#Quest 1 is super tiny

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WISH YOU KNEW || CH. 1

─ KISS THE GIRL

─ Logan Howlett/Wolverine x fem! reader

SYNOPSIS: Another mundane afternoon rolls around that quickly turns into a new beginning after Logan abruptly meets one of Wade's close friends.

CONTENT/WARNINGS: MDNI/18+. NSFW. NO SMUT. Worst! Logan / Variant! Logan. Friends to lovers vibes. Mutual pining. Sexual tension. Close proximity. Flirting. Playful Banter. Kissing. Alcohol Consumption. Profanity. Logan catching feelings. Wade being an instigator. Age gap implied [Logan is his canon age, reader is mid to late 20s]. Reader has an established friendship w/Wade. Descriptions of reader's clothing. Mentions of other characters.

WC: 7.9K

A/N: Super excited to be posting this today, I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing it despite it taking me a little while. This whole story and first part is an extensive addition to these headcanons I posted a while back. Huge thank you to @ozarkthedog for the proofread and encouragement to finish this project, and shoutout to my baby @joelsdagger for helping me with the aesthetics and vibes of this post. As always, reblogs, comments, and likes are greatly appreciated! <3

NAVIGATION | SERIES MASTERLIST | NEXT PART | AO3

Leaping into a new reality after everything he’d been through was far from the strangest things Logan had to experience in his incredibly long life. If anything, he was secretly appreciative to be given a second chance, a way to redeem himself from the horrors of his previous timeline and possibly live up to the expectations of his former self.

Though, he imagined things would be much more different. He thought that by now, he’d be living independently with a stable source of income outside of taking odd mercenary jobs alongside Deadpool, of all people. Crashing on the couch of the culprit that brought him into this mess was far from what he wanted, but getting adjusted to this new way of living was taking much longer than he anticipated.

Wade whistled to himself as he stayed busy in the kitchen. Still dressed in his pjs, the pink kiss-the-cook apron was neatly tied around his waist, paired with an obnoxiously crisp chef’s hat. He poured some batter into a flat pan, watching it puff up and sticking his tongue out in concentration as he flipped the pancake, ensuring the edges didn’t burn.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, usually full of playing reruns on the TV and sleeping off the previous night of copious whiskey drinking. The alternative was dealing with Wade’s get-togethers, where his friends stopped by for game night. Logan could, in theory, stay behind and beat everyone at the table in a good game of poker, but having so many individuals in the tiny one-bedroom apartment he was already sharing with two other people and a dog could be overstimulating. 

The doorbell ringing disrupted the rarely calm atmosphere, sending the hairs on Logan’s nape to rise. He didn’t think it could be Blind Al coming back home so soon unless her daily walk was cut short. Wade made quick work of the pancakes in the current stack, setting them to the side and striding into the entryway to look through the peephole. Squealing to himself, he gave the grumpy man on the couch one more glance as a warning to behave and swung the door open to let an unknown figure come into view.

In walks a new stranger, someone Logan hasn’t had the pleasure of meeting personally. He was presented to Wade’s inner circle once he was brought into this world, surprised at the diverse group of people who tolerated his behavior longer than he had. Your face was refreshing compared to who he usually saw, and your abrupt entrance captivated him.

He diligently observed how you rummaged through the kitchen, tearing open the overhead cabinets and searching for something he couldn’t quite decipher under your mumbles. You have yet to sense an additional presence in the apartment, and you’re too busy in your quest to take a peek at the couch. 

“Where the hell did you put my wine, Wade? I told you to hold it for me, not pop it open.” Your voice cut through the room, hitting Logan’s discerning ears. As strange as it was, he thought the pitch of your voice suited you, or at least what he suspected would closely resemble it.

“Well, happy Sunday to you too, honey bunches. Are you looking for it? Sorry to burst your bubble, but Blind Al drank all of it,” he joked with a devilish grin. There he was again, jerking someone’s chain when given the chance, and yet Logan found himself curious about your dynamic with his roommate.

“Since when did Althea drink wine? I swear if you opened my rosé without telling me, I’m never bringing you anything again,” you playfully threatened as the corner of your lips curled up in a smirk.

A righteous aha! came from you as the bottle manifested in your hand, smiling widely at your successful find. You turned around, spotting Wade in his apron before your eyes moved further to the right, noticing the aged man for the first time since you barged into the apartment. He could see how your pupils dilated at taking him in, the cogs turning in your head as you tried to figure out who he was and his association with Wade.

“Who’s the big guy?” You jutted your chin toward the mutant, forcing Wade to take the initiative to bridge the introduction between you two. 

“Ah, him. Yeah, that’s Logan, the Wolverine. Kinda resurrected him as Marvel Jesus and brought him from his timeline into ours after saving the world. Now we’re happily married with a kid,” Wade said with full confidence, another one of his meddling tactics. 

“Oh, oh. This is Logan?” You tilted your head to study the man in question, all while he fought the urge to raise an eyebrow. Has Wade mentioned him to you before? “So you two are…”

“No, no we’re not,” Logan finally spoke, quickly rising from the couch to end the dubious dialogue. A pout formed on Wade’s face at his friend’s intrusion, no longer feeding into the delusion that they were somehow more than cohabitants.

“Don’t know what he��s told you, but I’m crashing on the couch since your friend brought me here.” Somehow after the brief explanation of how he got here, it sounded even worse coming from Logan’s mouth.

“Peanut, do not embarrass me right now. I know you’re shy about our true love, but sugarplum here is very much an ally,” Wade lifted a finger at him, more comical than the overall discussion, as Logan sighed in annoyance. He figured he might as well introduce himself properly since he’s gotten this far.

“Logan,” he opened his palm to offer a handshake, catching your name grace your lips as you clasped your hand over his. The squeeze you gave him was reassuring, and he reciprocated in kind, holding your gaze and drawing his hand away. 

“I’m guessing how you got here is a long story?” Your eyes dashed to Logan in interest, sparing him the embarrassment of denying the initial claims your mutual friend made without his knowledge.

“Very long.” Before Logan could smack his hand over Wade’s mouth, he closed his eyes, waiting for the raunchy commentary soon to follow.

“That’s what she said!” Wade clapped his hands, receiving a groan from the older man and a chuckle from you.

“You’ll have to tell me about it some time then. I’ll never understand Wade’s quests, all he talks about is who he kills and how much fun he has doing it.”

“Honey, the complexities of the space-time continuum are way too extreme to explain in one sitting. I’m going to need a podcast and a projector to elaborate on it,” while Wade kept responding to you, Logan observed the exchanges between you two, making mental notes as he read your body language. 

“I think you’re banned from the tech stores within the tri-state area, but maybe you can try Amazon,” you offered him, the same lively smile popping up once again. “The new season of Love Island USA drops this weekend. Are we still on for our watch party?”

“You must be fucking crazy if you think I will miss this premiere,” he beamed at you, mimicking your expression of delight.

“Then I’ll bring some of those sweet ‘n salty pretzels you and Althea like next time I stop by,” you announced, kissing Wade’s wrinkly cheek to honor the words threaded onto his apron. Your hand hovered over the front door handle, meeting hazel eyes to the right. “I hope to see you around Logan.”

One final glimpse at them, and you were out the door, the silhouette of your shadow no longer in the older mutant’s peripheral. Wade returned to the kitchen to continue cooking his late breakfast, putting strawberries and maple syrup on a stack of chocolate pancakes and cutting into the sweetened heap. 

“Is she another one of your friends?” Logan asked, his encounter with a new face birthed a sense of novelty that flickered in his mind.

“Mhm. Met her at a grocery store when I was finding something for Blind Al and kept bumping into her throughout the city. We just became friends, plus Althea loves her, probably because she’s always bringing her sweet treats,” Wade answered casually, his mouth half stuffed with the pancakes he bit into.

“Hmm. So I should be worried about seeing more people entering this apartment?”

“She comes for our religious reality TV and movie nights. It’s no biggy, she’s like everyone else I know. Think of me, but with a brain, and maybe not with the whole ‘immortal’ thing I got going on here,” he clarified, the thought of having to deal with anyone remotely similar to Wade filled Logan with inexplicable anxiety. Yet, all he did was shake his head and cross his arms across his chest.

“Great, the more the merrier.”

“You know, maybe if you weren’t such an asshole, you could actually have friends in this world, or even get laid. But instead, you’re too hellbent on being a grouch,” Wade replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Maybe I’d have friends and get laid if people didn’t think we were fucking all the time,” Logan reacted defiantly, grabbing hold of Mary Puppins and attaching the leash to her collar, getting ready to take her out on a walk around the neighborhood.

“Live in your truth, Wolvie. Be who you are!” Wade exclaimed again, ignoring Logan’s curses as he stepped through the front door to get some fresh air.

Logan held on to the leash with one hand as he walked down the block with Dogpool, taking in the acquainted streets and ignoring the looks that came his way. Thankfully, after being in Wade’s world for a while, the stares have transitioned from hate to mere tolerance, aiding his adjustment. As he turned the corner, his intrigue spiked as he thought more of his brief interaction with you, another of Wade’s friends who will inevitably return for a visit. 

Who are you?

Sticking to Wade’s words, you stopped by the apartment more than Logan expected. You’d come by and drop off some dinner and pastry dishes bought on your way home from work when you had the chance, and you shared what you got with Wade and Blind Al. For the most part, you made delivery stops to Wade’s place once every other week, walking into the space with a couple of pans of food and placing it on the nearest kitchen counter. You’d stay for a few minutes talking to either Wade or Althea, giving each of them a friendly kiss on the cheek or the top of their head before heading home.

Logan wouldn’t always be around when you visited the other two, missing you by a few minutes when he would be fulfilling a job or out and about. Still, when he was home, he’d be in the background observing you, talking to everyone while keeping himself at arm’s length. You supposed he had the whole grumpy, mysterious vibe that made him tough to approach. So, instead, you’d offer him a cordial wave and a mutter of his name, at least something that acknowledges him when he was in the same space as you.

Week by week, your face became a regular thing for Logan, mainly on Saturdays when you joined Wade in watching whatever current reality TV show was occupying your attention. The brutish man would be on his way to the local bar when you rang the doorbell, dressed in some comfy loungewear and your tote bag full of snacks.

Logan made it a habit not to intrude on your time with Wade. He was already with him for most of the day, the least he could do was respect your time when granted. That didn’t mean he wasn’t wondering what you were like outside of being friends with his companion.

Eventually, he got his moment.

A Thursday afternoon rolled around when Logan came home from the gym to an empty apartment, a rare occurrence he planned to relish. A note on the fridge from Wade mentioned he was out with Big Al and Mary Puppins doing God knows what, not that he wanted to know nor ask. He took a shower to rinse off the grime from his workout, threw on a ribbed tank and sweats, and headed to the kitchen for a cold beer. Popping the bottle cap off, he managed to take one sip before the front doorbell rang, his eyes squinting at the entrance and internally sighing as his moment of tranquility was interrupted.

Leaving the bottle on the counter and opening the door, he was surprised to find you on the other side of the threshold with a covered tin foil pan, no doubt containing something edible. You were still in your work clothes: a pencil skirt and button-down shirt on your body with heels to match, your purse hanging off one of your shoulders.

“Oh, hey, Logan. Came to drop this stuff off for Wade. Do you mind?”

“Nah, ain’t a problem,” Logan shifted to the side to grant you entry, eyeing the back of your head as you wandered past him and into the kitchen.

“I’m guessing Wade and Al are out?” you asked the man as you handled your business, inserting the tin pan into the fridge and closing it with your hip.

“Yeah. Probably doing something I shouldn’t worry about.” You laughed at that, a light sound that he preserved in the imprints of his consciousness.

“Let’s hope they don’t bring back some cocaine. Lord knows the last thing that lady needs is a sniff of powder.” It was Logan’s turn to chuckle, the rumble of a hum you considered equivalent to a laugh.

“So it’s just you in here?” you said as you placed your work bag on the nearest surface, an attempt to rest your arm from lugging the extra weight around.

“Just me,” his broad shoulders lifted and dropped as he leaned against the kitchen wall. “They’ll be back in a bit. You can wait for them if you want, and I can head out.”

“You don’t need to do that. Do I really make you that uncomfortable?” you raised an eyebrow at him as his features softened at your inquiry.

“Uncomfortable isn’t the right word,” he shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest again, the muscles in his biceps tightening as he did so. “You and Wade, you’re close, were close before I got here. Not trying to bother what you two have going on.”  

You hummed then, standing straight on one leg and entering a more relaxed stance. Logan could tell by your body language that you weren’t disturbed or intimidated by him, which he assumed was a good sign.

“Sure, I’ve known Wade and Al for a while, but I don’t mind having you around. You’re a little hard to talk to. Figured you were one of those types who liked to brood in silence, at least from what Wade told me.”

“What exactly did he tell you about me?” Logan contested, looking directly at you when he could.

“Do you want to hear the pg-13 or the explicit version? He had a lot to say. Not sure you’d be too happy about it, though,” Logan’s lips pursed, and his eyebrows furrowed at the thought. Knowing Wade, he probably said more than enough, and everything under the sun that wasn’t true.

“Fucker has a big mouth,” he almost took back what he said until he caught your nod of agreement, easing him a bit.

“He doesn’t know when to stop talking, but I can’t hate him for it. He’s just…honest, maybe a little too honest,” you claimed. “If you’re that worried about what he said, I didn’t take any of it literally. You’ll just have to prove him wrong.”

Logan’s sight bounced to you, curiosity laced in your stare as you glanced at him. For a moment, he was taking another read at you again, debating if you were as trustworthy as Wade makes you seem. He sensed your heartbeat and the steady pulse at your neck, even in pace, without a singular beat missing in rhythm. You were already here, and he reasoned he’d have to get used to all of Wade’s acquaintances sooner or later. Why not add you to the mix?

“Guess so,” his lips slightly turned upwards as his focus remained on you, deeming it acceptable to quit hiding in the background. A beat of silence filled the kitchen, one watching the other and your eyes unmoving from Logan’s face. For a split second, your pulse spiked with an intake of breath and releasing it, shaking you out of the sudden trance.

“I gotta go, but tell the deadly duo that there’s tiramisu in the fridge. You can take a piece too, I know they can be stingy,” you grabbed your work bag and threw it over your shoulder again, heading for the front door and offering Logan one last smile. “Don’t be a stranger.”

There you were, out the door again and off to your place with only the conversation you shared and the tiramisu you brought as proof of your presence. Logan huffed a breath and reached for the beer bottle sitting on the counter, making his way to the couch. He plopped down, sipping away at the lukewarm beverage and throwing his head back along the edge, staring at the ceiling with your words playing on loop in the space between his ears.

Don’t be a stranger.

He tries to deny the slight tug of warmth fluttering in his chest, manifesting into an exhale and a shake of his head, followed by another sip of his drink to wash it down.

He makes sure he won’t be.

Integrating Logan into your established dynamic with Wade and Althea was seemingly effortless. You didn’t make a big fuss about forcing him into joining the weekly TV binging when he was home, but it was nice to hear more of your voice directed at him occasionally. Whenever you stopped by Wade’s place with baked pastries or dishes, Logan hovered in the backdrop, returning your gestures when you threw one his way.

He liked having you around, not to mention the food you dropped off would fill him with a sense of comfort he hadn’t felt in a long time. Once, you handed Wade these red velvet cookies Althea liked from a downtown bakery. Logan side-eyed them munching away at the baked goods, silently judging them for satisfying their sweet tooth to such an extent. His facade was maintained until the middle of the night when Wade and Al were asleep in the bedroom, walking on muted footsteps to finish the rest of the cookies in the pan. He goes back to playing the part of being the nonchalant roommate once the sun rises, pretending to be shocked when Wade starts pointing fingers and gets into a blaming match with the blind woman he shares a bed with.

It was a matter of time before you offered more than just food, keeping the newest member of your friendly circle in mind the next time you decided what to bring to the household. There was a double knock on the door, and Wade was on the other end, waiting for you with girlish excitement.

“Hey, Wadey. Hi Althea,” you wiggled your fingers at the elderly woman. Dropping the pans on the dinner table, everyone gathered around the middle of the apartment, anxiously lingering to see what you had brought. 

“Finally, I’ve been waiting for this all fucking week,” Wade approved happily, nudging you by the shoulder. “Show daddy the goods! Come to papa.”

You giggled and unwrapped two tin containers, unveiling baked lasagna and penne a la vodka. You could practically hear everyone’s stomach rumbling at the collective awe of the food in front of them, still warm to the touch as the scent of the meal wafted through the apartment.

“Thought Italian would be good, so I called this restaurant a while ago to set some dishes aside for pick-up. Got devil’s food cake too, I hope you’re in the mood for chocolate,” you voiced, smacking Wade’s hand away that threatened to dip into the pasta.

“Honestly, I think we should get married. You don’t even have to see me at all. As long as you bring me food like this, I’ll give you one kill a week.” Wade’s proposal made you smirk. Though it was tempting, you knew better than to get associated with the mess of his job.

“Don’t want to be a homewrecker,” you gestured to Logan, who rolled his eyes. “I did bring something for the grump, too. Consider it a very late welcome to this world gift.” 

He watched as you handed him a paper bag, your fingers wrapping around what appeared to be the neck of a bottle. Logan held the familiar weight in his large hands, peeling back the bag to drag out a nicely sized whiskey bottle, Johnnie Walker, to be exact.

He didn’t realize how high his eyebrows raised at receiving a gift, much less something from you. The food containers did get bigger after Wade complained about somebody eating everything after 24 hours. But knowing you were somehow thinking about him revived that pulse in his chest.

“Thank you,” he said genuinely, russet irises focused in your direction. “Really, this is nice.”

“It’s the least I could do since I’m always coming over here,” you said, appreciating Logan’s kindness and mirroring his grateful expression.

There it was again, the beat of silence that entranced the both of you when you entered the same room. The space between Logan’s ribs ached, a strange and unnerving thumping that carried a wave of unfamiliarity.

“Are we going to fucking eat or what?” Blind Al muttered out loud, disrupting the moment you shared with Logan.

“Aht aht, being greedy isn’t nice, Althea. I’m still pissed you ate the corner piece of the brownies I called dibs on last week,” Wade squinted his eyes as he blamed the elderly woman for a crime she didn’t commit. That was, in fact, Logan.

“Motherfucker, if we stand here any longer, the lasagna will get cold,” Althea criticized, the two bickering amongst themselves beside you. You shake your head in disbelief, going to the kitchen to grab some plates, with Logan following behind to help you bring the utensils and cups.

“You want to stay a while?” The suggestion tumbled out of him without thinking, anxious that he had just shot himself in the foot. When your smile reappeared, his worries passed.

“Yeah, I got time,” you held a few plates, heading to the dinner table to join the others in fighting over the pieces of lasagna.

Logan reached other milestones in your bond over the upcoming weeks when you invited them to dinner at your apartment to celebrate your recent job promotion. He didn’t know why he stressed about which shirt to wear or how to style his hair, wanting to put some effort into his appearance this time. Deciding on a red flannel and a leather jacket, he didn’t say a word when Wade was messing around with wigs to wear for the evening.

After a few threats of slicing Wade’s head off if he didn’t hurry the fuck up, they were on their way to your place. An 8-minute walk around the neighborhood and a buzz of the intercom later, you happily greeted the two men at the front door. Stepping aside to let them both pass, you briefly eyed the breadth of Logan’s back flexing under his jacket as he trekked inside, closing the door behind them.

“Al didn’t come along?” you questioned, half expecting the elderly woman to join you.

“Nope, she’s fast asleep. You know how old people are, strict curfews and powdery smells,” Wade quipped, glancing around the table to see what you had prepared.

“Surprised you don’t have a wig on right now,” you lightly jested, straightening the collar of Wade’s polo and approving of his outfit choice.

“I was deciding between a short bob and a tapered fade when Logan threatened to tear me limb from limb. I think that’s his way of flirting.”

At the mention of the other male, your gaze landed on him as he surveyed his surroundings. Your apartment was nice, small yes, but homey, just enough for one person. The living room consisted of your TV and a plush couch, a colorful blanket thrown over its edge, and a leather armchair beside the windows draped in sheer curtains. Two sets of bookshelves rested on the walls closest to the entryway, a collection of books and knick-knacks filled the shelves, a mix of genres from thrillers to romance to fantasy. He took in the setting of your space one last time before pivoting to face you.

“Sorry, Wilson, but you’re not my type,” Logan replied, his hands digging into the pocket of his jeans.

“He’s in denial and emotionally constipated. Don’t worry, Wolvie. I will wait for you forever, as long as you return home to me.” Logan ignored him, mumbling a quiet shut the fuck up under his breath.

The rest of the night went by smoothly, and Logan used it as an opportunity to learn more about you. Through conversing with Wade, he discovered you work at a media studio further downtown. Initially, you were just a journalist pitching stories that would sometimes be published or given the spotlight. Your promotion now makes you the head of your department, giving you more creative control over the stories you want to be told, something you’ve worked hard to get. In your own words, you were happy that bitch Janice at your office didn’t get the role, and now she will have to deal with you being her superior.

Logan liked how you smiled from ear to ear after being so accomplished, and when he mentioned he was glad it worked out, the way your face lit up wasn’t overlooked.

Munching into the lamb chop you cooked for tonight, Wade retells the stories of the recent mercenary jobs he’s completed with Logan by his side, throwing innuendos and graphic details of his missions between every couple of sentences. You listened to him talk, drinking your wine and resting your chin on your hand, nodding and providing commentary when needed.

At some points in the conversation, Logan would jump in when Wade allowed him to, roping him in to tell you about the cool shit he can do with his claws. Your eyes sparkled at Logan’s words, hanging on to whatever came out of him and holding it close as if it would be the last time you’d hear him speak. He couldn’t bring himself to deny that having your attention on him felt good, and when he let Wade control the dialogue again, his eyes would stay on you for a second longer, sipping on the beer you saved for him.

He hopes you didn’t notice.

Other times, Logan joined you and Wade on the couch for reality TV and movie nights, something he figured would help him become more of a social butterfly. Though he didn’t always understand the current events of 90 Day Fiancé or Love Island USA, you didn’t mind catching him up on the episode that played despite Wade itching to give out spoiler warnings.

You’d be situated between them on the small couch, the popcorn bowl on your lap, and sharing it with Wade, who wore his patterned PJs. Although Logan was relatively quiet while you watched the TV screen, you’d let him take a handful of popcorn, washing it down with a drink to enjoy a somewhat tasteful combination.

What he didn’t expect from you was how welcoming you were of his touch. Of course, given that the couch wasn’t that large, you’d be hip to hip with Logan and Wade on either side of you. The larger man did his best to stay in his corner of the couch and to manspread less to give you space, but you stayed close to him.

Maybe too close.

One night, his arm slipped from its perch on the edge of the couch, dropping on your shoulder and causing you to jolt from the sudden contact.

“Shit, my bad,” he was fast to mutter an apology, but you were just as quick to shake your head, quelling his worries.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind, really.” You were permitting him to leave his arm on your shoulders, and he wasn’t going to say no to that, the heavy bulk of muscle making a new home over the width of your back.

The fleeting touches persisted when you watched Australia for Wade’s sake, suddenly growing fascinated with the main male character and proclaiming Logan somehow favored him. He grumbled, zoning out of the movie and not realizing Wade had fallen asleep within the first hour. It was just you and him for a while until you also dozed off near the two-hour mark, still with 45 minutes left.

Logan had lost track of the plot within the first 30 minutes, so he no longer cared for the film. He focused on your torso, slowly leaning into his body on the couch, gravitating toward his warmth. Instinctively, he moved his arm on your shoulder, bringing you closer so you were flush with his chest, snuggling against the stability of his figure.

Logan swears he could hear a happy hum fall from your lips in the form of a sigh, getting more than comfortable against the man who had become a new addition to your life. If you were awake, he was sure you could hear how hard his heart was beating inside of him, providing a comforting squeeze to your arm to signal he was still here with you.

For the next little while, he’ll enjoy his current position without qualms, and he can imagine just for a second that this was a part of your usual interactions. This is as close as he’s going to get anyway.

“You like her.” Wade’s voice filtered through the static noise of Logan’s channel surfing, settling on a Tom and Jerry episode that played in the background, his head twisting to scrutinize the pain in the ass he called a roommate. 

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Oh, you know,” he grinned mischievously, “Honey bunches, you have the hots for her.”

The neurons in Logan’s brain fired at rapid speed as he comprehended what his friend was insinuating. Sure, he liked having you around and looked forward to when you stopped by every week to sit on the couch. He ignores how you smell or breathe next to him or how you don’t mind when his arm is on your shoulder. He doesn’t care that you inch the slightest bit closer to him, hip to hip, eyes still on the screen during movie nights. He dismisses how you look at him, how you smile when he’s in your space, and how his heart skips a beat when it happens.

“No, I don’t." He knew he was lying.

“Really?” Wade’s Cheshire smile broadened, dissecting Logan by the minute. “You sure, Logan? Are you sure your stone-cold skeleton doesn’t melt when you graze your fingers together?”

“What is this? Couple’s therapy? Shut the fuck up and drop it.” Logan’s mask was cracking the more Wade badgered him about his suppressed emotions, and frankly, he wasn’t sure how long he could keep the truth from his friend or himself. 

“Oh shit…Wolvie, you’re in denial. Are you scared of rejection?” Wade covered his mouth in faux shock, taking Logan’s deep scowl with pride as he hit a nerve. “It’s alright, Casanova, no need to be worried about your unrequited love life. I’ve watched enough episodes of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to put romancers to shame. I will make this happen.”

“Wade. Drop it.” The threat came out with a paired growl, the mutant’s fingers curling into a tight fist as the skin of his knuckles split to unsheath the blades embedded between them.

“This is now a telenovela baby. Just imagine how much we’d make with you two as the leads. ‘Loving the Wolverine.’ The title is a work in progress, but we’ll revisit that later.”

“Wilson.” Logan’s nostrils flared, the metal claws fully out with a sharp schling. The vein in his forehead bulged as his blood pressure skyrocketed from his anger, ready to slice the man any second now.

“You can be angry all you want, but feelings are feelings. And if you don’t say something soon, I fucking will!” The apartment filled with a loud squeal as Logan pierced Wade’s thigh with one hand, the other aiming for his torso, puncturing him through his hoodie.

As pissed as Logan wanted to be towards Wade, he knew he was right. Whatever sentiments had developed between you and him were undefined, and he hated himself for believing there was a chance it could be anything beyond friendly. You were younger than him, a given anyway, with an established life he didn’t want to ruin or get too involved with. Why would you choose him when you could have anyone else?

It wouldn’t work, not in his book. As Logan continued to puncture Wade’s body like a voodoo doll in the name of stress relief, he still had a hard time ignoring how he felt. He doesn’t think he will anytime soon.

His inner turmoil peaked when Wade hosted another get-together at the apartment, and of course, he invited you. He mentioned this would be a chance to set you guys up, and Logan tried his hardest not to shove his claws into his head or ruin the vibe before the party started.

The people closest to the host bustled into the apartment the following Friday night, along with the few new additions brought back from the void. Logan was entertained by talking to Laura and watched the entryway every few minutes to see when you’d walk through it. The time couldn’t come soon enough, the familiar notes of your scent hit his nose the second Wade opened the front door to let you inside, showing the assortment of alcohol bottles you brought to make cosmopolitans.

From where he sat on the couch, he studied your appearance. He raked his eyes over the casual jeans that hugged your thighs and the low neckline of your top, the jewelry adorning your neck brought more than enough attention to the dip of your collarbones.

Logan must��ve been starting too hard when you caught him in the act, your mouth bending up when you noticed him. Without a word, he only smiled at you, drinking his beer to wash down the incessant pounding in his body.

You busied yourself with making drinks in the kitchen, periodically darting to watch Logan while he mingled as much as his social battery allowed. You chatted with the other partygoers, catching up with Vanessa to ask how things were going with Wade and talking to the bubbly Yukio, who stood beside her girlfriend as you joined in teasing the host for the party hat on his head.

Everyone eventually had a red solo cup in their hand, uttering their thanks to you as the influx of a new alcoholic thirst quencher streamed through their bodies. The space to the right of Logan was empty after Laura rose to steal more chips from the dinner table. You took your chance, having a plastic cup in one hand as you strolled over to the gentleman sitting comfortably on the couch.

“That seat taken?” you asked, the bister eyes you’ve come to adore ran over your features, glinting slightly under the hanging light above.

“It’s free now,” Logan jerked his head to gesture you to sit beside him, the smell of your perfume hitting his senses when you walked past him. He swallowed his beer again, hoping it would help curb his growing urges.

“Avoiding me, huh?” The lively tone of your voice conveyed something he couldn’t precisely define despite it making him nervous. “Didn’t get up to say hi or anything…”

“You were busy making drinks for everybody, wanted to have you focused. Don’t want anyone to get alcohol poisoning from fucked up proportions.” You chuckled at his words, rolling your eyes and spinning the ice in your cup.

“Surprised you’re even here. Did Wade force you to stay around this time?”

Yes, he did. That was what he wanted to say, but one glance at your face, and he couldn’t be mad that he listened to the bastard for once.

“Decided to be a little social,” he answered calmly, the tip of his bottle lined up with his lips.

“You? Social? That’s a first.”

“Are you complaining, bub?” he remarked, turning to you with a raised eyebrow and a teasing attitude.

“No, not at all,” you shook your head, giddy in anticipation of what qualified as “social” for the man next to you. “Nothing wrong with trying new things.”

The world tuned out as you conversed with the older mutant, taking every word in stride. Believe it or not, Logan could talk for a while if you ignore the curse words he adds every other sentence. Still, it was nice to just talk to him, even if your sight wandered. On your second cosmo and probably Logan’s fourth beer, the distance between you on the couch closed with each shift of your hips, leaning into the back of the couch and facing him while he rested against the length of it.

With each passing word from Logan, you watched his jaw flex and his lips part as he spoke—counting the wrinkles of skin beside the slight hints of gray at his temples. You took another sip of your mixed drink, discreetly running your eyes down the column of his throat and his collarbone, peering at the coarse hair that peeked from his flannel’s first two undone buttons.

You didn’t know if he could read the signs of your desires or sense the palpable tension brewing in the air, but you remained willfully ignorant. Oblivious to you, the notion was reciprocated when you spoke, rambling about stuff with your job to bits and pieces of your childhood. Logan’s eyes never left your face, landing on the shimmer of your glossy lips or the pendant that dangled on your chest when you weren’t looking.

In the next breath, the topic changed to something concerning Wade’s most embarrassing instances and jokes that would only come from him. Logan must’ve said something right when you broke out in a fit of laughter, deep and hearty, as it came straight from your stomach and emitted through your chest. He didn’t say anything to disturb your moment, commemorating your eyes scrunching up and your mouth opening wide to laugh harder. He didn’t jolt when you smacked his sternum a few times, the warmth of your touch radiating through the layers of his clothes.

He craved more of it.

“I think you’re spending too much time with Wade. He’s rubbing off on you,” you calmed down from your laughing fit and wiped the tears that threatened to spill.

“Maybe. Gotta tolerate the guy,” Logan was carefree as he spoke despite the stirring emotions.

Your hand was still on his chest, resting comfortably on his body. You didn’t move it as quickly as you should, nor would Logan tell you to take it away. Grazing your thumb over the fabric of his shirt, you whizzed lowly to yourself, the alcohol pumping through your body, loosening your inhibitions as you continued to touch him.

Much to Logan’s disappointment, you pulled your hand away, looking over his shoulder to see Peter showing off the chain that connected his nipples to whatever was underneath his pants. Downing the rest of your beverage, you placed the cup on the coffee table, sitting up straighter.

“I think that’s my cue to leave. It’s getting late anyway.” The nagging voice in your head pressed a question you wanted to admit, an invitation you knew wouldn’t work if asked incorrectly. Thankfully, you didn’t need to speak out loud.

“Let me walk you home,” Logan suggested through the racket, firm and determined in his proposition. “Could use the fresh air if I’m being honest.”

You didn’t need much effort to say yes.

“Sure.” You rose from the couch to say goodbye to everyone, giving kisses on the cheek and hugs when warranted, your last stop being Wade. He looked between you and Logan, throwing the older man a thumbs up as he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

Side by side, you walked down the block, Logan keeping you on the opposite side of the street and serving as a barrier between you and the road. He didn’t reach out for your hand despite the urge to hold you steady, nor did you hold on to his bicep as you strode beside him. But you both talked on your joint stroll, confessing things amongst yourselves that would otherwise be omitted by all the noise.

He followed you through the lobby of your apartment complex, up the flights of stairs that dropped you off on the second floor to your front door. He remained vigilant, standing behind your figure as you inserted your key into the lock, guarding you until your door opened and looming as you spun to face him again.

“Thank you for walking me. It was nice,” you expressed, the cosmopolitans you consumed earlier heightened the glassiness in your eyes.

“Ain’t a problem. It was good to get off the couch,” his hands went to his pockets. “You gonna be alright by yourself?”

“Yeah, I’m a big girl. I can handle a little alcohol,” you snorted, the sound bringing a grin to his face.

As your hazy vision landed on him, he felt the pull in his chest again, the one that comes when time and space stop moving in that beat of silence shared only between you two. He sensed the change in your demeanor, the increased pumping of your heart, and the rush of your blood flowing faster.

Logan halted his breathing when you stepped forward. You preemptively set a hand on his chest and tipped upwards to kiss his stubbled cheek.

“Really, thank you, Logan.” Your serene voice was muted when you said his name, sweet on your tongue that drew him in like a siren’s song. He’d do anything to hear you say it like that again, and again, and again.

“Any time,” you held his gaze, eyes going from his tawny pupils to the tip of his nose and plush lips. He was right there, right in front of you, and the only thing you had in mind was to get a proper feel of him.

There was a jolt of hesitation, taking a step back to get more space between you until you felt the heavy weight of Logan’s palm reaching for your hip. He kept you in place, squeezing your frame and curling his hand to your lower back. Your heart hammered in your ribcage, glimpsing up at him one more time as his head tilted towards you, the only signal you needed to get what you both yearned for.

Your lips landed on his, soft and gentle, testing his reaction. Logan didn’t let you venture too far from him, holding you close and kissing you more fervently, opening his mouth to make room for your tongue as it traced his bottom lip. The groan that reverberated deep within him grew louder when your hands went up to drive through his hair, changing your position to have your back against the entryway of your apartment.

You whimpered when he squeezed your waist, a sound that would haunt his dreams for the next upcoming nights, causing him to push further against you. Your fingers tugged at the collar of his flannel, seeking more of him than you could reach. The metal of his belt buckle pressed into your lower stomach, a faint moan tumbling out of your mouth that Logan hungrily swallowed.

“Do you want to come inside?” you breathlessly invited him as you pulled away, face heated to the touch and body thrumming with a need you didn’t expect. He could read your reactions, almost smell your arousal in the air, but the last thing he wanted to do was fall into the pattern he was familiar with when it came to partners. You deserved better than that, better than just a fun night, even if that’s what you wanted.

“I want to, I do,” Logan tried to say, already noticing your look of disappointment at his upcoming rejection. “But, maybe we can try this again when you don’t taste like fucking vodka and cranberries?” You laughed a bit, teeth sinking into your bottom lip, relishing the tingling sensation left behind from his kisses.

“Thought you didn’t mind alcohol?”

“Vodka isn’t my favorite. More of a dark liquor kind of guy.” Even as he spoke to you, his hands stayed on your body, a reassuring weight you didn’t want to leave your midriff.

“Then you can make it up to me with dinner. That sounds good?” You were cheeky in your response, refusing to let the prospect pass you by, and Logan wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Yeah, that sounds good,” he warmed at your proposal and accepted one more kiss as he let you part from him.

“I’ll see you around, Logan.”

It was the last thing you said to him before you closed your front door, leaving him in the hallway to deal with the feelings washing over him. He could still discern your heart beating on the other side of the door, probably grounding your breathing and walking further into your apartment. His eyes fell to his feet, mind running a mile a minute and exhaling, deciding to take the longer way home back to Wade and Blind Al.

The apartment was empty when he came back. Althea had fallen asleep in bed, and Wade was busy cleaning up the leftover mess in the dining room. The lopsided party hat was still on his head, brown eyes scanning Logan’s features and analyzing him.

“Well, that was fast. Thought you’d last a bit longer, peanut,” Wade mocked with a grin, detecting the leftover gloss on Logan’s lips and a spot on his face. “I’m guessing Cupid was successful tonight?”

“Not another word,” Logan was back to his prickly mood, murmuring under his breath that he was going to the bathroom to take a piss, locking the door behind him.

He looked in the mirror and noticed the faint shimmer of your lip gloss still on his features, leaving your mark on him without realizing it. He chuckled, smirked wide to himself, and privately enjoyed the remnants of your touch.

He’ll make a note to pick places to take you out in the morning. For now, he’ll appreciate this feeling for as long as possible.

©️ ovaryacted 2024. Please don’t repost, copy, translate, or feed into any AI. Support your fellow creators by reblogging, commenting, and liking!

Dividers by @saradika-graphics

[prokopetz]

Recently I've been wanting to play a metroidvania, and I realized I don't have that many in my backglog. I was looking through some of your game recs like the free games post which made me think to ask you (since you're a Metroidvania Person). So: I was wondering if you had any recommendations for metroidvanias? Ideally on the cheaper side (like, under $10).

Cheap metroidvanias which I'd actually recommend, eh? In the interest of keeping this list relatively short, I'm going to construe the term "metroidvania" narrowly and exclude anything which isn't a 2D side-scrolling platfomer. (i.e., so 3D exploration platformers, top down Zelda-likes, etc. are off the table.) I'll also warn you that I have a fairly high tolerance for jank, so maybe check the reviews first!

Anyway:

A Game with a Kitty 1 & Darkside Adventures*†

Alwa's Awakening^

Aquaria†

Axiom Verge 2^

Blue Rabbit

Dreaming Sarah

Eldritchvania*

Environmental Station Alpha

Ex Vitro*

Flynn: Son of Crimson^

forma.8

Frauki's Adventure!

Gato Roboto^

Grizzland

Guardian

Hunter's Legacy

IN THE DARK

Kalinur

Lorera*

Maya Star

Mech Chip

The Messenger^

Mini Ghost

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight

Moonlaw*

Mystik Belle^

Nyaruru Fishy Fight

Omega Strike

OUTBUDDIES DX^

Pankapu^

PSYCRON

qomp

Saira*†

Simona's Requiem

SJ-19 Learns To Love

Souldiers^

Spooky Ghosts Dot Com

Sun Wukong VS Robot

Super Skelemania

Tiny Dangerous Dungeons

Trash Quest

Treasure Hunter Man 2^†

Treasures of the Aegean^

The Vagrant^

Visual Out

Wenjia

Wild West Crops

William and Sly: Classic Collection*

Xenosis*

Zapling Bygone^

* free ^ on sale at the time of this posting; may not still be under $10 if you're viewing this post after the sale ends † older title that's not 100% compatible with modern OSes, so you may need to do a lot of fiddling to get your gamepad working

[hey-jac]

Tumblr, can you do something for me? Can you please leave a flower for my cousin, who died by suicide a year ago?

You can do this one of three ways:

Leave a flower on his Find a Grave page. (This link will take you to an external website. Note that in order to leave a flower this way, you must have an account with Find a Grave.)

Reblog this post with with a flower in your tags.

Reply to this post with a flower.

Here are some flowers you can copy/paste: ✿❀❁🌸🌺🌻🌼🌷🌹

If you are reblogging or replying, please feel free to also use one or more of the additional emojis beneath the Keep reading cut. (They represent some of the good memories from our childhood together.)

Any kind messages are also appreciated. It has been a year ago today (September 9, 2024), and I am struggling.

Activities

🎮 Playing Video Games 🚲 Riding Bikes 🐸 Catching Toads; Raising Frogs 🌌 Visiting the Planetarium 🎡 Visiting the Amusement Park 🎢 Riding Roller-coasters 🛟 Visiting the Water Park 🏊 Taking Swimming Lessons; Going to the Pool 🛼 Visiting the Skating Rink 🚂 Visiting the Train Museum; Living Near the Railroad Tracks 🛝 Visiting the Park 🏸 Playing Badminton (But Making it Up) 🎯 Playing Darts (The Very Pointy Kind) 🚚 Using Everything as a Playground (Including the Moving Trucks)

Video Games

👾 Arcade Games; Atari; Space Invaders 🧩 Banjo-Kazooie (N64) 🍔 Burgertime (NES) 🦍 Diddy Kong Racing (N64); Donkey Kong Country (SNES) 🐲 Dragon Warrior (NES) 🍖 The Legend of Zelda (NES) 🍞 Quest 64 (N64) 🍄 Super Mario Bros 1 & 2 (NES); Mario 64 (N64)

TV & Movies

💭 Animaniacs (1993-1998) 🦆 Darkwing Duck (1991-1992); DuckTales (1987-1990) 💔 Dragonheart (1996) 🐳 Free Willy (1993) 🧚 Hook (1991) 💋 Indiana Jones (original movies, 1981-1989) 🏺 Jason and the Argonauts (1963) 🦖 Jurassic Park (1993) 🦁 The Lion King (1994); Timon & Pumbaa (1995-1999) 👽 Men in Black (1997) 💥 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993-1996) 🐁 Pinky and the Brain (1995-1998) 🔮 Sinbad (movies by Columbia Pictures, 1958-1977) 🌟 Star Wars (original trilogy, 1977-1983) 🐻 TaleSpin (1990-1991) 🐢 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996) 🧨 Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1995) 🤠 They Call Me Trinity (1970); Trinity Is Still My Name (1971) 🍫 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) 🐬 Zeus and Roxanne (1997)

[brucewaynehater101]

can we have chaos gremlin Tim Drake fic recs pls? 🥺

Hullo 👋

Here's some fics where Tim is a bit unhinged. I copied and pasted the summaries the author did:

Tim’s quest to bring Bruce back from his Time-Travel-Super-Vacation goes horribly topsy-turvey when Ra's takes a more pro-active approach to keeping Tim prisoner, and he ends up in an alternate universe where he never existed, and everybody is disorientingly well-adjusted and weirdly obsessed with his “wellness”, whatever that means.

Tim is a clone, Young Justice has a new BFF, and Batman's adoption tendency has been sledgehammered with Post-Ethiopia grief, which means the JLA is now in charge of a miniature Batman despite almost none of them being parents. This can't end badly, can it?

When Tim is 11 he figures it’s not hurting anyone if he. Ya know. Takes a picture in the Batmobile. But then the power goes to his head and all of a sudden he’s hacking the Batmobile and tearing through Gotham on a rescue mission.

Tim Drake fucks around with the timestream and finds out. Now, he has to suddenly deal with a baby face, his family (and hiding from them), the loss of his precious middle child status and the burgeoning realisation that Damian is taller than him.

Beneath Gotham there is something. Anyone who spends time with their feet on the ground can tell you that much. At the surface level it's goons and scared street kids. Beneath them are the sewers, haunted by endless appetites and the scraping of hide against stone. Beneath that is glowing green, craving warmth of blood and rage, hunting for its host. And even further beneath that is something other. Above Gotham there is something. Anyone who spends time in the city can tell you that much. In the shadows of tall buildings or on outcrops of stone there was movement. Flashes of color or shadows taken form. Ever watchful eyes following the movement of the cities beating heart.

He hadn’t been prepared to take on Red Hood in Titans’ Tower. No, Tim had fought cleanly. Fair. But he wasn’t in the business of making the same mistakes twice. And the Red Hood? Well… Jason Todd should have stayed dead.

On a boring night, Tim and Steph discuss their most favorite and stupid yellow-press headlines. Years later, it gives Damian the chance to witness the true unhinged potential of one Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne

Talia doesn't tell Damian his father's name before sending him off to Gotham. This sets off a series of events that no one could have predicted. On an unrelated note, Tim has always wanted to be a big brother

The kid in civvies knocking on the door to his apartment shrieks Jason's name and launches himself at Jason, who catches him on reflex. He realizes it's the Replacement at the same time he notices the kid is so tiny he could barely pass for twelve, let alone fourteen. "Jason," his Replacement mumbles again into his chest, and Jason finally regains the presence of mind to move them backwards into the apartment. If he's murdering the kid now, better to do it with privacy.

Hal Jordan finds a tiny child in the Watchtower, and appropriately decides he should not be there. Robin has other ideas.

Last one: The series "Bird's Night Out" by Calamityjim. Basically, chaotic Robin rivalry with Red Hood

[miqo-tales]

A tiny primer on FFXI, pt 1

With 7.1 approaching next month and with it the Final Fantasy XI alliance raid, I wanted to put something together for FFXIV players that never played the previous FF MMO.

As long as this may end up being, I promise it's not actually going into a whole lot of detail. It's more so to give a general idea of the setting, the different races, and some plot details.

THE WORLD

Final Fantasy XI takes place in the world of Vana'diel, and primarily in what's known as the Middle Lands, composed of the two continents of Quon and Mindartia, and the two islands of Elshimo and Kuzotz. Later expansions feature the lands of Aradjiah to the east, and the western continent of Ulbuka. And there's... other places.

PLAYER CHARACTERS

According to legend, the Ancients tried to reach Paradise, but were rejected and their civilization destroyed. The Goddess Altana wept at the devastation, and five of her tears created the enlightened races. Disguested at her weakness, the God of Twilight, Promathia, cursed the five races by bringing out their darkest emotions and dooming them to eternal conflict.

There are five playable races a player can choose. One interesting difference between FFXI and FFXIV is that the different races in FFXI also have different stats, representing their different characteristics. Fortunately, it doesn't limit what jobs they can be or how effective they are, as gear and gear-swapping can cover a lot of holes.

Minor edit: So FFXIV apparently has stat differences for different races and clans as well. Still, I feel pretty confident saying the FFXI stat differences were far more significant in comparison. If for no other reason than the effect on HP and MP pools. But again, gear, gear-swapping, and player skill make up for it.

Hume - your standard Human race. Hume's are well known for being extremely adaptable. Balanced stats.

Galka - a male-only race with large bodies and incredible strength. Similar to Roegadyn in some ways, but they also have large tails. They reproduce through reincarnation, and the newly reborn Galka has no memories of their past life. However, one Galka, called the Talekeeper, retains all the memories of every Galka's past lives for the last two centuries. Highest HP and VIT, lowest MP.

Mithra - similar to Miqo'te, but Mithra are a bit more cat-like. Alternatively, you could say they are like smaller, slimmer Hrothgar. Only female Mithra are playable (males do exist, but they are extremely rare, and only one ever shows up in-game). Highest DEX and AGI, tied with Galka for lowest CHR.

Elvaan - similar to Elezen, and I'd say specifically to Duskwight Elezen. Elvaan are tall, strong, (dark-skinned!) and super proud. Highest STR and MND, lowest DEX, AGI, and INT.

Tarutaru - similar to Lalafell, but even shorter and with dark brown noses. Tarutaru are intelligent and naturally gifted with magic, even at a young age. Highest INT and MP, lowest HP and STR.

THE MAIN NATIONS

Player characters can start in one of three nations: the Kingdom of San d'Oria, the Republic of Bastok, or the Federation of Windurst. Unlike FFXIV, each nation has its own quest storyline dealing with issues within that specific nation.

San d'Oria - a nation of Elvaan ruled by the d'Oraguille royal family. It's located in the northern part of Quon, and well known for its knights. (If you thought Ishgardians were pompous and arrogant, hoo boy, you've clearly never been to San d'Oria.) San d'Oria used to be a really major power, but then they tried going to war against the other two nations. We'll just say it did not go well for them.

Bastok - a democratic nation located in the south of Quon. It was founded by Hume miners and grew into a nation of mining, crafting, and technology, and is where you find Cid. Galka later settled in Bastok after being forced from their homeland by Anticans. For various reasons, there's a lot of tension between Humes and Galka in the city.

Windurst - a nation of magic, located at the southern edge of Mindartia. It was founded by tribes of Tarutaru, and at one point conquered most of the Middle Lands. Mithra also live here, acting as hunters and a sort of independent military force. Windurst has a truce with the Yagudo, a bird-like race, but it's arguably not a favorable one.

Jeuno - located at a central point between Quon and Mindartia and bridging the two continents, the Grand Duchy of Jeuno is the central point of trade for the Middle Lands, and currently the only nation with control of airships. It has a massive amount of economic and political power, but also declared itself to be neutral. Gameplay-wise, Jeuno is a key spot for several different storylines, and is where players get their chocobo license, their airship pass, and is the central airship hub.

[ninadove]

Top 5 Miraculous Episodes?

I’m going to be supremely original with this one.

1. Emotion

Everything about it is perfect. The Diamonds’ Dance. The confirmation that Felix is a mythology nerd. How similar it is to Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, because I have not forgotten my roots. Red Moon. Amelie. Snap of my fingers. The colours and the composition of the shots. Felix being absolutely terrifying. Felix being just a child. Felix being the Lucky Charm’s solution. Felix being so lonely and scared yet so willing to break the cycle of abuse once he recognises it for what it is.

It’s the episode that A. made me insane about Feligami and B. made me insane about the cousins, so you could call it my origin story. If I could change one tiny detail, it would be to give Argos a full transformation sequence — but that’s just me being obsessed!

2. Strikeback & Representation

I really can’t choose between these two.

Strikeback is so!!! Everything!!! I liked Miraculous beforehand, otherwise I wouldn’t have watched four seasons of it, but this is where the insanity began (even though the creative drive only came later). Everything happened so fast and my boy was so smart and resilient and proud of himself! That was all I needed to fall in love. And the Ladynoir of it all! This episode alone made it my favourite side of the Love Square! What an absolute game changer in every way!

But oh, Representation… I’d never felt so much anticipation for an episode before, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Felix as a less innocent, sharper, self-preserving child abuse survivor is very close to my heart, and he gets treated with the utmost compassion by the plot. The play itself was brilliant, of course, the Feligami of it all exquisite, and the construction of the episode — with Felix’s successful quest for freedom contrasting Chat Noir’s defeat against Nightormentor — is free brainworm real estate.

3. Gabriel Agreste & Pretension

Strikeback may be the moment I became insane about Felix, but Gabriel Agreste is the moment I suspected I might eventually become insane about Felix. I came into the study scene having already accepted that he couldn’t figure out Shadow Moth’s identity, that Senti-Gabriel would successfully make him doubt himself and that his akumatised form would be a massive problem for the heroes. So imagine my surprise when he said “Fuck you, actually”, pulled the cleverest stunt on a literal super villain and came out of this little misadventure even more confident in his discovery!!! All while introducing the themes of rebellion and freedom that made me go “Oh??? You’re not afraid of his threats??? You don’t need his powers??? Now you’re speaking my language.”

And Pretension! It has my favourite scene ever — Felix returning Kagami’s amok in the movie theatre, Kagami immediately using her newfound freedom to choose him, you know the drill — and the little speech about how you really shouldn’t abuse your kids, people, which lives in my mind rent-free. I think if I were to get a PhD in one episode, it would be this one… At the end of the day, Pretension all about unlearning unhealthy behaviours and loving your partner in the way they need to be loved. And isn’t it beautiful? ❤️💜

Thanks for the ask! 💜🦚

[floral-comet-whump]

consider institutionalized living weapon whump. mmmm. I will now explain this autism fueled hyperfixation that has been going on and off for me in the last 3-5 years

content warnings (all fictional): general whump stuff, child abuse, child soldiers, living weapon whump (kinda), conditioning, discussion of genshin impact (since I'm not tagging this post as genshin in fear of normal genshin likers on tumblr stumbling onto whump and not knowing what it is, therefore whump likers who dislike genshin and have the tags blocked would still view this (maybe. idk how tag filtering works)), multiple whumpers/carewhumpers, multiple whumpees, fantasy whump, briefly mentioned eating disorder

OKAY so back at like 2020 or 2021 I was ACTIVE in the genshin rp scene and one of my friends made a fatui oc that, due to being the only survivor of a snow blizzard, was adopted into the fatui and raised to be a soldier! also this was before inazuma's release so shoutout to [unnamed bc we fell out of touch so I don't know if they'd like to be named] for predicting the house of the hearth!

anyways their oc was not only an absolute BANGER, but also sparked what I now realize was whumperflies in 14 yo me! so I copied it with my own oc. also had the stellar idea to think that if [friend's oc] was integrated, why not make it a whole program? badabim badaboom fatui orphanage. I shit you not the first thing I came up with is that the rejects get sent to dottore

uhhhh as stuff came out and someone leaked a fatui orphanage then the secret shrine maiden quest came out I TWEAKED. my oc got updates. leaks about lyney (and lynette) being from the hoth(house of the hearth) brought me back after I'd gotten bored. I desperately held myself back from telling everyone their surnames. I listened to their leaked voicelines. I read their stories.

it was not as bad as I envisioned in my head. fym arlecchino saved them!! white knight white knight!!! fym they're not sleeper agents!!!! fym freminet has a job he enjoys that is in no way related to the fatui?!!?!!! free time and healthy hobbies on my extremely fanonized interpretation of a fictional orphanage we previously only had teeny tiny crumbs about?!?!?!!!;1!?!

arlecchino releasing made me fully give up on the vision I'd originally had on the hoth. I generally do actually like the canon hoth, but I was super attached to this whole miniature concept I'd invented and shared with so many people.

so I'm making my own child soldier orphanage!!!

CONSIDER CHILD SOLDIERS IN WHUMP. WITH CONDITIONING. consider telling children that have nowhere else to go (and whumper KNOWS they have nowhere else to go) they can either join the military or continue whatever they were doing. consider training and conditioning them. consider reminding them where they'd be, had carewhumper not taken them in. consider "letting them off easy" via punishment, or threatening to put them to other use.

consider teaching those children happy lies of doing good, and shattering that reality when they dare be ungrateful and try to run away. consider always making the expectations on them clear. consider the bonds these children will form both with each other and carewhumpers. parental whump my beloved. consider living weapon whumpee that isn't an on-field combatant. consider living weapon whumpee who's allowed to be a person as a reward.

consider living weapon whumpee who was previously rescued from a different kind of whumper and is just perfect for molding into a killing machine. consider orphans children willingly volunteering for the military because the program is well known. consider generations upon generations of this where previous whumpees retire to work in the same orphanage so that they'll never have to move out, prolonging the cycle of violence with promises of family. and that family isn't even false, just conditional.

whumpee who was rescued from a vampire thrall trade and is constantly reminded where they would've been had carewhumpers not been so generous as to rehabilitate them. ungrateful little thing, always reacting so slow, cowering from the vampires the carewhumpers have taken in as if they're the same one, either hoarding food or immediately wolfing it down.

whumpee who was abandoned as a child and came in to a place they knew they'd be accepted, but gradually realized the danger behind it and tried escaping. they were brought back and thoroughly disciplined. it's obvious that they're using a facade once one simply reads their file or asks them, but that doesn't matter so long as they're obedient.

a whumpee turned carewhumper that sees nothing wrong with what they're doing. they were raised this way, and though it was very scary, so is life in general. they certainly wouldn't have survived in this world without this orphanage, and much less by being coddled. the children brought here have all had difficult experiences that have scarred them, they can't be treated like normal kids.

that's all the ocs I have thought up for it rn soz

yeah!! will also be in a typical high fantasy setting because I prefer it a whole lot more.

I'm honestly unsure of what to call this thing. I can't really go with the house of the hearth. at some point I internally called it erysimum institute because I read destroyer and the name beldam institute just sounds rlly catchy. also erysimums symbolize faith in unfortunate situations which I think fits perfectly. but the loneliness/shyness part of wallflowers (a prominent type of erysimum) is a little less fitting.

I'll definitely change the name because I want it to be as original as it can be!! probably to some kind of flower meaning rebirth or smt but idk.

p.s: it would have art!!!

[mrs-gauche]

Vows & Vengeance Episode 1

ALRIGHT GUYS! As always, I'm super late to the party (although for once, I actually have a good reason, which is that I'm currently kinda in the middle of renovating my place lol), and while I first listened to the episode on Thursday, I just wanted to let it sink in a bit and listen to it again a few times, to really appreciate all the details. :D So here are a trillion few notes on the first episode (spoiler, I loved it! <3333) and I hope this doesn't sound too jumbled, I haven't had a lot of sleep lately. 😂😂💀💀

- Ok, so my first reaction to the ending was basically: "OH MY GOD NOTHING CAN EVER GO RIGHT", "DAMN THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY" and sobbing for Elio, I guess. lol

- My general thoughts: I loved it!! ❤️❤️❤️ I felt like it was gripping and immersive from the beginning, but also genuinely funny and moving at times! I think this first episode did a good job of setting up the plot, the pacing was good and I'm already invested in the new characters! The sound design and voice acting was top notch (albeit maybe a bit over the top and a little cheesy in a couple of scenes lol) and I absolutely LOVED the little nuggets of the Veilguard soundtrack we got throughout (Zimmer and Balfe confirmed!!). There are a few tiny nitpicks, but overall this was fantastic and correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never heard of a game being marketed with an audio drama before? 😂 But looking at Dragon Age's amazing voice cast (and the fact that they all made us develop a voice kink lmao), this makes so much sense and I need like a hundred more of these in the future. lol

Notes on the episode itself:

- The narrator reminds me so much of the ones in these old anime dubs. I was expecting him to be like "LAST TIME ON DRAGONBALL Z". He got lost in the wrong dragon franchise. lol Really cool voice though!

- I LOOVE how it starts off with a minute of just the ambient sounds, chatters and music of the tavern, to really get that immersion, as if you just walked into this place yourself. - That new rendition of "Oh Grey Warden" hit me in the feels ngl.. ;-;

- Nadia just walking it and poisoning Olen to get answers was such a badass introduction to our main character! - I like how the narrative is neatly tied together by making this a retelling of what happened, starting off with loads of questions and by the end we're back in the present again.

- Nadia and Elio are so sweet nawww <3333 - Those sounds of Elio waking Nadia up were straight up ASMR. lol - The tune that's playing in the back here is sooo nice, I wonder if it's part of the new Love theme or something. 🥹❤️

- A sort of forbidden love between Liberati and Altus, oh this better end f*cking well!! 💀💀💀 - Well, that birthday got cancelled REAL fast. lol - I get Nadia's outbreak, but DAMN, she went OFF on him from like 0 to 100 in a heartbeat. lmao I guess something was bottling up for quite some time. - "I'm sorry" Oh no. I notice a certain pattern. *sob* - Again, that track that's playing here, wooow. Goosebumps! It's a super tragic rendition of the main theme. I just know this one's gonna hit so hard whenever that plays in Veilguard. 😭

- I wonder if the docks here are the same we've seen in screenshots. :3 - The soundtrack that's playing here reminds me SO MUCH of Unravel (one of my favorite tracks in recent years! <3333) - I like Nadia and Vik's dynamic. Super authentic. :D

- Nadia's reaction to the gold and then "TRIPLE the bag for delivery??" Yeah, Solas truly is the richest apostate hobo in all of Thedas. Those vaults from Trespasser come in handy now. Good thing the currency of old Elvhenan is apparently still valid. lol - Solas' quest of collecting every ancient powerful artifact continues. - Isn't this like the second time now that Solas indirectly hired someone to break into the Archives? lol They really need to improve that security. (Watch there being a quest in Veilguard where you have to break in there again, but it's impossible due to the amounts of guards now and Solas is like "Yeah, that might be my fault, sorry." lol)

- Super random thought, but judging by the sound design, there's gotta be lots of chickens running around in the streets of Minrathous. lol - NEVE!! <3333 (I'm sorry to anyone who had the wildest conspiracy theories about that teaser image and was expecting someone else. lmao) - So, wait. Does that mean Solas also anticipated Neve to talk to Elio? Or maybe someone else was supposed to do that but Neve got there first? lol

- Nadia and Vik have got to be the noisiest thieves I've ever heard. LMAO HOW did you manage to steal anything until now?? 💀💀💀 - I love how you keep hearing Vik laughing in the distance while distracting the guards. lol

- I wonder if all the turmoil could have been avoided if they just informed Elio about his ancestor's connection to the Eye and the Venatori from the get go. I guess he needed that push of knowing to never be able to return to his life in Tevinter to go along with it, but.. *sigh* poor Elio. - "I trust you." UHGGHH We were on the right track there. 😭😭 - That music AGAIN?? Chilllls!! - Nadia just casually destroying hundreds of years worth of relics. Love it. lol - "FLAME BLAST!!" Oh, this is so anime. lmaoo - Elio going from "WE'RE NOT DOING THIS" to fully enjoying beating up templars and go full criminal in a matter of seconds as soon as he sees his girl in her element. He loves her so much. <33

- "Who's the hat?" lol - That groan after the Dread Wolf name drop? Yeah, that was actually me. lmao - So, I assume this also ties in with Neve already knowing about Solas and his shenanigans in Minrathous when she met Varric in The Missing. Maybe it was this very incident that Neve was talking about? - Noooo, Vik!! 😭😭 (I knew you for like five minutes, but you made in impact. lol) - Sooo... I take it these "assassins" were actually Venatori, since they were the ones going after the Eye in the first place? Or am I stupid now? - "The eye went boom!" Love that delivery. lol - "She's trying to freeze the bay!" Yeah, Neve just DID that. What a boss. - "An elf with a fancy tongue." Oh, I know who THAT is. lmao

- "Me and you." 😭😭😭😭 You two are killing me. - That motif AGAIN. 😭😭😭😭😭 - Oh, for fuck's SAKE. Solas really always has the best flippin timing. They're all sweet and loving and here goes our disaster man "I'm about to ruin this couple's day so good." 💀💀💀 It's her BIRTHDAY, dammit!! - "Ominous looking chap in the road" lmao All I could think of there was THIS (for anyone who gets the reference LMAO)

- How is it that I knew he would appear in this episode from the teaser, and yet I still freaked out so hard. lmaoo After such a long time, it's like any second of new Solas content makes my heart skip a beat (or several). 😭😭 I still can't believe we're getting all this. 🥹

- Look, I may be a Solasmancer and have my biases, but godDAMN.. GDL is so good. HE IS SO GOOD. That Welsh accent. That rolling lilt. A voice like velvet that can be both so smooth and so sharp. There is just something about his performance that has you on the edge of your seat every time he's talking and I looove these little moments when you can so clearly hear that cheeky little smile in his voice. 💜

And it's so nice to hear him talk so calmly (well, at first at least lol) and kinda playful again, opposed to how super anxious he sounds at the beginning of Veilguard. 🥺 It's kinda interesting to compare this performance with DAI now, because now he's fully embracing the Dread Wolf role, and I keep thinking this is him after being isolated for the past ten years. ;-;

- Anway, so Nadia "unknowingly employed by the Dread Wolf" gets her pay from Richie Rich and girl, that would've been the moment to LEAVE. *sob* - "What other choice do we have?" Well, I dunno, RUN?? lmao - *chuckles* "I will demonstrate." Alright, I'm dead. Why did you say it like THAT? T_____T - Hearing Solas talk in elven after so long.. Dead again. Overkill. And yes, he's saying the exact same thing he said to Sera once. No, we don't know what it means. lol Maybe Sera IS actually an ancient magical artifact and he tried to trigger.. something. lol - That whole flippin dialogue. Solas please stop talking like an old witch trying to lure her prey into her lair. 💀 - "I do not play games." *screaming* - Honestly, I was like "NOOO WHY would you GO with himmm" but then I remembered, SHIT I WOULD FOLLOW HIM ANYWHERE. Hell, I *HAVE* followed him anywhere. To Hell and back. 💀💀💀💀💀 - Solas' persuasion game is at maximum at all times.

- "Energy is neither dark nor light." Speak for yourself, Trickster God of In Between. - "It is the Fade. The Veil is fragile here."

- Solas finally gets to answer questions again, but Nadia is rude about it. 😂 Solas slightly approves AND disapproves. lol - "Kindly remove your blade from my neck."

- Those damn Venatori at it AGAIN with their hunt for magical McGuffins. After TN and the Missing, I'm starting to believe that is all Solas did in the last ten years, snatching one deadly toy out of the their hands after another. lmao - "And it is up to me to ensure we arrive at the best possible outcome." Oh, we're so doomed. - "You're sharper than you let on." Here we go again with the backhanded compliments. lol Ohhh, how I missed it.

"Some people confuse a reckoning as an ending." "I seek... regeneration."

Holy shit. The voice. The long pause. The delivery of that last line. Shivers down my spine. It feels eerie. Like he sounds.. desperate.. and maybe a little.. insane? lmao (That's how you start to talk if you've been separated from your soulmate for ten years 💔💔💔)

Ok look, I've seen a TON of people thinking that, because of the way he says this and him using the word "reckoning" ("For a reckoning that will shake the very heavens"), this HAS to be whatever part he took of Mythal speaking now that has taken over his mind or something. But.. I don't think so? lol

I honestly think this is just Solas who, after a thousand years of preparing to "heal" the world again that he broke, even after admitting to himself that this world and its people are in fact real and he has to destroy it, is SO close to getting there now and there's NO ONE who could possibly understand him or how he truly feels or what any of this or the Blights/Titans/spirits/gods/Veil even truly ARE, so no WONDER he sounds a little f*cking unhinged. 💀💀💀

The choice of words is very interesting though.. "Regeneration" is not something he has ever used, BUT it immediately made me think of the line "But still, some hope remains for restoration" in Trespasser. This is what google tells me:

Regeneration represents a form of upgrade from restoration. If restoration means “to make something well again,” regeneration, for some authors, means “to make it better” than a (supposed) origin condition.

Regeneration: "a renewal or restoration of a body, bodily part, or biological system (such as a forest) after injury or as a normal process/ or a spiritual renewal or revival"

You know.. if I read "restoration of a bodily part or biological system", you know what's the first thing that comes to my mind yet AGAIN.

Look, that Titan's body is SPLIT IN HALF and we know that this was kinda the catalyst for everything Solas did back then, so... I'll just leave that here and listen to rest of the episode now. lmaoo

- "And the eye will make us fix that?" "More or less." dksdjjgdkfvlf THE SMILE IN HIS VOICE. What does that even MEAN? What do you MEEEAN, SIR?? I would've RUN out of that cave SO flippin FAST. - "And you're sure this is safe?" "As safe as we make it." *literally two minutes later* "SOLAS, SOMETHING IS WROOONG!!" This is a goddamn comedy show. lmaoo - "Silence, please." lol at him still being polite. - "This is all to be expected!" *five seconds later* "WE MUST FLEE!" I BUST out laughing. WHY are you such a DISASTER. Nothing EVER goes right and yet you always keep trying, you fool, omg!! - I don't think we have ever heard Solas so distressed. lol Like, not even when Wisdom died or at the beginning of Veilguard. - "Take my hand!" I would've never thought to hear THAT Trespasser line repeated under those circumstances, but here we are. lmaooo - We know Solas is a hopeless romantic, so for him to see that sweet couple torn apart because of him, and him still trying to save Nadia, I'm not ok. - Solas being responsible for Elio getting banished to the Fade and him being trapped there not long after.. Do you believe in karma? 😂 - "I'M SORRY!" WHY DOES IT ALWAYS END WITH HIM SAYING THAT. 😭

- So.. uh... what even WAS the plan, exactly? lol Like, what was supposed to happen?? Maybe they should've asked a few more questions after all. 💀 - That following scene with Nadia all alone. I got chills again. That hit different. ;-;

- "Where can I find this wolf??" Oh, she is about to hunt him down. 😶 "...I'll be back." Nadia in full Terminator mode now. 😂 - How are she and Elio connected now though? How can she hear him? 🥺 And I can't help but think about whoever was left in the Fade in DAI again, too. 😭😭😭 - Not the credits making me almost sob AGAIN because of the music. 😭 It is so so good.

So there we are. Everything went wrong, a couple is doomed and Solas is sorry. So, nothing changed. LMAO Everything as usual. 💀💀💀 Solas, I swear, if you don't get these two back together again and pay Lavellan a visit afterwards, my Rook might rethink listening to your advice in Veilguard. lmao

I can't wait for that next episode! This was so much fun and an amazing start, and I'm so excited to hear all the other companions! :D ❤️❤️❤️

[tea-twords]

your hcs for them. hand them over

Ugh cant BELIEVE you ask for the one thing I say not to ask🙄🙄🙄 Guess I’m forced to share them🙄🙄🙄 Against my will🙄🙄🙄

Mualani

She’s like 51% Ler 49% Lee

It’s almost 50/50 but she’s verrrry tiny bit more ler

She’s probably like…an 8.5/10 on the ticklish scale

Worst spots are her tummy (obviously), her underarms, hips, and ngl I feel like her shoulders

Whenever she’s tkld, she almost never holds back her laugh

So it always comes out a loud bright cheery laugh (and it’s so pretty)

She FLAILS

As a ler she’s only sometimes mean, it depends on her lee

She’s never a mean ler with Kachina, she’s sometimes a mean ler with Kinich

Definitely loves using “the claw”

HUGE fan of giving cheer up tks

Usually to Kachina cause she gets down on herself a lot

Now I would say Mualani also enjoys getting cheer up tks, but hear me out

Instead of receiving them, I feel like if she’s down and Kinich or Kachina are in her presence, she will drag them down and wreck their shit till she felt better

She often receives wake up tks from Kinich whenever they’re traveling together

I say this bc that scene in the archon quest where Mualani was like if only we had someone who gets up early to wake us up tomorrow and Kinich was like fine

She LOOOVES doing surprise tases to her friends (usually Kinich)

She’s also quite often the victim of revenge tks

Deserved

Kachina

80% Lee 20% Ler

About an 8/10 on how ticklish she is

I honestly feel like she’s just averagely the same level of ticklish everywhere

Esp her sides a little more tho

Always on the receiving end of cheer up tks from Mualani or Kinich

She will never take initiative to be a ler like ever

The only time she ever lers is when it’s her and Mualani ganging up on Kinich or her and Kinich ganging up on Mualani

It will pretty much never be one on one

Maybe there’s a scenario where it’s possible but right now in my head she would not do it alone

Very very gentle ler

Small hands = small quick tks

Kachina doesn’t know she could literally murder Kinich with the gentle tks if she wanted to

She doesn’t want to tho because she’s way too nice of a ler

As a lee she definitely squirms a lot

Usually it’s Mualani who gets her and it usually doesn’t last very long

Kinich and Mualani never gang up on her in a 2 on 1 bc that’s unfair

They are caring older bro and sis

Her laugh is pretty much just giggles

She doesn’t cackle or snort and is never usually loud

She’s adorable tho and I love her

Kinich

45% Lee and 55% Ler

He’s about a 6.5-7 on the scale (I can’t decide which bc it really depends on if you surprise him or not)

Despite his being more of a ler, he’s never usually the first one to initiate the tks

He almost always tickles as an act of revenge (cough mualani)

Kinich for a while thought he wasn’t all that ticklish because last time someone asked the dreaded question and tickled his sides, he didn’t feel a need to react

He’s just really good at not being ticklish when he knows it’s coming (me fr)

However

Mualani asked this question and got the same lack of response to sides

But unlike previous curious people, Mualani doesn’t give up

It didn’t take long for her to find pretty much all of Kinich’s spots after that wrecking

His spots are usually normal but sometimes a little oddly placed

He’s ticklish on his underarms, back, ribs (but only the bottom two), knees, his neck but only in front, and collarbone

He’s really not that ticklish on his sides and therefore assumed he wasn’t at all because before Mualani that was the only place people ever

As a ler depending on who you are and what you did to warrant his wrath he can either be super nice or straight merciless

Which translates to super nice with kachina and merciless with Mualani

Because 90% of the time she does something

Whether it be a surprise taser on those two ribs that are too sensitive for his own good (he screams) or something as simple as a prank

He will give her the wrecking she deserves

And sure he’s merciless with her but not exactly mean

He will remind her that she brought it upon herself

As a lee tho…

I can’t tell if I like Lee or Ler Kinich more

Because Ler Kinich is perfection but Lee Kinich is adorable

He’s honestly so good at holding in his laugh but surprise attacks are his weakness (Mualani’s specialty)

Even if it’s not a surprise attack, anything on his back will get him to crack in seconds

Even when he’s laughing though he’s really good at controlling it

Good at controlling his movements too

He won’t flail like mualani and instead just kinda curl up

Protect whatever he can

Even with all his composure though it’s still possible to get him cackling

That only ever happens when it’s both Mualani and Kachina ganging up on him

The conflict between Mualani’s firmness and Kachina’s gentle scritches just makes him lose it

Sometimes Ajaw (the bastard) tells Kachina to be rougher with Kinich bc he thinks that it’s the rough tks that drive Kinich crazy

But it’s actually the soft tks that he can’t stand

I’m sorry but I just have a feeling he’s weak to gentles

Of course after times like this he will literally wreck both of them at the same time. Bc he’s still a ler at heart and he can do that

Last one and I’m pretty sure we all know this but

Ajaw will definitely sell Kinich’s worst spots to his ler with no hesitation and no remorse

He wants to see him suffer

[hellobitchlet]

Mavuika is the first archon that I genuinely have no interest in whatsoever. Like, no matter how badly written most of the other archons have been (no, it's not just Ei), and no matter how bad some of their designs are, everyone from Venti to Furina have been full of unique, interesting potential, and have a super cool aesthetic.

But Mavuika is just... really boring. At this point, I'm sick and tired of younger archons after getting 2 in a row, and we literally JUST had a 'human' archon. The biggest show of her being the pyro archon is portraying her with fire hair, which is a very stereotypical and overused concept compared to how unique the other archons are.

A big part of this is simply because Natlan itself is pretty boring. I know that I previously complimented Natlan on it's deeper connections to the Abyss, but thinking back on it and everything surrounding Natlan, this whole plotline is pretty...generic? Stereotypical? Compared to literally every other nation. You have a generic chosen hero plotline, and not much else. Yes, the plot of the aq is more connected to the nation's lore than the past couple aq's, but beyond a few small lore reveals, this lore is just re-hashing what we already know about Khaenri'ah, the cataclysm, the Abyss, and ley lines with an uglier coat of paint.

Almost everything in Natlan can be divided into 3 categories;

1- very generic ideas (see: the chosen hero plotline mentioned above)

2- plot points specifically made to copy Khaenri'ah, instead of just... oh idk... giving us actual Khaenri'ah stuff that isn't tiny shreads of info? Maybe?

3- stuff that is way too modern to exist in Genshin (and other cultural inspiration messes)

Mavuika's entire character revolves around the archon quest and stuff surrounding it, just like most of the archons, except that the aq this time around is a very generic hero plotline injected with direct copying of what very little we already know about Khaenri'ah.

[playgameshealkids]

It's that time of year again, friends!

Tomorrow, November 2nd, we will be gaming and streaming for 24 hours to raise funds for our favorite charity, Extra Life.

We have raised over $15,000 since we started on this quest 7 years ago and so far we've raised just over half our goal of 4k for this year.

Register after donating for some great give aways! 

This year we will be giving away a physical Collector's Edition of Word of Warcraft: The War Within, digital Epic WoW and Epic D4 Expansion editions, WoW game time, and Battle.net balance. A donation is required to enter and winning is not guaranteed. You can enter and read more about the give aways here! 

$10 donation or more to be entered for Random Drawings  $50 donation or more to be entered for 1 year WoW sub  $65 donation or more to be entered for Digital Epic Editions of WoW and D4 $75 or more donation for physical WoW Collectors Edition (shipping not included) $85 or more donation for an in-game WoW Brutosaur 

Relevant Links

You can find our Donation page here: https://www.extra-life.org/participant/Sollitaire

You can find our Twitch Stream here: https://www.twitch.tv/sollitaire

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Schedule

We will start tomorrow at 12pm CT.

I don't have an official schedule this year other than our semi-annual 5v5 ARAM Heroes of the Storm shenanigans at Midnight central time. Here are some of the games we will for sure be playing: World of Warcraft (Retail - this includes Delves, Keys, and 20th anniversary randomness across a multitude of characters) Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (starting the expansion for the first time) Final Fantasy 14 (Working on the Dawntrail MSQ) Heroes of the Storm (All Random All Middle crazy town) JackBox - I have just about all of them Here are games I might play: Baldur's Gate - I've only played the intro to this and didn't get very far past that Chillquarium - super passive game that is just kind of brain smoothing when I need some down time A little to the left - cozy game that can sometimes be challenging Little Kitty Big City - will probably do this with my daughter Here are games that have been recommended (which I haven't played or looked up on purpose, that I'll sprinkle in sporadically throughout the day) Chance of Sennaar The Witness Super Bunny Man Hand Simulator (recommended for late late night fun) Inside Firewatch Ape Out Keep talking and nobody explodes (probably also a late night option) --- others on this recommended list I have but haven't played --- Tiny Glade (I think I own this but have yet to play it) Elden Ring (I have this and tried it once and raged pretty early, but that was because I had a hard time doing a keyboard/mouse setup - may try with a controller - this is only if I feel super masochistic) Have a game to recommend? Leave a comment or come say hi on my stream during game time. Hope to see you all tomorrow!

[theadventurerslog]

Side Quest: King's Quest 1 AGDI Remake

Hey, guess what? New kind of entry. Sort of: my KQVI replay screensharing fits here too but tagging-wise, new, because I didn't think of it then.

There are sometimes going to be games I play I want to talk about but not do a full let's play style journal on, so that's what side quests will be.

In this case I got curious about the fan made remakes of King's Quest 1 - 3, which can be acquired here: https://agdinteractive.com/games/games.html.

So yeah here's yet another version of King's Quest 1.

Story and structure it's the same game. It's very faithful in that regard. However, it uses a point and click interface, although you can also walk with keys. It's essentially the same interface as V and VI down to config options and saving. There is also an option to turn off dead-ends. I don't know exactly how that affects puzzles but no doubt a worthwhile option for people who don't want to worry about that.

Visually it's very similar to and clearly based off KQ V and VI as well. Some of the screens have visually changed environmentally, which did cause me some confusion with my map.

And some things are still entirely familiar.

There is voice acting including Josh Mandel for Graham as he was in KQ V and the tiny bit in KQVI which was very cool of him to do. Although, his audio quality is noticeably different from the rest. He only speaks at the beginning and end however. All the descriptive text is decently narrated as well, though I am, I admit, spoiled by KQVI's narrator. I just love him.

Characters also have portraits.

The troll's an interesting take...

Here's the rat.

It's a bit of a mix of the AGI and SCI versions, more SCI than AGI. The Rumpelstiltskin puzzle uses the AGI solution with the backward cypher instead of simply his name backward. The stairs from the cloud land are the scarier SCI stairs however.

The beanstalk is still my enemy, though I had an easier time with it despite the SCI version also letting you click to move. I only fell a couple times!

On the other hand I had a lot more trouble with finding the path on the clouds and fell several times there...

Weirdly, the game in a way felt emptier to me. I think because Graham barely talks in the game and there isn't the text parser to play around with, so there isn't the opportunity to just try as much or type silly things. And there isn't a whole lot to interact with in ways beyond looking at them. (no talking to everything in sight like KQVI for example). Obviously your mileage would vary depending on how much you do goof around.

Some of the hot spots feel super finicky, so that could get irritating. I did discover when I was double-checking the help screen for something else that icons have a tiny red dot that act as the hit box point. Knowing that helped, but I still could have done with some broader or more generous hit boxes.

I think it could be good for people who want to play it but don't want to use a text parser and/or want to use the ability to turn off the dead ends. A bit more of a modern experience. Personally I think the SCI version is my preferred version, but it was an interesting jaunt anyway. II and III from what I've read and heard will have more interesting diversions and changes from the originals.

That all said impressive work for a fan project!

Three versions played now and I didn't get perfect points. I missed grabbing the slingshot. Hmph.

[minecraftrelatedrandomness]

2 december pirates smp lore summary, aka WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT TODAY my god this is messed up

obvious disclaimers: spoiler warning, everything is roleplay

cw for livestreams:

apo: shouting, mentioned past torture of a child-like non-human entity (non-graphic)

kuervo: food insecurity mention, grief (via p!water), guns and gunshots, what we in the present day would call human rights violations (on at least 2 different levels), self-harm (hitting onself to ensure consciousness), shaky breath (possibly panic attack?)

apo summary (~30 mins)

apo finds graecie at the nightingale tavern, who confronts him about his motives

they sail to the "touching the stars" quest site for a more peaceful environment (graecie's idea)

graecie was trying to hard to stay calm, bless her

apo tries to justify himself, in that he came here in search of freedom and that he was trying to protect the isles from the "evil" of cruppy (whom he is convinced is a manifestation of the corruption and is gonna kill everyone)

he also thinks alphie will approve of his actions… and considers but doesn't tell graecie about martyn threatening him to kill acho (1 dec)

graecie continues to defend cruppy in that it, according to her, has the mental age of a toddler and that apo is compromising his "morals" for something he hasn't even been successful in achieving yet

graecie decides to stay at the quest site to mull things over while apo takes her boat (with permission) to go back to the isles

she also says that she refuses to give up on apo even if apo has given up on the nightingales (her words, summarized)

apo now believes he has to do something he doesn't want to do

apo lore revelations

apo might know more about cults than he initially lets on

the golden necklace he wears is a locket containing a picture of him and the former owner of the locket (probably alphie)

kuervo summary (~1 hour)

previously on pirates smp (1 dec), kuervo saw a cultist at the door to the kite tavern and got knocked out and yoinked

he wakes up in the amethyst cave where the rescue mission happened back on 13 oct (it takes him a while to realize this), and can't find a way out

he decides to take a nap because he's too tired to keep looking for a way out (chat was panicking because they thought he was gonna die if he did sleep)

cut to a shot of kuervo in the marnie cage getting zapped by a petrification beam and barely consciously trying to break out (overlaid with heartbeat effects)

kuervo then somehow WAKES UP in the tiny hut outside the big amethyst cave hole and finds a pistol with 4 bullets

he tries to figure out his surroundings, gets cornered by a cultist to get back down the cave or else, and then shoots the cultist (and… chat says he was having a whole panic attack after that)

CUE THE FLASHBACK to 16yo kuervo (recently promoted?) getting commended and invited to dinner with the armada commanders and being super excited about it (chat declares their undying adoration for him as a kid and i agree)

kuervo sails back to the isles by hijacking a cultist ship and is very salty about chat asking about his past, and decides it's too dangerous for him to hang around any longer

he leaves the kites and packs up his stuff to finish his revenge "quest", visits water in her home to comfort her about the wedding, say goodbye, and get supplies (like a lasting supply of food just in case he has to face food insecurity in the future, and money for another pistol)

he also revises his letter to the armada to come and get him and convinces water to send it off for him via the castaway. there is a promised goodbye hug in the kuervo lore "finale"

he moves into the main town tavern for his "last few days" on the isles to wait for the armada to come get him

kuervo lore revelations

kuervo is a VERY good shot with a pistol

he has a brother, implied to be older (probably alex if going by his last character lore stream on 13 nov); the brother was well-known in the armada

kuervo was almost definitely a child soldier (getting a "new" crew at age 16? he had to have been there for a while for that to happen…), probably indoctrinated into the autocracy that is naya (dw it happens to the best of us)

he didn't have that red hair (dye) streak at age 16

the cultists apparently experimented on him while he was asleep/unconscious… and it didn't work

kuervo has 8 rings out of a collection of 10, and intends to get his last 2. it's implied he might have killed the armada's commanders, 1 ring for each kill? (nothing is said directly on stream but this is the most likely option according to chat live reaction)

naya is located in the distant northwest

either alex is alive, or kuervo is planning to die. i personally suspect the latter, given the ending of his 18 nov stream

[prodigal-explorer]

so as someone who is only on chapter one of omori and is obsessed with it here are my thoughts as a new member of the fandom

bear in mind that i haven’t finished the game. i only just got to that one creepy forest place? like the one after the spiders? please don’t spoil!!

but spoilers for everything before that below

1) I HATE BASIL. he’s such a stupid little punk. “uwu im so smol and helpless and i always get bullied and i’m so sweet and innocent” I JUST KNOW THAT FUCKER IS HIDING SOMETHING. everytime i end back in that stupid white room it’s because HES DOING SOME SUSSY SHIT. i also just hate him and everything about him and i know for a damn fact that he’s hiding something horrible behind that sweet little smile and he thinks he’s tricking me but he’s NOT I KNOW HIS GAME.

anyway.

2) i literally cannot decide on a favorite character. i have a least favorite, that’s pretty obvious, but when it comes to a favorite im torn. i LOVE omori, aubrey, kel, and hero all the same! i love mari too but i’m a little salty against her because all her hints for the quests are severely unhelpful 😭 but i still love her tho. i just love the main four so so much and i physically cant choose who i like better. poor little aubrey seems so scared and alone when she has the pink hair and she’s so kind in the little space world thing. hero is a sweetheart and i can’t wait to meet him in the colorful world where i’m moving or whatever. and kel is literally so me 😂 it’s not even funny he just does whatever the fuck he wants and that deserves some respect on his name. and omori is a kickass main character who has a cool thing going for him. but these four characters are sooo well crafted and i love how they work together! it’s a great dynamic balance!

3) i’m either a really bad gamer or the game is super long. i finished the prologue in like seven hours. it took SO LONG. i’m not used to indie games taking that long to play considering that i got through all of undertale in like 10-12 hours my first time. it’s awesome! i love finding all the secrets and talking to all the npcs but DAMNNN.

4) this game has so. much. detail. it’s insane. like the sheer amount of mini games and tiny pockets of lore. it’s like higher than undertale level and i don’t mean to keep going back to undertale but i see a lot of similarities in the game style. i also totally got sucked into playing like 30 rounds of blackjack on omoris computer. it was cool af.

5) the fighting mechanics are super hard. maybe i just suck at strategy but i am so bad at the fights that i just run away whenever i have the opportunity 😭 it’s a problem. i also have no clue how the happy sad angry shit works, i just make omori sad so stab has an attack boost and make aubrey angry so headbutt has an attack boost but other than that i don’t really use it at all and i don’t understand it. maybe that’s why it took me literally 10 tries to get past space ex boyfriend? it’s really fun i just think it’s supposed to be easier than it is and i just missed a memo on strategy.

6) i really love the message so far. the way that mental health is portrayed as something that’s a never ending journey. omori doesn’t just breathe and then everything’s okay, the game highlights realistic coping strategies and makes things like depression, anxiety, and phobias to understandable for any audience through a very creative medium: an indie video game. it’s genius. and i just love how it’s been approached so far, it’s very inspiring!

7) i’m terrified that this fandom is gonna make me mad, i swear to god if i just walk in and see a bunch of basil stan’s i’m turning and walking back out 💀 i mean okay maybe i’ll like basil better later but chances for that seem very low right now. my sister told me that apparently he went through some trauma thing? womp womp don’t care he’s an annoying mf who keeps taking me back to that boring white room where i stab myself, he’s a party pooper and i want a tornado to blow his dumb little flower house down.

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 314. brb x oc

a/n: another shorty!!! sorry!!!(comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

/267/268/269/270/271/272/273/274/275/276/277/278/279/280/281/282/283/284/285/286/287/288/289/290/291/292/293/294/295/296/297/298/299/300/301

/302/303/304/305/306/307/308/309/310/311/312/313

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

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@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 @lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2

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-

With how long she knew Shells she noticed how she never truly asked about her childhood with Penny. She knew how they lived when she and Shells were at college, but never before…hence why she winced visibly when Shells just screamed Penny’s name and barged in the house.

“Aunt Pennyyy!!!”

Beatrice looked down at her kids, the twins were very blasé by what was happening, while Nicole was holding her hand in her minuscule one and giggling at Shells…yelling, “...honey, you auntie Shells is a…strange influence.” she told the toddler, “Don’t uh…don’t repeat some of the things she does.”

Shells, seemingly oblivious to any semblance of subtlety, continued her enthusiastic greeting. "Aunt Penny, where are you? I come bearing the gift of chaos!"

"Auntie Shells loud!" Nicole exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement, bouncing on her baby blue sneakers.

"That she is, sweetheart," Beatrice replied, giving Nicole's hand a reassuring squeeze. "But we love her for it."

Shells' voice echoed from deeper within the house, a mix of laughter and exclamations. "Aunt Penny, I brought you some snacks, and guess what? Bea's here too with the cutest little trio!"

Bea just saw a blonde head moving from left to right and she frowned, stepping closer to the house with her eyebrows furrowed, “Maybe she’s not home,Shells!”

Shells, undeterred by the possibility of Penny not being home, continued her quest through the house, her voice now fading into the distance. "Aunt Penny, did you hide in the laundry room again? I brought snacks, and you know I'll find you!"

Beatrice cautiously stepped into the house, the laughter and exclamations guiding her through the familiar space. The twins in their strollers observed the unfolding chaos with wide-eyed curiosity, occasionally sharing glances that seemed to say, "Is this a normal thing?"

Nicole…well,she was loving it.

As Beatrice approached the living room, she caught sight of Shells standing next to a sofa, holding a bag of snacks with her lips pursed, “Maybe she’s at the pier.”

“Shells–”

“No,no, hey,relaaax, sit down. I know this house like the back of my hand,I can find her.”

“Unless she’s not home.”

“Shush,Bea,you’ll see.”

Shells, seemingly on a mission, continued her determined search for Penny. Beatrice hesitated but eventually complied, settling into one of the comfy armchairs in the living room with Nicle on her lap as the twins stared up at her, their expressions a mix of curiosity and mild confusion.

Beatrice chuckled, reaching over to ruffle Gavin’s hair. "Your Auntie Shells is on a mission, little ones. She's determined to find Penny, no matter where she's hiding." she pauses, “..that sounds kinda crazy.”

As if understanding the situation, Auror cooed softly, her tiny fingers reaching out to grasp at the air. Beatrice just offered her hand for Aura to take, sighing as she hears Shell moving. 

Shells was calling out Penny's name in various corners of the house. Beatrice shook her head with a bemused smile. She knew that if Penny wasn’t here, she was at the Hard Deck and if she was at the Hard Deck,she wouldn’t go with the kids.

It was her lovely workplace but it was a bar,Bea thought, she could always…call Penny.

Why didn’t she just call Penny?

Beatrice reached for her phone, deciding to call Penny rather than letting Shells create more chaos in the house. She dialed Penny's number, her gaze still fixed on Shells, who was now checking behind curtains and peeking into closets.

As the phone rang, Beatrice couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. Nicole joined in, finding the whole ordeal highly entertaining, while the twins continued to observe the unfolding spectacle with wide-eyed innocence.

"Bea? You are calling me?"

"Penny, where are you?" 

"I'm at the bar, why?"

"Shells is tearing your house apart looking for you. She came in screaming your name like a hurricane."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Penny's laughter echoed through the phone. "Shells is there? I didn't expect her today. Tell her I'm at the Hard Deck but I’ll be home soon…why is my niece there?”

“Well…we kinda wanted to talk to you about…uh…things?”

“Things.”

“Yeah, uh…it’d be nice if you brought Mav too.”

Silence and realization hit Penny “Ah. Will do.” she chuckles “I’ll be there in five minutes, tell Shells to not destroy my house,please.”

As Beatrice ended the call with Penny, she couldn't help but shake her head at the chaotic turn of events. Shells, in her relentless pursuit of Aunt Penny, had now moved on to checking under furniture and behind curtains with increased determination.

"Shells, Penny's at the Hard Deck. She'll be home soon. No need to turn the house upside down," Beatrice called out, “Please.”

Shells then blinked, tilting her head, “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“...hm.”

“...are you going to stop trying to destroy her house?”

Shells stood frozen for a moment, processing the information, before a sheepish grin spread across her face. "Oops. My bad. I got a bit carried away, didn't I?"

Beatrice couldn't help but laugh. "Just a bit, Shells. Penny will be here soon. Maybe you can help her clean up the mess you've unintentionally created."

Shells chuckled, scratching her head. "Yeah, I'll owe her big time. But hey, it was for a good cause, right?"

"True dedication," Beatrice said with a teasing smile. "But let's avoid making a mess next time, especially when Penny's not even hiding. She's just at the bar."

Shells nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Eh, still more fun this way."

It doesn’t take long for the door to swing open, and Penny enters, her eyes widening at the sight of Shells, who was trying to rearrange the cushions she had displaced in her search for Penny.

"Penny!" Shells exclaimed, feigning surprise. "Fancy meeting you here. We were just trying to find you."

Penny raised an eyebrow, glancing around at the slightly disheveled living room. "Find me? Looks more like you were trying to redecorate."

Shells grinned guiltily, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, about that... sorry. Got a bit carried away with the whole dramatic search thing. But hey, you're found now!"

Penny chuckled, shaking her head. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, Shells. Next time, a simple text will do. And why are you all here, anyway?"

Beatrice stepped forward, Aurora in her arms, while Nicole clung to her leg like a little koala. "We wanted to talk to you about... things."

Penny raised an eyebrow, exchanging glances with Shells. "Things?"

Beatrice nodded. "Things."

"Ah, the mysterious 'things' conversation," Penny said with a smirk. "Alright, let's talk. But first, let me clean up this chaos."

“Yeah,well, is um, is Mav coming?”

Penny looked back at Bea as she picked some of the pillows from the floor, “He’ll show up later, he’s finishing some stuff up…why? Did something happen to Rooster?”

"Rooster's on his mission, Penny. He's okay for now. It's just... other things."

Penny's expression softened, sensing the weight in Beatrice's words. She placed the cushions back on the sofa, creating an impromptu order in the midst of Shells' chaotic quest. "Alright, let's sit down. You look like you could use a cup of coffee and a good chat."

As they settled into the living room, Penny went to the kitchen to prepare a pot of coffee. Shells, seemingly on a mission of redemption, helped tidy up the remaining remnants of her search for Penny. 

The twins, curious and unfazed by the earlier chaos, now napped happily in their strollers. Nicole, still clinging to Beatrice's leg,decided she’d just climb up her mother’s leg,

Penny returned with a tray of coffee mugs and a plate of cookies. She handed a mug to Beatrice, Shells, and even offered one to Nicole,albeit empty and plastic, who promptly accepted it with a delighted giggle.

"Alright, spill," Penny said, settling into an armchair. "What's the 'things' conversation about? And why does it involve Mav?"

Beatrice took a sip of her coffee, her eyes meeting Penny's as she exhaled. "Miranda, being…weird? Mainly?"

Penny's eyebrows shot up in response to Beatrice's mention of Miranda. She took a moment to process the information, her gaze shifting between Beatrice, Shells, and the kids. The room held a charged atmosphere, a sense of urgency underlying the conversation.

"Miranda? The one who's married to Mark?" 

Beatrice nodded. "Yes, that Miranda. She's been acting strange, Penny. Like, questioning Rooster's abilities, making odd comments. And today, she showed up at my house, trying to be all mysterious and unsettling."

Shells chimed in, her expression serious. "I suggested we beat her up but Bea said no."

Penny's eyes narrowed, “With reason,don’t you think?" her niece just shrugged and she turned to bea “Now, tell me more about Miranda's behavior. What's been going on?"

Beatrice took another sip of her coffee, holding away from Nicole’s reach. "It's hard to explain.I…I don’t know what she or Mark want with us. She seems obsessed with comparing Rooster and Mark, almost like she wanted me to validate Rooster's skills over Mark's. It's like she's trying to create a rift or something."

Penny's eyes narrowed, her fingers drumming on the armrest of her chair. "This is more than just idle gossip. It sounds like she's intentionally trying to sow discord. Have you talked to Rooster about this?"

"I did talk to Rooster. He's aware of the situation, and he mentioned internal issues within the squadron. Mark hasn't been very cooperative. He's defensive, and I can't figure out their angle in all of this."

Penny leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Mark and Miranda causing trouble? That's not good. Have you tried talking to anyone else in the squadron? Maybe they've noticed something we haven't."

Shells chimed in, slurping her coffee. "I suggested we talk to to you, have your input auntie.”

“Mine?”

‘Yeah,I mean you know about Navy wives better than we do,” Shells pointed at Bea “And she is a Navy wife herself, but she’s one of the good ones.”

Penny smirked, "Well, it's not like there's a manual for being a Navy wife. But if Mark and Miranda are causing trouble, it's not just a Navy spouse thing; it's a people-being-difficult thing."

Beatrice chuckled very softly, rubbing her neck. "True that. So, what do we do now? How do we handle this situation without making it worse?"

Penny leaned forward, her gaze shifting between Beatrice and Shells. "First things first, we gather information. We need a clearer picture before deciding on our next move."

Shells nodded, her eyes gleaming with determination. "I'm up for some detective work. We'll crack this case wide open!"

Penny chuckled. "Easy there, Sherlock. Let's not jump to conclusions. And Bea, you should definitely talk to the other Navy wives. They might have their own experiences or observations to share."

Beatrice sighed, realizing the complexity of the situation. "I…I don’t really know any other wives besides Ev and…well,Shells,even if Shells isn’t married yet.”

"We'll start with what we have. I have some contacts among the Navy wives. We can discreetly gather information without causing unnecessary panic. Shells, you'll be our eyes and ear,quietly. Keep an eye out for any unusual activities or interactions. And Bea, talk to Ev and anyone else you feel comfortable approaching. "

Shells saluted dramatically. "Consider it done, Captain!"

Penny chuckled, standing to her feet. "Easy on the theatrics, Shells. We're not on a covert mission just yet."

Beatrice couldn't shake off the unease settling in her stomach. She inhales, burying her nose on Nicole’s locks, “...yeah…I guess so.”.

[trouticecream]

Intermission: Old Wounds Reawakened 1/2

It had only been for a little bit.  Just a tiny glimpse–against the very bits of rationality and cold, clear-cut logic which had cemented his original decision on the matter–into the life of the one Gregory had once been in conflict with… –approximately a decade ago, if one is to view the timeline in a more linear manner; in exactly the way in which Ninten himself would have experienced it.  Safe within the rocky and somewhat ancient–it being the very first Psion base ever constructed on Earth post preliminary contact with the seemingly ordinary planet–confines of the Mt. Itoi base, the Psion himself had utilized its built-in surveillance system–capable of zeroing in on any temporal-spatial coordinates–to extract concrete visuals centered on Ninten.  His original intentions had only been to capture a brief ‘check-in’, but like anything else of such a nature… like any other ‘slippage’... it never remains at one neat point, but rather unravels like an unwieldy thread down a labyrinth-like ravine, never to be reclaimed again.

What had started as a mere ‘peek’ had quickly evolved into something far more extensive; a task that certainly tests (if not outright transcends) what humans ordinarily regard as an ethical boundary.  Visuals which he had tirelessly followed over the course of several days, subsequently pushing back his own schedule and sending away the Starman Super which now stood by his side in his overarching quest here on Earth, in order to collect a sufficient enough degree of data on the human’s current life to (perhaps a touch selfishly) assuage his own (increasingly weighty, oddly enough, despite the lack of tangibility to it) concerns over whether or not he had permanently bestowed undue ruination upon Ninten’s life.  And according to his own observations of the human’s life thus far…

… nothing in particular seems to be amiss.

By the arbitrary definition of what it means to be ‘okay’... by the most commonly-recognized standards of humanity… Ninten seems to be okay.  Changed, but otherwise ‘okay’.  The first thing the Psion had ever noted about him is that the human boy had undergone striking physical changes, as is customary for the progression from a child and to a fully-baked human-being.  Ninten is no longer the diminutive human he had once towered over in his own full–and thus truest–adult form, but now the one who would certainly tower over the Psion himself now, stuck as he currently is at a height of 2”3;  a complete reversal of their positions when the two originally met, for the first and final time.  The form of a child–aptly referred to as the “child phase” among Psions–and though Gregory himself would like to claim otherwise… a pervasive lapse in his perceived age from before.  No matter how much knowledge he has or how many experiences–be it a collection of clear memories or vague impressions, filling the prevalent holes in-between–he has, the “adult phase” no longer seems suitable either.  Perhaps it had never been suitable from the very beginning.  Perhaps he had never been a ‘proper’ adult, but merely projected a facsimile of it and now, he had been resynchronized to what he had always truly been the whole time.  Just as the human boy had gradually grown up to the form of an adult to better match the many more experiences, knowledge, and maturity he had likely acquired since the confrontation at the summit of Mt. Itoi.

But then… that is only natural for humans is it not?

It is only natural for them to change, evolve, and grow in not just physical but in ways that far transcend mere physicality; their very flesh casings themselves.  One of the many ways in which humans prove to be surprisingly resilient, despite what shallow conclusions one may initially surmise from their comparatively fragile compositions.  A quality that, despite their renowned technological and psionic advancements, Gregory has personally found the Psion species to be lacking in.  The former is barely natural for Psions, requiring a special Magicant-oriented process to shift from the “child phase” and into the far more functional “adult phase”.  And the latter is almost unheard of.  

Change is not natural for Psions.

It is not natural to be anything, but the role that one is created to fulfill in society; nothing more and nothing less.

To undergo as many physical changes as Gregory himself has.

Child.  Then Adult.  Then a state beyond even adulthood; one so explosive and intense that it could not be contained by what Psions would define as an ‘adult’.  Then something not quite whole, but cognizant enough to pull whatever it could back together.  And now Child again, but with a kind of understanding and elevated perspective he never had the first time around.

To undergo as many non-physical changes as Gregory himself hopes to achieve, beyond the ones that have guided him beyond the confines of Psion society and into goals determined by himself.

A Psion that does not follow orders from anyone other than himself.

A Psion whose role is determined not by others, but by his own reflections.

A Psion that grows almost as the likes of humanity does.

As Ninten certainly has.

The physical changes were what was immediately evident, but though the base personality traits remain intact, the Psion himself could tell that there is a kind of acquired maturity and (surprising) level-headedness now; a sharp contrast to the brash, reckless, and hotheaded nature he had originally been acquainted with a ‘decade’ ago in chronology, thousands of years ago in his own total amount of time spent existing.  And fortunately, changed as the human boy might have been, the life that he leads seems to be ordinary.  Nothing short of what any other human might pursue were their interests to align precisely as Ninten’s have.  He engages with various sports on a regular basis.  He attends some kind of educational institution dedicated towards studies beyond that which something referred to as ‘high school’ entails with a focus on what appears to be fauna in a medical context.  He plays a particular ‘role’ in his society as a preparer of coffee in a cafe, albeit within very limited temporal constraints and in exchange for currency.  And he regularly maintains contact with the associates which had accompanied him at the summit of Mt. Itoi.

All constituents of that which many humans strive towards; a ‘normal’ and ‘happy’ life.  And relatively ‘normal’ and ‘happy’ Ninten seems.

It is… a ‘relief’ as humans would put it.

A miniscule bit of a kind of… –’heaviness’ proverbially lifted off his petite shoulders.  Not quite all of it, but at this juncture, that should not have mattered anyways because this is done.  Logically, Gregory should have logically left it at that.  Should have simply forgotten about this entire… detour altogether… and re-centralized his focus towards doing something that will actually help the Earth and its life-forms; not something that has already long since overstayed its ‘welcome’ or lack thereof.  And yet… against all the precise calculations and ice cold logic which had originally led him to decide against doing any of this to begin with… something… –irrational, compels him to pursue the matter beyond its originally limited scope.  More than merely conducting surveillance from within the safe confines of the Mt. Itoi base… the Psion somehow manages to convince himself to take this data collection a step further and observe Ninten a little more closely.

An in-person excursion rather than merely observing him from behind the filter of a screen, no matter how advanced.  Just to be extra-certain.  To conclude that without a reasonable doubt… Ninten’s life has not been ‘ruined’ by either invasion.

And nothing else.  Inexplicable as the sheer strength of such a pull is towards continuing on with this… there can be no other reason.  No other reason is acceptable.

And so, now the disguised alien–emulating a pale blonde human boy, no more than 5”2 in height, with dark blue eyes–lies in wait, deftly hidden behind an especially thick tree along a few others scattered about the general vicinity of the human’s residence in the town referred to as ‘Podunk’, dark blue voids fixed on the residence in question.  At this point, the Psion already has a good sense of what Ninten’s schedule should be.  What to expect.  And how to most efficiently gather further data in order to properly eradicate any lingering concerns so that he can finally put this matter aside and stop wasting time accordingly.  It will only be one day and nothing else–

…–his uncharacteristically distracted and haphazard thoughts abruptly get cut off with a sudden brush of physical contact in the form of a light yet somewhat firm application of pressure to a shoulder.  A mere poke punctuated by a “hey” whispered all too closely into his ear, but an action nonetheless so surprising–a novelty in and of itself with how rare it is to ‘sneak up’ on him like that–that Gregory immediately stiffens up, mouth flattening into a tense line, and he unconsciously projects a barrier of pale blue light from his own person and outwards.  A barrier which, as a result, ends up knocking back the mysterious ‘assailant’ and hard into the ground a more comfortable distance from the disguised Psion himself.  Gregory sharply turns, his hand slightly raised and dark blue voids narrowed with a mixture of irritation at having been startled and an analytical edge, ultimately intent on quickly assessing what action this change in situation warrants.  A state of agitation which almost immediately evaporates the moment he not only gets a proper look at the ‘assailant’ in question, but hears their voice through the air as they rub their side before wildly waving toned appendages before them in protest.

“OW!  Hey… HEY, take it easy kid will ya?!?  I didn’t mean any harm –I was just trying to mess with you a little, honest!”

Ninten.  Of course.  The height, athletic build, messy dark hair, brown eyes, voice, and tanned skin all match up.  But, even so, Gregory sharply stares for just a moment more before he puts his hand down and the barrier around him dissipates.  An action which elicits a sigh of relief from the human man, before he rather gingerly pulls himself back to his feet, half-heartedly dusting dirt from his red and blue striped hoodie adorned with an illustration of some sort of Earth creature–a ‘penguin’ he believes to be the correct term for such a thing–in its center and plain black gym shorts as he does so.  The disguised Psion, in the meantime, merely stares straight ahead without a blink, his mind utterly frayed and buzzing with a million different thoughts; utterly unprepared for an encounter of this sort, the rarity of being surprised aside.

He cannot parse out how to respond exactly.  How much he should bother with blaming himself for the transgression of any contact with the human at all.  How he had been caught by surprise at all… before ultimately determining that much of these thoughts don’t matter right now anyways.  He needs to say something… an ‘apology’ he thinks based on what all those books on causing accidental harm suggest… but before he can even manage to do that much, something oddly petty steamrolls through any semblance of ironclad restraint.  The disguised alien neatly crosses his arms over his chest with a huff, his tone taking on a kind of militant sharpness, tipped in just a bit of disapproval.

“Well.  Do not do it again.

Someone of your experience and developmental phase should know better than to do something like that.”

By the time the disguised Psion finishes speaking, Ninten has already regained his footing and recovered from the fall albeit a bit sore, and though he’s clearly the so-called ‘adult’ here, something about the primness–almost like being scolded or something–rubs him the wrong way; in a way that any other kid definitely wouldn't, as if somehow there’s something more complicated or deeper than the surface than it seems, in a way that’s just a touch familiar.  Yeah yeah maybe sneaking up on what, now, seems like an obvious PSI-user–beyond the more visible display of power–isn’t a great move, but geez it’s not like it’s the end of the world or anything!  The human man crosses his arms–as though intentionally imitating Gregory–and cocks his head almost challengingly, just about barely stifling the urge to dismissively stick his tongue out in contempt of the pretentious air being given off by the other, before he sharply shoots back a response of his own, making sure to match the disguised Psion’s tone exactly.

“Wellllll… –maybe I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t skulking around like a weirdo!”

He wouldn’t normally address a kid–no matter how pretentious–like that, but man something is definitely up with this one.  Something weird enough that it somehow feels fitting to respond as he would anyone else; it just feels right somehow, especially for the weirdly blank demeanor and the way that the kid talks… which oddly enough, also feels right somehow hence why he doesn’t question it much at all.  Maybe even more so given just how much, odd as it may be, it re-ignites the same rebellious spark that propelled him forward against all odds back when Giegue–.  He cuts his own thought off with a shake of his head, disapproval of his own, before completely pushing away the overall ick of just how unsettling, disturbing, and well… complicated it ended up being.  He doesn’t really know why he’s thinking about him now of all things, but well, old habits die hard, especially when dredged back up by yet another attack.  Some time might have passed since then, but the scale of it this time around was something else altogether.

The human exudes a heavy sigh, acutely noting that Gregory had deigned not to respond with an utterly inscrutable expression, before pressing on a bit more gently though not quite letting up entirely yet.

“Guess what I’m saying is that… I’m trying to piece out what you want exactly.”

He animatedly yet vaguely gestures at the other.

“On why you’ve been watching me.”

He sticks up a finger, almost scoldingly, as if anticipating denial of the fact.

“And don’t say it isn’t you.  It’s gotta be you.  I got the same feeling I’ve been getting over the past few days right as you arrived, but stronger.

I’m a PSI-user too, y’know?

Maybe not as talented as one of my best friends, but not exactly a lightweight either, you get it?”

Just as was the case before, Ninten is met with silence or at least that appears to be the case at first, before Gregory averts his gaze, small hands agitatedly gripping the ends of his yellow sweater and twisting it to and fro.  As his own bout of pettiness slowly ebbs away, a combination of frustration–in having miscalculated so severely and violating the one thing he had vowed not to do–and shame sets in, causing the disguised alien to hesitate a little before he ultimately responds.  There’s no utility in lying.  Not about observing Ninten at least.  As for the reason why… well… he will have to make something up.  A moment’s thought is granted to that notion before Gregory straightens himself out to a more upright position and nods, flatly speaking as he does so.

“I do know.  You are the one that stopped the alien invasion a decade ago.  I have heard many stories about it and was hoping to learn something more from observing you.

I…”

The disguised alien glances back, expression perfectly neutral, before he seems to ultimately relent in some way, hands falling back to idle positions by his sides.

“... –sorry.”

And though his stoic demeanor dares not falter, it ‘feels’ as though the ‘floodgates’ have effectively been opened or as though something has burst on the inside in a way he has not experienced in a very long time.  It’s an oddly rending sensation; resonant with that which he had pushed back before being inadvertently pulled back in with a biting vengeance.  A buried desire to apologize–to rectify–wrongdoings against his adoptive human mother’s kin now reborn anew and embodied by the simple expression he had just managed to utter.  Something that means so much more than just this situation in particular, but no less a truth that he could not reveal here and now.  The ‘cruel’ truth of the matter is that Ninten could never be allowed to understand just what the ‘sorry’ means in full… what it exactly means to the Psion himself… because it would go against his current mission on Earth.  On what he means to achieve in ways that far transcend the mere physical actions of cleaning up after what he’s done here.  It isn’t just about rectifying the physical damages, but ensuring that no further harm comes to the life-forms on Earth because of him and that they can exist in relative peace without having to see even the remnants of the invasions of Earth.

“I should depart.  I will bother you no further.”

And to that end, out returns the only correct response to such a situation, in Gregory’s personal opinion.  Personal feelings must never come before his mission.  Be as that may however, it would seem that such a thing is not entirely up to the Psion himself because for better and for worse, the human isn’t quite as content to let this whole thing go.  Not after he’s heard not just the reason why, but the way the other seems to relent shortly after.  An apology goes a long way and while there’s (still) this overwhelming sense of oddness and vague sense of familiarity–something that’s been pushed back time and time again, throughout the entire ordeal–it doesn’t exactly stop him from sticking out a hand (but this time, without making the mistake of suddenly coming into physical contact with the other) in a stop motion.

“Wait!  Listen, this is all super-weird okay?  Let’s just get that out there, but hey, if you wanna know more about that whole invasion thing, I don’t mind telling the story.

But some advice for next time? if you wanna get something outta someone, it’s usually better to just be direct about it y’know?”

He smiles, reassuringly, at the disguised alien.  It seems that for the time-being, everything preceding this moment, is water under the bridge.

“Makes it easier to avoid situations like this to begin with, yeah?”

Gregory averts his gaze for a moment, mulling over the human’s words for a moment and turning over his revised options, before looking back at the other with a curt nod, his own expression a somewhat cold and blank contrast to Ninten’s warmth.

“I suppose so.”

And… that’s all he says for the time-being, unable to put together anything better.  In the end, it seems that since the ‘damage’ is effectively done… he might as well see this through to the very end; this way he gleans something from it as opposed to something this happening… with nothing to show for it afterwards anyways.  Fortunately, he doesn’t need to say much because Ninten himself is talkative and outgoing enough to fill in the spaces left in the wake of Gregory’s woeful inadequacies in such a thing.  The hand that the human had extended out earlier is promptly turned over in an open gesture, receptive to being gripped in kind by another.

“Ahem.  Now that that’s settled, why dontcha head back with me to my house?  It’s better to talk ‘bout this kinda thing in comfort!”

Gregory himself merely stares at the offered hand, perhaps for a moment too long as though more complicated deliberations are going on in his head, before relenting and gingerly–cautiously–taking it.  Something so simple yet utterly complicated.  He has not held anyone’s hand in literal millenia much less anyone that could effectively be regarded as ‘family’ by proxy.  It is as though he had grown so accustomed to existing in a particular state–with a perpetual figurative hole in his ‘heart’–that he had not realized that anything was amiss anymore until the realization struck him anew.  Re-awakened a particular kind of awareness that had been numbed before and in turn, alerted him to an old pain as it’s now being eased, even if only a little bit.  Were he precisely the same as he was before, the disguised Psion is certain that he would have retracted his hand immediately and though the impulse isn’t entirely absent, rather than falling to its mercurial whims, he tightens his grip just a bit to avoid inadvertently slipping out.

Grip secured and confident that he’ll be followed in kind, the human man begins to almost casually make his way across the short distance to his home while Gregory silently follows along, still a touch conflicted but more willing to put that much behind him in favour of making certain that everything goes well here.

“Soooo… you obviously already know me, my name and everything… –so I gotta know, what do I call my newest fan?”

The word ‘fan’ immediately cuts through the remainder of the disguised alien’s internal conflict if only because such a notation is absurd, his mouth twitching just a bit with a barely contained resurgence of that pettiness from before.  It does no good to become unnecessarily combative like that.  The assumption made is a convenient one and so, after the initial affrontement passes, Gregory responds in a more comparatively amicable (if not fundamentally neutral) way in return.

“You may refer to me as ‘Gregory’.  I look forward to learning from you, Ninten.”