#This game has been out for like 2 weeks and you can investigate at least 5 times per day

[the-insanity-of-mojiru]

All their money is going straight to Agata’s pockets.

[anim-ttrpgs]

Fairytale Witch Player Character Rules in Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy

Eureka has six playable "monster" types, and about ten total supernatural character options all together. Each supernatural trait is taken basically as if it is a normal trait like the ones you have been seeing us post. You cannot give a character more than one supernatural trait--and from what you are about to read, you probably wouldn't want to. Playing monsters is recommended for "advanced" players only, people who like a lot of "crunch" in their games, as require you to keep track of a lot more mechanics than playing a normal human.

Here is the Fairytale Witch Trait. This is going under a Read More because it's long as hell but we really hope that you will check it out and comment. This is, like, the whole entire ruleset for playing a witch in Eureka.

Fairytale Witch (Monster Trait) 

A “witch” has been many things throughout history, so many things in fact that it is quite difficult to form a cohesive thesis statement about them, and, like vampires, and the Hollywood werewolf, are something whose origins are obscured and severely misunderstood by more recent pop culture and pop history.[1][2][3] The “fairytale witch” in Eureka draws inspiration from a vast range of folkloric sources, ancient, medieval, and early-modern. Literary and folkloric figures, typically women, who wield the power to heal and to harm, and whose aid or ire are nearly always earned.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] And like those things, many things which were said to be witches were not and are not.

[2. Off to the side in the final formatting] Certain more recent folkloric elements of the idea of “witchcraft,” including sacrifice and drinking of specifically children’s blood, have been deliberately omitted from mechanization, as these elements stand as direct and recent foundations of present-day antisemitic conspiracy theories. Both in real life and in Eureka, grand conspiracy theories are a comforting fantasy for those who turn a blind eye to actual problems which stand right in front of their face. 

[3. Off to the side in the final formatting] Most witch trials happened in America during the Enlightenment.

Fairytale witches in Eureka may draw on ancient knowledge of these arts passed down generationally, may have learned these abilities from their peers, or may have simply stumbled upon this knowledge some other way and discovered that, while it is simply a silly fantasy to most others, they have an exceptional talent for it.[1] Now what will they do with this power?[2][3] This particular Trait tackles some different themes compared to the other monsters.

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] Regardless, this is not something which can be taught to others over the course of an investigation. Plus, it’s said most people simply lack the talent for it in the first place.

[2 off to the side in the final formatting] Witches are not satanic, at least not literally. The idea that “the Devil” can grant anyone any arcane power is found nowhere in the Bible.

[3 off to the side in the final formatting] You couldn't imagine the hazing.

A lot of a witch’s powers hinge on them knowing someone’s “full true name.” What exactly is meant by a person’s “full true name” is a matter of discussion between player and Narrator, but as a general guideline, if a person is named Jeremy Matthew Jones IV, then “Jeremy Matthew Jones IV” is needed, and just “Jeremy Jones” or “Jeremy M. Jones” won’t be enough. Nicknames also do not generally count.

A fairy cannot make their magic work by just guessing a person’s true name, but a witch can.

Curses

Assuming they have the right materials, a witch can place a terrible curse on an unsuspecting victim from anywhere in the world. More powerful curses have two stages, while simpler curses peter out or fall off after about a week.[1]

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] For all the many terrible things that the medieval Church was, stagnifying and technologically regressive do not make the list. The institution of the medieval Church was one of philosophy, education, and what we would now call “science,” and medieval clergymen were by and large literate, and relatively well-educated men for the time. The medieval Church’s suppression of “witchcraft” had less in common with the “satanic panic” of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, and more to do with the idea that even believing that “the devil” or pagan gods could grant anyone wicked powers was a dangerous superstition, enabling of swindlers and charlatans, and this was likely to result in the wrongful persecution of people who behave oddly, as well as, and especially, Jews. This was true of the “satanic panic” and is still true today.

[1.1. Off to the side in the final formatting] This is not to posit that the medieval Church was a champion of religious freedom and equality. One might say they wanted uncontested control of who got to persecute Jews and exactly to what degree.

Casting a Curse Directly

In order to place a curse directly on a target, the witch must be in possession of the target’s full true name[1] clearly written on some material, or a large sample of their DNA (such as a large lock of their hair), or both. These items are destroyed as a part of the casting process.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] What exactly is meant by a person’s “full true name” is a matter of discussion between player and Narrator.

Casting a curse requires a supernatural ability Composure roll.

Casting a curse takes 1 Tick or 5 Actions, during which all components are destroyed.[1] The curse will last for 7 days by default before either wearing off completely, or advancing to the next stage. As the curse is cast, roll 1D6+1+[Relevant Skill]. Which Skill is used will vary depending on the curse. The result is the number of days by which the witch may extend or reduce the curse's duration. If the curse is an advanced two-stage curse, the result is the number of days by which the witch may extend or reduce the first stage’s duration. If the result is a negative number, reduce the witch’s Composure by the same amount. A witch may use the Focus Eureka! Point ability to add an additional 1D6 to this roll (and this also adds 1D6 to the advanced curse roll, below).[2]

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] What the act of placing a curse actually looks like varies from witch to witch.

[2   off to the side in the final formatting] This works exactly like using the Focus ability when Incapacitated - add 1D6 per Eureka! Point spent to the roll, and then drop all but the highest two.

If a simple curse is reduced to a duration of “0 days,” it will only take effect for the duration of a single Scene. If the first stage of an advanced curse is set to “0 days,” the curse will advance to the second stage immediately.

When an advanced curse is cast, after the witch decides the effect of the second stage (see below), roll an additional separate 1D6+1+[Relevant Skill]. The result is the number of days by which the witch may extend or reduce the second stage’s duration. Like with a simple curse, the default duration is 7 days, after which the effects will wear off completely.

If the witch only has one of these components, then only a simple curse can be cast. If the witch has both the full true name and the DNA sample, an advanced curse can be cast. If the witch mistakenly has the true name and the DNA of two separate people, then, unbeknownst to the witch, both of those people will be struck with a simple curse.

Witches may place curses upon themselves if they so desire, without needing to use their own full true name or DNA.[1] 

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] They’ve already got it.

A second curse placed upon the same target will extend its duration, but only the effect of one type of curse can apply at once. If a simple curse is placed on a target already suffering the effects of an advanced curse, the simple curse will fail to take effect. If a different kind of advanced curse is placed on a target already suffering the effects of an advanced curse, the new curse will replace the previous curse if the caster can make a Full Success on a skill check with the new curse’s relevant Skill. 

Effects of Simple Curses

A simple curse makes the target suddenly feel extremely feeble and ill.[1] The target will have a -2 modifier applied to all Skill rolls for the duration of the curse’s effect. Simple curses that have no advanced stage always use the Medicine Skill. 

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] Symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, excessive sweating, dizziness, and a sense of impending doom. However, no medical doctor will be able to diagnose exactly what is causing the problem.

Effects of Advanced Curses

Advanced curses typically have two stages, with the first stage appearing nearly identical to a simple curse, with all the same effects. When the second stage takes effect, the effects of the first stage cease. The effect of the second stage is decided as the curse is being cast, before the 1D6 is rolled.

Each advanced curse has a different Skill associated with it. This Skill is used for both the first and second stage of the curse. 

Curse of Transformation

This curse uses the Nature Skill. The target will be spontaneously transformed into an animal of the witch’s preference.[1]

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] Their clothes don’t transform with them.

The witch must make a Full Success on a Nature roll to choose an animal that is not on the following list.

Cat

Frog

Mouse

Newt

Pig

Rat

Toad

Wolf[1]

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] For the stats of a wolf, see p.xx “Werewolf”. The rest of these do not have official stats, but we expect you to be able to figure out what they would be good and bad at.

The target will maintain a functional degree of human intelligence while in this form, at least for some time. Once their human mind is lost, the curse cannot be removed, and will never revert after any amount of time. The curse will also never revert if the target dies while transformed.

For an NPC, the Narrator rolls a hidden 1D6+3. This is how many days the target will retain their humanity.

For an investigator, the Narrator rolls a hidden 1D6. After this number of days, if the transformed investigator ever reaches 0 Composure, their humanity will be lost.

Curse of Reduction

This curse uses the Visual Calculus Skill. The target will be spontaneously reduced to between 5% and 10% of their original size.[1][2][3][4]

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] Their clothes and items may or may not shrink with them, at the caster’s preference.

[2. Off to the side in the final formatting] For a 72” person, that would be between 3.6” and 7.2”.

[3. Off to the side in the final formatting.] In most cases, a person reduced in size like this will be at the mercy of the witch, and can be captured without any rolls needed. However, they still have opposable thumbs, and the means to explain the circumstances to others. Witches may wish to weigh the pros and cons of this compared to transformation into a rat, which can make victims quite hard to catch if they start running right away.

[4 off to the side in the final formatting] A person reduced in size counts as one meal. 

If the target dies while shrunken, the curse will never revert.

Curse of Petrification

This curse uses the Chemistry Skill. The target, including their clothes, will be spontaneously turned to stone. At the preference of the caster, they may or may not retain awareness of their surroundings. If kept aware, they will lose 2 Composure per day, and if unaware, 1 Composure per day, until they are effectively dead, at which point the curse cannot be reverted.[1] If the curse is reverted, either by it wearing off before the point of no return, or being broken, any damage the target sustained as a statue will immediately take effect. For example, chips in their stone body become lacerations in their living body. If an arm was broken off of the statue, their arm is now severed. If the statue suffers fatal damage, the curse will not be able to be reverted. If unaware, then reverting the curse will feel like waking up from a long and restless sleep. The target does not need to eat or sleep so long as they are petrified.

[1 off to the ads in the final formatting] For NPCs, consider them to have 1D6+1 Composure to lose before it starts to eat into their Superficial HP.

Curse of Slumber

This curse uses the Medicine Skill. The next time they fall asleep, the victim will fall into a coma-like state for the duration of the curse. The target will lose 1 Composure per day until the curse either reverts or they die.[1] Unlike with petrification, the body must breathe and be fed during this time.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] For NPCs, consider them to have 1D6+1 Composure to lose before it starts to eat into their Superficial HP.

Curse of Death

This curse uses the Blacked Out Skill. The target begins to take 2 Superficial Damage each day for the duration of the curse or until they die, and will be unable to regain HP or Composure through sleep. In addition, apply a -3 modifier to all their rolls.

Defense Against Curses

Upon being struck with a curse, a witch can recognize the intended effect, and may immediately make a Skill check of the curse’s relevant Skill in order to cast it off. This will take one Movement if time is measured in Turns.

Full Success: The curse is fully cast off.

Partial Success: The curse is partially cast off. The witch will suffer only the simple effects, at half the intended duration, and no advanced effects.

Failure: The witch will suffer the full effects of the curse as usual.

Placing a Curse on an Object

Cursing an object works similarly to placing a curse on a person, except no names or DNA are needed, the witch need only be holding the object with bare hands. The default duration of the first stage is 7 days and so is the second stage. Roll 1D6+1+[Relevant Skill] for each to determine by how much the witch can adjust them. After the witch has removed their hands from the object, it will be actively cursed, and anyone who touches it with bare skin, including the witch themselves, will be cursed. The Narrator rolls a hidden 1D12. The result is how many times the curse will transfer to people who touch the object.

Breaking a Curse

There are a number of ways a witch may know to break a curse. If the ailment is not immediately identifiable as a curse, a Full Success on a Blacked Out check by a witch will positively identify whether it is or not. 

The death of the curse’s caster will not remove the curse. 

Manual Removal of the Curse

A curse can be removed in the same way it was cast. If the curse was cast using a true name, the witch can remove the curse using the victim’s true name. If the curse was cast using DNA, the witch can remove the curse using the victim’s DNA.[1] If both, it requires both. Regardless, this takes 1 Tick or 5 Actions. If neither, the curse cannot be broken in this way.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] This has to be the victim’s human DNA. If they have been transformed into an animal, their new form’s DNA will not suffice, it will have to be something removed from their body before the transformation.

True Love’s Kiss

A kiss can sometimes be all it takes to lift a curse. The Narrator rolls a hidden D6 once the victim has been kissed. On a 7+, the curse will be broken by the kiss. If it fails, another kiss from the same person will not work either.[1] If time is measured in Turns, this will take an Action from the kisser.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting.] Morgie’s kisses always lift curses.

Add +1 to the roll if the kisser truly loves the victim.

Add +1 to the roll if the kisser is female.

Add +1 to the roll if the kisser is of noble or royal lineage, or is a fairy.

Curse Removal and Cure by Potion

If all else fails, a potion can be brewed to lift the curse. A potion to lift a specific type of curse will require the same recipe as a potion that would have caused that type of curse, plus one additional Table 3 ingredient. However, the victim must be able to drink the potion for it to take effect, meaning a curse of petrification cannot be lifted in this way. See p.xx “Brewing Potions”. Using the same method, a Non-Lethal or Lethal Poison Potion can have an extra Table 3 ingredient added to make them antidotes for their respective poisons, and a Love Potion can have an extra Table 3 ingredient added to make it a cure for Love Potions, etc. 

Brewing Potions

If there’s one thing witches are known for, it’s potions.[1] Potions represent the most reliable and effective vehicle of a witch’s magic, and are often something of a magic spell in and of themselves.[2][3]

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] A large metal cauldron is classic, but takes up a lot of space in an apartment, so a stovetop is usually fine.

[2. Off to the side in the final formatting] The “magic words” may or may not have any true power in and of themselves. Sometimes, the time it takes to recite the entire “spell” three times is just about how long the potion needs to be left on the heat.

[3. Off to the side in the final formatting] In the Middle Ages, until about the mid-1400s, the conception of a “witch” was often cautiously positive, and may conjure up the image of an unmarried woman living outside of town who has vast generational knowledge to draw upon in the way of midwifery techniques, herbalism, medicine, and poison.

When a witch brews a potion, it is often going to be something of an ordeal to gather all the right ingredients, but the payoff will be an effect that the witch can set the exact delay and duration of, and which can be applied to anyone who consumes it, bypassing both the element of uncertainty, and the prickly details, of casting a curse by hand. A successfully brewed potion can be made to have any length of delay between consumption and effect, and the effect can be made to last for any length of time, including permanency.

Potion brewing is as much an art as a science, and no two brews will be the same, even if they aim to achieve the same effect across the same duration. The process of brewing a magic potion is influenced by factors barely understood by the witch and certainly not under their control, it won’t be until the the process is underway that it becomes clear exactly what is needed to finish the concoction.[1][2] Not counting the time required to gather the ingredients, a witch must spend at least 1 Tick a day attending to the potion in between the time the base is added and the final two ingredients are added, as well as 1D6 Ticks finishing the potion once all of the ingredients have been added.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] When it became clear that prayer alone would not suffice, ordained priests may be the village’s most avid practitioner of “folk magic.” Folk “magic” of course just being another word for an observable effect to which the cause is not fully scientifically understood.

[2. Off to the side in the final formatting] Sometimes, the ingredients required for a potion will be realistically impossible to obtain in certain scenarios.

Every potion has three ingredients: A base, which is always going to be the same for the kind of effect the witch is trying to achieve, and two additional main ingredients which will become clear only after the brewing process has begun.[1] See below for the list of possible potion effects, the required bases, and the two other ingredients, which will be rolled on the relevant ingredient tables.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] This is not literally all the ingredients, just the ones that matter most mechanically and which will not be understood until the process has begun. The witch will be throwing all sorts of things in there in the meantime.

The base for a potion must be acquired and added, and after the other two required ingredients become known, those too must be acquired and added. For ingredients that would be reasonable to have on-hand, a Wealth roll using the witch’s home (or whatever home they’re doing this in) may suffice, but many ingredients will require the witch and any other investigators willing to help them to divert their plans to seek them out. If the investigators decide that a particular potion is necessary for their progress towards solving the mystery, then consider rolls that seek to gather information on where to find the necessary ingredients to count as Investigative Rolls.

Potions do not work on any subject unable to ingest or digest them.

Any potion which applies an advanced curse’s effect does so without applying the effect of the first stage.

If a potion is intended to be mixed with food, a witch may take steps to make the potion more difficult to detect by taste or smell with a Blacked Out or Chemistry roll, hidden by the Narrator.

Full Success: The potion is impossible to detect once it has been applied to or mixed with food.

Partial Success: The potion may be detected by a Full or Partial Success on a Senses roll.

Failure: The taste or smell of the potion is immediately obvious to just about anyone.

To make a potion undetectable in an autopsy or other examination of the victim, a witch can make a Chemistry or Blacked Out roll.

Full Success: The remnants and evidence of the potion in the victim’s system will dissipate completely before any examination can be conducted.

Partial Success: Evidence of the potion within the victim’s system will be undetectable by normal means, but a witch may still be able to identify it.

Failure: Any medical examiner will be able to detect the traces of the potion, but only someone versed in witchcraft will be able to properly identify it.

Potions which apply the same effects as curses count as those curses for all intents and purposes, including their removal. Thus a curse caused by a potion could be removed by use of the victim’s hair and true name, by use of a curse-removing potion, or by a kiss.

Starting the Adventure with Potions

A witch can start the adventure with potions already in their inventory in exchange for WP, either because they recently brewed them, or bought or traded from another witch (who is unavailable for a refund of takeback during the adventure). The witch will not be able to buy potions during the adventure. Any potion bought by WP in character creation can be made curative by spending 1 extra WP. (See p.xx “Curse Removal and Cure by Potion”.)

2WP: Random potion.[1] Roll 1D6+1D12 on the list of potions.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] It’s only random to the player, not the witch. They know what they got it for. 

4WP: Specific potion. Choose any one potion from the list.

List of Potions

2. Potion of Invisibility

Cat (boiled live), Table 3, Table 3. Renders one invisible to the naked eye for a single Scene, including clothing and small held items.

3. Potion of Transformation

Blood of the animal that this potion is intended to turn someone into, Table 3, Table 3. Applies the second stage of a transformation curse. See p.xx “Curse of Transformation”.

4. Potion of Petrification

Powdered marble, Table 2, Table 3. Applies the second stage of a petrification curse. See p.xx “Curse of Petrification”.

5. Potion of Waking Sleep

Apple, Table 2, Table 3. Allows one to remain awake for one full night without suffering any Composure loss.

6. Love Potion

hair of the subject of affection, Table 2, Table 3. All rolls made by the subject of affection towards the drinker of the potion have a +2 Contextual modifier.[1][2][3]

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] This works like any other curse - though it can only be applied by a potion, the love potion’s effect may be undone by other means (e.g. with a sample of DNA and the person’s full true name).

[2. Off to the side in the final formatting] The world is a little fuzzier when the subject of the affection is in view, but their voice is always loud and clear.

[3. Off to the side in the final formatting] Easily slipped into a drink - one more reason to be vigilant at bars.

7. Potion of Slumber

Sand, Table 1, Table 3. Applies the second stage of a slumber curse. See p.xx “Curse of Slumber”.

8. Potion of Nourishment

Bread crumbs, Table 1, Table 3. Consuming this counts as 3 daily meals at once.

9. Potion of Death

Rat (boiled live), Table 1, Table 2. Applies the second stage of a death curse. See p.xx “Curse of Death”.

10. Sleep Aid

Wolfsbane, Table 1, Table 1. Grants one 1 additional point of Composure restored after a single full night’s rest.

11. Pain Relief

oak bark, Table 1, Table 2. Grants one 1 additional point of Superficial HP restored after a single full night’s rest.

12. Potion of Glamour

Lavender, Table 1, Table 3. Apply a +2 Base bonus to this character’s Charm and Seduce Skills for a single Scene. 

13. Non-lethal Poison

Thorns of a thorny plant, Table 1, Table 3. Applies Poison (Non-lethal, OT: Witch’s choice, DF: Witch’s choice). See p.xx “Non-lethal Poison”.

14. Potion of Healing

Copper shavings, Table 1, Table 3. When applied with a Medicine roll, add +2 to the amount of HP restored, even with a Failure. This can also rid the body of non-chronic diseases, such as a short-term virus or bacterial infection. 

15. Juice that Makes You Explode

Gunpowder, Table 2, Table 3. When the potion takes effect, the Narrator rolls a hidden D6. On a 6, This causes the consumer to violently explode as a Shrapnel Explosion. On a 1-5, the option has no effect. See p.xx “Shrapnel Explosion”.

16. Lethal Poison

Hemlock, Table 2, Table 3. Applies Poison (Lethal, OT: Witch’s choice, DF: Witch’s choice). See p.xx “Lethal Poison”. 

17. Potion of Soothing 

Simmered liquor, Table 2, Table 3. Restores 3 points of Composure.

18. Potion of Reduction

Salt, Table 3, Table 3. Applies the second stage of a reduction curse. See p.xx “Curse of Reduction”.

Potion Ingredients Table 1

A witch with a +2 or higher in Nature can roll a second time on this table and use either result in the potion.

1,1. Beetroot

1,2. Beetroot

1,3. Adder’s fork (trout lily)

1,4. Beetroot

1,5. Wolfsbane

1,6. Yew leaves

2,1. Tiger’s blood

2,2. Oak leaves

2,3. Blind-worm’s sting (wormwood)

2,4. Eye of Newt (mustard seed)[1]

2,5. Eye of newt (actual)

2,6. Gecko’s blood

3,1. Tongue of dog (houndstongue, the plant)

3,2. Tongue of dog (actual)

3,3. Lizard leg (ivy)

3,4. Lizard leg (actual)

3,5. Owlet’s wing (garlic)

3,6. Owlet’s wing (actual)

4,1. Scale of dragon (the plant)

4,2. Tooth of wolf (club moss)

4,3. Tooth of wolf (actual)

4,4. Gall of goat (st. John’s wart)

4,5. Bloody fingers (foxgloves)

4,6. Bloody fingers (actual)

5,1. Tiger’s chaudron (lady’s mantle)

5,2. Baboon’s blood

5,3. Toe of frog (buttercup)

5,4. Toe of frog (actual)

5,5. Fillet of fenny snake (arums)

5,6. Wool of bat (holly leaves)

6,1. Wool of bat (actual)

6,2. Snakes

6,3. Snails

6,4. Puppy dog tails

6,5. Rose petals

6,6. Snips (eels)

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] There is little evidence that “eye of newt” and “lizard’s leg” and stuff like that was actually code for regular household ingredients, but there’s also little evidence that every witch would know that.

Potion Ingredients Table 2

A witch with a +2 or higher in Chemistry can roll a second time on this table and use either result in the potion.

1,1. Human hair

1,2. Cobwebs

1,3. Sugar

1,4. Human urine

1,5. Human bone

1,6. Human wart

2,1. Cat’s whiskers

2,2. Dog hair

2,3. Snake egg

2,4. Feather of crow

2,5. Chicken egg

2,6. Shark’s tooth

3,1. Booger

3,2. Salt

3,3. Silver shavings

3,4. Copper shavings

3,5. Tobacco

3,6. Gold shavings

4,1. Iron shavings

4,2. Magnet

4,3. Human liver

4,4. Human nose

4,5. Human lips

4,6. Sand from an hourglass

5,1. Bronze shavings

5,2. Aluminium shavings

5,3. Honey

5,4. Gunpowder

5,5. Rabbit’s foot

5,6. Eye of spider

6,1. Ocean water

6,2. Expired milk

6,3. A piece of burned meat

6,4. Tail of rat

6,5. Nightshade

6,6. Neon

Potion Ingredients Table 3

A witch with a +2 or higher in [Blacked Out] can roll a second time on this table and use either result in the potion.

1,1. Cat (boiled live)

1,2. Human hair (red)

1,3. Something sold based on a lie

1,4. Candy stolen from a baby

1,5. Witch’s blood

1,6. Washwater from the sheets of a deathbed

2,1. A picture taken moments before disaster

2,2. Something thrown away in anger

2,3. Blood drawn from a toe

2,4. A murder weapon

2,5. A family photo.

2,6. A divorcee’s wedding ring

3,1. Powdered skull from two-headed cow.

3,2. Cremated human remains

3,3. Picture of a sniper rifle from a video game released in 2009.

3,4. Ash obtained by burning wood from a shipwreck

3,5. a silk mourning veil (used)

3,6. Something stolen from a neighbor

4,1. Coffin nails

4,2. grave dirt

4,3. Blood of a virgin

4,4. Pants of Matt

4,5. A pet’s favorite toy

4,6. wine which has not seen the sun for at least ten years

5,1. Hair of a murderer

5,2. Orphan’s tears

5,3. Sock of Matt (oven baked)

5,4. Engagement ring (used)

5,5. A flower picked as it blooms under a full moon.

5,6. An adorable sneeze

6,1. Love

6,2. Water from the lungs of a drowned man

6,3. Menstrual blood

6,4. Gamer girl bath water

6,5. Something stolen from a friend

6,6. Human semen

Casting Spells

Without taking up a Trait slot, a witch can be considered to have any Power from the Mage Power List, but only one at a time. Swapping between these Powers requires a non-skill supernatural ability Composure roll, as well as taking an Action if done in combat. 

Enchanted Vehicle and Flying

As a non-skill supernatural ability, the witch may enchant a vehicle, broom, or other object of similar category (or theming), allowing it to fly under their control so long as they are piloting it.[1] The enchanted object will not fly for anyone but the witch, and will become inert soon after the witch stops piloting it. If done in combat, this takes 1 Action.[2][3]

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] Old-fashioned brooms are traditional, but there are a number of other objects, modern or otherwise, that would logically be suitable as a substitute. Figure it out.

[2 off to the side in the final formatting] As a warning, virtually any flying vehicle will be extremely obvious and visible during the daytime.

[3 off to the side in the final formatting] Watch out for birds.

Witches have a “Flying” Write-in Skill, used in place of the Athletics skill when piloting either a flying Manually Powered Vehicle, or a flying household object. It does not allow the witch to fly without an enchanted object. Unlike other Write-in Skills, the Flying Skill starts at 0 and can be set to any value between -3 and +3, so long as all of the witch’s Skill modifiers still add up to 0.[should this be able to go below 0?]

A roll is not required to control this device under normal circumstances, but intense maneuvers will require a Flying or Driving roll.

Flying objects have an Acceleration of +12, unless the object already has a higher Acceleration.

If I Can’t Have You, No One Can (Fairytale Witch True Nature)

Flat Composure Damage from Skipping Meals = Yes

Composure restoration from Three Meals a Day  = Yes

Flat Composure Damage from Skipping Sleep = Yes

Composure restoration from Full Night’s Sleep = Yes

Eating people, or using one’s powers against others for petty and/or entirely selfish reasons will restore a witch’s Composure, though the witch has no connatural need to do these things.[1]

[1 off to the side in the final formatting] A witch can’t stop being a witch any more than a soldier can stop being a soldier.

For use of powers, an act that temporarily affects the victim will restore 1 point of Composure, and an act that permanently affects the victim will restore 2 points of Composure. These acts do not necessarily have to involve the use of magic. If the witch has a non-magical opportunity to exert power over another individual for petty and/or entirely selfish reasons, this could work as well. 

For eating people, making a meal of a person will restore 2 points of Composure. Making a meal of a person who was alive until moments before preparation and consumption, or is still alive when consumed, will restore 3 points of Composure. If the victim happens to be a former friend or lover of the witch, restore 1 additional point of Composure.[1][2][3][4]

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] This only restores Composure one time per victim. Eating multiple meals made from the same person will not restore Composure for each meal.

[2. Off to the side in the final formatting] Clever witches are said to make use of magic to consume their enemies more efficiently.

[3 off to the side in the final formatting] Eating the flesh of a human that has been transformed into an animal by a curse does count, at least for Composure restoration. This is also, probably, a lot healthier.

[4 off to the side in the final formatting] If the witch makes multiple meals of a single person, only the first meal will restore the extra Composure. Any leftovers will count as “normal” food. 

Dangerous Games (Fairytale Witch Weakness)

As relatively normal people (at least by monster standards), fairytale witches don’t have much in the way of supernatural weaknesses, except for the fact that their bodies simply can not handle excessive prolonged use of so many arcane powers.

Whenever a fairytale witch uses a non-Skill supernatural ability, the Composure roll is made at -3 instead of +3. There are, however, ways to reduce the strain these acts of sorcery put on the body.

Casting Implements

There are certain tools of the trade which can relieve some of the strain by drawing the energy out of the witch’s body before manifesting it in reality or facilitating it by other means. [this sentence kinda sucks but I’m on 5 hours of sleep. Fix it in copy-editing]

Each casting implement in use provides a bonus to the non-skill supernatural ability Composure roll a witch makes to use her powers. A casting implement must be being touched (or held telekinetically) by the witch in order to provide this bonus.[1] The cumulative bonus given by all of a witch’s casting implements cannot bring the Composure roll higher than a cumulative +3. The process by which an object is prepared to be used as such a device is arcane and cannot be accomplished mid-adventure, nor can one of these be bought with a Wealth roll mid-adventure. They can only be acquired through Wealth Points.

[1. Off to the side in the final formatting] The implement does not *necessarily* have to be pointed in the direction of the target of the power, but many witches find that this helps them focus.

Jewelry 

+1 [2WP] A piece of jewelry. Multiple can be worn to further defer strain and increase the Composure roll bonus.

Wand

+1. [1WP] Could be a gnarled old stick or a black rod with a white tip, or anything in between, as long as it is elongated and about 10 to 24 inches. Only one wand or staff may be in use by the witch at a time.

Staff

+2 [1WP] Like a larger, more heavy-duty wand. Must be at least as tall as the witch themselves. Only one wand or staff may be in use by the witch at a time.

Spell Book

+1 [1WP] Could be an old leather-bound tome, or a spiral notebook containing the witch’s scribbled research notes. Must be opened and read from to confer a bonus, but does not necessarily need to be touched. Only one spell book can confer a bonus at a time.

[smootqueen]

Love and Deepspace Unofficial Lore. Love and Deepspace is a mobile game that is NOT owned by me. This is content made for entertainment purposes only and not meant to oppose any means of sponsorship or monetary gain. If you enjoy this content, support Love and Deepspace by following them on social media platforms and downloading their game.

Warning: NSFW Content (TW: soft dom & cuffs)

Zayne vs Sylus x Female M/C Content 🩵🩶

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Before you begin, some notes from the author:

I want this story to be personally connected to you as the reader, which is why I did not name the main female lead. Throughout the story you will see her referred as “M/C” abbreviated for Main Character. Feel free to use your name/nickname as you’re reading it.

Thank you, reader!

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~ Between Shadows and Ice: Sylus and Zayne’s Battle for Her ~

Preface: M/C has been through a lot in the past year. Although she has faced many challenges, she continues to push past them by focusing on her career and well being. This all comes to a halt when she realizes she has feelings for her primary care doctor: Dr. Zayne, who lately has been very curious and protective about M/C’s other partners, including a recent hookup in a mission with Sylus, the leader of Onychinus in the N-109 Zone. Although M/C and Sylus have not seen one another since, that does not impede Sylus from being curious about his kitten’s day-to-day lfe. And now the arrogant leader of Onychinus is adamant to find her and not let her go again. How will Zayne react when he realizes his girl is about to be taken away? How could he ever let that happen?

Chapter 1: Pilot

I was sitting at the Hunters’ HQ when Tara came up to my desk. She was wearing her work out clothes and a damp towel hung around her neck.

“What’chu doin’?” She gleamed over my desk, which was covered in papers and binders of different shapes and sizes, all color coded to my investigation.

These past two weeks have been brutal, since trying to earn a promotion and reduce the percentage of Wanderers attacking Linkon. In the past year alone there has been a 2% increase in Metaflux fluctuations, causing Wanderers to wreck havoc. Part of my investigation has been to be able to reduce it at least 1% before the year ends, but that would mean—

“Hello! M/C? Are you even listening to me?” Tara interrupts my thoughts.

Since she got here, this is the first time I notice her. I glance up at her, a bit confused as to how long she has been standing there. I feel very tired all of the sudden.

“Are you okay?” She mutters, “You seem like you’ve gotten no rest.” I notice she has her workout clothes composed by a purple exercise jacket and some blue leggings.

I frown.

“You only work out at night before heading home.” I think outloud.

“It is night…” she looks even more concerned now, which causes me to panic.

“Right, right!” I say with a fake chuckle, rubbing the back of my head. “It’s time to—“

“Go home?" She suggests, getting closer to my desk and lowering herself to my level. Sitting on my white desk chair, I can see the water from the towel staining her jacket as she looks straight into my eyes.

“M/C, you don’t look well at all... I told you I was gonna work out this morning. You had less than half of these papers…” She glances at my desk and notices the pile. She recalls I was printing 10 copies in the morning and my desk was neatly organized. It was so organized, in fact, that she was able to grab my strawberry pen she loves so much. She had reminded me how jealous she was as part of her visiting my desk routine. And I, as I have done each time, insisted she takes it. Tara always refuses and says it’s a “special touch” to borrow it from me. She considers it to be her lucky pen that lives on my desk.

That pen is nowhere in sight. Maybe it's not so lucky after all? It is probably dead buried underneath all those papers.

I sigh, placing my fingers over the ridge of my nose and closing my eyes.

This causes Tara to giggle, “You’re making expressions like Zayne lately.” She says as she stands straight.

Shit. Zayne.

My eyes shoot open and quickly rummage through the papers to try to find my phone. Some of them fall onto the floor, which Tara quickly scrambles to pick up in a panicked woah!.

When I find my phone, the strawberry pen emerges. This causes Tara to immediately launch herself to grab it.

“I found it!” She squeals but I ignore her.

I have 10 unread messages from Zayne, and a missed video call.

05:30 - Hope your day goes well today. Be sure to drink plenty of water.

07:00 - Did you have breakfast yet? I recall you said your shift started earlier today.

7:30 - I will be having lunch at around 2 PM today. Can we video call then or will you be at work?

10:00 - I just got off surgery. There’s been a lot of injured people lately. Your calculations of Wonderers appearing more frequently was not off…

11:00 - I have a small break. I will be taking a nap. If you need anything you can call me. I don’t mind waking up to chat a bit.

11:45 - I got woken up with an emergency. Still, call me if you need anything.

13:00 - I managed to get things under control here. I will be eating earlier.

13:05 - Have you eaten?

Missed video call from Ice Prince ☃️

15:00 I hope everything is okay. I imagine you’re on a mission somewhere.

17:00 I’m going home now. The movie tickets I bought last week were for 7:30. Do I pick you up?

I glanced at the clock: 21:07.

Fuck.

“Tara, I really have to go.” I stand up quickly, more papers fall onto the ground. I reach down to pick them up and put them at the desk messily and neglecting the organized pattern I had on my desk before. As more papers fall, I pick them up and dodge Tara's head, who is also scramming to pick up the papers with me.

“You’re gonna leave it like this?” She looks up from holding some of the papers against her chest, “Just don’t let Captain Jena see—“

“I gotta go.” I snap, causing her to give me a soft look.

I raise my eyebrows in apology, realizing I have not even spent time with my best friend. “I’m sorry, Tara. I really just lost track of today and I had some things to do.”

“With Zayne?” She winks, a smirk growing on her lips as she places my papers down.

I blush slightly at her acknowledgement.

Zayne and I have been in a “situationship” for a while. Neither of us has really fezzed up about pursuing more, especially since we’re busy with work. I have not really told him that I developed some feelings for him, nor do I plan to. I have genuinely enjoyed the time we have spent and our nights together. Why would I ruin that with my selfish feelings? Just because I get some extra serotonin and dopamine when I am around him.

I feel my face hot as I remember the most recent one: it was in the parking garage at the Akso Hospital. We were inside his car when he called me after a hard surgery. One thing led to another… and…

I shake my head to clear off the memory.

Whelp. He’s gonna wanna have to do nothing with me after today.

“We were supposed to go to the movies today.” I explain to Tara.

“Shit.” Tara’s eyes widen, “You didn’t go.”

“I didn’t even bother letting him know.” I groan, “I was too focused with work and ignored his texts."

“Well, what are you waiting for?? Hurry! Call him back!!”

“No,” I sigh, “No. I think I’m gonna go to his place and apologize.”

I rub my face, realizing too late that I had mascara on and probably just smeared it. The moment I feel the texture I stop and click my tongue.

“Dammit… Today’s not my day.” I mutter.

Tara hands me the towel around her neck. I make a mortified face and she laughs.

“I will break out if I use that thing..."

“You will get gray hairs when you see what you’ve done to your eyes.” She winks, “Let’s get you out of here. I can you drop you off at Zayne’s…”

Now I’m the one giving her the puppy eyes, appreciating her for not judging me and giving me a hand.

Tara and I have become inseparable since we started our job as Hunters. Her desk is unfortunately nowhere near mine, but we make the effort to see each other throughout the day and send each other funny videos at lunch time or in-between missiong. We’ve gone on a couple of dates shopping and trying out new restaurants, and she tells me every morning what her Tarot cards said about how her day would be.

After Caleb and Grandma’s death, she stepped in to become the sister I never had. Of course, no one is ever going to replace them, but she has truly become someone special to me and has helped me countless times. Right after their passing she made me some carrot cake and brought it to my house. When I opened the door, I had not showered for days and was wearing some pjs. The first thing I noticed was the cake. I don’t even like carrot cake, but I ate it and cried with her that day. She offered spending the night and helped me with some chores so I could shower. That was when she became even more important to me. So even if it meant I had to hear her rambling about my strawberry pen and how much she wants one but won’t take mine, or how much I dislike carrot cake but she makes it, I will always choose her.

I smile.

“Sounds good.” I nod, pushing away her towel with an apologetic nod, “I’ll owe you.”

“An outing~” She sings as we walk outside of the office settings.

“T-“

“Ah, tsch, tsch!” She pouts, waving her finger in a ‘no’ motion. “I don’t wanna hear it! You have time for these boys but don’t ever go out with me anymore. I deserve a date with my bestie! Pleaasseeee” She makes an exaggerated look and heightens her voice as she begs.

I laugh, “Alright, alright. We can go-“

“Tomorrow!”

I stop walking “Tara-“ I see her disapproving glance. I sigh in response. “Tomorrow’s my day off, so we can go.” I say defeatedly.

I had intended to come in to work on those papers, but now that I promised her this…

“WOOHOOO!” She shouts through the empty offices, hopping as we walk together, “We’re gonna have so much fun!!!”.

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

I unlock the door to Zayne’s apartment using the keys he gave me and notice the living room is dark. Months ago, Zayne had given me the passcode to enter the building and the keys to enter his apartment when we rescued some puppies {coming soon chapter}. He never really asked for his copy back. I did try to give it back to him once by leaving it in his desk at the hospital while he was busy, but it managed to find its way back to me with some jasmine flowers and a note that said I was welcome to come in and out as I please. We don’t really spend that much time here, though I am familiar enough with the place that I know my way through it even though the lights are off.

I traverse his living room carefully, noticing that his bedroom light is on but the door is closed. The golden light underneath the door shines through the living room and illuminates my combat boots that I wear for work.

I take a deep breath before opening the door.

His bedroom is organized, as is the rest of his apartment. The bed is made except for the edge, which has the outline of where he probably sat moments ago. Next to his nightstand are his glasses, on top of a book, which indicates he was readying himself for bed. He always reads before sleeping to quiet his mind. It was probably some medical book like the ones he re-reads all the time.

The sound of the shower being on catches my attention. The door to the bathroom is open and steam comes from it, indicating that Zayne is indeed showering in there. From his bedroom, Linkon City is visible through his massive windows, that are essentially his wall connecting to the bathroom. He has curtains that are electric, they will wind down and black out the room for when he needs some serious sleep, but for the most part every time I have come they are wide open. If I had such a luxurious view, I would also keep them open as much as possible.

Guilt gnaws at the back of my stomach and the nape of my throat. I sit on the edge of the bed and think about what I am going to say when he comes out.

How do I even apologize for something like that?

Although we’re both busy, he as the Hospital Chief of Akso Hospital, and me working on my promotion, we always make time for one another. He isn't really a man of words, but I will receive pictures from him of things that remind him of me, or videos that he thinks I will enjoy. There have been many times where i have received gifts to my apartment as well: flowers, plushies, and some notes he will leave while passing by. Though these gestures don't have to mean much, they are meaningful to me because that is the way Zayne shows his appreciation. He may not say it, but he shows it through his actions.

The water stops running with a soft thud. My heart begins to beat heavily against my chest and I begin to feel lightheaded as time passes. What seems like minutes feels like hours until Zayne emerges from the restroom wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. His black hair is still wet and flat against his head. When he sees me, he has a serious expression.

I fucked up.

“Zayne.” I say, my voice cracking as I try not to cry. “H-How was your day?” I manage to say, trying to create a casual conversation but being too nervous to get the words out smoothly. I am sitting upright with my hands on my knees, as though I am about to be scolded.

He doesn’t answer me. Instead he just stares and blinks.

Oh no, he is really mad.

“Zayne…” I try again.

“Were you on a mission?” He questions, his tone serious as he folds his arms against his chest. His toned muscles on his forearms and biceps are revealed, causing me to blush for a moment. He is no longer holding the towel, but he does not care if it falls off. His eyes are fixed on me, demanding an answer.

Confused by his question, I frown and shake my head without breaking eye contact.

He walks closer to me after unfolding his arms, causing me to panic.

Is he gonna yell at me? Will he end things with me?

He places his index finger on my chin, lifting my head and forcing me to look up at him. He is so tall, and with me sitting down I feel like a prey trapped under a predator's jaws. His finger feels cold when he uses his finger. The back of my neck feels hot as I recall that being one of his signature moves when I am obedient and call him “Sir”.

I gasp a little from the sudden cold touch, closing my eyes as I feel it becoming slightly colder from using his Evol.

“Were you, perhaps, in the N109 Zone today?” His green eyes are drilling into me. Even though I am not looking at him I can feel the intensity of his glare.

I open my eyes and blink in surprise: “What?”

He frowns slightly and he rephrases the question more directly.

“Did you see Sylus today?”

Is he…

“Zayne, Sylus and I were partners in the N109 Zone months ago. We’ve only texted-“

“So you had contact with him, yet you chose not to answer me back?"

Oh my god.

He is jealous.

“No. Well, that’s a lie,” I mutter flustered, “I do talk with him occasionally but today-“

He uses his thumb and places it over my lips gently, pursing them together to make me quiet. A small flash of cold dissipates as he leans closer. I can smell his body wash on him, and can see some of the steam still radiating from the hot shower. My eyes meet his in panic, though I am blushing so hard my face hurts.

“You’ve been a naughty little girl. Haven’t you?” My legs become weak as he says that. I release the grasp on my knees and let out a breath.

I was very open with Zayne about what happened between Sylus and I at the N109 Zone. I never hid the fact that I had slept with him, just like he confessed being with other girls as well. Since we’re not exclusive, we’ve never really bothered one another about it. Although when I started to develop feelings for him, I preferred not to ask so I would not get hurt. But this… this is different. Zayne is never jealous. And he never mentioned anything about Sylus. Shit, I didn't even know he remembered the guys' name.

He slowly slides his thumb into my lips, causing me to gasp slightly in surprise. I close my eyes and open my mouth to allow his finger in. I teasingly lick the tip of his thumb, causing him to let out a small exhale as he raises his eyebrows in surprise. I make eye contact with him and suck slightly on the tip of his frozen finger.

“You’re two hours late to our date, naughty little girl” He emphasizes, his eyes flashing darkly as he pulls his thumb out of my mouth and runs his fingers across my chin, holding the base of my chin with his hand while holding eye contact.

“What are you going to do about it, Dr. Zayne?” I manage to say, glancing at him with innocent eyes.

He smirks with a small hmph of approval and reaches to grab both of my wrists. He pins them above me as he lays himself on top of me on the bed. His towel falls off, and I squirm to try to wiggle away. He overpowers me easily with his stature and strength, but he loves it when I put up a fight.

He leans into my ear slowly, which makes me stay still as I feel his hot breath when he speaks.

“You owe me compensation.”

He begins to kiss my neck, causing me to melt under him. Every kiss sends a jolt of electricity and adrenaline through my body.

“I know-“ I whisper, feeling his lips collide harshly with mine. It is not long before I feel his tongue engulfing the inside of my mine, causing me to let out a small moan.

When he pulls away, there is a string of saliva hanging between our mouths. He doesn't acknowledge it and runs his tongue from my collarbone, up my neck, until he reaches the tip of my chin. He then grabs my face with his free hand, still pinning my hands with his left hand, and pulls me in for a deeper kiss, this time hungrier and breathing into me.

“Zayne” I whisper between his kisses, feeling his member becoming hard even though I am fully clothed.

“Take your fucking clothes off.” He whispers, already reaching into my shirt to tear it off.

I crack a smile at his impatience, which is met by his growl.

“Now, M/C,” He commands, glaring at me. “Doctor’s orders.”

I nod understandingly.

“Yes, Sir.”

I see the hesitation in his eyes when I say it. He nods and lets go of my hands as I begin to undress, revealing my lacey green underwear, which happens to match the color of his eyes.

He lays down on the bed as I undress, his member fully erect as he watches me remove everything but my lacey bra. When I finish, he signals with his index finger by pulling it towards him in a “come” motion.

Feeling my heartbeat against my chest, I make my way towards him and await my fate. When I reach the edge of the bed, he signals again and I climb on the bed and on top of him. He pulls me in for another kiss as he runs his hands through my body, causing me to let out some deep exhales and heating me up more. Between my legs feels hot and ready to take him as I follow along with his kisses.

He reaches to unbuckle my bra as we continue kissing passionately. Right as I was about to feel his member, he pulls me up and begins playing with my right nipple. I let out a loud groan as he flicks it with his tongue and grips the other one with the tips of his fingers, moving them in a slight friction motion.

“Z-Zayne.” I manage to say, feeling out of breath. “D-Dr. Zayne.” I moan.

He switches sides, playing with the left nipple using his tongue. He devlishly looks at me, enjoying every second of the torture he is giving me as he bites down gently. I can feel him reacting to it as his member twitches, almost landing in the right spot.

I so badly want to sit on him and use him.

He catches onto this and his eyes flash with excitement as he pins both of my hands behind my back.

Motherfucker.

“Don’t tease me!” I angrily let out a cry, feeling hot and embarrassed that I was caught.

It’s like he knew what I was going to say because a smile unfolds on his lips.

“That defiant look,” he admires proudly, “there’s my naughty girl.” He makes me arch my back by pulling my hands away as he sits up. He kisses my breasts and collarbone.

I moan with pleasure, tightening my grip around him with my legs and try to move my ass closer to his member.

All I have to do is get him in. Right now he is teasing me, but once he is in he won’t be able to contain himself and he’ll stop torturing me.

A slap on my ass startles me. I glance at him wide eyed.

“Did the doctor say you could move down like that? Naughty girl. Didn’t you say you’d listen to your doctor’s orders?”

He firmly grabs by face and pulls me closer to his with his free hand. As if waiting for a response, he says nothing and just breathes into me.

I slightly shake under him, startled by the slap but feeling adrenaline and pleasure from the sting.

I shake my head in response.

“Good. And you will follow your primary physician’s orders from now on, right my dirty little girl?” He cocks his head to the side, still holding my face and cocking it to the side to follow his gaze.

“Yes, Sir.” I let out, biting my lower lip.

He is going to keep toying with me until he loses it. I have to find a way for him to be inside me…. Or else I am going to go crazy.

He releases my face and kisses me deeply once again, inserting his tongue into my mouth and deepening his kisses again. His grip around my hands tightens as his member occasionally twitches, causing me to feel more wet and tight in spite of the fact that he is not even in me yet.

It’s right there…

I move my hips slightly and feel him slide in me. He lets out a growl as he grips my body closer. I gasp as I feel how hard he is with the combination of my lust for him.

“M/C….” He groans as I shift and insert him deeper, “You’re so… fucking stubborn…” he weakly releases the hands he was pinning behind my back. I quickly take the opportunity to wrap my arms around his neck and begin to bounce on him, causing him to eventually join me.

I let out some moans as I hold onto his perfectly sculpted body. He now feels so warm as my hands move down his chest, caressing his nipples and down to his hard abs. I glance down at him and admire his handsomeness for a moment, continuing my rhythm. I then run my fingers through his wet hair and work my way down to his back. I feel his muscles tensing up as I quicken my pace slightly, and he places my hands on my ass to guide me into a faster and deeper thrust.

His tongue meets mine as we thrust together, breathing into each other, me begging him not to stop, him murmuring sweet nothings into my ear.

The ecstasy of the moment makes it feel like a dream. I glance at his eyes hungrily as he moves me even faster, causing me to pant harder and being so close to my release. He places his forehead against mine and closes his eyes as he breathes out.

“Come for me, baby girl…”

Shocked by the nickname, I become tighter around his member. I let out a loud cry as he grips my ass and moves me faster.

“Come on me.” He commands.

I obey, feeling my legs shaking uncontrollably and feeling the warmth of the liquid being released between our legs. We stop moving and I lay my forehead against his chest, panting and almost wheezing against him.

I was not expecting him to say that. He had never-

He twitches inside me. I let out a moan escape as I clench my fist and I am about to punch his chest in retaliation. He catches my shaky first and unravels my hand. He puts my index finger into his mouth. He sucks on it and I realize he is staring right at me when I look up.

“What… was that?!” I say breathlessly, my expression demanding.

He releases my finger after sucking it and pulls me closer to his chest, his member still in me. “You liked it. I can tell when you're ready by how the walls of your vagina hold onto me.”

I scowl at his doctor terminology, at the fact that he is literally a doctor and knows these things. Before I could protest he places his hands roughly on my back and turns us around, placing me under him. He disconnects by pulling out his member, causing me to whimper in protest. Before I have the chance to scold him, he lowers himself and puts my legs on his shoulders. He flexes his biceps to lock me in as he runs his tongue between my legs.

I squirm in protest, feeling sensitive and tight from our thrusting earlier.

“Z-Zayne.” I manage to beg as he licks me. I try to move my legs but I am unable to, his grip is too strong. I attempt to use my hands, but soon feel them restrained with some ice cuffs he makes with his Evol.

Fuck. He has me down.

“Baby girl,” he whispers into my legs, I tense up and stop moving, “let me clean your mess. After that, I can make a bigger mess and you can clean it up.”

I glance down at him, my legs shaking under his grip. He is looking up at me when he releases a side smile. He then nods and continues using his tongue for more than just cleaning. Before I know it, he is inserting his fingers and playing with my clit with his thumb.

At one point I am almost screaming as I grip one of the pillows between the cuffs and my back arches away from the bed. I feel myself let go again and feel even more embarrassed but he does not even give me the chance to acknowledge it. He uses it as lube to move his fingers in and out of me faster until I come again.

I feel almost lightheaded when he positions himself on top of me. I wrap my legs around him, feeling him insert himself and thrusting into me. I release the pillows as I feel myself melt under him and place my arms around his neck. He breathes into me: kissing me, licking me, biting my lips, moaning into me as he gets closer and closer to his climax.

Goddamnit, Zayne…. You’re so fucking sexy.

I notice his thrusting changes to an intense pace. He is moving faster and thrusting deeply into me, letting out more grunts and noises.

I place my forehead against his, he grips my body tightly as he moves me with him. His moans become more frequent as his breathing sharpens. He quickly pulls his member out and I feel his hot fluids on my breasts and abdomen. I let out a moan as he finishes, and the cuffs disappear before I can even ask him to release me.

Panting, he falls by my side and has his eyes closed. I notice he is blushing when I move his hair out of his face to caress his cheek. I turn to face him, kissing the tip of his nose and his forehead, which have a small amount of sweat.

I love you.

I wanted to say it. It would be the perfect time to say it. But he eventually opens his gorgeous green eyes and makes eye contact with me. He sighs in between pants and leans closer to me while pulling me in against his chest.

I lay there, quietly listening to his heartbeat coming to a steady rhythm. His breath evening out as he drifts into sleep with his hand against my lower back and the other one on my shoulder.

We spend the rest of the night wrapped in each others arms without saying anything else, as we have many times before and will continue to do.

This was our relationship. Our situationship. This would never change because of our own choices. I was okay with that, as long as I could keep lying here in his arms, pleasuring him, it was all worth it.

I was deeply asleep in Zayne’s arms that I did not notice Mephisto passing by Zayne’s apartment window. His eyes glinting red as he senses me and he flaps his wings against the night sky. Letting out a caw, he circles around the building.

“Good job,” Sylus’ voice radiates through Mephisto as he continues to fly around the building. “I’ve finally found my kitten.”

[isa-ghost]

(BTW I'm very down with wanting sapnap being dead for being sapnap I just wanted to be sure I was hip qirh the kids and pissed for the Correct reason)

DLSKFLSJFSKF SORRY I WAS OUT TOUCHING GRASS WHEN YOU SENT ME YOUR FIRST ANON.

Also in hindsight I worded this answer like you have 0 clue who Shartnap is but I'm gonna keep it that way for anyone who sees this and Doesn't Go Here At All.

Here's a good overview post abt Crapnap from my friend.

This Specific Instance we're wishing death upon him more than the default amount because he's participating in Squidcraft, a Latino-made/hosted and primarily Latino-played Minecraft competition with a big cash prize. (Aka that irrelevant ass sweaty ass racist Texan is literally only playing to win more money he doesn't need. He also won last year's SC 🙄). Last year there were a few non-Latino players (like him), but this year there were a BUNCH, most likely thanks to the existence of QSMP. There were Americans, Brits, and French just to name a few!

My mutual @pixiecaps has been the most outspoken on my dash about the dumbshit being in Squidcraft, so I'll tag them here and they can add any additional context they see fit in the reblogs or replies. They might have insight or perspective that I don't bc they're Latino and I'm not. 👍🏻 And this was baby's first Squidcraft for me purely bc QSMP members were in it, so idk much abt previous ones whereas Pix might.

It's annoying enough that Crapnap is in the competition at all, but yesterday a bunch of other previous DSMP members (Philza, Tubbo, Foolish, to name a few) all died in one of the games together and were thus eliminated. Shatnap's petty nobody poopy ass was literally CHEERING when they all died, which is poor sportsmanship for one (he has none tho let's be real here), and two: No Toxicity is one of the competition rules. So by all means, he should be investigated by the Squidcraft mods and (hopefully) disqualified for his bullshit.

And some additional context bc my guess is this all plays into why he was so outwardly toxic like that: Tubbo has outspokenly hated the Dr*m Team for a while now. He also had direct beef with Shatnap bc the dumbfuck tried migrating to Kick (basically Twitch for bigots & predators, to say the least).

AND, most relevant and recent: Philza was just on Tommy and Jack Manifold's podcast Shut Up I'm Talking about a week ago, and on the Patreon version of the episode the three of them talked about how Dr*m is a piece of shit, they all hate him, and how nasty and weird he was behind the scenes during DSMP, especially to Tommy.

Dr*m Team 100% knows this was all said, bc a) some of it was clipped ofc and b) Dr*m fucking posted the DSMP world download as damage control after people started talking abt what was said on the episode bc god forbid he look bad and get negative attention for 2 seconds. He's been begged by numerous people for LITERALLY LIKE 3 YEARS to drop the world download and only JUST did it to do damage control and make himself look all good and innocent or At Least distract people (spoiler alert: didn't work, he just made himself look even more pathetic. He basically gave the people who correctly hate him a gift in addition to clowning on him).

Shartnap literally lives with Dr*m, so there's no way he doesn't know Tommy, Jack & Phil have spoken some of the truth TECHNICALLY PRIVATELY. IT WAS ON PATREON BEHIND A PAYWALL.

Soooo yeah. As usual, Dr*m Team fucking sucks ass (many such cases, no one is surprised). Crapnap is the ""last remaining"" of the Dr*m Team to not have some Extreme horrific controversy and that's what keeping him able to be in competitions like this, rather than isolated to a shitty corner with the other two dumbfucks. (CLARIFICATION: He DOES have controversies. You can assume what some of them are based off of things said in that post I linked. Plus the Kick thing. But in comparison to Dr*m [a groomer, among other things], and George [sexual predator, among other things], Shatnap is ""the least awful"" of them, which is almost definitely why he's still ""welcome"" in competitions like this one).

Additional silly context: I'm calling him variations of shit because he openly admitted sometime earlier this year that he shit himself (or at least sharted) on stream.

[supercorpkid]

Ace Reporter - part 3

Supergirl, Kara Danvers x Reader, Lena Luthor x Reader

Word Count: 2350

Part 1, Part 2

Your editor is thrilled with the situation you just got yourself into. Flying to Kaznia to find Lex's secrets, with another Luthor and a CatCo reporter is like a dream come true. To him. 

To you, this is probably high on the list of your worst nightmares. Anything Lex Luthor related would easily be up on your list, but with Kara's words hanging over your head since you last saw her, this situation is easily number one.

‘I'd make out in a closet too if you were my Lois’, keeps haunting you in your sleep. How dare she say something like that? It's not even like you were being nice to her all this time. Polite, maybe. Sometimes not even that. What would make Kara think that in a week or so of you being polite at best, you had any interest in making out with her?

Or is it a tactic to throw you off your game? You two are getting on a plane to fucking Kaznia with Lena Luthor. Maybe she is trying to destabilize you, so she can ask the best questions. Yes, this should be it. But you won’t fall for that. 

Kara Danvers will not distract you!

“Lena, hey!” She waves at Lena like two best friends would and you furrow your brows at the interaction. “Look who I brought with me! The best investigative journalist in the business!”

Kara turns to you and flashes the brightest smile you’ve ever seen, capable of lighting up the whole world. You bite your lip to keep you from smiling too.

Yep. You’re screwed.

"You remember Y/N, right?"

And then Lena comes closer, a big smile on her face as well, showing you her hand. “We’ve met. I’m familiar with her approach.” She raises an eyebrow at you while you shake her hand strongly. “Flattery and flirting.”

“Flirting?” Kara mumbles under her breath, shocked.

“It’s not usual, mostly circumstantial depending on who I'm interviewing." You match Lena's smirk. 

"See, I am flattered." Lena smiles, pointing to the private jet, and you follow her leaving a dumbfounded Kara Danvers behind.

"Are you coming, Danvers?" You add a little smirk, and watch her cheeks going a dark shade of red. You don't understand why you're flirting with both women, and enjoying it so much. But you're finding it hard to stop.

Kara Danvers is a good reporter. Knows her facts and asks the right questions. Her little notes are already worth the front page of the stupid magazine she works for. And yet, you find it hard to admit she deserves all the prizes in the world just for being herself. Strip her out of all her journalist qualities and she would still deserve all the prizes and all the best. There's also something else you've been thinking about stripping her out from.

You would rather die than tell her that.

Lena Luthor is a good… What is Lena's job description, anyway? CEO? Scientist? Hottest woman alive? She is good at everything. Creating a plane that flies itself, transforming her brother's evil company into something for good, having one of the sharpest minds you've ever seen. Those are some of the things that she can do, while looking extremely hot.

You might die if you can't tell her that.

But you're at a job. You can't go around thinking about Kara's muscular arms, and Lena's perfect eyes. Can't picture yourself with one or the other, or even between both sometimes. No matter how many times you find yourself in that exact position.

And it's weird, because you're quick to find that not only they have a good work relationship but they are also best friends. Lena goes to game nights and dinner dates with Kara and her friends. Has worked alongside Kara's sister and Supergirl (What? Nice!) several times to help save the world. They are all extremely connected, and you're the odd one out.

Usually you'd hate that feeling. But while you're at a job you actually enjoy that. You like that they are somewhat careless to talk about their everyday life and how much intel that gives you.

At least you were enjoying it, until the plane got hit with a lightning strike and you let out an embarrassing shriek in shock.

"Don't worry, it's just a lightning storm." But Lena's chuckle is not one that makes you calmer, instead, it makes you more nervous when you look out the window.

"Is lightning usually purple?" Kara asks the question right out your lips.

The airplane loses power. A bad sign. Really bad one. Especially when it starts dropping a few meters high, and Lena runs to the cockpit saying she is going to land the plane.

"We need to make an emergency landing, and I need an extra pair of hands." Lena yells from up front and you're up on your feet before Kara even has a chance to think about it. If you're going to die, you're going to fight for your life first, and not depend on other people to save you.

"We need to get the power back on." Lena points to the electric wires. "I have to believe you know how to hotwire something."

"What, do I look too much like a bad girl?" You snark, but your hands are already making quick work on the wires, and Lena celebrates with an excited 'yes!' when you get the engine back on.

"Bad girl or not, I believe you're my savior." Lena smiles, but it soon turns into a frown when she realizes she is going to have to land the plane. "Go check on Kara while I land this."

"On it." You get up from your place next to Lena, and go back to where Kara was seated. "Danvers?"

She emerges from the bathroom, looking flustered. "I wouldn't have eaten all that sushi if I knew this was going to happen. God, I hate flying." 

You hold back a laugh and the wish to say, she shouldn't have eaten all that sushi anyway. Lena safely lands the plane and appears next to you in a blink.

"That lightning wasn't natural, someone brought us down on purpose." 

Shocking. You're in Kaznia to find out Lex's secrets and someone tries to take down your airplane. Yeah, truly shocking.

You might have ruined the element of surprise, but there's nothing you can do now, except to go in and try to gather as much information as possible. You three make your way inside a military facility. 

Lena sounds completely shocked he would have an army behind him, you and Kara do nothing but share a look, not surprised and not comfortable in this place.

DEO, test subject, cloning, aliens, desert facility. They throw out words that mean something to them, but to you this is all pretty much new. You're not stupid though, you're quick to understand what Lex Luthor was trying to do by gathering aliens and trying to harvest their powers.

But obviously all this information wouldn't just be lying around with no one to guard them. You're lost and confused and definitely way out of place here. Lena realizes someone named Eve was working with Lex behind her back, and she can clone herself! Like, how is this real life, and why are you tangled in this web when it has literally nothing to do with you at all?

And yet, you're here in fucking Kaznia, running from a psychopath and trying to protect your physical integrity while Lena uses a electric shock thing to fight the clones off and Kara uses her fist. Oh, and to top it all off, there's also a loud alarm saying the whole place is going to explode in a few minutes. Great. Just great.

Again, how did you end up here?

You duck from a fist almost a second too late, but luckily Eve hits the wall behind you, and you can't help but yell.

"Shit! I don't get paid enough for this!" You say, while Lena knocks the clone you were supposed to be fighting out of the way. What the fuck is happening here, and why do the both of them know how to defend and fight and you look extremely stupid running and yelling for your life?

When you suggested you and Kara found out something about Lex, this entire situation never once crossed your mind.

Another clone comes at you while Lena is distracted and Kara is knocking one down. Ok, then. You turn your hands into fists, ready to fight. Before you have the chance to even move, she punches your face and you stumble back, hitting the wall. Ouch, and also, goddamn it! 

Kara is holding the clone by the collar of her jumpsuit, and tossing her away from you the very next second. How did she show up in front of you so fast? 

She touches your face gently, one eye blinking a tear of worrisome away. "You ok?"

There's a sharp pain on your face. You are not ok! Why the fucking hell are you getting punch here, just to find out Lex Luthor's fucking secrets just so Lena can give you a fucking ass quote about her brother, so you can come back home? This is not worth it!

"Find the way out. Get out of here." Kara instructs, after you slightly nod at her. 

Even though you are dying to do what she just said, you are stubborn enough to not let Kara Danvers get all the credit for this crusade.

"No! I'm in this until the end!"

But then a new clone comes running at you and Kara has to defend you once again.

"I'm not letting you get hurt for an article." She growls, impatient. "Get to safety, please. We're in this together. I'm not going to keep anything away from you. You have to trust me."

You squeeze your eyes shut, indecision crossing your mind. How can she ask you that? You don't trust her! You don't believe she is not going to keep something from you just so she can have the upper hand in this. But then again, why would she be protecting you with so much intent? Why would Kara Danvers shed a tear for your pain?

"Go, Y/N!" Lena yells from the other side as well. "We're right behind you! Find the way out, we don't have much time."

Your feet finally detach from the ground and you run out of there, trying to find the exit with the loud alarm clogging up your every move and your thoughts. 

Splitting up was probably the stupidest idea ever, though. Is not like you can fight the evil Eve's clone by yourself if you are met with one. You're still shocked Kara was able to fight so many with nothing but her hands.  

Actually, somehow, deep down, you're not shocked. Girl has those rock solid biceps, insatiable hunger, and behind that sweet dweeb face she looks so… so… Strong. Powerful. Super.

“Sometimes I think you have a secret.”

You hear your own voice, replaying a conversation you once had with her.

Kara Danvers just seems to think that clues and information fall on her lap.

But what if they don't fall on her lap because she is good at it. What if she just sees more than anyone?

Kara: What's up with Y/N?

Clark: Best reporter I know. Great at finding people's secrets.

What if Clark saying you're great at finding other people's secrets wasn't a compliment? What if Kara Danvers not wanting to work with you had nothing to do with sharing the byline but you finding out her secret, the one you're so sure she has?

You stop in front of a door, eyes inadvertently zooming in inside. It's a bedroom. There's a bed, a nightstand, and the awful green wallpaper is peeling off in several places but none of that catches your attention. What grabs your attention is the absurd amount of pictures on the walls. Most of them are of Kara and Lena together, but Kara is in every single one of them. Why is this? Who would have such a weird obsession with that nerdy dork?

Your eyes travel fast between all the pictures. The alarm is going off loudly in the background, mixed with distant voices and there's this somber atmosphere embracing you, making you just want to get the hell out of this creepy room.

But your eyes keep going, scamming the room for everything it has. Until your stomach drops. Blood runs cold. There are two pictures right next to each other that make your heart beat so fast, you can feel it up in your throat.  

Kara Danvers in one, hands on her waist. That nerdy looking face, glasses, crinkle, thin lips, that just makes you wanna punch it sometimes. And then kiss her right after to make it all better. It's an inexplicable feeling, really. 

And right next to it, there's one of Supergirl. Hands on her waist. Looking all mighty and powerful and strong. Looking like a freaking goddess, and yet. The feeling is the same. The same need of kissing her face with an uppercut, and then, well, a real kiss.

It's really embarrassing how obvious it is. And you know how shocked you're supposed to be right now, but you're not. Not even the slightest.

Kara Danvers is Supergirl. 

The loud alarm and countdown in a foreign language disappear in the background and even though you’re sure it’s still there, you can’t hear a thing. Your head spins out of control because you knew that. Knew there was a secret, knew there was more to Kara than stupid cardigans and dweeb face. You absolutely knew that.

And then, like clockwork:

"You are exactly like Clark. Disappears, comes back all disheveled…"

"Clark told me his cousin works for CatCo. Her name is Kara Danvers."

Clark Kent is Superman.

Fuck. Shit. Fucking shit. 

These certainly weren't the secrets you thought you'd stumble upon while in Kaznia.

[mysteryloversbookshelf]

The Afterparty: Vivían & Zoë

How are you fellow sleuths doing now that the mystery has been solved? I’ll miss the weekly theories and fun but I can’t wait to see how they’ll up the theatrics and clues in season three. Now that the mystery is solved here are my takeaways from the episode.

SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHO KILLED EDGAR MINNOWS

This episode was full of laughs, drama, and new beginnings and I enjoyed all 31 minutes of it. They surprisingly fit a lot into this episode so I'm going to break it down into parts:

Lights, Cameras, Action!

Someone on Reddit said they wanted to see S3 be an afterparty for a film adaptation of Xavier's murder and it looks like we're getting just that! Seeing Keke Palmer show up had me screaming internally! She's going to be a perfect Danner and I need season 3 now so I can see her mind movie. Also Elijah Wood and Daniel Radcliffe too?! Like they better give this show all the budget money because they're about to sweep award season. I hope they do get Alia Shawkat to play Chelsea like someone suggested since it's been joked about already that she and Ilana Glazer look alike (I personally don't see it though).

"Fetch that, bitch!"

Zoë fighting Colonel and throwing him out the window took me out! The way she was spinning him around and etc and that whole encounter being a horror story was brilliant. And the fact that he survived by landing on Isabel's trampoline?! He really is a hellhound! I love how someone just had that theory earlier that Edgar mentioning a devil was a response to looking out the window and seeing Colonel bouncing lmao.

Travis Becoming the House

Travis beating Sebastian at his own game was so rewarding to watch. The big theories floating around were that he either recorded the confession and sent it to the police or that he was secretly an investigator, but I really like this ending. Now he got back the money lost and in my mind, he took a trip to meet Weronika in person and they hit it off.

Love is in the Air

Happily Ever Aster, indeed! Aniq and Zoë both proposing to each other was so cute and I love how she was the one who proposed first. I don't know if the rings were meant to show the engagement was still on or if they've already married, but I personally don't care to see a wedding between the two. I'd rather hear they had a great ceremony that was drama free and keep it moving. Hannah and Grace living happily ever after is so sweet because we all know how tv writers love to kill their gays or find some other way of ruining their ending. I need them to show up in a future season happy with a quirky little Wednesday Addams type of baby please! And last but not least, Vivian and Feng. You can tell that they both really love each other and I love that not once in the season did we see Feng holding the affair over her head. Like they're really ride or die for each other and I love that for them. And now that Feng's fees are cleared, they can travel and see the world together since they weren't able to before when Vivian danced with Ulysses. Speaking of Ulysses:

Ulysses Killed Edgar

I didn't want to believe it was him because it really did seem too obvious, but that's the same thing that happened with fans last season right? Although last season I did guess Yasper and that was me watching without knowing of any clues or that the subreddit existed (and I watched it like a week before season 2 so there's that). So everything was exactly as a majority of redditors theorized:

-He brewed the tea during the extremely long shower in Aniq's mind movie

-The whiskey glass was poisoned and accidentally swapped when Feng had Edgar taste the baobing; So Feng being high on adderall in the found footage video was correct

-It did all come down to Ulysses wanting Feng out of the way so he could be with Vivian

-He is delusional as all get out which does mirror Yasper's delusional story in S1

-When he ran to Feng and Vivian's room he expected to find Feng dead hence the shocked expression

-He had a knowledge of the devil's trumpet from his work as a shaman

What was missed was that Grace said she hated whiskey in episode 2 and he was swabbing a whiskey glass in his mind movie so that went right over our heads

Danner said he knew Grace wasn't his daughter so I applaud the writers on fooling me bc I spent the whole season thinking there was a paternity thing going on and nope, just Ulysses being a delusional buncle who is now headed for prison!

I find it so funny though that even though I changed my mind on who the killer was, I still figured out that he was sus because of the koumiss. But I'm a bit confused now bc he gave Travis the koumiss infused dutch babies but he used his horn to brew the tea so where did he store the rest of the koumiss? Did he have two horns? Because he tried to stop Vivian from drinking from it but this was after the days' events played out Does anyone know?

The End

All in all, this was an amazing season and I had so much fun sharing theories with you all and getting to talk about the show weekly. Season 3 is about to be off the chain so when the time comes we've got to More Horse it up! See you all then!

[an-aussie-button-masher]

A Whole New (Open) World - Five of the Best Open-World Maps in Games

   The best stories give you a sense of adventure and discovery, and no medium can sell that feeling better than video games. Controlling your character in their journey and deciding their course on your own is the next best thing to actually being there yourself, and it’s in open-world games that this feeling really shines. Exploration is the name of the game here, with the best open worlds being vast and full of content to discover. What could be hidden around this corner? Or up that mountain? It’s easy to get lost in these grand adventurous maps, and that’s why I’ve gathered up a handful of great examples of the best open worlds in gaming. Sit back and enjoy the journey!

Sable    Do you like the idea of driving around the outback just to see where you could end up, but would rather do it from the comfort of your own home? Sable is the game for you. The game is just about you, your bike, and the vast open desert. It’s as relaxing and non-linear as it gets, and the desert itself has enough variety in the environment to avoid feeling same-y. There are a handful of side missions to carry you between the small settlements scattered about, as well as collectables that are spread out across the map without being too hard to find. Climbing up the sheer cliffs and mountains dotting the desert is incredibly impressive and satisfying, and gliding safely down to the ground is a great way to scout out new locations to investigate. There’s also plenty of cool lore and worldbuilding spread throughout the game, making Sable both a relaxing and fascinating open world to explore at your own pace.

Red Dead Redemption 2    Red Dead Redemption 2 proves that size really does matter - at least when it comes to maps. The Old West of RDR2 is absolutely massive, sitting at roughly 75 square miles of snowy mountains, thick forests, and open plains. The map is alive with countless NPCs and random events, from bandits ambushing you to helpless civilians that could really use a ride home. You could play this game for weeks, months even, and still find new random encounters all over the place. Exploring the West is surprisingly calming despite the dangerous wildlife and enemy crooks roaming about - the game features a “Cinematic Mode”, which allows you to sit back and enjoy the view while your horse follows whatever road you’ve put it on, without interrupting any story dialogue or important events that might need to happen on the way. The map of RDR2 feels real and lived-in, adding to the realistic nature of the game and its story.

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet    The world of Pokémon has always been a vast and colourful one, and Scarlet & Violet opens it up for exploration like no game before in the series. The Paldea Region is the biggest map in the franchise so far, full of diverse environments populated by all kinds of Pokémon, new and old. The map is well-marked, letting you know exactly what is where, making it easy to figure out where you might want to go next. Certain locations can be quick-travelled to, but if you’re in the mood for exploration, the new legendary Pokémon acquired at the very beginning of the game, Koraidon or Miraidon, can be ridden like mounts to speed across the land! The map is heavily populated, so get ready to encounter new battles and wild Pokémon to catch every few metres - if you gotta catch ‘em all, prepare for a long ride across Paldea!

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga    What’s better than an open-world map? Twenty-four open-world maps! LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga takes the staple of LEGO games featuring open explorable hub worlds and brings it to a new level, with almost every single planet in the entire nine-film-long saga being a fully explorable map. Each planet includes dozens of collectables of various kinds, plus side missions and challenges that bring the total number of extra activities to over 1,000. That’ll keep you busy! From the desert sands of Tatooine and the frozen plains of Hoth, to the dark stormy Exegol and the towering skyscrapers of Coruscant, the game features every environment imaginable in beautiful brick-built detail. The various side missions will carry you from world to world, making the galaxy feel truly connected instead of being just a bunch of unrelated maps. If you’re a fan of Star Wars, LEGO, or just have that completionist instinct, the maps of this game will always have something for you.

Sunset Overdrive    One of the most important parts of a good open world is the ability to navigate it in an easy and interesting way, and Sunset Overdrive is a perfect example, with one of the most fun and exhilarating kinds of mobility I’ve ever played with in a game. Grind rails and bouncy objects line the entire map - you could jump, swing and slide a dozen laps around the city, taking a new route each lap, and never touch the ground. Speed and momentum is the name of the game, and it’s tied well into all the various collectables and challenges found throughout the map, such as timed races and items that require tough platforming skills to reach. You even get bonus points for battling enemies in the most stylish fashion possible! Add all that to the colourful and cartoony style of Sunset Overdrive, and you’ve got the biggest adrenaline rush an open-world game could offer.

   With that, our open-world exploration comes to an end. Which of these maps were your favourite? Do you know any other open worlds that belong on this list? Let me know! Reblogs and likes are appreciated, and thank you for reading!

[oodlyenough]

Ohhh, wait is this your first time playing Dual Destinies? I wish you a good deal of luck, I hope you end up liking the characters, I think there's a mix of charming characters in there. I love reading ppls lets plays so I hope you keep sharing your thoughts!

It is! I've been playing all the games for the first time since... well for about a year now. Finished AA4 a couple weeks ago so now finally up to infamous Dual Destinies lol. I don't know a whole lot about this one, which is kind of nice, I knew pretty much every big plotpoint in AA4 in advance.

Fwiw I've been posting thoughts on and off under #oodly plays AA although I didn't really start doing that until well at the end of AA3. AA1 is my fave so far although I really enjoyed the entire trilogy. Investigations 1 has been my least fave :P found it very boring. Besides DD and SOJ I intend to play TGAA after this, and eventually Investigations 2 if I can ...figure out how to do that.

[ac-liveblogs]

Sad to hear that you seemingly haven't been enjoying Penacony so far. I agree with all your criticism how it kinda fails building up a mystery because it gives things away to soon and how subtility is kinda dead, despite that I still personally enjoyed it. Mostly the story bits that focused on Aventurine ( + Dr. Ratio) because I honestly can't even remember what the others were up to the entire time.

Also yeah the anniversary event feels more like one of hoyoverses webevents just put directly into the game. I hope next year they involve actual gameplay at least.

It's disappointing to me too... I was really hoping we'd see some improvement. Allow me to rant a bit but like... how can I get invested in a supposedly character-driven murder mystery (where everyone has their own hidden agendas) -

- that goes out of its way to knock out the three main suspects in the first 20 minutes of patch 2.1?

If it weren't for the 6 week break, 2/3 of Aventurine's accusations regarding Acheron would've been confirmed via flashback like... 5 minutes after he made them (extremely anticlimactically no less), and before you can even go 'well if she's a murderer and an Emanator she's dangerous enough IG' the game is going 'chill, the Trailblazer isn't in danger from her! ....OR Sam, who also tells you why he's in Penacony for the most part...'

And before you worry about what Aventurine wants from you despite the fact he told you 80% of what he wants from you, he immediately divulges the other 20% in the bizarre playable Aventurine segment which ALSO confirms he didn't kill Robin...

Black Swan and Sparkle are in a weird position too bc Black Swan feels very superfluous (not helped by her main contribution RN being trying to investigate Acheron... when we already learnt the thing she's investigating via flashback...) and Sparkle is just... odd.

I think Acheron panned out this way because HYV really really really wanted to give her those aesthetic trailers I haven't watched and I'm pretty sure Sparkle is a casualty of being a 2.0 banner character + HYV just being very scared to make playable characters seem like genuinely bad people lest folks not roll but... it's not an excuse? And it sucks to read???

Fontaine and Penacony are just HYV being bad at writing mysteries in two completely opposing ways, its fascinating.

I'm at the Aventurine + Ratio segment right now, and I'm really curious which part of this MURDER MYSTERY HYV thinks I'm going to care about bc man... they are making the characters a real hard sell.

There certainly is Ratio+Aventurine banter but I keep getting annoyed by how often the game tries to beat you over the head with AVENTURINE IS A GAMBLER like showing him fighting with dice and saying he's a gambler/using gambling metaphors, constantly, are a decent substitute for I don't know. Actually gambling???? He's my kind of character IN THEORY but they just won't commit to the bittttt

(Consequence of it being 6 weeks between patches I completely forgot why Ratio is even here.)

The thing I liked in early HSR (Belobog) was being able to stay in a committed party with Dan Heng and March 7th for the most part. Being split up from the party for a mystery the game is having a really hard time selling as something I should care about is... exhausting...

[alanwake2downloadpc]

Alan Wake 2 Download PC

Alan Wake 2: The First Preview gamescom 2023

At the end of the first game, Alan allowed himself to be trapped in a world known as the “Dark Place” to free his wife. Once again, NVIDIA and Remedy Entertainment are partnering to deliver a jaw-dropping experience for PC gamers, leveraging bleeding-edge technologies to crank image quality, immersion and performance to 11. On PC, Alan Wake 2 players can marvel at fully ray traced (path traced) graphics that are accelerated and enhanced by NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 and NVIDIA Reflex. This admittedly isn’t genuine detective work such as that seen in games like Paradise Killer and Return of the Obra Dinn. But the approach does provide the sense of your actions pushing the case forward and opening up new lines of investigation. And while the gift shop lock is a very simple example, I can see the board being vital to the much larger Cult of the Tree case, where there will likely be substantially more leads and categories of evidence.

Alan Wake may be living in a hell of his own design, but it looks like I might soon be playing in a heaven of Remedy’s making. And after watching a full 40-minute demo, played from the perspective of Wake himself, it certainly looks set to be Alan Wake 2 Download PC a tale worth telling. Taking place in an area called The Dark Place, this lengthy slice of the story follows Alan as he makes his way through an oppressive and haunting replica of New York City riddled with danger, gunfights, and puzzles.

DLSS 3.5 is a major breakthrough for the real-time 3D editing experience. This fall, DLSS 3.5 will be added to Chaos Vantage, D5 Render, and NVIDIA Omniverse. Each hand-tuned denoiser accumulates How to Download Alan Wake 2 pixels from multiple frames to increase detail, in effect stealing rays from the past, but at the risk of introducing ghosting, removing dynamic effects, and reducing the quality of others.

All Remedy releases use the developer's proprietary Northlight Game Engine, and this game is set to be "the most beautiful Remedy game ever." All of this will help the developer create a deep and layered story that also connects with its gameplay. NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 makes your games even more beautiful, immersive and realistic with the introduction of Ray Reconstruction, a new AI-powered technique that further improves the quality of ray tracing. DLSS Alan Wake 2 Download 3.5 is available for all GeForce RTX users, and you can get the complete lowdown in our NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 announcement article. Where the 2010 original was a relentless action game dressed in a Halloween costume, Alan Wake 2 is a full-bore survival horror. It comes complete with puzzles, exploration, backtracking, and a crime fiction library’s worth of creeping dread. It feels like almost every element of Alan Wake’s gameplay has been reinvented. It has been a long wait, but fans of the Alan Wake will finally be getting the sequel they have been hoping for with Alan Wake II. The shift in gameplay style will prove to be interesting and something different, with all the graphical updates to go with it. There's a long way to go before Alan Wake 2 Download it releases, but at least now, you know it's coming. You can read more on the subject in Ed's Alan Wake 2 preview from the summer. Each week there are even more DLSS integrations arriving for an array of games, and in our weekly articles we give you the complete lowdown on them all. Out in the real world (or at least what seems like the real world) – the domain of our second protagonist, FBI agent Saga Anderson – developer Remedy Entertainment has crafted a new collage from pieces of its favourite detective stories. The eerie shadows of True Detective, Seven, and The Silence of the Lambs creep through Alan Wake 2’s gorgeous digital depiction of the Pacific Northwest. On a vacation in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Alice Wake, he came face to face with a force of supernatural darkness. He fought this dark presence and managed to banish it back to where it came from, a nightmarish dark place hidden under a caldera lake outside the small town of Bright Falls. Wake wrote an ending to his horror story and with that freed his wife from the darkness under the lake but became trapped there himself.

It also interpolates neighboring pixels, and blends this information together, but at the risk of blending away too much detailed information, or not blending enough and creating non-uniform lighting effects. After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, How to Download Alan Wake 2 and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish. For now, Alan Wake 2 is the nearest on the horizon at Remedy, and it's one of our most anticipated new games of 2023.

Several years after the crew’s reign of terror over Washington DC has ended, they assemble once again to deal with the threat that’s roused them out of early retirement. Ray Reconstruction will be available for all GeForce RTX users - get the complete lowdown in our NVIDIA DLSS 3.5 announcement article. And catch it on GeForce NOW to stream it from the cloud if you don’t have a game-ready device. In Portal with RTX, textures are enhanced Alan Wake 2 pc download as Ray Reconstruction intelligently accumulates engine data and information across multiple frames to produce a more accurate and clear image. With existing rendering techniques, full ray tracing could struggle to resolve multiple photons of light bouncing against thin materials, like metal fences, or highly reflective surfaces. This could cause excessive shimmering on thin surfaces and light instability or “boiling” on reflective walls.

[britishassistant]

I got an idea, Yuu gets sent to the sports devision of their company for a bit because of someone going on like maternity leave or something. Yuu thinks that it’ll be a nice little vacation from constant kidnappings, but no turns out Charon wanted to interrupt the broadcast of the latest magishift game with his overwatch stream, and ortho shows up and yoinks Yuu back to the Charon’s lair so they have a firsthand account on how good Charon is at overwatch and how e-sports deserves their own channel.

Then the next week King and Octo dealer “team” up to flood the stadium, mainly because it’s Kings least favorite team and Octo dealer wanted to advertise a new underwater themed restaurant and poor Yuu just wants a break from all of this water when Royal flush dumps a load of stolen tea into the flooded stadium, because why not.

And when Yuu is sent to write an article on a archery tournament, funded by the famous Vil schoenheit who Yuu has a seat next to and Vil’s been such a sweetheart to them, offering water and a shade umbrella. The Huntsman shows up, smokes the competition and tries to pull a Robin Hood and get a kiss from Yuu for his victory, which vil calls security and huntsman decides to get his kiss later and flees.

Then later Viper takes the sports news office hostage for a bit, something about the Asim family’s magishift team playing today , Yuu becomes Vipers secretary for a bit, being forced to write the negotiation emails while Viper is sitting next to them resting his head on their shoulder, of course someone took a photo of them sitting like that and for the next few weeks, viper got his all his plans ruined by the others.

And on the last day of working in the sports sector, Tsunotaro just had to show up and take Yuu away, demanding attention because he hasn’t seen his favorite reporter in a few months, dragging them off to some abandoned building to tour, picking them bridal style after awhile and after mentioning how they seem a bit lighter than usual, dragging Yuu out to an expensive restaurant to eat and dropping Yuu off at their apartment afterwards like a gentleman.

At least Yuu got paid well after all of this and got some time off (basing that off that sport newscaster and reporters get paid a bit more compared to investigative reporters were I’m from)

Thank you for the ask, dear anon!

Yuu didn’t think it would be an easy few weeks, per say. They know the basic rules of most sports, but not enough about the more intricate details to really feel confident about reporting on them.

But Yuna-san told them it would mean a pay raise while they did it and Yukari-senpai seemed really happy when they agreed to cover for her maternity leave so she could go be with her wife and their new baby boy. How bad could it be?

Yuu should have never asked that question.

The first days of the first week gives them hope, is the sad thing.

They study up so they can accurately report on who scored higher than who in what sport, and what that means for each team in the long run. By the third day, of the largest basketball game the city has hosted in a while, between the home boys and the favorites of the national league, Yuu’s almost feeling confident about their ability to report on it.

Which is exactly when Hermes breaks into the press box to kidnap them halfway through the first set.

They try explaining to him on the way to Charon’s lair why this time it really is important that he takes them back, even appealing to Charon himself once they arrive at his lair.

Unfortunately, Yuu has managed to hit on one of Idia’s bugbears—that anyone could enjoy a dirty, sweaty, “real” sport over the obviously superior E-sports that the net has to offer! He’s a finalist in the first ever Herowatch 2 tournament after the developers shut down the first Herowatch’s servers, but does any of that get mentioned on the news?! No!

Idia decides to rectify this clear mistake by taking the entire basketball stadium hostage, using his drones to forcibly clear the court so he can use the space to stream his e-tournament for the audience’s enjoyment! Surely, with Yuu commentating over this, he’ll be able to wake up so many of these sheeple to how much better e-sports are!!

It takes five hours for Herowatch 2 to let him get to the main menu, only for it to boot him from his team and cause an automatic disqualification in the first minute of the match.

There’s the sound of a controller being thrown against a wall and Yuu and Ortho awkwardly attempting to comfort the supervillain.

Yuu is thinking that at least basketball isn’t as major a sport in the city as Magift. It still doesn’t instill them with confidence when they’re told in week 2 that they’ll need to report on a major Magift playoffs game.

They at least won’t be one of the main people reporting on it—that’s reserved for the big national stations, with professional sports reporters who do this as a career. Yuu will just be down in the press box, scribbling notes for reporting on the game afterwards.

Which, given it’s perfect view of the field and not of the stands, is why they don’t notice the slouching and upright vendors who’ve been handing out free sodas and water to all the fans until it’s too late.

Even as they catch a glimpse and realization dawns, there’s a crackle of static as the announcers’ voices suddenly cut off, replaced with King’s dulcet tones dismissing the game as a wash because he dislikes one of the teams. A chill goes down Yuu’s spine as they hear him go, “maybe you herbivores would understand if it was more literal, yeah?”

Which is when salt water begins bursting from every entrance to the stadium.

The press box is glass, and the door seems to be an airtight fire door of some kind, but Yuu can’t help crying out in horror as the water level rises above the heads of all the fans and players—!

Which is when a scuffle comes over the loudspeakers and Leviathan’s slick voice announces that all the drinks the fans were provided with free of charge and the water the players have been hydrating themselves with were dosed with the same serum that allows tourists to the Coral Sea to breathe underwater.

Yuu watches, nonplussed, as Jade and Floyd in their natural forms place a device down in the middle of the field that somehow unfolds to a full-scale bar, complete with freestanding tables and stools. Azul only gets part of the way through his explanation of his new Monstro Lounge location before Leona steals the microphone back out of boredom, and a scuffle ensues.

All the while, Yuu’s attention is suddenly caught by something dropping through the open top of the stadium, which then begins leeching a brown color into the surrounding water…

Royal is screeching. That tea was meant for the audience and the players to drink, in accordance with Rule 523: Exertions other than crocket must be sated with oolong tea! Now the tea can’t even be drunk, it’s all salty and ruined!

It takes a very, very long time for the stadium to be drained, and Yuu has a migraine pounding behind their eyes from the supervillain’s squabbling by the time they get home.

After this debacle, the option to just write an article on an upcoming archery tournament is practically a relief.

Even more so when it turns out Vil Schoenheit is there. The actor tells them that he’s there to support one of his juniors, and Yuu’s pleasantly surprised to see Epel in the line up, looking like he’s not about to go all evil magical boy for once, actually excited to compete and show off his physical prowess.

Yuu graciously accepts Vil’s offer to sit in his box with him, so they can cheer Epel on together (they privately rationalize it as payment for not letting the actor know his “junior” is actually a supervillain’s minion). It’s nice, getting to chat generally while complimenting or lightly joking about the efforts of each of the participants.

And then the masked archer appears on the field in a plume of violet smoke.

It’s the Huntsman. It’s very obviously the Huntsman, even before his voice praising the beauté of the efforts of the previous archers rings out.

He casually nocks several arrows in rapid succession and lets fly a string of bulls-eyes on every target as he strolls across the field towards Vil’s box.

Yuu’s already standing, with one arm thrown out to shield Vil by the time the Huntsman leans against it, smiling winningly up at them and saying, “Traditionally, it is custom for les plus beaux du monde to give un ‘tit bisou to the vainqueur, n’est pas, Trickester?”

Yuu’s saved from doing much more than stuttering as they fluster by Poison Apple appearing from nowhere (re: Epel’s dressing room) and attempt to drop kick the Huntsman’s head. From there, it devolves into an all out brawl between the two minions.

Vil Schoenheit luckily has a cool head on his shoulders and nerves of steel, because he’s very quick to direct security to take care of the villains and evacuate alongside Yuu, while not looking more than mildly annoyed all the while.

(Poison Queen is seething. It seems both his minions will be needing as lesson in manners and who exactly is allowed to ask for kisses from whom later.)

They’ve learned enough from all this to be preemptively wary when they’re told they’ll be reporting on another Magift game from the studio the next week.

Even though it’s a small game this time, between two local college teams, their heart sinks faster when they hear one of the Asim children is on the more prestigious team, which has also has the Asim Conglomerate sponsoring it and most of the advertisers who are being featured during the breaks.

It’s hardly a surprise when several of the interns and sound crew begin acting strangely, before taking their colleagues hostage alongside some disguised Scarabia minions and shutting off the room from the rest of the building so Snake Charmer and Water Boy can come waltzing in.

Yuu is pretty much resigned to it when the supervillain effectively deputizes them during the broadcast to write hostage negotiation emails that mainly consist of the Asim family signing all the revenue their advertising companies earn over to Snake Charmer.

Water Boy has taken over the actually reporting bit of the broadcast, which seems to have devolved into airing all the embarrassing things the Asim kid on the team used to do when he was little, though how he got that information, Yuu has no idea.

As the day goes on, Snake Charmer seems to have decided that his ideal seating position is stealing Yuu’s chair and pulling them into his lap, hooking his chin over their shoulder as he dictates threats and demands, occasionally dragging his knuckles or splaying a hand over their vulnerable stomach, delighting in the way it makes Yuu jump.

Of course, Snake Charmer seems to have forgotten that the cameras are still rolling. (Jamil will maintain after weeks of sabotaged schemes that it was worth it.)

By the time they reach the end of their tenure, Yuu’s exhausted.

They really don’t put up much of a fight when Malleus appears as they’re walking from the bus stop and scoops them up.

Malleus, noting this odd compliance without even a hint of banter, and how they look worryingly drawn and haggard, decides to cut their building tour short so he can ensure his child of man gets some good (if shockingly expensive) food into them and sees them home for a good night’s sleep.

Yuu, unheeding of the fact that it is two in the afternoon, immediately collapses into bed.

Grim finds them there and curls up on their face to sleep as well.

[anim-ttrpgs]

Patreon Poll and Kickstarter Funds Update

Alright, we’ve had a weekend to rest and now it’s time to get back to work. We already have almost ten new snoops done and ready to be put in the rulebook, "FORIVA: The Angel Game" is almost completely reworked and ready for patreon re-release, and we might have new merchandise coming soon.

As soon as "FORIVA: The Angel Game" is done, we still start back work on editing the finished sections of the rulebook.

I have started brainstorming work on the Living Doll playable supernatural characters type, as well as the Talking Dog and several other stretch goals.

I’ll do anything to put off finishing these examples of play..

We are still waiting on more than 60 backers to finish their backer surveys, so we aren’t sending out emails regarding the custom rewards yet, we want to try to be able to do that all at once if possible. Even if all the backer surveys had been completed, we would still wait on a lot of the emails, because we would want to confirm our funds first before we tell our team artists to get to work on custom rewards. Kickstarter won’t actually give us the money until at least 2 weeks after the end of the campaign. We plan to pay them up front, so we gotta have the money before they start seriously working on the project.

Speaking of that, there are three backers from whom Kickstarter has been unable to collect payment. At the time of writing this, this accounts for about $371 of our funding. On Friday, May 17th, if these payments have not been resolved, Kickstarter will cancel them.

That means we won’t get the money and those backers won’t get their rewards. It’s probably just a matter of the bank marking their payment as suspicious, but it needs to be resolved before May 17th. If you’re a backer and you’re reading this, please check your Kickstarter account and your email to find out, and please try to get this resolved before Friday.

Next, I’ve got to talk about our patreon. Despite the major success of the Kickstarter, patreon is an essential part of making A.N.I.M. a long-term viable career.

You can find our patreon here. Subscribing for $3 or more will give you access to our patreon discord server where you can meet the team and offer direct feedback, as well as have a vote in what our next project will be. Subsribing for $5 or more will also give you access to regular, playable updates on all of our in-progress projects.

We will of course be posting updates on our progress in finishing Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy and adding the stretch goals on Kickstarter, but if you want to actually play these updates as they come out, you can do so by supporting our patreon for as little as $5. We know some of you will jump at this opportunity to get improved beta versions of Eureka early, and some of you will just wait until final release, but for those of you who would like to get the playable updates, we have a question.

Would you rather us officially update the patreon beta copies twice a month, or once a month? There are definite pros and cons to each one and that’s one of the reasons we’re asking the fans.

Twice a Month

Pros

More frequent updates

Cons

Updates will be smaller and less significant in how much each one will improve the game materials.

Updates that come too frequently could annoy the people who are actually trying to use the beta copies for their campaigns, as they may feel like have their campaign rules changing too frequently to memorize.

Once a Month

Pros

Updates will be much bigger and more significant

Gives more time for people who are playing with the beta copies to have several sessions in between rulebook updates.

Cons

Updates less frequently

The A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club

If you would like to meet the A.N.I.M. team and even have a chance to play Eureka with us, you can join the A.N.I.M. TTRPG Book Club discord server. It’s also just a great place to talk and discuss TTRPGs, so there is no schedule obligation, but the main purpose of it is to nominate, vote on, then read, discuss, and play different indie TTRPGs. We put playgroups together based on scheduling compatibility, so it’s all extremely flexible. This is a free discord server, separate from our patreon exclusive one. https://discord.gg/7jdP8FBPes

Free Beta Copies

If you don't want to wait, but don't want to sign up to our patreon either, then you can get an older beta copy for free on our website or itch.io page.

Other Stuff

We also have a ko-fi and merchandise if you just wanna give us more money for any reason.

[struggling-with-time]

How to spiral out of control [Simpbur x reader]

Pairing: c!Wilbur Soot x fem!reader (Simpbur x reader)

Summary: How simpbur became simpbur. And how you grew up and lived with him.

Warnings: Obsession, unhealthy obsession, stalking, murder, drugging, unhealthy relationship, and Simpbur being a creep.

Words: 5K

Masterlist: Wilbur’s Masterlist - Full Masterlist

A/N: Listen I had brainrot. And I don't know how to defend this. (Also requests are still open! Click here!) And it's unedited for now it's 5:12 am here I will edit later today

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Wilbur was a pretty insignificant child. The death of his mother being one of the most interesting things about his childhood. While he claimed not to blame his youngest brother for the loss of his mother. He certainly had a funny way of showing his youngest brother affection.

Wilbur is the middle child of three. A charming but quiet and well accomplished older brother, who seems to never have to end to his dedication neither success. And his youngest brother, a loud ball of sunshine that just seems to make everyone in a good mood. Truly good with people, something Wilbur never seemed to grasp.

His whole childhood tainted by that fact. Always living in the shadow of his brothers, the clear favourites of everyone who came near the family of four.

So his grades was just average, never good enough to get acknowledged, never bad enough to need extra attention. Just average, like the rest of him. He grew up lanky, not athletic neither unable to run. Wilbur was grey in a family of golden people. His father raised them alone for most of Wilbur’s life. His father that despite never saying it out loud had clear favourites in his brothers. It was always, oh and Wilbur too!

Never him, never just him.

So, Wilbur spent most of his childhood lonely, disregarded and weird. A pitiful child. A pathetic child.

The thing is there was one thing, that made Wilbur worth anyone’s time. One person. You.

His childhood best friend.

Well, that’s what anyone who only knew Wilbur would say. Because you were the only friend he had. However, it was different for you, although the two of you were good friends, you wouldn’t call him your best friend for years. That didn’t happen till you became teenagers.

You had always tried your best to include the weird kid in playdates, birthday parties, and playground games. But nobody else seemed to find him worth their time, with his weird and morbid comments. But you persisted that he wasn’t that weird, besides his older brother was really cool.

So, you stick around, you stick around as playdates become hangouts, as dolls become makeup, and homework goes from learning to read to writing essays.

While you had many friends, both come and go and stay, Wilbur had been there for as long as you could remember. A playground proposal documented on home video. And a remake of it on the day of your school dance. You had played along, but it was known to everyone that your childhood friend wanted to be more than friends. But you stayed, smiled for the camera and laughed it off.

Then the school dance was over, and the last exam had been taken. That’s when you moved a country over, and slowly you lost contact with the people you used to call friends, but Wilbur stayed. Wilbur always stayed.

He finally got the spot as the best friend in your mind too. A definite win in his book.

Wilbur had always been odd, a bit to the left of normal. But now, with distance and screens in between you, he only started to act more concerning. This was around the time he started talking about feeling depressed and useless.

Of course, you always told him you didn’t believe that, what else were you supposed to say? Your friendship turning more and more into therapy sessions once a week for Wilbur on your end. While for him it was the highlight of his week.

Clicking the call button beside your profile picture, an anime girl from one he had recommended to you himself. One he had stayed up an entire night to shift through different animes to find the perfect one to send your way. One he was guaranteed you would watch.

“Wilbur, I should really get off.”

“C’mon stay on just a bit later, please.”

The silence deafening over the video call, he watches you intensely as you pull your legs into your chest, your shitty webcam standing beside you on your bed.

Wilbur reached out for the energy drink beside him, a new habit he has picked up. The more hours spent on the computer, the more he seemed to consume.

“Fine, just half an hour more. But then it’s the last half hour.”

Wilbur smiles at that, you choosing him over everything else in the world. He likes that, he likes that a lot. You valuing him. Spending time with him, and only him. Your attention is his.

“We could always fall asleep on call, then we could keep talking.”

“Another day Wilbur, another day.”

That. That sentence he on the other hand didn’t like. Not one bit. A promise never kept. A promise left unspoken and unpromised from your side, but a broken and abandoned promise on his side.

Then there was the wall incident.

Wilbur wouldn’t have told you if it weren’t for you noticing the hole in his wall. One that matched his fist quite neatly. His father had taken his PS4 in punishment for Wilbur using so much the WiFi plan to call you. At least that’s what he told you.

In reality, he had gotten into a fight with his older brother, his brother had asked about you, how you were doing, and if he could say hi during a call. There was something about the words that had irked Wilbur, something that set him off, something about him that made his brother seem dangerous to Wilbur. So, he had decked his older brother in the face. Causing a blackeye to occur.

In return, Wilbur now sported a big black and blue spot from where he hit the floor. His brother having immediately tackled him.

And to Wilbur that had confirmed his thoughts. Other guys are dangerous, he’s the only one you should rely on.

The wall had taken the brunt of his rage that night, a screaming match with his dad that ended with his little brother getting sent to his friends' house, and his PS4 getting confiscated until Wilbur had gotten a job and was able to pay back the damages.

And he did get a job, much to your surprise. But you had encouraged him throughout it all. A dead-end cashier job that only seemed to make his world staler and more bothersome than before.

A time where he searched for every distraction possible, gaming, music, you.

You were proud of him when he got the hole in his wall fixed, and even more when he kept his job. And Wilbur doesn’t remember you ever giving him more praise than the day he told you he was starting to investigate going to university.

Naturally, you helped him, and along the way, Wilbur picked up a guitar. A new asset to his den of depression that his room had become, decked in led lights, and overpriced RGB gaming stuff.

The university acceptance came rather quick, and suddenly Wilbur was packing up his life and heading to university. Boxes filled with stuff he barely remembered owning, and kitchen appliances that would never see the light of the day.

And he can feel you starting to drift, already busy with your own life. But he clings to you.

He stays, Wilbur always stays in your life. Even when you drift.

Wilbur knows it’s affecting him. It’s not hidden from anyone. The longer that goes between the two of you talking, the sourer his mood gets. The longer you don’t respond to him, the more messages he sends. The more information he craves to know.

Who are you talking to?

Who are you seeing?

Who is so much more important than him?

Hadn’t he always been there for you?

Hadn’t he always stayed?

You owe him.

Wilbur grows bitter and resentful. But not to you, never to you. But for everyone around you. His biggest joys in life now coming from the ungodly amount of caffeine he drinks, and whenever you reach out first.

This is why the day you call him asking for help is forever a day that will bring him joy.

“Hey Will, you’re really good with tech, and I was wondering if you wanted to help me start streaming.”

He chokes on the energy drink. He chokes on his words. He chokes on the air. He drowns.

His heart aching. His anger festering. His-

“Sure.”

He hears himself respond before he can even process the thought.

It takes him 2 days of absence from university, and what feels like 2 even longer nights, before he’s an expert on how to stream. He reads everything he can find, he watched everything that gets suggested.

You asked him for help, so he will help.

But Wilbur, spends these hours conflicted. You want his help, not someone else’s, someone lesser than him. Him.

But at the same time. His mind keeps wandering, isn’t he enough any longer? Isn’t he good enough for you? Why isn’t he good enough for you? Why? Why?

And thus, he learns you how to use the software, and beings alongside you. He finds comfort in knowing most of your streams whenever possible is spent with him on a call with you.

Although that happens after hours of pestering, that doesn’t matter. He gets to talk to you, while the rest is limited to a measly chat.

You seem to find yourself comfortably in the gaming category, slowly growing. Slowly rising.

Wilbur’s own streams, on the other hand, feels more like incoherent rants interrupted by his guitar plays. And once in a blue moon, you are on call with him.

It doesn’t take long before he gives up, watching you grow. Finding more comfort in watching you, instead of being the watched. Not that anyone really did watch him besides for you.

Wilbur stays out of a camera, as you only seem to grow more comfortable being in front of one.

The first time you have someone on a call with you on stream, who isn’t Wilbur. He just can’t help but break his bedside lamp. It’s a guy nonetheless. A guy from the internet. The type of guy Wilbur has never been shy to tell you horror stories about.

And this is where another bad habit of his started to emerge. He just can’t help himself. But you’re laughing with someone else. You’re smiling for someone else. You’re his. Not anyone else’s. His. His. His.

Wilbur is quick to find the donating button he had helped you set up himself. At that time it had only been used a couple of times. Nothing big. But Wilbur wants big. He wants attention. He wants you.

He fumbles with his credit card as he keys in the numbers, he’s a bit too familiarised with them. Because anything he can get from the internet will be delivered that way.

And then the notification pops up on your screen. A donation number you had never expected. And you start crying. Right there. Right on stream. And Wilbur sucks it up. He sucks it right up that you’re crying for him, whiling praising him, and only him.

The match you were playing ruined, and Wilburs smile only grows as he hears the familiar tone of discord receiving a call.

That night. You had ditched the fellow streamer to thank Wilbur and hang out with him.

Something you never thought you would regret.

But oh, how you did. How you did.

It takes Wilbur around 2 months to get used to a large sum of money means special attention to him, and only him. For everyone to see.

And he can feel you pulling away, so each time he donates, it’s bigger. Larger. Grander.

He’s never on your stream without a donation anymore. Never on call for free. But Wilbur doesn’t mind, because everyone gets to see you’re his.

And he keeps increasing the amount as you keep growing until he hits a stalemate. He’s using half of his paycheck on you, while he doesn’t mind going hungry a couple of days. His bills won’t wait for him. And he has been living away from home for far too long to ever think about calling up his father and ask for money.

Not to mention his oldest brother would never. Then neither will Wilbur. Because Wilbur is better. Better than all of them.

The larger your stream grows, the closer graduation arrives, and then Wilbur is sitting in another apartment. Another dead-end job. Another grey life.

Another dull life passing him by. Your voice constantly on loop his apartment. Constantly filling his life. As it always has. But to you, Wilbur is barely a part of your everyday. Only really showing up when a donation comes in. As you once again tell him not to spend money on you.

But he seems to stay. Wilbur always stays.

He’s the first to like anything you post on social media. Always online never off. Always lurking. Never missing. Never absent. He’s always there.

Wilbur never misses a stream; he schedules his life around yours. Even if you’re a country away.

And then one day you’re not. You’re not a country away, you’re moving back. You’re moving closer. And suddenly you live an hour away by car. Instead of an airplane ride, and shitty trains.

Suddenly Wilbur can see himself get a foot in the door. No longer grasping onto his parasitic parasocial friendship with you. He can see himself being more than the childhood friend who has always been there. He can see himself as the partner that always is there.

Wilbur is giddy the entire car ride. He’s giddy as he feels his bag burn on his shoulder. And he’s giddy until the second you embrace him in a hug and welcome him into your new apartment.

It’s bigger than the one you’ve had since university.

And then his future crumbles. You start talking about a guy named Jared. Fucking Jared. Why did even his name have to leave a sour taste in his mouth? A guy you met over the internet. Not just any guy. No specifically the fucker from the first time Wilbur had donated.

Apparently, he wasn’t a streamer, but a friend you had made during your 2 years you lived at university but never told Wilbur about. Not a single mention of him, and suddenly he’s all you’re talking about.

How could Wilbur have known? You hadn’t even mentioned him on stream. Wilbur always listened so carefully, writing down everyone you mentioned. You had called him attentive once, and he would never want to disappoint you. Maybe if he was attentive enough you would look his way.

Instead, here you are talking about this Jared guy. And Wilbur knows what he has to do. A thought he has been toying with for around 3 years now. Ever since you went to Disneyland together. A trip he paid for, and a trip that was streamed, so everyone could see you were his. You were always his.

That was easily his favourite video.

In the week up to the vacation, Wilbur had done everything he could to learn about cameras so he could help you, and do the most for you. He had even helped you sort through some of the non-streamed videos he filmed too for a YouTube video for you.

Which is where he found the clip of you changing.

The camera had been resting on your hotel bed, the video having a clear Dutch angle, leaving the hotel room slandered. But there you were, right square and centre still. Changing. It takes you a minute to finish before you turn around and pick the camera up again. Mumbling something as you turn it to show off your hotel room, and then the clip cuts to black.

He never told you about it, instead just saving that specific clip on a USB stick. A piece of tech he valued more than his life. Not that his life had ever been worth much in comparison to his.

Wilbur rips his bag open, careful not to make a lot of noise. He removed his clothes, and then the fake bottom. And underneath it reveals small security cameras.

Wilbur has never been more thankful for you being a heavy sleeper and letting him sleep on a mattress on the floor of your bedroom. He quietly sets up two in your bedroom, before moving into the rest of your house. One in your office that has been converted to a streaming room. His own personal angle to your public life.

Two more in the living room, he skips the kitchen and hesitates at the door of your bathroom. For the first time, he hesitates. His hand hovers over the doorknob, the other holding the camera.

“Wilbur?”

You’re standing in the hallway, sleep evident on your face.

“Will why are you making so much noise?”

“No reason darling, go back to bed, just needed some water.”

His breath is stuck in his throat until he hears you close the bedroom door again.

That was the first time he hesitated. And his last. He couldn’t afford it. He couldn’t afford to lose you further.

The rest of the trip passes Wilbur by as you introduce him to Jared. The douchebag himself. The asshole. The guy who dares take away what is Wilbur’s. Even on the ride home. All Wilbur can see is Jared’s image etched into his mind. His god-awful fashion sense. The way everything, he wore around you, just seemed to be a size too small. Nobody wants to see that fuckers’ muscles. Wilbur’s knuckles turn white, as he grips the steering wheel.

Jared has to go.

He’s ruining everything. He’s not part of the dream you told Wilbur you had. Jared has never been part of that. Wilbur was supposed to be part of that. Even if the dream changed through the year. Even if the one you’re living now is the unimaginable future the two of you imagined up at seventeen. But one thing was sure. Jared wasn’t part of that. Wilbur was.

Wilbur easily finds himself a new normal at home. The trip giving him a refreshed sense of hope. A plan in the making. His daily routine now including watching you all hours of the day. Not just your streams any longer. Every single second he can wrench out of those cameras.

And suddenly his friendship seems to improve with you too. Because now he can see when you’re sad and in need of a friend. He reaches out at the perfect time. Abusing your vulnerable state. Because it’s the best to do. It’s for the betterment of your future.

The more Wilbur is there for you, the more he resents Jared. He deserved to be in your bed, not that asshole. He deserves to reap the rewards of his hard labour. He is the one that has always been there because Wilbur has always stayed.

A simple click is all it takes for Wilbur and the item has been placed in a cart. Mere keystrokes and it has been paid. A single click and Wilbur has truly gone insane, as a packet is shipped off. A packet containing a bottle of sleeping pills.

The next time you invite Wilbur down, you barely recognise him as you open the door. Eyebags so deep you’ve never seen before. His entire body slightly twitching, and that manic smile on his lips. Wilbur brushes your concerns off, claiming that’s just what happens in real workplaces. Not that you would know anything about that.

Wilbur hates the feeling of insulting you, but you had barely responded the entire week. You deserved to suffer for a moment. Before he caves and apologises for being rude. That’s the moment you can see the resembles of his normal being as he hangs his shoulders.

Jared comes over that night. Just as Wilbur had planned. And this time he won’t hesitate. He even bought a bigger car for this.

Wilbur offers to mix the drinks, claiming to have learnt a new recipe. Which isn’t a lie, he has learned how to perfect just the right cocktail thick enough that covers the chalky residue of the pills. And sweet enough to make the bitter taste disappear.

He serves them, keeping a watchful eye as the night drags on, and Jared never seems to shut up. But Wilbur can deal with it for one night. Just for one. And then he won’t ever have to worry about Jared again.

He serves another.

And then another drink.

And finally. Finally. You’re starting to get tired. Slowly leaning against Wilbur. And he takes pride in that. Great pride. You didn’t choose to lean against Jared, you’re leaning against Wilbur.

Wilbur sits still until Jared too is starting to fall asleep. Wilbur is ecstatic.

He gets up slowly, gently laying you down, a pillow underneath your face. A blanket over you. He kisses your forehead and smells your hair. Taking in the shampoo scent still lingering.

Then Wilbur gets moving, he has stuff to do. Plans to execute after all.

He does his best to get Jared’s left arm over his shoulders. But their awkward height difference makes it difficult, but he can make it work. It has to work. He only gets one shot.

Wilbur gets the front door open before he realises a fatal flaw in his plan. He has to drag Jared down 3 floors worth of stairs. He realises he can’t do it the way he is now. He has to drag him down by his armpits instead.

It takes him the first flight of stairs to realise Jared shoes are making too much noise. He has to abandon them, Wilbur awkwardly gets Jared leaned against the wall before he removes Jared’s polished black shoes. Wilbur leaves them there, making a mental note to remember them when he comes back.

The rest of the stairs, while difficult and definitely breathtaking for someone who has no muscle strength. He makes it work. Wilbur actually makes it work.

He made it work. It worked. Oh god. It’s working.

Wilbur repositions Jared once more, his arm once again over Wilbur’s shoulders. The night sky greeting him as he steps out of the apartment complex. With great difficulty, Wilbur gets the two of them over to his car, where he throws open the trunk. In the proceed shaking the car, setting off the car alarm. Wilbur is quick to drop Jared as he fumbles after his car keys. It takes him nearly a full minute to turn off the car alarm.

Wilbur curses under his breath.

Annoyed with the time loss. He finally gets the knocked-out Jared into his trunk, and he shuts it again. Just as a front door in the apartment complex opens. A man steps out. He raises a hand to Wilbur, before pulling out a smoke.

Wilbur shuffles on his feet before raising a hand. And then awkwardly gets into his car.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

He has a body in his trunk. Now he just has to get to the harbour. Wilbur starts the car and starts the ride to the harbour a town over.

Half an hour has gone past when Wilbur is pulling the handbrake, and taking the keys out. He’s quick to get out, and even quicker to get to Jared. Wilbur keeps thinking about you. Your smile. Your kindness. Your voice. Your beauty. Your grace. As his hands are securing zip ties around the wrists and ankles of an unconscious man.

He has to go.

Wilbur reminds himself.

A cloth is tied around Jared’s filthy mouth, and then Wilbur is back to dragging him. It’s both easier and harder. Easier before he’s just dragging him across the pebbles and over to the brink of the harbour. Both of his arms are under both of Jared’s.

But it’s harder because if someone sees him it’s going to get difficult to explain. But nobody does. As far as Wilbur is aware.

So a splash is made by a body, and Jared is unceremoniously sinking to the bottom of the ocean floor.

Wilbur takes one more breath of fresh air. Before turning around and getting back into his new car.

He’s quick to arrive at your apartment complex. The man was no longer there. Wilbur goes to grip the front door. It doesn’t bulge.

Oh yeah, it’s locked.

He fishes the copy he made of your house key from his keychain and lets himself into the building he doesn’t live in. An invited guest, that has turned out to be an uninvited one.

He can feel the tiredness setting in his bones, as he ascends the stairs. And the realisation that he just killed someone hasn’t dawned on him yet. Instead, all his muscles are aching, and his eyes barely staying open.

He stumbles into your apartment. Another kiss gets left on your forehead as he goes for your bed. The smell is so nice. It’s so obvious to him this is where you sleep. And he’s soaking in each moment until his eyes are giving out.

His night remaining dreamless, instead, he gets awoken rather rudely around noon. You’ve pulled the comforter off him and told him to get up, so the two of you can spend some timeacting together. and Wilbur happily does that.

Not at all acing like a man who purposely took another person’s life mere hours ago. You rush him to get into his clothes. As you have something planned for rest of the day out of the apartment. You’re talking his ears off as you descend the first flight stairs your personal puppy in tow.

When you stop dead in your tracks. Wilbur nearly stumbles into you.

“Will, is that Jared’s shoes?”

And right there is in fact Jared’s shoes. The pair Wilbur had forgotten all about. The pair he had left unintentionally.

“Are you sure about that? Thought he already left.” Wilbur lies, he may be awkward, but he has gotten pretty good at lying to you through the years.

“Yeah yeah, you’re right. Why would he leave his shoes?”

The question gets left unanswered, and the tension is thick until you get outside, and the sun is shining. It seems it knows too of how good this day is for Wilbur, a dawn of a new era. Where you will finally acknowledge him as the perfect one for you.

The man from the nightstand once again with a smoke and raises his hand to greet Wilbur, once again Wilbur shuffles on his feet before he raises a hand back. You look at him weirdly, and Wilbur shrugs it off.

The rest of the day happening without any mishaps or other incidents. But the shoes just can’t seem to leave your mind, despite how hard Wilbur is trying to distract you.

And then the afternoon passes, and the night, and the car ride, and Wilbur is once again home. And as soon as the door closes. He crumbles down on the floor.

Oh god.

He did it.

He actually fucking did it.

He isn’t useless.

He’s fucking Wilbur, and Wilbur stays in your life. Even when you make such stupid mistakes as falling for another person. There’s only one person for you and that’s him.

You’re actually the first one to call him this time, and the smile never leaves his lips. Even if the call is about Jared. And how worried you are about not having heard from him. Wilbur just tells you; you should have listened to him. Guys on the internet are just like that. And that you deserve better. Someone like him.

You laugh at this and thank him for calming you down.

Wilbur suddenly loves phone calls.

This bliss is perfect for Wilbur you’re talking to him more and more. And he watches, god he watches you. Every step you take in that apartment is filmed logged on his computer.

However, all good things must come to an end, and Wilbur has barely pulled off his tie after work when a group of loud knocks sounds at his door. He isn’t expecting guests.

A group of men in blue uniforms greets him.

“Wilbur Soot, you’re under the arrest for the Murder of Jared Yarrow.”

Wilbur barely registers what’s going on, before he’s in a holding cell. A psych evaluation under his belt. A phone call to his father asking him to help him out.

The days bleed together in the unchanging environment, and suddenly a defender is telling him to plead for insanity.

Then the defender comes back again days later with a court date, and all Wilbur can do is count the seconds.

Time for the first time since arriving slows down when the doors to the court open and Wilbur is lead into the courtroom. And there you are, looking beautiful as ever. Tears and despair clearly written on your face. You look away from him, and it makes him stumble for a moment. A quick look to the other side, confirms his fear. His father is here. Alongside his brothers.

The trial goes over what happened that night, the evidence, the sleeping medication, the car. Everything. Yet even when his sentence is received, even when he is told he won’t see the sun again for a long time. There is only one thing on his mind.

They never found the cameras.

And he just can’t help but smile at that as he’s getting lead away to rot.

Because Wilbur has always stayed by your side, Wilbur always stays. -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

[dramioneficrecommendations]

Best Draco/Hermione Fics Dramione Shippers Read in 2020

A few days ago, I asked you what were the best Dramione fics you'd read in 2020. Here's the huge list of your excellent recs (in alphabetical order):

A Creature Most Unusual by JMilz: Draco Malfoy is on a mission. Unfortunately, Hermione Granger catches him in the act. When she sees that he has adopted a rather unusual magical creature, she becomes determined to make sure he takes care of it. Little does she know, the animal may hold her key to eternal glory . . . and a whirlwind romance. M, 9 Chapters, 24,460 Words

A Little More Alive, Far Less Lost by MGL_Dramione_Lover: After Draco's post-war trial, he finds himself attending his 8th year at Hogwarts with Hermione. As remorse and acceptance replace anger and hate, the old enemies begin a friendship that sparks into much more than they ever hoped for. Hermione's goal as Head Girl is to banish old prejudices and unite the school while Draco's only wish is to become a man worthy of her love. M, 22 Chapters, 84,823

A New Light by mithrilstarlight: Draco spent six years doing his best to keep his head down. Then he runs into Hermione Granger. Turns out, they actually have a lot in common.Chapters posted M/W/F. T, 18 Chapters, 33,876 Words

A Second Look by RiverWriter: Her best friend's life was a mess and she would have done anything to make things better for him and his sons. So, when she found her former enemy in a similar situation her heart went out to him as well... and the beautiful blond baby in his arms didn't hurt his case. It was certainly enough for her to give him a second look. M, 30 Chapters, 127,243 Words

All that is Rare by smithandbarrowman: In the wizarding world, it has long been assumed that men are Alphas and women are Omegas. However, when Hermione Granger discovers that assumptions are rarely factual, her status as one of only a handful of female alphas that has ever existed has men falling at her feet.But there’s only one man she wants, and like the male alphas before her, the hunt is on until he bears her mark. E, 31 Chapters, 119,755 Words

All the Wrong Things by LovesBitca8: Sequel to "The Right Thing to Do" - Draco's POV. Part 2 of the "Rights and Wrongs" series. E, 24 Chapters, 160,297 Words

All You Want by senlinyu: Eighth Year at Hogwarts was supposed to be Hermione’s. And it is, just not in the way she expects. Omegaverse fic. E, 36 Chapters, 172,651

apples & cream by LovesBitca8: She could have taken her things and gone through his Floo without a word. She could have ignored him on Monday morning, as though last night had been no more than a fever dream and too much Firewhisky. But she’d come back to bed. Inspired by the lovely NikitaJuice's "apples & cream." E, 1 Chapter, 1,426 Words

Beginning and End by mightbewriting: Years. Broken into months into weeks into days—into hours, minutes, seconds—into moments. Simple at one end, complex at the other. In Draco’s experience, moments, even when simple, had a habit of becoming irretrievable. Moments grew, stretched, multiplied into ages and eras that defined whole stretches of measurable time. Draco regretted several moments in his life, some within his control, some without: all of them irretrievable in nature. At a certain point, wedged between ‘what-ifs’ of his own devising, he’d stopped trying to keep track of those regrettable moments: now and then, pushing and pulling, coming and going, beginning and end. Moments were only moments for just as long. After that, he had no control. A Draco POV prequel to Wait and Hope. E, 48 Chapters, 242,100 Words

Bells on a Hill by HeyJude19: Left by his fiancée a month before the ceremony, Draco never got his dream wedding, so agreeing to assist Granger with her own wedding planning to distract himself from his broken engagement seems like a great idea—though Draco probably shouldn't fall in love with the bride-to-be. Based very (very) loosely on The Wedding Singer. T, WIP

Bending Light by scullymurphy: Draco Malfoy was in exile, though they called it protection. It was the summer after sixth year and he'd taken Dumbledore's offer, defected to the other side and been sent away to a small town in Italy for his troubles. No magic, few rules, and not a lot to do - until Hermione Granger showed up. M, WIP

Break for me by Ada_P_Rix: COMPLETE _______________ "-I told them this wouldn’t work.” He cut in through gritted teeth as he kept his eyes on Hermione, making her pulse quicken and she couldn’t help but clench her thighs together at the rough, husky tone of his voice. He didn’t miss it; his eyes landed on her thighs and they darkened even further. “I can’t help her when all I feel like I want to do is pin her down and fuck her into the mattress.” _______________ Hermione gets into a little accident at work and is infected with a hybrid potion created to cause certain heightened side effects. Draco offers to stick around to give his work partner a little support ... if he can Occlude long enough to resist her... E, 7 Chapters, 45,107 Words

Breath Mints / Battle Scars by Onyx_and_Elm: For a moment, she's almost giddy. Because Draco Malfoy's been ruined by this war and he's as out of place as she is and — yes, he has scars too. He's got an even bigger one. She wonders whether one day they'll compare sizes. E, 51 Chapters, 148,908 Words

Bring Him to His Knees by Musyc: Draco is on the case of a murderer, but to investigate, he needs a fake relationship - and a kink club play partner. When Hermione volunteers to take the role, both do their best to maintain the lie without letting each other know the truth: neither of them are acting. E, WIP

Calendar Boys by anne_ammons, Nadiapolyakova (Rijaya83): She had thrown out the idea on a lark, but now Hermione Granger was tasked with bringing the charity calendar to life. What was one more thing on her list? An art/writing collaboration between nadiapolyakova and anne_ammons - twelve photos and a piece of the story behind them. M, WIP

Cherry Mint by dirtymudblood: "He could smell her. Even multiple train cars away, he could smell her. Except, Draco didn’t know who she was. He ignored his natural instincts to pant like a dog and follow the scent to the omega in the beginning stages of heat. Instead he willed himself to rub his knuckles against the rough wood of the table in front of him." E, 27 Chapters, 58,081 Words

Dark Water and Dying Eyebrights by bexchan: One of them is desperately trying to remember their past while the other is forever trying to escape theirs. It's seven years after the war and Draco has managed to avoid almost everyone from Hogwarts, living a lonely life on a small island, far away from the wizarding community. But a familiar face in a cafe window capsizes his world into chaos. Dramione. EWE. Memory fic. M, WIP

Difficult by provocative envy: COMPLETE: "I should," I repeated. "But I don't want to." And then he smiled, and I was wrecked. HG/DM. M, 30 Chapters, 87,041 Words

Don't Look Back by Onyx_and_Elm: It’s the smell of it. Chemical. Bitter and sharp as a raw edge on metal. Just a hint of it as she passes him at breakfast — but enough to stop her dead, mid-step. There is Wolfsbane in his tea. E, WIP

Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time by monsterleadmehome: She scoffs. “If you must know, he ‘elected’ me because he thinks our shared animosity will keep you in check. He’s also not worried about you trying to shag me as a distraction.” He leans back, stubbing out his cigarette on the banister. His eyes rove over her from crown to toe and back. She lifts her chin and tries not to shiver. “Well, he’s right about that.” Lucius Malfoy hires Hermione Granger to whip his son into shape so he can find a pure-blood bride and receive his inheritance. What could go wrong? E, 10 Chapters, 48,092 Words

Draco's Gift by TriDogMom: Draco gives Hermione a gift because of an instructional YouTube video. M, 1 Chapter, 1,705 Words

Dragon in the Dark by GracefulLioness: The battle is won, Voldemort is dead, but the war is far from over. In the new Death Eater regime, Draco Malfoy does what he must to survive and keep his mother safe. Now a highly trained assassin, Draco has learned to think of his targets as inhuman beings, but when he is tasked with killing someone from his past, he can no longer hide from the horrors of the world around him. E, 31 Chapters, 164,782 Words

For a Present Under the Tree by grace_lou_freebush: When Draco and Hermione eloped, the Wizarding World turned against them. Hermione is stuck in a low level, low paying Ministry job with no hope of upward movement. Draco can't even convince someone to hire him. Now, it's Christmas, and Draco knows Hermione deserves the world - or at the least a Christmas gift. He finds the perfect hair comb to replace the horrid Muggle brush she's been making due with, and he'll do anything to afford the paltry present so he can have something to put under the Christmas tree for his wife. Making a beeline for the jewelry box containing the hair combs, Draco rifled through them, landing on an ivory comb with queen anne rose carvings and gold filigree detailing. He brought it to the startled shopkeeper and set it down gently. Pulling his sixth generation Malfoy heirloom pocket watch from his coat, he shoved it in the wizard's face without second guessing himself. "I would like to make an exchange." E, 1 Chapter, 10,141 Words

Fortuitous by MrsRen: Recently divorced Draco doesn't believe in the ideology of having one true love. He certainly doesn't expect to meet his match in a Halloween themed coffee shop, but fate has a peculiar way of giving you just what you need. M, 13 Chapters, 93,695 Words

Fuck, Marry, Avada by Lilian_Silver: Some years after the war, the gang meets up at the Leaky to play a silly game, with very real consequences. E, 1 Chapter, 3,106 Words

Give Me An Hour by RZZMG: As the war continues to rage on around them, Hermione Granger decides to seduce fellow Order Member, Draco Malfoy, one night while at Grimmauld Place... and everything between them changes after that. Fic follows the "five times" trope, and is dedicated to raspberryjukebox. One-shot. A/U-Extended War scenario. Dramione. Drama-Romance-Hot Shag! COMPLETE! M, 1 Chapter, 3,251 Words

Good Girl by arabellaleyes: Hermione is tired of their normal routine in the bedroom. What will happen when she asks Draco to spice things up? One-shot. Complete. M, 1 Chapter, 9,000 Words

Hindsight by floorcoaster: It's a New Year and Hermione decides it's time to make some changes. T, 12 Chapters, 167,694 Words

How to Love Thy Neighbour by WhatSoMalfoy: After her relationship with Ron falls apart, Hermione attempts to juggle a personal muggle life with a professional wizarding one. After encountering her high school nemesis in the most unlikely place, Hermione adds another ball to the juggling mix. M, 14 Chapters, 41,992 Words

How to Move On by longdistance: It's been nearly a decade since the war. A long time since she locked herself away. A long time since he faced his mistakes. She's what he wants. He's what she needs. It's time for both of them to figure out how to move on. M, WIP

Hydrotherapy by eilonwy: Draco finds a trip to the showers after playing Quidditch... enlightening. E, 2 Chapters, 7,163 Words

I Choose You by melanoradrood: At the end of Fifth Year, Hermione finds out why It is that none have approached her with a Marital Contract, the only way she can remain in the Wizarding World after Graduation. It has already been signed by her Magical Guardian, someone she has never met - she is to be the next Lady Malfoy. A year and a half later, she is a married witch, but still, Draco Malfoy, who had chosen her above all others, had not spoken of it. In fact, they barely spoke at all. And when trouble heads their way, Hermione means to change that. Really, she means to change a lot of things. E, 5 Chapters, 24,527 Words

Isolation by Bex-chan: He can't leave the room. Her room. And it's all the Order's fault. Confined to a small space with only the Mudblood for company, something's going to give. Maybe his sanity. Maybe not. "There," she spat. "Now your Blood's filthy too!" DM/HG. PostHBP. Now complete with epilogue. M, 49 Chapters, 284,050 Words

It Happened in Egypt by bionically: Wandless in Egypt: Draco's stranded in Egypt, but luckily, there's a Granger in sight. Now, if only he could be prevented from strangling her. Fun times abroad: It was supposed to be a leisurely solo trip down the Nile. Hermione didn't factor in one blond man from her past and all his drama. Then, of course, there's the fact that everyone's after him. Much hilarity ensues. Maybe. *** A rom-com adventure/mystery featuring two unwilling partners on the run from Lucius Malfoy, alien-hunters, Muggle police, and local wizards engaged in a civil war. T, WIP

Love and Other Misfortunes by senlinyu: Draco Malfoy is dying. He's part-Veela and needs his mate to survive. Post-war, Hermione Granger is a workaholic, up to her eyeballs in legal activism on behalf of Magical Beings, and hasn't yet noticed that Malfoy is the Magical Being who needs her most. “Because I don’t want to be saved by you just because you feel like you have to.” He was properly furious now. “I’m in love with you." Hermione stared at him. She knew but somehow hearing him say it made the air shimmer with magic. "I’m in love with you,” he said again, despairingly. “And that means I want you to be as happy as you possibly can. And you won’t be, not with me.” M, 23 Chapters, 98,584 Words 

Manacled by senlinyu: Harry Potter is dead. In the aftermath of the war, in order to strengthen the might of the magical world, Voldemort enacts a repopulation effort. Hermione Granger has an Order secret, lost but hidden in her mind, so she is sent as an enslaved surrogate to the High Reeve until her mind can be cracked.Now illustrated by Avendell. E, 77 Chapters, 370,473 Words

Measure Of A Man by inadaze22: To truly know someone is to differentiate between who they once were, who they are now, and who they're capable of being. Hermione realises the duality of one man as she rectifies what she knows of the past and begins to understand the pieces of who Draco Malfoy is now: a father, a son, and a man. E, WIP

Meet the Malfoys by raven_maiden: 4 Works, 21, 442 Words

of flavoured names and coloured sounds by Pink Panda (Ejacyeolation): "He doesn’t question it at first, the fact that sounds have colours and words have flavours. He grows up with it, grows up seeing powerful ruptures of colour when his mother plays the piano and softer, translucent bursts when the people around him speak. His father’s voice fills his vision with sombre oranges and lilacs while his mother’s is a pleasant mix of delicate greens, blues, and greys. The word father tastes like wet wood and the word mother tastes like the pumpkin juice the house-elves frequently serve him."In which Draco just wants to know what colour Hermione's moans would be. He also wants to know if her skin would taste as sweet as her surname or maybe as intoxicating as her given name. E, 2 Chapters, 10,351

Once Upon a Night by longdistance: One night will change everything. M, 17 Chapters, 57,444 Words

One and Done by PacificRimbaud: Hermione Granger has a career she loves, friends she can depend on, and a nice set of hand towels for her new flat. She's single and tired of tiresome men, but that doesn't stop her from wearing beautiful lingerie underneath her serious Ministry skirts. Or having pictures taken in naughty knickers. Just once. For herself. Draco Malfoy doesn't get upset at the sight of blood, which is good, because he sees a lot of it. What he doesn't see a lot of is Hermione Granger in her unmentionables. Usually. A series of meetings and mix-ups in which one cannot possibly mean done. E, 4 Chapters, 35,011 Words

Our shared silence by Vofastudum: She wakes up one morning and everyone is just gone, vanished like they never existed at all. Everyone but Him. And in this silent solitude, he's all she has. Hermione and Draco alone in empty castle. Mystery and a plot twist you didn't see coming! EDITED 10/2020 M, 17 Chapters, 40,149 Words

Pinned by bionically: Draco doesn't know what he's expecting when he follows Blaise down a dark alley, but it certainly isn't this. For a man with an addictive personality, this isn't going to turn out well. Assigned trope: Voyeurism *** Or, a chance encounter with a frizzy-haired witch from his misbegotten past in the last place anyone should have expected to see her sets Draco's disordered life on its ear. The path to redemption is truly paved with unexpected surprises. E, 20 Chapters, 110,886 Words

Really Sell It by RoseHarperMaxwell: Draco's having a rough eighth year, and Hermione's going to make it better for him. "Well, it’s clear what needs to happen.” She gripped his chin, tilting his head to make sure she hadn’t missed any injuries, before looking straight into his eyes. “You’re my boyfriend now.” *Featuring fake dating, exhibitionism, and sex-positive Hermione Granger. Submission for Farewell to Summer: The 31 Flavors of Smut Fest. E, 1 Chapters, 7,612 Words

Remain Nameless by HeyJude19: How did it feel? It felt like he was barely holding it together. She, of all people, should shun him. Or yell at him. Curse him. Spit at him. Take out her wand and blast him off the face of the earth. It was crushing guilt and relief and confusion all at once when he looked at Hermione Granger. The monotony of Draco’s daily routine had become both a lifeline and a noose. But this new habit of grabbing coffee with Hermione Granger is quickly becoming a reason to get out of bed and is unfortunately forcing him to re-evaluate his inconsequential existence. Hermione is living her life in fragments, separate pieces scattered about, and she can’t find a way to step back and let the full picture form. Why are morning meetings with Draco Malfoy the only thing that make sense anymore? E, 51 Chapters, 312,315 Words

Remember Us As War (but call us forgiveness) by Anyaparadox: Following the devastation of the Battle of Hogwarts, The Wizarding Population Growth Act is put into effect. All witches and wizards will be matched with their most compatible partner. Failure to comply will not be tolerated. Survival is key. Hermione reminds herself of this. Survival. She can fix this, if only she can survive. The war has made this a task she is equipped for. Marrying Draco Malfoy will hardly be the worst thing she's ever endured. M, WIP

Ring A Ring O' Roses by Gallivant: Dark Magic, Dark Wizards and a mysterious and deadly Dark Flux, which, in the wrong hands, has the terrifying potential to mass-murder Muggles and Muggle-borns ... It’s been fourteen years since the end of the Second Wizarding War and the Wizarding World is settled, stable and seemingly safe… Hermione Weasley has it all: a loving family, a successful career - and happiness… of sorts. But a series of unexpected events is about to turn her life upside-down, threatening those she loves, fatally undermining the peace between worlds that has prevailed for centuries … changing life as she knows it, possibly forever. If working with Draco Malfoy was the last thing Hermione Weasley ever wanted, falling for your enemy was the least expected. A quest to thwart a magical weapon of mass destruction has devastating consequences. A race to save the world, becomes a race to save themselves… M, 65 Chapters, 527,141 Chapters

Set Fire to the Rain by HarleyQuinn1317: What happens when the one you're destined for is the last person you should ever be with... When the Ministry of Magic asks for volunteers for their Marriage Initiative, Hermione Granger must come to terms with the one terrible deed she committed during the Second Wizarding War. Can she find it in her heart to forgive herself and finally learn to let love in? E, WIP

Sex and Occlumency by Graendoll: Hermione didn't escape from the war unscathed, and when she finally decides on a solution to her problems she's left to explore it on her own. A chance encounter with Draco Malfoy sets her world on it's head and leads her down a path towards healing that she would never have anticipated. E, 18 Chapters, 65,079 Words

The Art of Seating Etiquette by inadaze22: Hermione believes that every problem has a solution, and that solution can be found in a book. That is, until Draco starts sitting to her right every Friday. She has no answers until help comes in the form of an unlikely source: Ron Weasley. E, 1 Chapter, 9,734 Words

The Auction by LovesBitca8: In the wake of the Dark Lord’s triumph over Harry Potter, the defeated must learn their new place. Hermione Granger, former Golden Girl, has been captured and reduced to human chattel. Sold to the highest bidder as the top prize at an auction of Order members and sympathizers, she is thrust into the rabid, waiting hands of the Death Eaters. But despite the horrors of Voldemort’s new world, help—and hope—seem to arise from the most unlikely of places. PART 3 of the RIGHTS AND WRONGS series. E, 41 Chapters, 325,702 Words

The Binding by Curly_Kay: “Okay, what we know so far.” Hermione listed, "One, our magic is drawing us together. Two, we can use each other’s wands. Three, there were actual sparks when you touched me."After an infant binding ritual magically joins Hermione and Draco to counteract the Black family blood curse, they must navigate the secret binding through their years together at Hogwarts. E, 35 Chapters, 175,451 Words

The Carnal Club by Ada_P_Rix: COMPLETE The Halloween Ball is fast approaching with Hermione at the helm.... What a delightful time to suddenly learn of a centuries old secret sex-game club that is currently ran by a Blonde haired Slytherin. Oh, and it only happens once a year every October, when the winner takes all at the Halloween Ball ...The First Rule of Carnal Club: You do not talk about Carnal Club. E, 8 Chapters, 43,306 Words

The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy by Speechwriter (batmansymbol): The night that Harry and Dumbledore return from the cave, the Death Eaters are delayed from reaching the top of the Astronomy Tower for one more minute. Draco Malfoy lowers his wand. A Deathly Hallows rewrite in which Draco accepts Dumbledore's offer to fake his death and go into hiding with the Order of the Phoenix. T, WIP

The Erised Effect by Ada_P_Rix: Hermione and Pansy work in a shop together. Draco, Harry, Theo and Blaise all work together at the Ministry. They all meet up every Friday at the pub to have drinks. Pansy has a new fantasy potion that she likes to call 'The Erised Effect' that she's keen to try out on willing participants ... Boys are so easy to manipulate when alcohol is involved .... E, 13 Chapters, 88,852 Words

The Fallout by everythursday: Hermione learns about growing up through the redemption of Draco Malfoy. E, 49 Chapters, 310,229 Words

The Figures of Figuring Out by Vofastudum: You were the biggest riddle in my life. You were the one I couldn't figure out. You were the only thing I couldn't find a pattern to. You were something I couldn't look up from any book. Unwritten, with no instructions. And I was used to finding solutions! Post-war eight-year secret romance. Edited 12/2020 M, 13 Chapters, 26,951 Words

The Flat in Bath by Ada_P_Rix: Loosely inspired by 365 Days...-- Malfoy grabbed her chin, forcing her to look directly at him. “Don’t you dare, Granger...” He told her roughly as his intense gaze bored into her own. “I fucking forbid you to come until I’ve had enough of you...” Draco caught her cheeks now between the fingers of his free hand and then snapped her head to the side and licked her earlobe, trailing down to her jawline. “...one flutter of those delicious walls of yours and you’re going to wish you never opened your legs for me.” -- __________________ Hermione is kidnapped during a raid and taken captive by someone who doesn't plan on 'torturing' her in the conventional way... E, WIP

The Gloriana Set by ThebeMoon: The War is won, and Hermione Granger is back at Hogwarts as an “Eighth Year”, feeling reckless and determined to shed her prim bookworm persona. She will do as she pleases, and anyone who doesn’t like it will see the business end of her wand. Also returning is Draco Malfoy, universally hated but determined to restore his family’s name. Hermione’s hopes for a quiet school year are quickly dashed as she contends with mischievous First Years, killer plants, enchanted hair accessories, a totally inappropriate Moaning Myrtle, renegade Death Eaters, a nice vampire, a poorly named study group, a depraved party, and mysterious, threatening blood messages on the castle walls. We have redemption, partial redemption and (sadly or hilariously) no redemption at all. Throw in a snarky, disturbingly attractive Draco with his own secret agenda, and we have a very slow-burn Dramione with a side of who-dun-it. COMPLETE! M, 81 Chapters, 271,830 Words

The Library of Alexandria by senlinyu: The Library of Alexandria is not for just any witch or wizard. Many bookworms may try but few are permitted to pass through its doors. The books residing there are ancient and powerful and, if one happens to make a mistake, the consequences can be rather—novel. E, 6 Chapters, 26,383 Words

The List by AureliaBlack90: After her divorce, Hermione decides to get out of town to recover from the pain of her lost relationship and the miscarriage she suffered a year previously. She arrives in the Cotswolds depressed and aimless but compiles a list of things to do that she hopes will help her get back on her feet. In the midst of her journey to find healing she keeps running into Draco Malfoy, who is nothing like she remembered him. He invites her into his world, and Hermione finds exactly what she was looking for - in the place she least expected it. E, 10 Chapters, 70,526 Words

The Manuscript by alexandra_emerson: Five 1/2 years after the war, in the middle of a big fight with Draco, Hermione finds a manuscript. It’s a retelling of her and Draco’s love story, written by him. She never realized how much he was struggling before she read his words. Snippet: I could spend my whole life apologizing to you Hermione, and it would never be enough. Post-war, angst-filled Dramione with a happy ending. M, 21 Chapters, 154,918 Words

The Memory of You by PotionChemist: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger fell in love against all odds, but there was one big problem — he was already married. Pressured, Hermione does something she promised herself she would never do again and erases their affair from his memory. Completely devastated, she avoids seeing Draco or the Malfoys at all costs. But is their love too strong? Are they inevitable? What will happen if he finds out about their previous relationship? E, WIP

The Mountain and The Sea by AlexisDanaan: Hermione Granger was perfectly happy with her life, her job as a Healer Trainee, her ugly cat and her cute little house in the countryside. And then Draco Malfoy had to go and mess that all up, typical git. Post-Hogwarts, EWE, OOC, creature!fic. E, 12 Chapters, 40,441 Words

The Nietzsche Classes by Beringae: The Ministry takes action against the remaining prejudice in the wizarding society and asks Hermione for help. “What do you want? Money? Power? Name your price, Granger. I’m not about to let pride get in my way when an Azkaban sentence is on the line.” M, 15 Chapters, 45,807 Words

The Phoenix Potion by FedonCiadale: Twenty years after the battle of Hogwarts.... Harry is head auror and is worried about cases where Muggleborn children meet with accidents, Ron is a famous Quidditch keeper. Both haven't talked to Hermione for ages and certainly not to her husband, Draco Malfoy. Narcissa Malfoy struggles with a curse, and Neville and Luna try to stay friends with all. The key to solving the problems may lie in the past, a time nobody really wants to revisit and some can't. T, 111 Chapters, 237,745 Words

The Potioneers by omnenomnom: They need each other unfortunately. Hermione has tricked Draco under her tutelage, arrogant attitude and all. But she would be simple to think he would accept it quietly. They have both have secrets to hide, old wounds better left to fester, and a world full of mermaids, dragons, and magic to explore. T, 53 Chapters, 196,559 Words

The Pretense by Colubrina: Voldemort died, but the Death Eaters live on. Hermione Granger traded herself to Draco Malfoy in exchange for safe passage for core Order members. Now he's pretending to love her, Narcissa is pretending to believe that, and Hermione is walking a tightrope behind enemy lines as she figures out what is going on. Unfortunately, people fall off tightropes. (no non-con) T, 50 Chapters, 108,164 Words

The Right Thing To Do by LovesBitca8: Hermione felt the pounding in her ears again. She would see him for the first time since the Great Hall, gaunt and stricken at the Slytherin table with his mother clutching his arm. She hadn't meant to look for him. Not in the corridors, not beneath the white sheets of the fallen, not on the way to the Chamber of Secrets with Ron, but she was a stupid girl. E, 36 Chapters, 174,911 Words

The Seven Year Witch by TheLastLynx: A boy and a girl have been meeting – coincidentally – for seven summers. While they pretty much hate one another most of the year, for those secret summer moments, they manage to see each other in a different light. But will that be enough to bring them together? A Dramione story about growing up and changing perspective, told along - and in-between - the lines of canon. M, WIP

Thirty Times Lucky by galfoy: "Granger, I can't hire you on any longer," Draco said. Hermione stared at him. Losing her job might actually mean losing the War, and she had to bargain, but there was literally nothing she had that he would want. Or was there? M, 2 Chapters, 7,128 Words

Traditions by raven_maiden: She straddled him slowly, still biting her lip, her hands on his shoulders. He held her hips tightly as he stared up at her. “So beautiful,” he whispered, and she flushed prettily, like she always did from his compliments. “You never need to hide from me.” ** Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy fell in love during the war. One year later, they're heading home for the holidays so he can finally meet her parents. There's just one teeny little problem: her parents think they're both Muggles. E, 14 Chapters, 68,767 Words

Waifs and Strays by Kyonomiko: War leaves a lot of orphans in its wake. Hermione is one, by her own hand, and she struggles with the realities of her situation. When she finds an orphaned familiar, it seems meant to be, giving and receiving comfort helping to heal her fractured heart. Unfortunately, the animal is actually a wizard, and he has his own issues. M, 31 Chapters, 118,152 Words

What You Think Is Right by icepower55: Six years after the war, Hermione parents are dying and her marriage to Draco is crumbling. Nothing seems logical in her life anymore. Her healer tells her to start writing about it, so she does, as a way to figure things out, and remind herself along the way. Hell is proximity without intimacy -Dante's Inferno M, WIP

When the Bell Tolls by everythursday: As a Dark revival begins to rise four years after the war, Hermione Granger is placed on the assignment of putting an end to them – and her first task is to recruit the Ministry's best hope and last option in the form of Draco Malfoy. E, 20 Chapters, 148,033 Words

Wreck by JMilz: Serving as Minister for Magic, Hermione Granger is finally at the peak of her career. With a beautiful family, a successful book, and the public on her side, her life should be a fairytale. Unfortunately, there is trouble in paradise, and when Draco Malfoy pays her a visit, she begins recalling their history and questioning her marriage. The reality is: every relationship is hard. M, 53 Chapters, 187,992 Words

Thanks to every person who contributed (I hope I've mentioned everyone. If not, let me know. 😊): @certified-arsehole @fedonciadale kiwim22 @really-sad-devil-guy endless-musings @headfullofnargles @pinksunsets-world @rosseliz01 @dramioneden @all-consuming @elricsister @injailoutsoon12 reclusivebird @mariakov81 @notthatchhavi @mordanbooqs @haaatch @hpsassenach @ybaeby @farmgirl-in @coyg-81 @eiramrelyat metterschling-plus-two @a-maidens-fantasy @sansacat @vofastudum @lexayeon @1800-rewrite @aneiria-writes @anonymouslydramione 

It took much longer to compile this list than I thought it would. Hopefully, I didn’t skip anything. 🙈

Happy New Year. May it be better than the previous one and full of great Dramione fics and fanarts! 🥳🥳🥳

And here’s the 2019 list: https://dramioneficrecommendations.tumblr.com/post/190216354767/what-is-the-best-dramione-fic-you-read-in-2019

[blouisparadise]

We frequently get asked what our members favorite fics are, so for today’s rec list, we asked each member of BLP to choose FIVE favorite fics for this list - no repeats allowed. Please keep in mind that this is not a complete list of our favorites - there are so many amazing BL fics out there that we all have a lot more than this! Still, we hope you enjoy. Happy reading!

1) Take Off Your Business Suit | Explicit | 3082 words

“Yes, let me get another chair.” Louis said, leaning up off of the desk. He stood up but before he could leave the office to get another chair, Harry was grabbing his hand.

The words that came out of Harry’s mouth made Louis’ knees weak and heart beat quicken. “Just sit on my lap.” Harry said. Whatever he said afterwards didn’t make it into Louis’ ears as he was moving quickly over to Harry and placing himself on Harry’s lap.

Louis would take anything Harry wanted to give him; hand touching, lap sitting, all of it. Louis hadn't realized he was holding his breath until it came out in a quiet sigh. “Okay so th-this one will be slightly different right?” He asked as he pointed at the sheet of paper in front of him.

2) Quietly Our Hearts Beat | Explicit | 7539 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Louis and Harry in the universe of ‘A Quiet Place’.

3) A Love Reaction | Explicit | 9968 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Louis’s staring up at him, head tilted slightly back, and his blue eyes are glassy, locked with Harry’s in an unblinking and gentle gaze. He looks ready to do whatever Harry says, to please him whatever way.

4) To Love Without Reason | Explicit | 8854 words

“Come on in, soldier,” Louis pats Harry’s chest and walks away, leaving Harry to follow behind.

Harry stands in the living room, looking around at Louis’ dwelling. Family pictures placed high on a shelf, certificates of Louis’ practice, and other trinkets that make Harry entirely too nostalgic.

“I have to warn you,” Louis says as he puts the kettle on, the water droplets from his hair trickling down the golden skin of his back. “The door jams if you lock it so you'll have to leave it ajar.”

Harry acknowledges with a soft hum, too entranced by Louis’ glistening skin to form a coherent reply.

5) No Good Unless It’s Real | Explicit | 17021 words

Louis is a very busy farmer who’s just trying to make it to his next nap and Harry’s the new hot vet that’s determined to infiltrate every area of his life.

6) A Springtime’s Wilt, An Autumn’s Bloom | Explicit | 20593 words

Harry is Louis' personal chauffeur, and although he hides his feelings for his boss behind a wall of rigid professionalism, Louis still manages to squeeze through the cracks.

7) Ready To Fall | Explicit | 21220 words

“Ninety and rising,” Nick says triumphantly, as though making Harry’s heartbeat pick up by thrusting an obscenely attractive person in front of his face is any kind of success. “Louis Tomlinson has just walked into our control room and suddenly our dear Harry Styles has lost all ability to speak. Could this be some kind of strange coincidence?”

“I hate you,” Harry hisses, forcing his eyes back into Nick’s direction, uncaring that the mic must have picked it up. “I thought we agreed that you were going to play fair.”

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Nick denies, except he’s holding up a picture of Louis’ face now, sharp cheekbones prominent, soft lashes nearly sweeping against his cheeks as he looks down, and his fucking mouth –

“A hundred and two!” Nick crows, all but clapping his hands together in glee. “The highest it’s ever been!”

“To be fair, I did bend over the desk on purpose,” Louis’ voice comes crackling in the headphones. Harry practically breaks his neck whipping his head around at the sound of it, gaping at him through the glass panel. “You can’t really blame him for getting a little excited about that, can you?”

8) Written In The Stars (That’s You And Me) | Explicit | 22632 words

Louis pushes himself up on one elbow and stretches enough to just barely trace his fingertips over Harry’s jawline. Harry’s eyes drop to track his movements as he does it again. “D’you feel that?” he whispers.

To him, it feels like all of the universe’s magic lives just beneath his skin when he touches Harry with intent. It feels like something special. Louis watches Harry’s lips part and wants to touch that too. He almost does, but then Harry shakes his head. “Feel what?”

9) Middle Ground | Explicit | 23561 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Harry moves to a new town for work where he meets the enigma that is Louis Tomlinson.

10) England Has My Bones | Explicit | 24087 words

The next time Harry thinks about calling, it’s 4.14 in the morning on a Parisian hotel balcony.

11) Like A Siren In The Night | Explicit | 24868 words

“There is an infestation in my home,” Louis hisses, righting himself quickly and pushing his way past Harry, heading directly for the kitchen. He’s rather haphazardly dressed himself, a coat thrown on over a loose flannel shirt and black pants, slippers on his feet.

Harry resists the urge to sigh, closing the door and trailing behind him slowly. “What kind of infestation?”

For all he knows, Louis is going to claim that there’s a ghost infestation. Harry has no idea what the end game is here – all he knows is that Louis has found at least three complaints a week to bring up since he’s been living on Harry’s property, and he’s been living here for six months.

It’s way too many fucking complaints, is what Harry is saying. Especially when most of them are ridiculous to start with.

12) Hold Onto This Heaven (Of Yours) | Explicit | 25213 words

An ode to being too young, too sad, and too in love.

13) The Devil’s In The Details | Explicit | 25372 words

He squeals when Harry smacks his bum as he bends over to pick up his bag, swinging it over his shoulder. Harry smiles smugly at him, bottom lip caught between his teeth. “When are you going to start calling me professor?” He asks.

“When you actually are one,” Louis says with his hand on the doorknob. He cocks his head to the side in curiosity. “Isn’t that how words work? You did study English, right?”

Louis’ quick to slip out the door before Harry can smack him again, his laugh echoing through the hallways as he makes his way to his next class with flushed cheeks and a bright smile.

14) A Trail Of Honey Through It All | Explicit | 27086 words

The boy in front of him, well really, the man in front of him, was like something out of a confusing wet dream. Built, tall, tan and muscular, his skin glistened with sweat after a long day of working outdoors with his hands. He was wearing a cut up old American football shirt, the bottom hem was torn and the sleeves were cut off to the point where the t-shirt was really just a loose tank top. The shorts he had on had clearly been full length jeans at one point, and were now just crudely cut off above the knee. His white socks were pulled up too high on his calves, and the brown work boots he had on were old as fuck, the leather peeling along the edges of the soles. Curly brown hair stuck out from the edges of his backwards snapback, and there was a smudge of grease wiped along his brow bone. The smattering of hair along his jaw proved that he hadn’t shaved in a week or two, the hair growing in thicker across his upper lip and around his chin. His sinfully bowed mouth was pink and plump, and Louis was suddenly hyper-focused on the way that he chewed at the toothpick stuck between his lips. He looked like he needed a shower. Louis wanted to lick him.

15) You Fit In My Poems (Like A Perfect Rhyme) | Explicit | 27598 words

The one where Harry works in an old bookshop and Louis is the pretty stranger that ends up stranded there in the middle of a storm.

16) Where The Lights Are Beautiful | Mature | 31170 words | Sequel

The accidental bonding A/B/O fic.

17) Once Upon A Dream | Explicit | 33319 words | Sequel

Louis is psychic and gets caught in the middle of a murder investigation led by FBI Special Agent Harry Styles.

18) Stuck On You | Explicit | 33983 words

Louis’ life revolves around his stickers. Harry’s life revolves around his job. The universe has decided their worlds should revolve around each other.

19) Coeur De Pirate | Explicit | 34207 words

He tilts his chin up as the Captain strides across the deck, his footfalls falling loudly against the planks. The crew watches them from afar.

Stepping into his space, the Captain wraps an arm around Louis’ waist and pulls him in. He lowers his head to breathe his words against Louis’ cheeks. “I won,” he whispers, “I’ve come to claim my prize.”

20) What This World Is About | Explicit | 34472 words

An eighties American high school AU; there are first times, football games, and feelings.

Alternatively titled: the beginning.

21) Close To Nowhere | Explicit | 34589 words

Louis and Harry are psychics who kind of hate each other. They go to Tennessee to investigate a haunting.

22) Before We Knew | Explicit | 39830 words

Louis has been skeptical of soulmates for years so it seems like fate when he finally bumps into the owner of the obnoxiously large signature printed onto his skin since age sixteen: Harry Styles, a human rights attorney who is firmly against soulmates.

23) The Space Between | Explicit | 39917 words

Harry Styles is the alpha rockstar who can’t sleep and doesn’t know why.

Louis Tomlinson is the omega PhD student who helps him figure it out.

24) The Sweetest Incantation | Explicit | 40580 words

Harry is a witch who's still working on developing his powers and Louis is a werecat who falls into his life and turns it upside down.

25) Worth Dying For | Explicit | 44906 words

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Louis says, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. In the center of the table, a set of three glossy photos stares up at him, mocking him.

“A security detail is non-negotiable, Louis, you know this,” his mum reminds him, tapping the middle photo with two fingers.

Louis doesn’t look back down at the pictures, gesturing towards them wildly, over-dramatically. “This is not a security detail!” he protests. “This is a lanky college student. In what world do you hire someone like this kid to protect me?”

26) Tastes Like Summer, Smiles Like May | Explicit | 47519 words

A cold prince, an alpha with nothing left to lose and a kingdom with a secret.

27) Love’s Truest Language | Explicit | 48195 words

The first part was meant as a joke. He didn't really expect Harry to buy anything. It was just Louis’ way of softening the ‘get the fuck out’ blow.

“Where's your order forms, then?”

“I don't want your flowers.” Louis chided before directing all of his attention to the arrangement in front of him.

Harry laughed under his breath as he stood to his full height, “Who said anything about them being for you, love?”

28) Through The Wheatfields And The Coastlines | Explicit | 52855 words

The one where Louis needs inspiration, and a certain cowboy and his lamb are the perfect distraction.

29) Latibule | Mature | 54322 words

A Spirited Away AU of sorts where Louis just wants to heal and be left alone, only for all his plans to be destroyed by the hands of an infuriating British God.

30) Warming Up To You | Explicit | 56227 words

Prompt 111: Louis and Harry are strangers that somehow got stranded during a blizzard. They find themselves in an abandoned cabin and have to cuddle for warmth. Cuddling leads to much more.

31) Feeling Borrowed, Always Blue | Explicit | 68214 words

Louis has been dreaming of his wedding since he was young - he just never expected it to happen like this.

32) Curly Bun Man | Not Rated | 68597 words

I just paid for these Doritos but they're stuck in the vending machine and I know you've been waiting but I am not going to let you buy something until you help me. AU.

33) Waiting On You | Explicit | 76584 words | Sequel

“Vampires,” Louis says with disgust, glaring over at the vampire who is noisily slurping from the woman’s neck nearby.

Zayn gives the neat fang marks on Louis’ neck a meaningful look.

“Can’t live with them, can’t live without them,” Louis finishes, ignoring Zayn when he rolls his eyes.

Louis takes a long sip of his milkshake, presses his fingers against the marks on his neck, and definitely doesn’t think about the vampire who left them there.

34) Through Struggles, To The Stars | Explicit | 80582 words

Louis is a Starfleet captain trying to find his place in the universe. Harry is a prince just trying to do what's right.

35) I Want You So Much (But I Hate Your Guts) | Mature | 83648 words

AU in which Louis gets accepted to play for the Manchester University Alpha-Beta Football Team. The only problem: Louis is actually an Omega. He is determined to make it big in the football world, though, and he can't do that bound to an Omega team. With the help of a faked doctor's certificate and some pretty strong suppressants he is ready to fight for his dream.

That Harry Styles (Alpha, second year and youngest football captain of the A-B team in ages) doesn't seem to like him complicates matters, though.

36) Where You Lay | Explicit | 86038 words

When Louis's upcoming heat threatens his success at his new dream job, he asks the best (and only) person he can think of to help him through it: his best mates' best mate, Harry Styles.  Harry reluctantly accepts, and together the two navigate a strange friends with benefits relationship that quickly turns complicated.

37) And Down The Long And Silent Street | Mature | 86090 words

Wherein Louis and Harry are on the opposite ends of the social ladder, but their paths still cross on the filthy streets Louis calls his home. The odds are staked against them from the beginning, and even more when Louis' past finally catches up with him.

38) Swim In The Smoke | Explicit | 101778 words

“What about this, Captain?” Liam asks, nudging the boy kneeling between their feet with the toe of his boot. The boy hisses and swipes at him, slurring out something unintelligible around the makeshift gag Niall had to stuff in his mouth. He misses by a mile and tries again, just as ineffectively.

Harry looks down at him, at the way the sun streams over his face and shoulders, at the way the gag stretches his mouth, lips pink and chapped. He’s lithe and pretty, smudged all over with dirt. They had found him tied up below deck, mostly unconscious, next to a barrel full of gold. He’s clearly a prisoner, but there’s something familiar about him, something that niggles at Harry’s brain. Something he can’t quite put his finger on.

“Put him in my cabin,” Harry decides, turning back to deal with the rest of the loot. The boys screams out jumbled curse words at Harry’s back, muffled by the gag, and Harry can’t understand any of it.

39) The Galaxy’s Edge | Explicit | 113921 words

Things never quite go as they are planned during a simple rescue job.

40) Tainted Saints And Velvet Vices | Explicit | 126057 words | Sequel (WIP)

A self-fulfilling Hogwarts AU in which Louis is new to seventh year and Harry is the resident devil-may-care Slytherin set to make his entire experience a living misery. Due to less than favourable circumstances they're forced to forge an unwilling, tentative relationship for their own survival. Repressed emotions, decidedly unromantic ballroom dancing, Triwizard Tournament tasks, creative jinxes and twilight flying above the Forbidden Forest ensue.

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[van-zieksy]

Hi anon here! I have another question for you regarding our good ol Reaper. If you were to make suggestion on making van Zieks Investigations game - where he would get back to prosecuting again (similar to how Miles Edgeworth’s) what would you like to see the most to be covered in cases/story? I personally would like to see more interactions between him and Kazuma and ofc Herlock and cant forget Iris (maybe even reveal for Iris that Barok is her uncle). Yet I would also like to see a food antagonist who would match Barok’s wit abd help to develop his character even further. I would like to see your ideas on this. Have a wonderful day~

Hello anon,

Welcome back! I am always happy to hear from my „good ol’ Reaper“ anon. <3

Thank you so much for your patience. As previously mentioned, this week has been quite busy, and next week is going to be even busier with that procedure I have coming up. Thanks for allowing me to answer this ask! It was a joy to think about your questions.

I do have a few general ideas of what a game centered around Barok as the protagonist could look like. Personally, I do not think it is necessary to fully retain the Edgeworth template. Not to mention that DGS1 and 2 already took some liberties with the established AA formula, so this game may as well be a breath of fresh air, as long as it retains the essence of AA.

The duology provided closure to the Japanese side of things. Ryunosuke and Susato are going back to Japan to open up their own law firm and to do what they can to reform the judicial system in their own country. A game focused on Barok (and Kazuma) should at least acknowledge that at the beginning of the game since they played an integral part in the first two games. I do have something written out, but my answer won’t focus on this. The British side of things received some closure, but not as much as it could (should) have, which is why a game focused on our British prosecutor(s) could be beneficial.

A few stressful months after DGS2, we see Barok sitting in his office, reflecting on the Professor case, the Reaper curse, and the many changes that have occurred since then, as he writes in his diary. Kazuma is sitting next to him. They exchange a few words and come to the consensus that they have already accomplished a lot since that particular trial and must keep moving forward. Looking back does not change the past. They decided to not publicise what really happened ten years ago, as it was never publicised to begin with. The general public has always been in the dark about it. They realised that the people who need to know the truth are now enlightened. The past deeds of third parties should not hinder – even harm - present day people in their path forward, as they are invaluable to bring about positive change. Yet, of course, the case has caused some turmoil within judiciary circles and led to Stronghart’s conviction, who was sentenced to receive the most severe punishment, along with Jigoku, who „passed away“ in his cell before his departue to Japan where he was supposed to face his own trial. Stronghart’s involvement in the Reaper organisation has been made public, which absolved Barok of any guilt. However, we all know that old habits die hard, so it will take some time for the public to finally stop shunning Barok. Many government officials were released from their duty thanks to the shared efforts of Barok and Kazuma. Kazuma pushed hard, and even appealed to the Queen, to get Barok the vacant position of Lord Chief Justice. The prosecution trainee prepared a speech, for which he practiced every night, and he was able to give it flawlessly (well done, Kazuma. Ryuu would be proud!). Kazuma knew that Barok is the most ideal choice for this position, because despite the corruption that has plagued the judiciary for so long, the darkness was never able to touch London’s top prosecutor, even if it brought him pain. He has always stayed true to his principles, remained humble and fought fair. Barok reluctantly accepted the position under the condition that he is still allowed to appear in court as a prosecutor and retain Kazuma as his student.

The game should wrap up the past early on so that we can focus on providing a fresh game. The main aspect Barok takes away is that even though everyone around him either betrayed him or actively hurt him, he must not let that hold him back anymore. Barok’s arc in DGS was that of trust. If we take a moment to reflect on that, we realise that it makes sense for Barok to not trust anyone: Stronghart used him and others, Gregson went along with painting Barok as the Reaper and committed crimes in his name, Klint developed a dark side and went on a murder spree, Genshin killed Barok’s brother instead of lifting him up and subsequently tried to struck a deal with the dark forces that brought his friend to his knees, Kazuma – the apprentice he accepted - wanted to send him to the gallows over crimes he didn’t commit, the public ostracised him etc. In the end he lost everyone he was closest to. Not only did they pass away, they also weren’t who he hoped they were, even if he had his doubts about some of them. Kazuma’s arc was about him realising that he’s not the white knight he always thought he was, that he still has a lot to learn about emotions and not letting them cloud his judgement. The new game focuses on the further development of the two characters, because the game ended abruptly for them. The relationship of those two is the main focus. Barok learns to trust Kazuma and that he can rely on him to achieve their shared goals. It also allows him to realise that it’s time for him to open himself up again to other people. He develops new relationships. Kazuma, on the other hand, internalises the importance of humbleness and that self-righteousness has no place in court, as well as learning what it means to be a prosecutor. Their relationship thrives but is far from perfect. Both are quite stubborn, and Kazuma has this urge to always have the last word. But Barok is able to tame Kazuma with his calmness and down-to-earthness. Their interactions are serious but hilarious.

I want to see Kazuma be annoyed by Barok practicing his legslam in his office, almost breaking the desk a few times. Kazuma rolling his eyes at Barok moving around his barrels because he doesn’t trust anyone else to do that very important task. Kazuma shaking his head when new shipments of chalices arrive at their office about once a month because Barok breaks so many in court (thanks to imbecilic defence attorneys and their incompetence). Kazuma being speechless about his mentor’s court antics that have gotten even more theatrical, who expects Kazuma to play along, and Kazuma secretly enjoys the silliness but would never dare to admit it, of course (imagine Barok finally using that sword around his waist to open his bottles; sometimes using a metal chalice because he wants Kazuma to actually do something in court, so he may as well have him pick up his chalice when it ends up on the ground; Kazuma desperately failing at the leg slam, so he instead decides to join Barok in sitting on the desk showing off their *assets*). I want Barok to be annoyed by Kazuma’s thick-headedness. When they investigate crime scenes, Barok is reminded of someone else when Kazuma comes up with unbelievable scenarios that sound more like the ideas of someone whose imagination is larger than his common sense. Kazuma really shouldn’t have taken up residence with the „great detective“ Herlock Sholmes.

The game is heavier on the investigation side and introduces us to new areas of London. It would consist of five or six episodes, because that’s neither too little nor too much. In the first two games Barok trusted the police force to investigate properly, but as it turned out a little too often, they didn’t do a good job, which ended up hurting Barok’s case. So he decided to be more involved in the investigation itself. Barok and Kazuma gather evidence using some forensic techniques that Sholmes introduced. Of course Barok isn’t happy about that, but because those techniques are now officially recognised by the government, he came to appreciate them. Iris is Herlock’s new official partner in crime. The prosecution builds their cases using the evidence they are able to find. Gina is the new detective and has grown much more serious over the past few months, but is still as direct as ever. Maria took over her mother’s position as coroner. Gina and Maria look up to Barok as a great „boss“ they can learn from. And Barok treasures them as colleagues who take their respective jobs seriously. While it is easier for a defence attorney to be playable in the courtroom, as the burden of proof always rests on the defence (all the prosecution has to do is find ways to counteract those claims), it would be quite fun to play as the prosecution even in the courtroom.

Iris. She definitely learns that Barok is her uncle. Being the smart, sneaky little girl she is, she was able to combine the dots herself. A week after the big trial, Barok shows up at Iris’ doorstep as promised. She sent Hurley away because he’d only get in the way lol. They are casually enjoying Iris’ famous tea, cookies and scones discussing current affairs, science, literature and tea blending. Barok is having trouble containing his joy. There is one family member of his that is still alive after all. He expects to wake up soon to realise it was all only a dream. Yet looking at Iris also brings him pain. She looks so much like his sister-in-law and brother. She has Lady B’s hair, nose and beautiful face, and Klint’s eyes and charm. He doesn’t know how he’s supposed to go on knowing that he won’t be able to tell her about their relationship. Fortunately for him, Iris finally breaks the ice: „So, Mr. Barry prosecutor, please tell me more about my mother and father, since you were so close to them.“ Her eyes fill with tears, her lips now a thin line. Barok is shocked. How did she find out? Iris comes to his rescue again. „Remember that one time in your office? When I saw that huge portrait on your wall, I just knew he’s my father.“ Her lovely, blue eyes are now completely wet. „And the first time I’ve encountered you, I sensed a connection. I’ve always felt drawn to you, as you must recall. You do recall, don’t you, Barry?“ As she looks at him with anticipating eyes, her small body shivering, he can’t help but wrap his large arms around her, embracing her in a hug.. Engulfed in her warmth, Barok becomes painfully aware how much he has missed being close to other people. How he’s still alive after all those years is beyond him. His eyes are now filled with tears, too, and a little smile graces his lips, for the first time in over a decade. „I will always love you, Iris. As my niece, as the only tangible memento of my dear brother and sister-in-law, as a beautiful reminder that life must go on, as the priceless treasure that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I promise you that I will never abandon you.“ For a moment his voice leaves him. He has to clear this throat before he can continue. He notices that his niece’s body is trembling, so he holds her even closer. „You have my word that I will always be there for you, Iris. I will protect you. And pray forgive my being forward, but I will treat you and love you as my own daughter, if you allow me to do so.“ He slowly releases her from his arms, then takes her small hands into his and places a warm kiss on her forehead. Iris - seemingly caught off-guard by that unexpected showcase of affection by this big, dark man – stares at him wide-eyed. Her light-blue, almost turquoise, deep eyes are a true sign that she is a Van Zieks. They stare at each other for a few moments without uttering a word. „Thank you Mr. Barry, ehm, I mean uncle Barry...no wait, daddy Barry. I love you, too“, young Iris shyly exclaims, when suddenly a big grin appears on her face. „Now that I am a Van Zieks you need to invite me over to your castle and treat me like the princess I am!“ After hearing that all Barok manages to do is giggle. The man who has been an outcast for much too long, the kind man who lost everything in life, now has a future that is brighter than ever before.

A few days later Iris announces that she wants to change her last name from „Wilson“ to „Van Zieks“ in order to show her true heritage. Barok files the paperwork to have her officially recognised as a heir to the Van Zieks’ estate. He’s now even contemplating to finally get married so he and his partner can give birth to a new, beautiful life (literally and metaphorically). He thinks that Iris deserves to have brothers and sisters. Iris is proud to now have two fathers, who she mischievously plays against each other. Barok and Sholmes are forced to be around each other more often but eventually manage to become friends. While their friendly „rivalry“ continues in their professional endeavours, they are now much closer than ever before for Iris’ sake.

As far as a rival for this game is concerned, while I do think there definitely needs to be a rival defence attorney, this person shouldn’t be a main focus. DGS broke the tradition of a defence attorney and a prosecutor having a shared past, and Barok didn’t have to grow as a prosecutor anymore like the other prosecutors before him, so they had to find something else to make him feel antagonistic. The true „rivals“ in the game were actually Barok and Kazuma, as they have a shared history. So for this game it should be someone who Barok has a history with. I really haven’t worked out the details in my head yet. The only shared thread between those two that I see for now are related to Barok’s past as the Reaper (e.g. a family member of one of his „victims“ became a defence attorney, yet that would be too close to Kazuma’s backstory) or his late brother. Doing so would hold the game back and force us to go back into a past we should move away from. The game represents a new start for Barok and Kazuma. They are standing for the change the judicial system was in desperate need of. Hence maybe the antagonistic defence attorney is someone who tries to stand in their way. Someone who uses underhand tactics and reminds them every day that there will always be dark forces infiltrating the courtrooms. A reminder that they need to fight every day to retain what they have achieved.

Another thought I also had is that Kazuma – to me – is more of a defence attorney than a prosecutor. I personally adored Kazuma in 1-1; he was magnificent. He quite understandably lacked as a prosecutor in 2-4 and 2-5, though. While he will learn from Barok to become a better prosecutor, the reason he studied law in the first place was to prove someone’s alleged innocence. The reason he stood next to Ryunosuke in court as a legal aid was because he believed in his innocence. He’s not so much concerned about punishing criminals as he is about helping people in court. He doesn’t speak about reducing crime or making the city a safer place to live. He’s not that ambitious. His ambition lies with making sure defendant’s voices are heard. Where am I going with this? I think for the last case Kazuma could go back to being a defence counsel. It would be an unexpected twist. Barok supports him in his endeavour because that’s just who he is. He’s not someone to stand in the way of someone’s dreams. They end up facing each other in court for that one case. Kazuma finally realised what he wants to do with his life. With Barok at his side, he has grown up so much and is now ready for a new life with a real purpose, providing closure to his story.

However, I could also see this going differently. Sure, while I prefer Kazuma as a defence counsel, I could also see Ryunosuke and Susato come back to England for the last case, so Barok and Kazuma can „fight“ them one last time (the prosecution „wins“ this case). At the end of DGS2 Kazuma said that they’d face each other in court again one day. This could be that encounter. This would also allow Barok to interact with his newly-found friend Ryunosuke again.

At the end of the game we have a Barok who relearned happiness. He has a new social life, a new purpose and a large, positive impact on his country’s judicial system. While he will never be identical to he person he was 10+ years ago (of course not, experiences change people; we should always strive to reinvent ourselves if it’s beneficial), the armour engulfing him for over a decade has almost completely crumbled away. He’s able to show his true face without darkness looming over him: that of a kind, generous, selfless, beautiful soul. He especially treasures his friendships with Kazuma, Ryunosuke, Susato and Herlock, and of course his relationship with his niece/daughter Iris.

We have a Kazuma who overcame his inner demons. He’s now a fully-fledged legal counsel (whether that be defence or prosecution) who made it his goal in life to always fight for what is right. During his time as a mentee, he realised that right is not always what we initially assume to be right; and that the truth isn’t always what we think it is. Only through self-reflection, intersubjectiveness, impartiality and an open mind can the truth be established. He’s still hardheaded, but he wouldn’t be Kazuma if he weren’t. Overall he’s a little softer around the edges, though, and definitely much more mature. Kazuma is now the person Ryunosuke always thought he was. Their friendship has been revived.

Those are just some of the aspects I’d like to see. What I am convinced of is that there’s more that can be done with the DGS cast. While the duology overall is a great, self-contained story, there are more stories that can be told. The cast is super lovable, too, and not all their stories have been completely told. I didn't want to make you wait longer, so I just figured I'd respond with what I could come up with given the limited time. I hope you like it.

Thanks again for the ask and have a great weekend!

With my fondest regards,

Zieksy