#MID GAME IS THIS FOR REAL

[dailytomlinson]

Looking out on the stairs of a building in Corso Matteotti in Milan, two steps are enough to realize that a confused and amused echo of fresh voices is thundering in my direction. It approaches like a round buzz that follows the structure of the stairs. He presses regardless of my presence, rushes past me quickly while I remain motionless on a dock. I realize, only later, that they are Tomlinson fans holding the autograph of their favorite singer, obtained who knows after how many dreams and waits. Elastic times that expand until 2010, the year in which the footballing promise of Doncaster showed up at X-Factor UK, did not pass the auditions but rather than be accompanied to the door, he was invited by Nicole Scherzinger, guest judge of that edition, to take part in a group in the company of other guys from different corners of the UK whose names are destined to resonate in the pop world of the 2000s: Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Harry Styles. As a strange media tradition wants, One Direction did not win the reality show but will confirm by far the star product of the talent show, as were the Måneskin, great seconds at the eleventh edition of XF Italia and now on the podium of the world. Around the corner: 50 million albums sold, titles such as Top New Artist according to Billboard, four BAFTAs, and in 2014, according to a list drawn up by The Sunday Times, OneD would have been the richest boy band in the history of British music, with assets of around 14 million pounds each, proceeds from both music and the sale of highly sought-after merch, world tours sold out in a few minutes, and a film, This is Us, by the documentarian Morgan Spurlock.

Faith in the Future. An eloquent name. Where did it come from?

“I already had the title of the album in mind before anything else. So that was what dictated the mood to what I wanted to say, to create. Usually you write a few songs before you think about the title of the album, but it was a nice way to do it, different, compelling. It gave me a very clear path of what I meant, in terms of the album's intentions. Then I was trying to create something that was nice to hear live as the past shows have been incredible, they have had an amazing reception. Now I would like to equal these sensations, this enthusiasm, I would like to double that extraordinary sensation ».

Bigger than me. What's bigger than you at the moment that you want to overcome?

“During the lockdown I stopped to think and reflected on my career as a whole, thinking about the shows, the songs and the meaning they can have for other people. And for a long time it hasn't been easy to realize the impact this has on people's lives. There were moments when I was on stage and everything seemed bigger than me. In those moments a lot of things go through my head, I think about trying to do everything right and to be

What would you recommend to a person who, like you, stops thinking too much? Where and how can this virtuous circle be interrupted?

“I would say try to take each day as it comes, trying to live in the moment for a while. Because it is very easy to get caught up in the anxiety of the unknown. But if you have even a shred of faith in that future, everything will be fine. "

Chicago. What are the cities that make you feel at home?

“There's no place like Doncaster, where I grew up. I spend a lot of time in Los Angeles, [stunt mention] so obviously there is that feeling of home due to having an important person in a specific place. One place I always come back to, then, for whatever reason, is Barcelona. I had good experiences there, good times. I think it's a great city. I've never lived there, but I go there often and will continue to do so.

The greatest. What's the song of your life, the one you always come back to?

I would instinctively say Super Sonic by Oasis.

And your biggest fear?

Some time ago I would have told you the fear of getting old. Now that I am more mature I would say that it is that of not being able to make more music. It's all I have, all I know how to do

And the greatest hope for the future?

To continue doing live music shows, meeting my fans, touring around the world.

The biggest advice you can give to anyone who would like to become an artist, tomorrow.

I think when you start working as an artist it can be difficult to understand who you are specifically. This is a process, but it is much easier to work backwards from who you are not. And it's something I've always found very strong: working backwards like this. It gives you a clearer picture of who you are as an individual and as an artist.

And you, what are you not?

An asshole. I think. I hope.

[temeyes]

simon riley, ang panget mo talaga (affectionate)

[toxintouch]

TOUCHSTARVED WISH LIST:

✦ Vere going absolutely feral after he sees the MC getting hurt ✦

It's a Soulless that hurts them?  The monster barely gets a swipe in before Vere is on it.  He's ripping it apart with his fucking teeth.  He can't stop growling, even after the thing is already dead, blood dripping down his face, splattering his chest, smeared all over his chains.

He's a force of nature - beautiful and deadly in equal measure.  

His ears are going to stay pinned back for a while.  He can't relax.  MC can try to calm him down and comfort him but his disposition won't go back to normal until he's satisfied.  (Satisfied with patching them up, fussing over them in a way that's just this side of an insult.)  He'll take them to bed, but only in the most literal sense.  (He just wants to listen to their heartbeat with his tail wrapped around them until he feels better.)

 . . . But what if it is a human who does it? Say, someone from the Senobium… 

Vere wants to blot them from the face of the earth but he can't.  Not with the collar on.  He has to resort to trickery or manipulation if he wants MC's assailant to stop.

 (And he has to act unaffected.  He can't let on…)

 It's absolutely maddening because he could squash their attacker like a bug if he wasn't so chained.  He wouldn't have to watch this happen if -- he shouldn't have to watch this happen, they're his -- but he can't stop it, not the way he wants to.  His hackles are up.  His claws absolutely itch with the need to tear this vermin to shreds.  His handlers will write it off as hunger, blood lust.  (They'll be right, if only partially.)

Bonus Points: Vere seeks Kuras' help willingly in order to save MC's life.

 The MC getting grievously injured…

Vere picking them up bridal style and carrying them to Kuras' clinic. 

He doesn't wait in the line.  (Not that there's going to be much of a line, people scatter like rats once they see his face.)  

He'll break down the goddamn door if he has to.  He doesn't say a word, just snarls at Kuras and refuses to be removed from the room while MC is treated.

 (Does he fume in the corner the whole time?  Or does he hover near Kuras, distrusting the angel, accepting the proximity despite his distaste?)

 Kuras doesn't say anything either.  He just gets to work.

[faeriekit]

for the ask game: ritual and rites?

"This seems," Dick points out, mild with sleep deprivation, "Like a bad idea."

"I think it's a great idea," Jason says, because he is twelve, and thinks that ghost hunting is grand adventure and not, like, tedious grunt work spent fumbling around in the dark.

Dick thinks. He makes an executive Older Kid Decision (gross) and snatches the spirit box out of Jason's hands before the kid can spirit it away (ha). "No ghosts."

"Come on!" Jason whines, peeved. He jumps, and he tries to climb up Dick's Gotham U sweater— but Dick came by his height honestly, and no shrimp malnutritioned preteen is going to make Dick give in and tussle with ghosts at three in the morning.

"No," Dick snaps, arm raised higher. The preteen is unlatched with a hand to the chest and an aggressive push with his foot. Jason grooooans, as if this is the worst thing that could ever possibly happen to a preteen, ever. "If you want to fight ghosts, wait until B is back and bother him. I need four hours sleep and an un-haunted family wing during finals week. Get out and go harass ghosts on your own time."

Jason sours like an unripe lemon. "Motherfucker," he whispers under his breath, as both the worst word he knows and as if Dick has never heard swearing before.

"Pussy," agrees the spirit box.

"Shut up," Dick decides, deciding to ignore everything that isn't a nap and his econ essay. "Or I'll send you to wake Alfred about it and tell him about your desperate need."

And then, before the ghost can chime in: "Both of you."

Jason, reasonably pale, scatters. Hopefully the teen takes the ghost with him. Dick resolves to ignore any future repercussions of whatever that was; his essay is due this upcoming noon hour, and Dick is going to wreck the class's v-shaped bell curve even if it kills him.

[dykedvonte]

Something something perhaps the reason Curly lacks a truly undamaged ID where his face is visible is to represent how much damage Jimmy had already affected on him throughout their relationship and the way Curly obscured part of who he is and what he stood to unintentionally cater to this toxic influence in his life.

[lucabyte]

Happy halloween from Purrgatorio!! This year's costume theme is: things that have been distracting me from writing Purrgatorio

[asleepinawell]

I've seen a lot of back and forth about the latest chapter of firmament and the conclusion I've come to is that people who have a basic knowledge of some specific parts of fl lore are more likely to have enjoyed it. the problem here being that fl rarely outright tells you big lore things but instead tries to give you bits to piece together, some of which are in ES or the sunless games. and then the lore continues to build on top of that lore. and you end up at lore point 5 where you don't know anything about lore points 1-4 and are hopelessly lost

you then have people who haven't played the other games or gone through the wiki or reddit not having a solid foundation to start from in terms of understanding not only what is going on but why it's important and what the implications of it are

i rambled about it before once somewhere but i think fl would greatly benefit from having a codex that filled in as you went through the main story. something that's an optional storylet at your lodgings with a disclaimer that you can safely skip it if you prefer not to use it. the codex would only give you very basic info (the great chain 101) and could even say things like hey if this lore point seems cool check out the sunless games or these specific ES for more story about it (obligatory statement that this is just wishful thinking and i know the devs are very busy and don't have time to implement everything)

i really enjoyed the latest chapter of firmament, but I've also done the wiki deep dive AND saw a spoiler about what certain things were before i hit the end of the chapter (and to be fair to the people claiming the writing was hard to follow, I'm not sure i would have put the pieces together on my own there) and it greatly increased my enjoyment of the big final conflict in it because i had some grasp of the stakes and the players involved. i don't know what will come of the decision i made (which is good!), but i do understand what decision i made. that's the key bit to me

like i was saying in the first paragraph, it feels like some of the frustration with firmament is partly coming from the fact that fl is a game that rarely outright explains big lore points and rather expects you to suss them out as you play (which probably worked great way back at the start), and that as the game has gotten bigger and longer, people are going to spend less time delving into things from the early game as they rush to get to the cool later stuff and get increasingly more confused when the game bases story off those lore points later on if they haven't stopped to research them. the more the end game lore expands, the more this becomes true. thus my codex idea, a 'here's what you need to know in order to be immersed in the next layer of mystery' guide

[revvethasmythh]

everyone be proud of me, i graduated (turned my difficulty settings up to normal)

[mumbledramblings]

Sort of a sequel to this

C'mon, man... It's- like, average...

[akimojo]

ok wait i'm curious to know what yalls go-to party is in ffxiii, because lightning-sazh-vanille always feels like such a no-brainer to me anytime i play and now i need to know if people think the same or not 👀

[what-is-it-to-be-pk-esque]

I am so... empty and happy and idk... experiencing withdrawal after that baldur's gate 3 epilogue yall

I can't get over everything around the endgame scenes with Karlach and Astarion (and I mean the "good" endings!), I am literally still processing it days later 😭

Plus Gale being a professor, free of the orb?? Shadowheart being at peace, finding herself and able to adopt the Owlbear?? Her visiting Gale and Tara for tea??? Making her own cider and wanting to do a reunion party every year??? Being invited to lecture Gale's students and bring Astarion too and also stay and chat in his tower??? Halsin gets to be a dad like he's always wanted with all the orphans??? Karlach has hope for a new engine and may return home and might be more than friends with Wyll??? Lae'zel raging her dream, riding red dragons and learning to be more diplomatic? Jaheira being Jaheria and Minsc visiting Astarion much to his dismay (and somehow when he's not with my Tav in the Underdark or looking for a cure lol)?? Just... everyone living their best lives??? All of the hugs!???? My heart is so full the more I think about it but I also want to see it in the game and not my head 😭

Only issue is who gets Scratch??? Where has he been the past 6 months and where is he staying afterwards?? Did I miss this detail??

Basically that epilogue is so so wholesome and hopeful. Got me feeling like this once again

[agent-jaselin]

“Oh it’s dystopian/horrifying when a kids toy is a mcdonald’s/grocery cashier set up.”

Kids love to mirror what they see adults doing everyday. Whether that’s the Walmart cashier, the doctor, or their parents cleaning up at home. It’s only dystopian cause you don’t respect minimum wage jobs YouTuber.

[dyrewrites]

Friday Kiss -- on Saturday

Thanks to @somethingclevermahogony over a-here

Rules: Post a scene with a kiss (I am adding the caveat that it doesn't need to be romantic, because I mean come on, it doesn't)

I am gently tapping @kaylinalexanderbooks and @starbuds-and-rosedust and @shepardsherd (show me those adorable kisses)

You get my second-favorite kiss from Before Deluca

There weren’t enough words to properly describe all of the emotions I felt, not to him then and not you now. So why bother. I grabbed him, turned him around, lifted that awful little mask he wore and kissed him. And I won’t lie that the shock in his eyes wasn’t delicious. He fell back with that kiss, held up by my arm alone until I steadied him, but though I ended it, I didn’t let go, I waited until he saw me before I said, “No matter what you’ve done, or what you intend to; you are my dream, and I never want to wake.” A terribly cheesy line, but he found it amusing, and so I stand by it. Laughing into my chest, he hugged me and teased, “Imbécile.” It was heaven to hear that laugh, to feel all of him loose and comfortable in my arms—not tense, not shaking, not coolly limp—and I breathed easier with him.

->Taglist<-

// feel free to ask to be added or removed ^.- //

@watermeezer @starbuds-and-rosedust @thespacelizard @your-absent-father @mr-orion

[haellen-o]

[scottmcstark]

.

[basileusdraws]

More misc moments from in game :')