tables over was not lost to your watchful eye.

A pretty red head sauntered over towards where your captain sat, a lascivious smile curled on her painted lips as her eyes wandered over Jake’s form draped across the wooden chair. A manicured hand came up to rest on his shoulder, dipping down towards the open V of his cotton shirt as she leaned down to whisper something in his ear. His hand reached up to hers, taking it, and you felt the ugly twist of heat curl in your chest as your cheeks warmed. You stood abruptly, chair scraping against the stone floor as the others cast wary glances your way.

“I need some air,” you muttered, already moving towards the exit, shoving past the several large bodies, drunkenly swaying as they blocked your escape route. If the others called after you, you didn’t hear them over the noise of the tavern and the blood rushing in your ears. He would touch her, but not you? His touch you had to beg for, seeking it out yourself because he refused to touch you for some stupid sense of honor and valiance, and yet he gave it freely to the first woman who came in his sights.

The night air was cool on your skin as you finally managed to break through the crowd. You paused only for a brief moment before you pushed forward, determined to put some distance between yourself and the stifling air of merriment.

You had made it only a few yards before you heard your name ring out in the quiet streets, the familiar timbre causing your heart to clench in mixture of anguish and anger as your thoughts swirled inside your head. He had deprived you of his comfort for weeks, had kept you at bay and away from him for so long, and now he suddenly wanted you?

You ignored him as you sped up your pace, hearing the sound of his footsteps pick up as well. You rounded a corner, pushing yourself back against the entryway of one of the buildings and out of the dim light cast by the streetlamps. You waited with bated breath as the footsteps rounded the corner, a flash of blond jogging past your hiding place before coming to a slow stop once he realized you were nowhere in sight.

“Guppy?” He called, uncertainty laced in his voice. You stayed silent, still, as he glanced around the buildings lining the street. You shifted in the shadows, pressing yourself as far back as you could as you watched him. He let out a deep sigh, hunching over as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Guppy, please,” he said again, twisting as he inspected the shadows. “Can we talk?”

You didn’t want to talk, not with him. At least, not in that moment. No, you wanted him to feel as helpless as you had for two weeks, reaching out only to be ignored. You wouldn’t forgive him so easily.

You needed a moment to breathe, to think. You had been afforded so little time to yourself, constantly bombarded with tasks on the ship in between your sword lessons and chatter with your friends. You hadn’t allowed yourself a moment to process the events of the isle and the information you gathered after, and you found your frustrations and feelings from the past two weeks boiling to the surface.

Jake let out a curse under his breath as he paused in his turning. You watched as his teeth worried on his bottom lip, indecision clear on his face before stalking off in the opposite direction. You waited a few moments, making sure he was gone before slipping out from the shadows, scanning the street for signs of anyone. Seeing signs of no one, you looked back one last time in the direction the captain had disappeared in before turning towards the harbor.

You managed to make it back to the ship before the tears started leaking past your carefully constructed wall of feigned indifference. It was quiet, the entire crew having decided to try and find some sense of normalcy at the tavern, and you were thankful for that serendipitous turn of events as you padded across the deck towards the stairs to the galley.

The ship swayed in the tide, causing you to be somewhat unsteady on your feet as you stumbled towards the kitchen. The ale felt sour in your belly, and you were sure some food would help settle it before you retired for the evening to wallow in your feelings.

A part of you knew you were being unreasonable in how you were handling the situation, and as you scrounged up some bread, you huffed at your own unwillingness to address the issue.

You would never move past this rough spot unless you sat down to have a conversation with the captain. Two weeks had allowed the wounds to fester, and avoiding the situation would only make it worse.

You had just found the last of the cheese, making a mental note to pick some up at the market tomorrow before departure when the creak of one of the floorboards caused you to pause. Letting out a sigh, you turned around towards the entrance to the kitchen. It was the captain you had expected to see, so it surprised you to see one of the crew members bracing himself against the frame of the doorway, dark eyes fixed on where you stood. If you didn’t know any better, you would have thought him drunk or ill with the way his skin shone with sweat, the paleness of him showing in stark contrast to the shadows of the room. The bags under his eyes caused him to have a skeletal appearance, and the hair on the back of your neck stood at attention as the two of you stared at one another.

“Evening,” you offered, wincing at how small your voice sounded. “Can I help you?”

The man said nothing, thin lips turning downwards as he cocked his head to the side. He took a slow, heavy step forward, and your eyes immediately darted towards the knife that lay on the edge of the counter. It wouldn’t kill him or cause much harm by any means, but it might slow him down enough for you to escape should you need to.

“Are you hungry?” You asked him, inching slowly towards the knife so as not to cause suspicion. “I can make you something if you like.”

“You know we’re always hungry,” he sneered, looking at you with disdain. “Haven’t had a sated belly in months. Haven’t had a drink that’s not left me more parched than before either. And women…”

He paused, eyes raking over your still form, and your heart pounded in your chest. The night was still fairly early, and you would be surprised if anyone made their way back to the ship anytime soon.

“We all know that you’re the only source of relief on this ship,” he continued, eyes growing impossibly darker as he took another step towards you. “You’re always surrounded by that lot, though. None of us can get close to you. Tha’s why when I saw you leave, I knew I had to take my chance.”

You felt your fingers twitch as you glanced back over at the knife, taking a small step sideways as he took another haggard step forward.

“Chance at what?” You asked him, voice barely above a whisper, and you cursed yourself for how shaky it sounded. The man stopped, standing slightly straighter as his cold, black eyes fixated on you.

“Relief,” he uttered, the word barely passing his lips before he lunged for you. You were faster, barely, as you scrambled for the knife. You gripped the handle in your hand, whirling around just as the man’s body crashed into yours. You let out a grunt as you stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, but managing to catch yourself on the counter. Fury coursed through your veins as the man’s hot breath washed over your face, his eyes blazing but almost unseeing as he reached for you. You brought your hand up, slashing at his face with the knife.

He let out a howl of pain as he clutched his now bleeding eye, falling to his knees as the thick, red liquid oozed out between his fingers, and you took the moment to scramble away from him, hissing as your hip collided with the edge of the counter. Your eyes fixed on the dinner bell hanging just by the stairs of the galley. You glanced back for half a second to see the man staggering to his feet, hand still gripping his skull as he fixed a murderous glare on you. You sucked in a breath as you bolted from the kitchen, the bell growing closer and closer as you willed your feet to move faster.

Your fingers wrapped around the rope attached to the bell and you pulled frantically, the loud clanging of the metal echoing through the room and up the stairs onto the deck. You hoped that it was loud enough for someone to hear and investigate.

Your thoughts were cut short as a hand yanked you backwards by your hair, a hiss of pain leaving your lips as your hands clawed at the ones just out of reach behind you.

“You miserable, little cunt,” the man growled, slamming you into the wood of the entrance, “I coulda been nice to ya, but now? Now I’m going to make sure it hurts.”

Your cheek ached from the force of the impact, the rough wood scratching your skin and adding to the sensation as you struggled to break free of his hold.

“Stop your squirmin’,” he muttered, hand wrapped around both of your wrists as he gripped your shoulder with the other to pull you back away from the wall. You took that moment to bring your foot back as hard as possible, heel meeting something solid in the process. The man let out a grunt of pain before his hand moved from your shoulder to grip your chin, pulling it back at an awkward angle to look at you.

“Now listen here-”

You didn’t let him finish, instead opening your mouth and biting down as hard as you could onto his fingers. He let out a pained yell as your mouth flooded with the taste of iron. He snatched his hand back, his other letting go of your wrists. You took the opportunity to flee, feet thudding up the steps to the deck. You turned your head to glance back over your shoulder, but before you could get a gauge on how far away the man was, you ran into a solid wall of muscle.

You let out a grunt as you stumbled back, nearly falling down the stairs before an hand reached out to grab your hip and steady you. You reeled back, eyes locking onto brilliant green, and your body sagged in relief.

“Guppy?” Jake frowned, eyes scanning you head to toe. You were sure you looked a sight in that moment. The throbbing in your cheek was pounding, the skin there sticky with what you were sure was blood. Your wrists and shoulders ached from where the man had twisted them back.

At that moment, thundering footsteps sounded behind you, and your heart jumped in panic as you twisted around in Jake’s hold. The man’s murderous gaze landed on you, his lips curled in a sneer before dropping at the sight of the captain behind you. His skin paled as Jake’s hold on you tightened, and you felt the familiar sting of tears behind your eyes.

“What happened?” Jake barked, and the man in front of you flinched at the tone. Neither of you said a word as you stared at one another, daring the other to speak first.

Footsteps sounded on the gangway, and you turned to see a small group making their way onto the deck, headed by Javy. The quarter master stopped short as he saw the scene in front of him, his usual stoicism slipping into a look of shock before they schooled once more. He pushed his shoulders back and made quick strides to stand next to the two of you.

“Captain,” he said, arching a brow at the man behind you. “What seems to be the problem here?”

“I was wondering that myself,” Jake growled, the tension rolling off of him in waves. A beat of silence passed before Javy let out a drawn-out sigh.

“Thomas,” he snapped, drawing the man’s attention. “Get your ass down in the galley. I’ll be dealing with you in a moment.”

The quarter master’s tone left no room for argument and the man, Thomas, cast one last glance in your direction before retreating back down the steps.

“Reuben. Mickey,” Javy barked out. Both men hurried to follow Thomas down the steps without another word, giving you curious looks as they walked by. The quarter master turned to look at the captain, lips pressed tightly together as he glanced down at you.

“You might want to get her cleaned up,” he said quietly. Jake said nothing. He guided you towards the cabin, his touch surprisingly gentle as your feet stumbled beneath you. You felt the first wave of exhaustion hit you then, sagging further into Jake’s side as he led you past the door and down the hall to his cabin.

The room was just as you remembered, not having seen it in the weeks since the captain started pushing you away. The man in question led you further into the room before guiding you to sit on the edge of the bed. Your mind was foggy, but you were vaguely aware of Jake moving. The sound of water being poured from a pitcher and into a bowl filled the room, and the blond kneeled before you with a cloth in hand. He took one of your hands in his, stroking the back of it with his thumb gently.

“Guppy?” He murmured, eyes searching your face. “You still with me?”

“Yeah,” you croaked quietly. Jake gave you a comforting smile that seemed strained more than anything else. He looked away to mess with the bowl to his side, wringing the cloth of the water it had soaked up before turning back to you.

“You had me worried there for a second,” he said finally, dabbing at the scratches on your cheek. “I couldn’t find you after you left the tavern, and then I heard the bell on the ship, which I thought was odd for this time of night. I go to investigate and you run right into me with one of my crew hot on your tail.”

You said nothing, eyelids drooping as you fought the urge to sleep that was quickly taking over. Jake worked methodically, dabbing gently at your cheek and wiping away the blood that stained your skin.

“You should get some rest,” he told you, dropping the cloth back into the bowl and moving to stand. You watched him, taking note of the way his brow furrowed and his lips pulled down into a frown. He set the bowl on one of the tables littering the wall before turning back to you.

“You must be exhausted after today,” he continued, making his way back over to you. He brushed the hair out of your face, tucking it behind your ear before cupping your cheek gently. He bent down to press a kiss to your forehead, pulling away slightly, but still lingering.

“I mean it,” he chided, hands pushing you and guiding you to lay back, “you need to get some rest. We’ll talk later, alright?”

You nodded, eyes already falling closed as he retreated.

You awoke with a start, sweat clinging to your forehead as you bolted upright. The lingering feeling of being chased hung in the air as your chest rose and fell with every pant of air. You weren’t sure how much time had passed, but the sun looked to be well in the sky from where you sat on the bed. It was at that moment that the door to the cabin swung open.

Jake stood in the doorway, a look of concern on his flushed face, as if he had been running.

“What is it?” He asked, breathless. “What’s wrong?”

You stared at him dumbly. “What?”

“I heard screaming,” he replied, brow furrowing as he inched into the room, the door closing behind him. “I thought something was wrong.”

You continued to stare at him as he padded closer, studying you.

“How’re you doing?” He asked finally, softly. The events of the night before rushed back to you. The feeling of helplessness, the pain, the fear. You thought about what Thomas had said to you, about wanting to feel relief, and a wave of anger crashed into you so suddenly that you were on your feet before you knew it. You stomped over to Jake, shoving at his chest. The captain was taken aback, stumbling backwards in his surprise.

“Hey!” He exclaimed, throwing his hands up to defend against the blows of your fists against his chest. You ignored his outcry, swinging your hands blindly in front of you.

“Guppy, stop,” Jake said, scrambling to grab your wrists and stop you. You bared your teeth, rage pulsing through you much like it had last night.

“Dammit, stop!” He snapped, finally getting ahold of your wrists, stopping your tirade. The two of you stared at each other, panting from the exertion. Jakes eyes bored into yours, searching for what, you didn’t know. You yanked your hands free of his, pursing your lips in a tight frown as you studied him back. A warmth blossomed in your lower stomach, and your breaths grew labored for a different reason. Jake’s expression morphed into one of confusion, which didn’t last long as you leaned up to kiss him.

He let out a noise of quiet surprise before returning the kiss with enthusiasm. One hand moved to grip your waist, pulling you closer as the other snaked up to cup the back of your neck. Your arms wrapped around his neck, caution thrown to the wind as you moved your lips against his. Jake licked into your mouth, drawing out an embarrassingly loud noise from you. You felt the smirk against your lips, and a twinge of annoyance fluttered through the surface.

You pulled back, breathing heavy before pushing against Jake’s chest to dislodge yourself from his embrace. He gave you a puzzled look as you spun him around, pushing him down onto the edge of the bed. You hoisted your skirts up around you before settling down on his lap, once again attaching your lips to his. He let out a grunt that quickly dissolved into a moan as you began to rock against him, the hardness of him pressing into you through his trousers.

His hands settled on your hips, guiding you over him as his mouth devoured yours in a kiss that was more tongue and teeth than anything else. Your hands roamed his figure, up the span of his torso, over his shoulders, and into his hair. Your fingers entwined with his golden locks, scratching at his scalp and eliciting a drawn out grown from the man beneath you.

You clutched at his hair, yanking his head back harshly. Jake let out a hiss as his eyes focused on you. Green was swallowed up by the blacks of his pupils, and a look of pure lust adorned his face as you held him still.

“It’s your fault,” you spat, hovering your lips just over his. His brow furrowed once more.

“What?”

“He wouldn’t have gone after me if you hadn’t been avoiding me for weeks,” you continued, grinding down on the bulge in Jake’s pants. He gave a wanton moan as his eyes fluttered closed.

“Nothing to say?” You breathed, a moan escaping your lips as pleasure coursed through you.

“It wouldn’t have-fuck!” He groaned, “it wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t run from me.”

You let out a growl before yanking his head to the side, running your nose along his neck. You sank your teeth into the meat of his shoulder, drawing out a pathetic whimper as his grip on you tightened, the muscles in his neck straining as he fought for control.

You let out a startled yelp as you were flipped onto your back, Jake’s hands scrambling to untie the strings of your shirt, baring your chest to him. The cool air caused your nipples to start pebbling, your chest heaving as you gazed up at him.

Jake lowered his mouth down to capture one nipple between his lips, laving it with attention as a hand reached up to grope the other. Your back arched as you threw your head back in bliss, hands curling in the soft locks of your lover once more. Jake nipped and sucked at the skin of your breast before shifting his attention to the other, and you glanced down to find him already looking at you. A smirk ghosted on his lips as he trailed a hand down under your skirts.

His fingers brushed your lower lips, sending a shiver up your spine that left you wanting more.

“Look at you,” he cooed, running his hand up and down your slit, your wetness coating him as you moaned. “Already so wet for me. You get off acting like such a wild thing all the time?”

His thumb circled your clit, and you let out a high-pitched whine as you arched into his touch. The smirk was full-blown now as you clung to him.

“Don’t you worry, pretty girl,” he murmured, cradling the back of your neck to bring your forehead to rest against his. His nose nuzzled yours as your breaths came out in quick pants. “I’ll take good care of you.”

Slowly, he pressed a finger into your entrance, your walls gripping the digit tightly, and he let out a breath.

“Fuck, so tight,” he muttered more to himself than to you. You clung to him, fingertips digging into his shoulders as he slowly pumped in and out of you, adding a second finger before long.

“Such pretty noises you make for me,” he cooed once more, pressing a quick kiss to your lips before drawing back. You tried to chase after him, but he moved just out of reach with a chuckle. “You’re squeezin’ me so hard, darlin’. You gonna let go for me?”

You let out another whimper, the coil in your belly curling tight as you scrunched your eyes closed, and you fought to hold it off just a little longer. Jake tutted, moving the hand on your neck to grip your chin firmly. Your eyes fluttered open to meet his disapproving gaze.

“Don’t you go holding back on me,” he growled, speeding up the motion of his fingers, paying special attention to your clit. “Your pleasure is mine. Now give. It. To. Me.”

With a final thrust, the coil sprang, pleasure coursing through your veins as you let out a keening moan. Jake leaned forward, swallowing your pleasure with a debauched kiss that left your head reeling for air. He pulled away, and you gasped for air, sucking in lungfuls as you came down from your high.

Jake littered soft kisses along your neck leading down to your shoulders, and a new wave of need filled you. You ran a hand through his hair, the other reaching between the two of you to pull at the laces of his britches.

“Jake,” you breathed, looking at him through your lashes. “Need you.”

Jake pulled back with a huff of a laugh as he looked down at you, hands moving to help release him from his pants.

“Not even going to wait for us to undress?” He teased, sucking in a breath as your hand wrapped around his length.

“Need you now,” you insisted, stroking him. He let out a groan, shifting back on his haunches as you released him, spreading your legs with a whine. Jake hesitated, and you pouted up at him.

“What is it?” You asked, leaning up slightly to get a better look at him.

“It’s just,” he paused, pressing his lips together and turning his gaze away from you. “I need to know if this is real. If this is more than just anger, and adrenaline, and any feelings you’re having about the deadline coming up.”

You stared at him for a moment, processing his words. You sat up, taking his hand in yours and squeezing gently.

“You don’t have to worry about any of that,” you whispered. Jake looked back at you, eyes searching once more, and you gave him a soft smile that you hoped eased his worries.

“Kiss me,” you said. Jake returned your smile, leaning in to press a chaste kiss to your lips. You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him with you as you laid back. The kiss morphed into one that was more debauched, quiet moans falling past your lips as Jake trailed his own down your neck.

You reached down to grip him once more, spreading your legs and aligning him with your entrance. Jake wasted no time, leaning back to watch you as he pushed inside of you slowly. You let out a gasp, hands clutching at his arms as he filled you, the slight burn pushing the air from your lungs.

“Taking me so well, sugar,” he crooned, running his knuckles along your cheek. “So warm and wet for me, fuck. Could stay inside of you forever.”

His words had you clenching around him, and he let out a strangled moan.

“You keep doin’ that, and I’m not gonna last long, darlin’,” he chuckled.

“Need you to move,” you whimpered. “Need you to fuck me.”

Jake didn’t respond, instead leaning down to capture your lips in another kiss as he pulled his hips back, only to push them forward once more. He soon found a rhythm, and the sound of skin slapping and the cacophony of noises from the two of you soon filled the room.

“Feel so good,” he muttered in between kisses along your skin. Your nails dug into his shoulders now, legs wrapped around his waist, urging him on. “Never felt something this good, shit. Never wanna leave. Never want anyone else, just you. Squeezin’ me so hard, yeah. Just like that. I’m not gonna last much longer, darlin’, you just feel too good.”

“Need it,” you choked out, the coil inside of you on the brink of bursting once more. “Need to feel you.”

“Fuck, sugar,” he groaned, hips moving faster and losing their rhythm. “Want me to fill you up? Is that what you want?”

You nodded, moans escaping your lips left and right as you teetered on the edge.

“Dirty girl,” he huffed with a laugh. “Feel you clenchin’ around me. Don’t you worry, I’ll give it to you. Keep you nice and full, and then you’ll swell with me. You like the sound of that? Like the idea of me marking you from the inside out?”

Your hips bucked up to meet his, desperately chasing your release, and Jake obliged by slipping a hand between the two of you to toy with your clit.

“Need to feel you come around me, pretty girl. Then I’ll give you what you want,” he cooed. “Come for me.”

His words were all it took to send you over the precipice. Your moan caught in your throat, and your back arched as you came hard around him. Jake’s pace picked up before his hips stuttered, a moan leaving his lips as warmth flooded inside of you. He gave a few more shallow thrusts before stilling. His breath fanned across your neck, your fingers running through his hair.

Jake shifted off of you, pulling out of you with a quiet hiss as he shuffled to lay next to you. His hand gripped your waist, pulling you close with a sigh. You nuzzled into him, resting your head against the pillows as you held the captain in your arms, his head resting on your chest. Neither of you said anything for a long moment, just basking in the afterglow of your coupling.

“I love you.”

It was so quiet, you weren’t even sure you had heard it at first. Your fingers paused in his hair for a moment before continuing their path. Something swelled inside your chest, and you willed the tears to stay locked inside. What you were feeling would only serve to cause you more harm if everything went poorly, and still…

“I love you too.”

A/N: You all have the fact that I started watching Black Sails this weekend to thank for this. But seriously, I know I took an unexpected hiatus after everything that went on last month, and for a while there, I wasn't even sure about the future of this blog. Thank you all for sticking by me as I navigated what I was doing, and I hope to have more for you guys here soon!

As always, reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated. I no longer do taglists, so if you would like to be notified on when I post, please follow my sideblog ( @arcanevagabond-library ) and turn on post notifications! You can find me and my works on AO3 under the username arcane_vagabond. Until next time!

[dxrlingluv]

It feels right.

DESCRIPTION —

An Epic: The Musical Odysseus x OC story.

This was originally supposed to be an x reader, but I changed it to an OC in order to properly describe the main character's looks without unintentionally offending anyone. This CAN still be read as an x Reader, if you are using pc, mac, or laptop, you can use chrome extensions to change the OC's name to yours or if you don't mind what I'm using then that's okay too. Do not come at me for using the x reader tags, you will be blocked.

Please note that this will not be entirely based on Epic: The Musical as there will be no singing at all. I will only follow the plot, and of course, add some of my own ideas.

SYNOPSIS —

“What will happen when Odysseus and his crew, just days after ending the Trojan war, stumbles upon an uncharted Isle. He was certainly not expecting to see a being far beyond a mere mortal's understanding.”

WARNING —

This series will contain graphic mentions of blood, gore, death, explicit, and suggestive themes. More will be added as the story goes on.

WORD COUNT —

2.4k

CHAPTER 1 —

The uncharted Isle

NEXT —

02

The salt spray still clung to Odysseus's beard, a stark contrast to the sweet, loamy scent that now filled his nostrils. After days of relentless sea, the sight of land – this vibrant, uncharted isle – was a balm to his weary soul and a promise to his equally exhausted crew. Emerald green cloaked the island, from the gentle slopes that met the turquoise water to the unseen peaks that brushed against the clouds. Strange, melodious bird calls echoed from within the dense foliage, a symphony of life that spoke of abundance.

"Land, men!" Odysseus had roared, his voice hoarse but filled with renewed vigor. "And by the gods, it looks generous!"

A ragged cheer had erupted from the weathered throats of his crew. They had beached their battered ship in a hidden cove, the dark hull a stark contrast against the pristine white sand. The island hummed with vitality. Fruit-laden trees bowed low, their branches heavy with jewel-toned offerings. Clear streams, teeming with fish, snaked their way through the undergrowth.

"Gather everything you can!" Odysseus commanded, his eyes scanning the rich landscape. "Food, fresh water, anything that might prove useful. We rest here, resupply, and then, we continue our journey home."

Home. The word echoed in his mind, a bittersweet ache in his chest. As his men fanned out, their initial caution giving way to the eager pursuit of sustenance, Odysseus found himself momentarily lost in thought. An image of Penelope, her smile as radiant as the morning sun, her dark hair a silken river, flashed before his eyes. And Telemachus, his son, just a babe when he'd left Ithaca's shores. A small, tender smile touched Odysseus's lips. He was a boy then, barely able to grasp his father's finger. Now... now he would be a young man. The thought spurred him on. Every day, every trial, was a step closer to them.

He shook off the reverie, the pragmatic leader resurfacing. There was work to be done. He motioned to two of his most trusted men. "Eurylocus, Polites, with me. Let's see what treasures this island truly holds."

Eurylocus, ever the stoic and practical one, nodded sharply, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. Polites, younger and with a gentler heart, grinned, his eyes bright with the thrill of exploration. As they ventured deeper into the island's embrace, Polites couldn't resist pausing to coo at a brightly colored bird with an extravagant plume, or to offer a piece of dried fruit to a small, furry creature that peered at them from the base of a towering tree.

"Polites, focus!" Eurylocus would grumble, though there was no real heat in his tone. "We're not here to make pets of the local fauna."

Polites would just chuckle, his affection for all living things unmarred. "But they're so curious, Eurylocus! Surely a little kindness won't go amiss."

Odysseus watched them with a fond, if slightly exasperated, tolerance. Their contrasting natures often provided a strange sort of balance.

As they pushed through a thicket of broad, waxy leaves, a sudden stillness fell upon the forest. The chirping of insects ceased, the birdsong died in the air. It was a silence so profound, so sudden, that it prickled Odysseus's skin. He held up a hand, his senses on high alert. Eurylocus and Polites, too, had noticed the abrupt change, their earlier banter forgotten.

Odysseus felt it then – a subtle tremor beneath his feet, a faint hum in the air, almost like a whispered breath. It wasn't a sound, not exactly, but a presence. He scanned their surroundings, his eyes narrowed, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. The feeling, however, lingered, unsettling him.

Before he could voice his unease, a crashing sound from the direction of the beach shattered the quiet. A figure burst through the undergrowth, stumbling, his face a mask of terror. It was Elpenor, one of the younger oarsmen.

"Captain!" he gasped, his chest heaving, eyes wide and wild. "Captain Odysseus!"

"Elpenor! What is it? What's happened?" Odysseus gripped the man's shoulder, steadying him.

"A woman... we found a woman... or... or something like one," Elpenor stammered, his voice trembling. "Deeper in... by the waterfall. Perimos... he... he stayed. I... I don't know if he's still alive!"

"A woman?" Eurylocus interjected, his brow furrowed. "What kind of woman frightens grown men so?"

Elpenor shook his head frantically. "Not like any woman I've ever seen, sir. She... she was terrifying. Her eyes... they seemed to glow! And the air around her... it was... cold. So cold." He shuddered, a visceral memory playing across his features. "Perimos tried to speak to her, to ask for aid, but she just... stared. And then the plants around her, they started to move! Like they were alive, listening to her!"

Odysseus's expression hardened. A woman with such power? On an uncharted island? This was no mere mortal. His mind raced, considering the possibilities. A sorceress? A nymph of unusual power? Or perhaps... a guardian. A goddess.

"She's scary, Captain," Elpenor whispered, his fear palpable. "Truly scary."

A fierce protectiveness surged through Odysseus, not just for Perimos, but for all his men. He would not let some unknown entity threaten them, not when they were so close to replenishing their strength, so close to continuing their journey.

"Show me where," Odysseus commanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Determination set Eurylocus's jaw. He drew his sword, the steel glinting in the dappled sunlight. Polites, though his sweet face was etched with worry, stood ready, his own blade in hand, his earlier gentleness replaced by a quiet resolve to protect his captain and crewmates.

Elpenor, still shaken but bolstered by his captain's resolve, nodded and turned, leading them back into the dense jungle. The path he'd crashed through was evident, a trail of snapped twigs and trampled ferns. As they moved deeper, the air grew heavier, thick with the scent of damp earth, unknown blossoms, and something else... an almost metallic tang, like the air before a storm, yet subtly different, charged with an energy that made the hairs on Odysseus's arms stand on end.

The sounds of the forest around them seemed to change. The cheerful bird calls were replaced by cautious twitters, the rustling of unseen creatures in the undergrowth more furtive, as if the very wildlife was aware of their passage towards a sacred, or perhaps forbidden, place. Polites, usually so at ease with nature, now walked with a new tension, his eyes darting nervously into the shadowed depths between the trees. Eurylocus remained grimly focused, his knuckles white where he gripped his sword.

Odysseus himself felt a strange mix of apprehension and a warrior's thrill. He had faced the tragedies and suffering from the Trojan War upfront for 10 long years, and had navigated treacherous straits. Whatever this island held, he would meet it. For his men. For Ithaca.

The terrain began to slope upwards. The trees grew taller, their ancient roots like gnarled knuckles gripping the earth. The sound of rushing water grew louder, a steady roar that vibrated through the ground. Elpenor pointed. "Just beyond that ridge... the waterfall."

They crested the rise, and the scene that unfolded before them stole their breath.

A cascade of crystalline water plummeted from a sheer rock face, wreathed in mist and rainbows, into a turquoise pool below. Lush ferns and vibrant, oversized flowers, in hues Odysseus had never witnessed, grew in riotous profusion around the water's edge. The air was cool and alive with the spray. And there, standing on a moss-covered rock at the very edge of the pool, her back partially to them, was the woman. Or rather, the being Elpenor had described.

She was tall, impossibly so, her form slender yet radiating an undeniable power. Her hair, the color of spun moonlight or perhaps the heart of a pearl, cascaded down her back, unbound and seeming to shift and shimmer with an inner light. It wasn't merely white, but luminous, as if woven from the very mist of the waterfall. Her skin possessed a similar ethereal glow, like alabaster lit from within. She wore a simple, flowing garment of blue so light it seemed to drink the reflection of her very being, yet it too seemed to subtly change color with her slightest movement, echoing the iridescent scales of a fish or the shifting patterns on a butterfly's wing.

One of their crew, Perimos, stood frozen a dozen paces from her, his spear lying abandoned at his feet, his expression one of utter, mesmerized awe, not terror.

As if sensing their arrival, the woman slowly turned.

And Odysseus understood Elpenor's fear.

Her eyes. They were the color of the deepest ocean pools, yet shot through with flecks of gold that pulsed with a soft, internal luminescence. They were ancient, knowing, and held an intensity that seemed to pierce right through him, laying bare his very soul. There was no malice in them, not yet, but an overwhelming sense of power, of being intrinsically and irrevocably tied to this vibrant, living island. It was as if the island itself was looking at them through her.

Around her, the world seemed to thrum in response to her presence. Vines laden with blossoms visibly unfurled and reached towards her as if in greeting. The water of the pool stilled, its surface becoming a perfect mirror reflecting her image. Even the air itself seemed to thicken, charged with an unseen energy that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

This was no mere sorceress. This was something far older, far more potent. This was the island's heart, its will, its guardian.

This was Eureka.

Odysseus felt his own hand instinctively go to the hilt of his sword, but he did not draw it. He met her gaze, the King of Ithaca, the renowned tactician, momentarily silenced by the sheer, primal force emanating from the being before him. Eurylocus let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, his sword still raised but his arm now trembling slightly, the polished bronze reflecting the waterfall's spray like scattered diamonds. He swallowed hard, his usual gruff composure visibly shaken. Polites, bless his gentle soul, simply stared, his mouth agape, a mixture of fear and profound wonder on his face. His own sword had lowered, forgotten, his knuckles pale against the hilt. He looked from the goddess to the vibrant flowers, then back to her, as if trying to reconcile the terrifying power with the breathtaking beauty of her domain.

The silence stretched, taut and heavy, broken only by the roar of the waterfall and the frantic thumping of Odysseus's own heart. Every instinct honed by years of war and perilous voyages screamed at him to be cautious, to assess, to find a weakness. Yet, faced with such an entity, his usual strategies felt inadequate, like trying to catch the wind in a net.

Eureka's gaze swept over them, lingering on Eurylocus's drawn sword with an unreadable expression, then to Polites's awestruck face, before returning to Odysseus. Her lips, the color of the palest rose, remained unmoving. There was no overt threat in her posture, yet the power she held in check was a palpable thing, a silent promise of devastation should she choose to unleash it. The very flora around her seemed to hold its breath, the vibrant blossoms turning ever so slightly towards her, like courtiers awaiting a queen's command. Even the light filtering through the canopy above seemed to bend and focus around her, casting her in an almost divine aura.

Perimos remained transfixed, a faint, blissful smile on his lips, seemingly oblivious to the tension coiling in the air. It was clear he was under some form of enchantment, though whether benevolent or malevolent, Odysseus couldn't yet discern.

Odysseus knew he had to be the first to speak, to break this unnerving standoff. The fate of his men, the success of their resupply, perhaps even their lives, depended on his next move. He was a king, a leader of men, a hero famed for his cunning. He would not be cowed, not entirely. Taking a slow, deliberate breath to steady his nerves, Odysseus inclined his head respectfully, a gesture befitting an encounter with divinity, yet not one of subservience.

"Great goddess of this isle," he began, his voice clear and carrying over the waterfall's roar, though he kept it carefully modulated, avoiding any hint of aggression. "We are wayward travelers, shipwrecked and weary. My name is Odysseus, son of Laertes, King of Ithaca. We mean no harm to you or this sacred place." He gestured towards Perimos. "My man yonder seems... captivated. We came in search of him, and to understand who graces this land with such potent presence."

Eureka's expression did not change, but Odysseus thought he saw a flicker, a spark of something akin to curiosity, deep within those luminous golden-flecked eyes. The air around them seemed to hum with a slightly higher pitch.

Then, she spoke. Her voice was not loud, yet it resonated through the clearing as if the island itself were speaking. It was like the rustle of ancient leaves, the murmur of the deepest rivers, the sigh of the wind through mountain passes – all woven into one harmonious, yet undeniably powerful, sound.

"Odysseus, son of Laertes," she intoned, the name rolling off her tongue as if she had known it for centuries. "King of a land far from these shores. Your reputation precedes you, even to this isolated haven." Her gaze, still fixed on him, intensified. "You say you mean no harm, yet your kind often brings disruption. This island is mine to protect. Its creatures, its growth, its very essence, are under my care."

She took a single, graceful step forward, and the moss beneath her feet seemed to glow with a brighter green. "Your man," she continued, her gaze flicking momentarily to Perimos, who shivered slightly but remained smiling, "is merely... listening to the island's song. A song few mortals are attuned to hear."

Eurylocus shifted uneasily, his sword still pointed, though his resolve seemed to waver under the weight of her words and presence. Polites, on the other hand, looked utterly fascinated, his fear seemingly replaced by an almost reverent curiosity.

"And what," Odysseus pressed, keeping his tone even, "does the island's song tell him? And what does its guardian require of those who find themselves upon its shores?" He held her gaze, a silent battle of wills playing out amidst the thundering water and the vibrant, watchful life of the island. The first move had been made. Now, the true test began.

[starryjuicebox]

Sucrose

Pairing: Ascended!Astarion x F!Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Warning: 18+, Explicit. Cunnilingus. PiV. Creampie.

Summary: Astarion has several surprises for you on this Valentine's Day.

The soft grass is a soothing balm for your tired feet as you stroll across the flower garden. Curling your fingers around your lover’s arm, you lean your head against his shoulder and close your eyes briefly. The little meadow he built just for you far away from the hustle and bustle of Baldur’s Gate is always a welcome respite. 

Astarion guides you to a white oak bench with lush green ivy snaking around the elegant silver armrests. He sits down and pulls you into his lap. Snuggling into his chest instinctively, you gaze up at him. 

“Your feet seemed like they could use a rest,” he answers your unasked question. 

“Thank you!” You beamed at him. It was quite nice to be able to rest after a long day of walking and tending to the plants. While Astarion had always told you that someone else could “do all the dirty work”, there was something about growing the greenery yourself that made it special. It did involve a lot of physical labor though, and so you are grateful to be able to relax for the rest of the night.  

Life with him was quite easy, after all. While the mansion was being refurbished, you two had gone on all sorts of travels, from the Moonshae Isles to Cormyr, enjoying all the pleasures the Sword Coast had to offer. 

But even traveling could get tiring after a while, and so you were overjoyed when Astarion told you he had purchased a plot of land distant from any large city. That was when you had decided to start your ever-growing garden. 

Your first endeavor was planting berry bushes to help feed some of the local wildlife. It was a delight to see deer, birds, and other adorable woodland animals stop by every morning. Astarion had made commentary about feeding the wildlife to the Spawn servants, but never lifted a finger to stop you from growing the shrubs or to shoo the creatures away. 

He chuckles a little, before pressing his lips to your forehead and snapping you out of your reverie. “So, little love, today is Valentine’s Day. A day for lovers to celebrate their unions. And we have quite a lot to celebrate, don’t we?” 

Of course, your calendar had long since been marked, and you already had something special prepared. Reaching into your pockets, you giggle and take out a handful of heart-shaped dark chocolates. While not your own preferred treat, you were not blind to Astarion’s indulgences when he thought nobody was watching. Pressing one up to his lips, you grin and say,“Open wide~” 

Astarion obliges you, surprise clear on his features, and he closes his mouth around the chocolate…as well as your finger. A smirk dances across his face as he finishes the candy with a sensual lick.  

“I see you were ready, darling.” Astarion holds up a peach—your favorite fruit—and then pulls out a dagger. You blink just once, and the once-whole peach is now five evenly cut pieces. 

He teases your lips with one slice, a small smirk decorating his features. “Now, it’s my turn to treat you.” 

You laugh and bite down into the fruit, sweet juices dripping down your chin. 

“Tut, tut, such a messy girl,” he chides gently, dipping his head to lick the nectar from your face. 

“That tickles!” You tell him with a giggle, pushing him playfully. 

The only response you receive is a dark chuckle as he continues to feed you the peach. 

After you finish feeding each other, he leans back with a content hum. “I have another surprise for you. After all, you have been very good to me, my love.” 

Excitement courses through you as you smile. “You’ve been very good to me, too.”

Sweeping his arms beneath you in a princess carry, Astarion stands up and you instinctively wrap your arms around his neck. He brings you deeper into the woods, where you had not ventured before. Your breath hitches in trepidation. 

“Where are we going?” you ask, but receive no reply as he simply continues onward. 

Your question is quickly answered when he stops beneath a cluster of giant Sequoia trees and points upwards. “A gift for you.” 

Lifting your gaze, your jaw drops. Nested in the treetops is an enormous log cabin, built into the forest itself. An elegant terrace wrapped in ivy overlooks the rest of the forest and far beyond. The house is so far up that it would be impossible to reach for an ordinary person. 

“A special sanctuary, just for the two of us,” he whispers into your ear as he sets you back down onto your feet. With a spin and flourish, the Vampire Ascendant becomes a tiny black bat. 

You will your own form to shift and change into a crow, flying after him towards the beautiful cabin. 

Landing on the terrace and transforming back, a gasp leaves you as you see the home is already decorated. Different types of Aeonium, Echeveria, and Graptopetalum hybrids sit in little colorful clay pots beneath large bay windows. Coupled with french doors leading from the balcony into the interior, the house is set up to allow for plenty of sunlight as well.

Astarion opens the doors for you with a bow, seeming very pleased with himself. 

The inside was a blend of copper and soft pink hues. It had clearly been expertly staged with your taste in mind. Rose quartz countertops play host to tiny pewter statuettes of cats and crows. Daggerroot, autumncrocus, belladonna and other alchemical ingredients decorate herb hangers dangling from the ceiling.

It’s perfect; everything you had imagined a little home away from home would look like. Astarion let you have some say in the decor of the renovated palace, but this space was clearly entirely engineered with you in mind. 

“Thank you, Astarion,” you say softly, stepping forward to give him a hug.

He immediately stiffens under your touch. No matter how often you embrace him, it seems, he still hasn’t gotten used to your affection being given so freely. After a second, his warm arms wrap around you, and you can hear his heartbeat—a soothing, steady rhythm.

“Of course, my treasure. Anything for you,” he replies quietly, before smirking once more. “You haven’t even seen the best part yet.” 

Taking your hand, he leads you to the bedroom, which is decorated in a similar fashion to the common area. Dense ivy hugs the walls, and small mushroom-shaped lamps give off a soft, warm glow. Beside them is a crystal vase filled with red roses. Your heart swells at the sight. 

A massive bed takes up an unreasonable amount of space, covered in a downy duvet. Ethically harvested, he assures you. 

“Now, for the final treat of the night…” 

Astarion moves towards you like a predator stalking prey. Though your heart no longer beats, you feel the rush of excitement as your lover walks you to the edge of the bed, until the back of your knees hits the frame. He continues to lean forward, causing you to fall onto your back atop the plush mattress. 

Lean arms cage your body as Astarion tilts his face to yours and captures your lips in a searing kiss. His tongue swipes your lower lip, and darts in as you part them. 

As you spread  your legs for him instinctively, he rubs your lower halves together. “Eager, are we?” he drawls, grinding against your heated core. 

Your clothing suddenly feels restrictive and itchy on your feverish skin. As if on cue, Astarion swipes a claw downwards, rending your thin sundress in two. You pout at him, because you really liked that dress, but he kisses your stomach in apology. As his lips trail downwards, your ire is lost when his tongue flattens against your slick folds, sending a shock of pleasure through you.  

He continues his ministrations fucking your entrance with his tongue lazily, before swirling around your clit and then sucking hard. The sudden shift in intensity elicits a moan from you as he continues to feast on your cunt. 

Just when you feel yourself beginning to reach the peak, he pulls away, your juices glistening on his chin. You whine at the loss, although the sound quickly turns into a sigh as he buries himself to the hilt within you in one smooth thrust, without warning.  

“You take me so well, don’t you? Good girl,” he murmurs, rolling your stiff nipples in between his warm fingers. Astarion has set a slow, steady rhythm to start; every languid roll of his hips brings another small jolt to your system. 

It isn’t fair that he seems so composed while you are coming undone beneath him. Pursing your lips, you use your body weight to roll yourself forward, flipping your positions so that you are now riding him. 

Astarion doesn’t seem to protest this, just letting out a throaty chuckle as the new position sinks him even deeper into you, forcing out another sound of ecstasy from your lips. You feel his cock twitch inside of you, signaling his own pleasure. 

You feel yourself getting closer to the edge, increasing the pace to a desperate frenzy, and from the sound of his own sighs, Astarion isn’t too far off himself. 

“That’s it, my treasure. Come for me.” 

Clenching around him, you shatter at his words. Grabbing your wrist and sinking his fangs into it, he follows and you feel a wave of thick cum spilling into you. 

Happy and sated, you beam down at him. “Happy Valentine’s Day.” 

“Happy Valentine’s Day, my love.” 

As he pulls out, he scoops out the cum that dribbles out of your puffy slit and shoves it back in with his fingers. “We can’t have anything go to waste, can we now?” 

You nod sleepily, as he wipes you clean with a soft cloth. As you snuggle up to his warm embrace, he pulls the cover over your bodies.    

The next morning, you are awoken by the fresh scent of apples. A brand new sunrise in the eternity you will share together. 

[ponett]

this has probably been asked before but are you ok with other people using the setting and magic system of reverie (whole planet, not just the sapphire isles) for their own projects?

Free fan projects: yes. Commercial projects: no

[thelov3lybookworm]

My Favourite

Day 7: AU.

Summary: just a day out at the grocery store.

•○●⛦●○•

Word Count: 591

Warnings: just some domestic fluff at the supermarket hehehehe i love it sm 🥹

A/n: this is a tiny one again but it is fluffy and when i like my own fluffy fics i know its good hehehehe 😏

@lucienweekofficial

ANYWAY ENJOYYYY 🥳

°•°•°•○🌑○•°•°•°

Y/n frowned, trying to find the expiry date for the bread she held in her right hand.

"Lucien? Can you see what date this expires?"

She heard him walk closer in the mostly empty isle, peering over her shoulder.

"It’s two days from now."

Y/n hummed, then set the packet back and put the one in her left hand inside the cart. "That one expires three days from now and was just made today."

"Do we need milk?"

Y/n looked at Lucien, wracking her brain as her husband went through the list on his phone.

"Uh, let’s get it. I was thinking of making some sweets with it."

Lucien met her gaze, then nodded. "I think we’ve got all of it except coriander and potatoes."

Y/n hummed, her eyes focused on the muscles in his forearms flexing as he put his phone back in his pant’s pocket, the red shirt’s sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Doing anything with her husband was automatically Y/n’s favourite thing to do, but maybe grocery shopping was the last on the list. Sure, it brought that sense of domestic love Y/n had always craved since she was a kid, but it also drew other women’s appreciation and attention to her husband.

Of course, Y/n loved it when people told her Lucien was a great guy, but seeing strangers gaze at him longingly and sometimes even hungrily made Y/n want to lock her husband at home when she needed groceries.

She herself had met him in one of these isles, a basket clasped in his hand as he picked out spice packets to put in it. And instantly she was drooling. A man grocery shopping? A very edible one at that too? Y/n wanted to bite him then and there.

Fortunately, he had made small talk and then asked her out on a date. Within months he had proposed and they had gotten married.

"I’ll go get the milk then. Meet me at counter seven?" Y/n blinked, coming out of her reverie to meet the knowing eyes of her husband as he smirked at her.

She scowled. "Yeah, fine."

He reached out to take the cart from her, knowing she wasn’t very fond of having to push the thing around. He placed his lips at her forehead, lips tilted in a smile.

"See you then, sweetheart."

He took the cart with him as Y/n hurried to grab the potatoes and coriander, not wanting to keep him waiting.

Lucien had just finished putting all their items on the belt when Y/n arrived, chest heaving from having sprinted all the way to the cashier. Lucien chuckled at her dishevelled state, tugging her to stand in front of him as he wrapped his hands around her waist gently.

Y/n did not miss the flash of disappointment in the cashier’s eyes who had been eyeing Lucien like a vulture.

Hah. He’s mine, what’s your name? Amita? Take that.

She felt Lucien press a kiss to the back of her head, and she instantly knew he’d seen the possessiveness on her face. She grinned back at him sheepishly.

Lucien only shook his head with a smile, proceeding to pay before picking up their bags.

"You want to get takeout?"

Y/n blinked up at him innocently, who knew she would never say no to food. "Where are we going?"

He laughed. "Your favourite, my love."

Y/n rose a brow. "My favourite is you."

"Your second favourite then."

°•°•°•○🌑○•°•°•°

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[rpgchoices]

Sometimes I really want to read a short summary of what to expect from a game… and thankfully people can also submit their summaries of games they played and help me (and others) find games that cater to their interests!

submitted by @lairofsentinel

(click here for other videogames)

what to expect from HARMONY: The Fall of Reverie

Mysterious Visual Novel game, focused on branching options.

This game was developed by Don’t Nod, the same studio who did Life Is Strange, Vampyr, Tell Me Why, or Banishers. All these games are stronger in their stories and characters mostly.

Choices are the strongest aspect of this game that play like a narrative-puzzle.

There is an inner currency related to Power, Chaos, Bliss, Glory, Bond, and Truth. Each choice you pick, it takes or gives you some of these currencies. The amount of each of them unlocks paths and options. This system sometimes clashes with the playability.

No customization of the main character: You play Polly, a woman who returns to her childhood home.

Characters are quite diverse, racially speaking, in age, and in their gender/sexuality.

It has two romance options: a man and a non-binary person [so far I played]. But it doesn’t focus on it. Its resolution is basically at the end.

This game has a strong focus on characters, the choices you pick, and how these alter their relationships.

It's a game that reminds you of Sandman and The Longest Journey.

The writing is good. All dialogues between characters are voiced in an emotional way. However, the narrator is not voiced.

It has accessibility options for dyslexia.

Multiple endings. So, it has high re-playability. It has a demo.

It’s a game that treats heavy topics: anti-fascism, anti-capitalism, anti-corporate states, depression, loss, grief, and violence [in terms of fighting corporations]. It’s a politically strong story without being preachy, with a plot that treats the danger of the corporate-states, the need for revolution, the types of revolutions, and its social consequences. These topics of the main story are knitted with the inner conflicts of the characters and their needs, desires, and relationships.

Unfortunately, the endings are the weakest aspect of this game in my opinion, considering all the beautiful, complex built situations along the story. Despite its limitations with a system that doesn’t work well when the story gets more complex, it’s a game very thought-provoking due to the topics it treats.

Short game of around 10 hours.

——- Plot? ——-

You play Polly, a young adult woman who returns to her home-town in an island to find how much everything has changed. Her mother is missing, and a giant corporation called MK has monopolised every service, entertainment, supply chain, etc in the isle. Polly discovers she has a connection to the Reverie, another plane of existence inhabited by the Aspirations, creatures that are quite similar to the Endless from Sandman, who claim to have a greater connection to the events in the real world. They embody six aspirations: Bliss, Power, Bond, Truth, Chaos, and Glory. You have to investigate what happened with Polly’s mother by jumping between universes and interacting with all the characters.

——- Gameplay? ——- 

Basically, it focused on choices. As the story progresses, you have access to branched choices that you can foresee to some degree [Polly has the power of seeing the future in a short-term]. As you pick options, you obtain crystals related to the six Aspirations that work like an inner currency in the game: they allow you to have a track of what you need to unlock desired options in the future. Choices have requirements [amount of certain type of crystal needed] and rewards [additional crystals or unlocked options]. In case it causes some confusion: there is no grinding in this game. The currency is obtained and subtracted through the choices you pick along the story.

——- Characters? ——- 

A lot. You play Polly, who has a complex, unconventional family with an elderly mother in an open relationship, her step-father who brought his trans granddaughter to the house, and several neighbours that can stay as mere acquaintance or develop deeper into friends or romance interests.

At the same time, you have six more characters in the parallel universe of Reverie: Bliss, Power, Bond, Truth, Chaos, and Glory. These characters are the embodiment of what their name represents, reminding us to the Endless from Sandman.

 ——- LGBT? ——-

Many characters are queer. There are trans [binary and non-binary] characters, a lesbian couple, and an open relationship couple, so far I played.

——- Sadness level? ——- 

Some level, depending on the choices. Some characters can die, and Polly passes through some stages of grief.

——- Happy ending? Deaths? ——-

There are some potential deaths depending on your choices. Endings depend on your choices.

[out-of-sp00ns]

I love when a character just gets to snap and crash out. I live for the moment where a character (especially one that lets people get away with hurting them) bites back.

I had a dnd session today and I play Reverie who is objectively rude. He's obnoxious and makes comments about other people all the time, he is not likable. Why? Because they fey use their warlocks like tv and he needs to keep people watching and this is what they wanna watch. The result being that while ooc everyone loves him in character he doesn't have many friends.

That's fine, he lets plenty of people make snide remarks about him in return. Sure you can yell at him about what he said, he would have too. He also lets lets the group violate his privacy even while they are basically strangers, I mean he doesn't really have privacy anyways and we've already encountered a few npcs who have seen his show.

There is however a limit and he hit that today, Halloran (another pc) has a super evil nightmare book that knows way more about us then its supposed to and has already made its fair share of menacing comments to the group aimed at our specific traumas. The limit wasn't when Halloran asked the book to reveal what Reverie reveals most, it was when Halloran commented about Reverie being bothered by the book watching him when Reverie is the reason the whole party is constantly being watch. For other reasons he has been having a bad day and given that the cameras weren't rolling in that moment he started to yell.

Problem! Reverie's brain got rewired so when he feels negative emotions he laughs. Because the book scares him he'd already been laughing a good ten minutes and now through laughs he started to yell about how 'oh yes of course, cause I signed up to be watched. I signed up for all this awful shit! Of course its all my fault!' which the party already knew he was sold into this from a 'trade your first born child' kind of deal when he was little. He kept going on and on about various terrible things that had been happened to him and then chastising the party with 'Why aren't you laughing now? What's wrong, is it not funny anymore? Is it not funny now that I'm upset?' while unable to stop himself from laughing.

He did get an apology for the record and it honestly wasn't really there fault, normally he would have just made a snide remark back but he had already had a really bad day.

[weebz182]

Infinity Nikki- Whimsical Reverie丨Dance Till Dawn Outfit Preview

>>5-Star Outfit: Dance Till Dawn

>>Main Attribute: Fresh

🎈Outfit Ability

[Confetti: Gliding]: Grants a thrilling gliding experience with endless confetti to light up the party. The confetti won't end before you leave.

>>You can use this ability in Firework Isles and Stonewoods.

🎈Resonance Milestone Rewards

Reach 160 Resonances in [Fireworks Prelude] to unlock the exclusive decoration [Colorful Balloons], perfect for photography and display.

[twinkleallnight]

Isle of Misfits

Chapter 10: Dealing with the Paparazzi.

Fandom: TRR x Platinum x OH x CoP x TNA x ?

Series: Isle of Misfits, Round Robin 24, hosted by @choicesprompts

Characters:

TRR – Liam Rys, Leo Rys, Olivia Nevrakis, Madeleine Amaranth

RoE – Katie Rys

TNA – Sam Dalton

Word count: 1240

The phone pinged.

‘1 new message’

Leo sighed and picked up to read. He was tired of explaining himself to Katie. The world never understood him or his desire to live a care free life. The paparazzi won’t let him breathe. But he thought Katie would understand. She would always know. He had tried to be honest with her, always.

He was struggling to stay abreast sailing through the rough waters when his brother decided to take the corrective action for Leo’s deeds . He was forced into this PR stunt of a circus with his childhood friend, Bertrand, playing the ring master. And as if Gods had not had enough of entertainment, he was paired with his ex, Madeleine! Just perfect!

Coming out of his reverie, he tapped his fingers on the home screen to check the new message .

‘Meet me at the beach restaurant in 10minutes to collect your dossier .

Countess Madeleine .’

“Better than having Sam Dalton as a mentor” he consoled himself. “His brains function through that Rocket in his pocket. At least Madeleine has her head over her shoulders.”

He dragged himself out of his bed. Sharp after 10 minutes he presented himself in front of the Countess.

“What do you plan to do with this?” He lifted the heavy bundle of papers filed into a folder neatly. ‘Prim and proper. So much like Madeleine.’

But Madeleine’s reply was totally off beat. “why you have not shaved?”

Leo shook his head as if trying to decipher. “What?” He moved his fingers through the over grown messy beard.

Madeleine scoffed, “ Let me make it clear Leo. You are constantly under lens.”

“That’s exactly what I don’t want.” He cut her off.

“You were the crown prince.”

“And I abdicated.” He tried to prove his point.

“Doesn’t matter. You can’t change who you are born as.”

“Why?” He pulls his fingers through his sandy blonde hair In frustration.

“Prince Harry abdicated too. But he is always in news.”

Leo scowled, “For heavens sake! Can’t they let me live in peace?”

“Only if you don’t give them chance to rip through your peaceful personal life.” She air quoted.

He nods in agreement. “And I can see, you are here to tell me, how.”

“Now you are talking business.” Madeleine smiled.

Leo closed his eyes for a moment. He had to do this for Katie, for his children. He took a deep breath. “Okay. Tell me what am I supposed to do?”

“You need to look perfect when you walk in public. It shows that you are leading a perfect and happy life.”

Leo smirked, “Yes it’s a very happy life.”

“Make it look like one and I can tell you, they will stop chasing you.”

“Fine! What next?”

“I have appointed a valet for you. He will help with your attire, hair and your over all appearance. You will not leave your room before he checks you.”

Leo rolled his eyes. He had no other option but to accept what was thrown at him.

For the next hour he went back and forth over the plans Madeleine had laid out for him.

******************************************

Bertrand’s office next day

Olivia was seated across Bertrand, discussing their next modus operandi. Olivia had successfully completed her task with Raleigh Carrera and was now assigned to the case of the exiled crown prince, Trystan Thorne, of Drakovia.

An urgent knock on the door brought them to a halt. They both looked at each other. Bertrand voiced, “Come in” , wondering who was their uninvited guest for the meeting .

Leo stormed in and slammed a tabloid onto the desk in front of Bertrand. Olivia stared back at Leo’s fuming face while Bertrand looked in confusion, “ What does this mean?”

“Open and see for yourself.” Leo pointed out his finger.

As soon as Bertrand picked the newspaper and unfolded it, his eyes went wide with shock. Olivia leaned towards him to peer into the news.

The newspaper had images of Leo and Madeleine sitting in a cafe. The first one had Madeleine gleaming at Leo and the second one showed them shaking hands near the exit. The tag line read ‘Former crown prince Leo Rhys, spotted with his ex, Countess Madeleine, at leisure on a private island. Do we smell something burning in Katie Rhys’ sweet home?”

A smile played on Olivia’s lips.

“Seriously?” Leo asked looking at Olivia’s reaction.

“It’s not about you.” She fanned away with her hand.

“From what I can see, it’s definitely about me.” He turned to Bertrand angrily, “This is how you were going to help me save my image and my marriage?”

Olivia spoke instead, “Its not his fault. Madeleine should have been more discreet while planning her meetings.”

Just as on clue, Madeleine stepped inside the office. “Speak for yourself. I know my job well.” She snatched the tabloid from Bertrand’s hand and glanced at the pics, dismissing it in an instant.

She focused on Leo, “ This is the reason I insisted you need to dress up properly. Had you been in a formal attire, this would have been ignored by the media as just another business meeting.”

“Great ! So now it’s all my mistake? You know what my mistake is? Trusting you guys with my future.”

Bertrand replied in a calm note, “I think you are over reacting. It’s just two pics, we can change the flow of events. My PR company can assure you, we are good at turning the waves in your favour.”

Before he completed his sentence, the doors to his office opened with a bang. Drake barged in raging in anger. “The hell you turn things only in your favour. You Beaumonts are the most mean and selfish men walking on this damn planet.” His voice echoed across the halls outside the office.

Bertrand’s eyes roamed behind Drake to check if there were any audience at his doors. He settled his gaze back on Drake. “May I know the reason for this intrusion?”

Drake sneered, “You call yourself CEO of a PR firm yet you don’t have updates of the newsflash on TV channels across Cordonia?”

Bertrand gave Drake an irritated glare and picked up the remote to switch on the flat screen hanging on the wall across his table. The screen brightened up with flashes of red haired lady bouncing on a dance floor. All of them in the room knew that was Olivia but the next few moments left everyone’s mouth hanging open.

Bertrand came into the frame trying to dance. He made some lewd gestures and then grabbed Olivia into a smooch.

Leo and Madeleine jolted back at Bertrand. Even Olivia had shock written all over her face. Definitely she was drunk that she didn’t remember this incident.

Bertrand gulped and fumbled with the remote to switch off the TV. He didn’t want to listen or let others in the room listen to the reporter’s remarks.

“I... I ... I can explain”, he said nervously.

Drake sprinted to him in two steps and held him by collar. “How many times are you going to explain? First my sister, then your back stabbing brother took Riley and now you target my girl friend?”

“Riley is with Max?” The baritone voice from the entrance of the office brought everything to standstill. They all turned to see Liam standing in a thunderstuck state.

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