#This made me watch gran turismo

[waiting4kraven]

Archie Madekwe as Ivo in Heart of Stone

[serve-cunt]

gran turismo is a movie that WASTES its OPPORTUNITIES. like. Fuck!! Jann's guilt after the crash!! his imposter syndrome!! Jack's CULPABILITY in all of it... and his relationship with Jann & Danny & Nick !! Danny determined to ignore the actual ramifications of Nürburgring in favor of worrying about what their liability is ... pitted against Jann whose guilt nearly fucking RUINS him !

but what did they do ???? they wrote a bland-ish script, stuck Audrey in there with NO character development or purpose, stuffed every scene with cliches, smothered the fuck out of it all with corporate sponsorship, and called it a day. FUCK. they never saw a logo they didn't zoom in on. the sony walkman LOL. it's slow as fuck! the first twenty minutes are a wash!!

ugh still loved it tho

[earl-grey-crow]

ahhhhhhhh

[leeofthevoid]

I do not have a Crush

Jann Mardenborough (Movie) x Reader

a/n: Hello guys. I am alive, so please don't be mad about being MIA. School is hectic but finals are almost over. Rich World will continue but will change the title soon. (Yay!) This one is for the Jann girlies!

word count: 2673

warnings: Strong language

Part One

You sat next to Jann as he looked longingly at Audrey, who was chuckling with his younger brother, Coby, and his friends. 

“If you stare long enough, she might just melt.” You sarcastically remarked as you sat beside him, a beer in your hand. Jann rolled his eyes, looked down at his Diet Coke can, and sighed. “Any reason you’re bugging me and not Coby?” 

“No reason. I just wanted some fresh air, and this is my spot, the last time I remembered.” You leaned on the railing, stretching your back as you looked at the friends laughing. “You should shoot your shot. Audrey likes tall guys the last time I remembered.” 

Another dismissive sigh was heard from his area while playing with the can, which he barely touched. “You know that your advice won’t make a difference, right? I heard you had a thing for Corey, yet you still haven’t made moves.” He looked at you with a victorious smirk. A moment passed until the words finally settled in your mind, and retaliated with violence by smacking him on the arm. “Oh fuck off, I was helping you.” He busted out laughing while you walked away to go back to the group. 

That’s how it usually goes when you try to be friendly with Jann. He was always the hopeless romantic, yet he always had a knack for annoying you when it’s just you two. 

The next time you saw him was by the department store. You and Coby had the same schedule that day, and he wanted to go to where Jann works to assert some younger brother dominance thing that you would never understand. You saw Jann’s tall frame putting back women’s clothes as Coby called him over a few aisles down. 

“Jann! Come here!” The loud calls did not go unnoticed by anyone in the store, embarrassing him enough to run to you two and pull you aside quickly. “What is wrong with you, man? I’m at work!” He glared at his brother and hit him on the shoulder. Coby laughed and pulled you in front as a human shield.

“Relax, I just brought her here to shop for some lady stuff. Said she had a date to go to that needed some hot undie set.” You raised your eyebrows in confusion while shaking your head. 

“What? No way? I came here because you said you will mghdnfdg…” Coby clasped a hand on your mouth, muffling your comebacks while he pushed you off to Jann, who caught you and ran away.

“That asshole! What was he up to?” Jann slowly let you go while you balanced yourself, silently thanking him. He sighed and cleared his throat. “Whatever it was, it’s his stupidity catching up to him.” 

You also sighed, having no idea what to do now that Coby left you to fend for yourself. Jann scratched the back of his neck and checked his watch. “Hey, if you’re not busy, maybe ditch buying that ‘set’ and grab lunch with me? I’m done for the day anyways.” 

Your stomach was growling, and you barely got to eat something before coming here, so lunch sounded terrific. “You’re right. I’m starving. I’m craving some sandwiches, so take me somewhere with that, and I’ll pay for our lunch.” He chuckled and walked to his co-worker, probably saying something about leaving now, to which the other guy nodded. 

He turned back with a smile as he removed his vest and threw his arm around your shoulder, dragging you out of the store and to a sandwich place nearby. “Her Highness needs her food!” You rolled your eyes before walking to the counter and ordering your food.

He was such a bastard when it came to food, but he made it up to you by bringing him to where he played that racing game he was so obsessed with. He told you it was called ‘Gran Turismo,’ but you insisted it was a racing game just like every other you’ve come across. It was fun to piss him off, even if he didn’t. 

“Go wider!”

“But there’s a line! That’s the point of the game: you follow the line!” You grip the wheel of the console and glared at Jann. “No, the point of the game is to win.” Jann puts his hands on yours and takes a wider stance on the wheel instead of following the line. You hated his weird obsession with whin, but it was his fault for making you play a game. You heard Dylan call your name from behind while patting your head. “Thanks for going today, love. Seeing Jann so frustrated is such a treat.” He chuckled as he watched the screen of the console. 

The car effectively passed by the others and eventually got to fourth place, but at this point, it was all Jann. He even scooted you over to sit next to you. Brows creased in focus while his hands gripped tighter on yours. You watched the screen as he maneuvered past third place and second. Dylan and some other people gathered around as you two played the game, a sight you were new to. He was always the withdrawn type, but his apparent obsession with this game gained him a small fanbase in this arcade.

Jann held on, his palms sweating while turning and tailing the car in the first place. He hastily turned the wheel and accelerated, making your car and the first placer side by side before he stepped on the gas and made it to first place. The crowd around you cheered while you felt the shoot of adrenaline finally settle in you as Jann fought to keep his spot in first place. 

“Woooh!” You happily screamed out as you saw the finish line. “Jann, don’t you dare lose!” You hear him chuckle as he nods and steps on the gas while the car approaches the finish line. The crowd shushes, and you only hear your heart beating as the time slows. The next thing you know, you saw the car cross the checkered finish line, and the big letters “First Place” flashed. 

Everyone cheered as you both jumped up from the seat, screaming and jumping at him. “Oh my gosh, you’re amazing!” He caught you and gave you a tight hug before setting you down. 

“I mean…You did help so…” You shoved him off and rolled your eyes as a friend of Jann’s came over. 

“Holy shit, bruv, you did it again!” He looked at you and then smirked, “Is this Miss Audrey with us right now?” He offered his hand to you while you took it, giggling. 

“No way, I’m far from Audrey. She’s prettier and dresses simpler. I’m more of Coby’s eccentric best friend, who he ditched.” You took his hand and shook it lightly before sliding it away. 

“My name’s Bryan. And you mentioned being ditched? A pretty thing like you?”

You giggled softly and playfully rolled your eyes.“Y/N. And Jann should totally bring Audrey next time, no?” Bryan poked the boy behind you while he teased Jann about his very obvious crush on Audrey.

The rest of the day went swimmingly when Bryan and Jann offered to drop you off at your flat, getting Bryan’s number saved in the process. Such a flirt, that one. Who would have expected that Jann’s friends weren’t all weird geeks? 

After a few weeks or a day, before Jann got the good news, he was lying on his bed contemplating the trajectory of his life. 

He knew that he had no solid plan for his future, but he was sure it had some good things in it. Driving was his passion, and it was a big deal for him to be somewhat of a driver. He may not have driven any of the real cars in GT, but he knew all of them inside and out. It was meant for him. 

A few taps on his windows suddenly broke his quiet reverie. He slowly sat up and looked at the window, waiting to see if it was in his head or not. 

It was not. 

After the taps became much more apparent, he stood up and slowly approached the window. When he saw you smiling at him, he quickly opened it and let you in. 

“How the hell did you get up from there?!” Jann let you in before checking outside the window. He looked around to see how you scaled his house and saw no decent ledges you could have used. 

“Jannie! So sorry for being an intruder, but Coby was still not in his room, so…” You chuckled as you rambled. 

“Wait, Coby knows about this?” 

You paused and sat down on his bed, giving him a confused look. “Of course he does. I always swing by his room when I’m either high or drunk and wait for it to sober down.” 

His face twisted in an even more confused and worried way while checking his small snack box for water. He opened it before he gave it to you, sitting beside you. 

“Any reason why you’re dressed up, smelling like alcohol and cigarettes on a Wednesday night?”  You giggled while ungracefully handing him back the water bottle. “It’s a thing with my cousin. You know how it is.” 

“Being used like an ATM machine?” Jann interjected with some sass you never heard from him. 

You scoffed and raised your eyebrows. “Coby probably exaggerated the stories! I just don’t know where to spend my money!” He wasn’t convinced and pushed himself up against the wall, tuning you out, perhaps. 

“Ever since you broke up with your ex, Coby noticed that you’ve been partying a lot. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I get wanting to splurge, but you don’t even do it for yourself.” 

“Says the guy who saves up for his set-up. At least don’t be a hypocrite.” Warranting another eye roll to Jann for being a snoopy ass. “Besides, it’s fun. The party was amazing, and so many people were there.” 

“Spare me the details and sober up so you can go home.” He got up and went to his closet only to toss you a sweater when he closed it. “What?” The confusion and delayed effect of the alcohol and joint were there. 

“You are barely covered up. It’s freezing out there, and you have no layers on.” Jann sat on his gaming chair, a nod of plea to put it on without any resistance. 

After the slow, grueling struggle to put it on, the exhaustion hit you. You slowly slid under the covers of his bed. “Jann, wake me up in a few. I’ll nap. The running here must have tired me.” 

“What? You ran here?!” His question was left unanswered as you dozed off.

Jann sighed and draped the covers over your shoulder while setting up a chill late-night cruise on Gran Turismo with his friends. 

Little moments like those were never really forgotten. You just act like it’s nothing and never talk about hanging out with Jann when you two get the chance. It just happens, really. It's not like you’d ask him using a lame excuse just to talk about stuff or do activities together. His leaving you with the dumbest goodbye didn’t even make you feel empty at all. 

It just felt weird in a way. Coby started to practice more since his brother suddenly got into a rich guy’s sport instantly while he had to work hard. Men and their pride will always amaze you. 

You were lounging on your hotel bed one weekend when you got a call from Jann. You slowly deliberated before answering it because, first of all, it was out of nowhere. And secondly, Why? After three more rings, you had the guts to answer it finally. 

“Hello?”

“Took you too long to answer for someone glued to their phone the whole day, huh.”

You rolled your eyes before hearing a slight chuckle on his end. 

“Hello to you too, Jann.” 

“Hello, you. How have you been?”

How thoughtful of him to ask first. “I’ve been well. Although it is a bit fishy that you go radio silent and suddenly call me out of nowhere after a few months and then suddenly talk to me.”

“Always the skeptic.” He chuckled, then cleared his throat. “So um…A little snitch mentioned that you were in Japan, and I flew Audrey out here to spend some time together. We could use the company?”

Wow. That’s a lot to unpack right there. “Okay, what? You and Audrey are an item now? Since when was this?” He was about to speak when you cut him off. “Second, who the hell told you about me being in Japan? Third, of all…Are you proposing a double date?” 

“Hold on, what? Double date?” You groaned and dropped down to your bed when Jann sounded hell-bent on your new love life. 

“It’s just a date. I’m staying here for two months and might as well make the most of it. Answer my questions, too, though!” 

“Okay. Well. Agree to go meet us at this location tomorrow night, and I’ll tell you everything.” 

“Hm. Fine.” 

The call promptly ended with a goodbye before he sent the location of the place where you’d have your double date at. You wanted to think about it a little. The temptation was strong, though. Feeling homesick and alone can really distort a person’s perception. 

You stared at the recent call logs and sighed. You left the app and opened the chat with Tadashi to tell him that date night is now a double date. 

This was the worst idea ever. Jann has been weird around Tadashi ever since you introduced them to each other. It was awkward and tense for the first few minutes, Jann occasionally raising his eyebrows at you. You four were sitting in front of each other in a really nice sushi place that he was recommended. 

“So…Where did you two meet?” Bless this girl. Audrey will always save the day. “Actually, it’s a funny story.” You rubbed Tadashi’s hand as he snaked his arm over your shoulder. You smiled at him as he did the same. “We met at the fish market when I slipped trying to buy some fresh salmon.” 

“No way! You guys, that's so cute.” Audrey smiled at you in excitement. She’s such a good friend, but at the same time, her excitement might confuse Tadashi about your short-term set-up with him. “She looked offended when I asked her for her number, but I guess that noodle shop recommendation put me in her good books.” The three of you chuckled before Jann interjected, “That doesn’t sound creepy at all.” Audrey widened her eyes and lightly hit his shoulders before apologizing to Tadashi and you. 

The passive aggressiveness did not stop there, though. Throughout the whole dinner, Jann always had some weird bullshit about your life ever since his parents dubbed you their ‘Long lost daughter’. It’s just weird that he was the one who insisted on meeting up with you. 

At one point, Audrey decided to call it a night and even bought you some dessert when you paid the bill. It just upset you that Jann never even said thank you or acknowledged anything whatsoever.

Thankfully, that son of a bitch realized his rudeness two days later and texted you. 

J: Hey 

Y: What? 

J: Was a jerk 2 u 

J: sorry :( 

Y: It’s fine 

Y: Tadashi ghosted me. Your fault 🙄

J: U were too good for him n e ways

Y: Fuck u 

J: in your dreams 😇

Y: Ill block you if you dont stop 

J: was just jokin :( want to watch me practice driving? Audrey left and I have sum time to spare before germany 

Y: You just want me to buy you food 😒

J: nah. I’ll buy u food

Y: K fine. 

Y: Tomorrow? What time? 

J: I’ll pick u up. Send location 😛

a/n: Part 2??? Steamy part 2?? You tell me. :P

[blakeswritingimagines]

Everything Has Changed

Summary: Being the only one to believe in your best friend turns out to be your best decision ever.

Word count: 4.8k

A/N: Not all of it fully follows the movie but I went where it felt good!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Gran Turismo characters, nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used, nor do I claim to own them.

You stood silently as you watched Jann pack his bags, unsure of whether to be happy or sad that he was leaving for the Nissan Academy. You let your eyes fall to the ground in order to avoid his gaze. You had to admit, it hurt knowing he was leaving. You have been friends with Jann for a few years now. He was one of your only friends, maybe even more. "Jann, are you sure you want to leave? I will miss you so much." You looked at him and there was sadness in your eyes because you were worried that he was gonna forget all about you. You watched Jann finish packing his bags. You can’t help but shake the thoughts of him being gone, of finally being alone. You felt a pit in your stomach at the knowledge that the only person you felt comfortable around was now about to exit your life.

Jann slowly turned to face you, his expression somber. He slowly nodded in response to your question. "I want to leave." He told you softly, but there was a conviction in his words. He knew that this was something he had to do. "I know this may be hard for you to understand, but being at the academy is necessary for me if I'm going to achieve my dream." He paused for a moment before adding, "I promise I'll come visit you whenever I get the chance, okay?" You bit your lower lip, trying to hide the hurt you felt. "I know," you said quietly. You didn't want to hold Jann back from achieving his dreams especially since his dad often did, but you can't help feeling a pang of jealousy. "Good luck," you managed to say and forced yourself to smile at him. You knew it would've been selfish to ask him to stay, but you just couldn't. “Okay, Jann.” You took a deep breath. “I just wish you didn’t have to go.” You looked down, trying not to cry. “I’m happy for you. I know you’ve always wanted this opportunity, and you definitely deserve it. It’s just so hard to accept how different my life will be without you.” You swallowed and sniffled. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you nearby.”

Jann was silent for a moment, contemplating your words. He had thought that you would be more upset at him leaving. In fact, the fact that you seemed to accept his departure so easily made him feel guilty. "I'll miss you too," he finally said, his voice quiet and melancholy. "But I'll be fine. I promise. And like I said, I'll visit whenever I can. But until then, I think I should get going." He slowly turned back to his bags and started to pick them up. You nodded slowly. "Just promise you'll send me a text when you get there so I know you're safe." You said, trying to keep your voice steady. "And I want all the details, okay? I want every little thing you get up to while you're away. Don't keep this to yourself." You said playfully, trying to ease the situation a bit. "But please just come back as soon as you can. I'll feel pretty lost without you" You said, with a pout and puppy eyes. You sighed but nodded slowly. “Okay Jann. It’s time for you to go.” You were trying not to cry and didn’t want to beg him to stay, as you knew it was something he was determined to do. You slowly walked over to him and gave him a last hug and looked up at him, trying to hold in your tears. “I’m so proud of you, Jann. Go chase your dreams.” You said with a loving smile.

You would receive letters from Jann on a fairly regular basis when he was away, as well as the occasional picture. As time went on, you would receive other pictures, specifically of him posing with his car before races. You could see the happiness in his eyes every time even as you made it clear to his family each time. However, he made it a point to visit you when he had the chance. Months later, you would come out to see him during one of his races. Your eyes were glued to the track as you saw his car blaze past everyone else and take the lead. You couldn't help but smile and cheer. You would continue to watch the race, your eyes not leaving the car at all. But as he came into view, your stomach flipped and your heart started racing. As he crossed the finish line, you couldn't help but scream and cheer even louder, filled with excitement and happiness. You stood and started walking toward the finish line to be able to cheer him properly. You waved your hands at him happily, full of excitement and joy. You couldn't wait to get close to him and tell him how proud you were all this time.

Jann was able to hear your cheers from the track, and as he approached the finish line, he saw you standing there waiting for him. His heart skipped a beat at seeing you. He wasn't expecting you at all. As if in a trance, he drove his car off the track and over to where you were standing, waiting for him. Once he had arrived, he stepped out of the car and walked over to you. His expression was one of sheer joy and he embraced you tightly. He had been waiting for a moment like this. He gave you a warm hug and kissed you on the cheek. "You came to watch!" He said excitedly. "How am I supposed to not win with you out here cheering me on?" He was filled with joy at seeing one of his closest friends so excited to see him again. You smiled and laughed as he approached. “Of course, I came to watch,“ you exclaimed, your eyes wide with excitement at seeing him so happy. Then you quickly pulled him into a tight hug, your arms tight around his body. As you tried to contain your joy at hugging him again. "I missed you so much, Jann," you said with a bright smile, your eyes sparkling with joy. "I’m just so glad you’re doing well and that you’re happy. I'm proud of everything you have achieved."

Jann smiled back at you as you hugged him back. Your arms felt warm and comforting around him, and he let himself enjoy the hug for as long as you wanted to hold him. When you finally pulled away, Jann couldn't help but smile. You were always so supportive and encouraging, and seeing you there made him feel so much better. "Thank you. For everything." He said sincerely, meeting your gaze. "I wish we could see each other more often, I do. But I'm glad I got to see you for this race. I missed you too." He said softly, holding you close to him as he hugged you again. It felt fantastic to have you so close again. He couldn't believe it had been so long. "Thank you. I don't think I would be here if it weren't for you." He said sincerely. "You were one of the only people who was supportive of me. I appreciate that, and I hope you know that as my career continues to unfold, I'll always have a spot for you right at my side." "I'm just happy to see you do what you enjoy and be successful at it." You said, your eyes looking at him lovingly and with admiration of all his achievements thus far. "That's amazing, Jann. And yes, I will always support you. I have your back, and you're just so amazing." You laughed fondly, your eyes showing nothing but happiness at seeing your best friend doing what he loves. "Always," you said, as he held you close to him. You meant what you said too. In your mind, this wasn't just a fun little conversation you were having; these were words with promise, words with a future together. You felt so happy he appreciated the friendship just as much as you did. "I don't want you to ever forget that." You pulled back a little bit and looked into his eyes. You were so close to him, your body pressed against his, and you were starting to feel a little nervous being so close to him. "I'll always be here, Jann."

Jann smiled at you as you spoke, listening intently and remembering every word. You were so supportive and encouraging, and he appreciated that so much. He looked into your eyes as well and felt something he hadn't felt in a while. He hadn't forgotten how good it felt to be close to you and wanted to hold it for as long as he could. He put his hand on your cheek, leaned in closer, and kissed you lightly. He was surprised at what he had done, and suddenly wanted to pull away. You were surprised by the kiss but didn’t stop him. You kissed him right back, putting your hands on his cheeks. You put your whole body into it, feeling the warmth of his lips. After a couple of seconds, you both pulled apart, still smiling at each other. You looked up at him as if in a trance, not wanting to let go of him. But slowly you turned your head and looked back at the track, growing flustered about what just happened having only dreamed of this exact moment. You let out a small giggle, not quite believing that the two of you just kissed. You looked at him with those puppy eyes, as if asking him for a bigger kiss. You wanted more than that, but you were too afraid to tell him.

Jann didn't want to break the moment as well, as he was feeling the same way as you. He kept his face close to yours for a few more moments, enjoying the feeling of your lips against his. When you turned away and glanced back at him, he couldn't help but smile and lean in once more. He wanted to feel your lips again, and this time he wanted to keep them pressed against his. He leaned down to meet you, and kissed you again, this time more passionately. The feeling of your bodies pressed together was intoxicating. This time, your lips pressed closer to his, trying to feel as much from it as you could. When your bodies met, you felt your heart racing, and your hands trembling. You gave in and let it all happen, not knowing nor caring what would happen in the future. With passion and intensity, you kissed him back once again, this time not wanting it to stop. You were still holding your breath as this happened, your eyes closed and your heart racing. You pulled away, breathing heavily, your eyes slightly teary and your lips slightly swollen.

After a moment, Jann ended the kiss by pulling away slowly. He could feel his heart beating fast in his chest as well as his breath being shallow. Thinking the same feeling only came when he was driving, as you broke the kiss, he looked down at you with a smile. "That was amazing," He whispered softly, staring into your eyes before slowly caressing your face. "I think I need more of that." He said playfully, still blushing, but hoping that this meant the beginning of something even more than friendship on both sides. You looked up at him, your eyes sparkling "Yeah, it was amazing," You said with a smile. "I- I think I do too" You added, with your voice trembling slightly, trying to keep the words steady and not losing control. You were still trying to catch your breath. "So does this mean what I think it means?" You asked nervously, with a slight smile on your lips. You tilted your head sideways, your hands on his cheeks, waiting for his answer.

Jann nodded slowly, smiling back at you. He couldn't believe that you felt the same way that he did. "Yeah, it does. It definitely does." He said softly. "I want to be more than friends with you, will you be mine?" He softly caressed your face, looking at you with adoration. "Is that okay with you?" You could feel his heart beating quickly in his chest, matching your own. The question gave you a moment of panic, your body shaking. "Yes." You said, with your voice trembling. "A thousand times yes," you whispered as you got closer to him and smiled. "Oh my god, you don't know how long I have wanted to hear those words," you said with a big smile on your face. Your eyes were sparkling. You then got closer and gave him a long, passionate kiss. You pressed onto him as you kissed him, not wanting to miss a single second of this. "I love you." You whispered softly. Jann pulled you into his body, holding your head gently as he embraced you. The way you pressed your body against him made him blush, his heart beating rapidly. It felt like the beginning of something new, and he was overwhelmed with joy. He pulled you close and kissed you again, pouring into you all the love he had stored up inside of him for so long. "I love you too." He said softly as he continued to kiss you. "I've been waiting to say that to you for so long, and I don't want to waste another second."

A few months had passed since you and Jann started dating. You had become closer than you had ever been before, taking things slowly and not rushing into anything. You felt happy and content and wanted to share this feeling with Jann. Cheering him on as you watched the race as his family was there as well happily, everything around you seemed to fade out with a ringing in your ears as you stared at the screen in horror. You'd just watched Jann's vehicle violently crash into the barrier of his Nürburgring race. It looked horrific. His car flipped multiple times until the news cut out with nobody knowing anything. Feeling as if you were going to be sick while thinking it must've just been some cruel joke taking place instead. You didn’t know what to feel. You wanted to cry. You wanted to scream and yell. You wanted to break something. But most of all, you wanted to see Jann alive and well again. You looked around, as if in search of an answer to this nightmare you were living. But you knew the answer. The image in front of you was no lie, and Jann wouldn’t come marching up to you and tell you it was all just a joke. You fell on the floor crying. You didn’t need an answer you knew the answer all along.

Your heart started beating faster and faster when you heard the report of Jann's crash. Your mind went blank, and all you could do was stare at the television hoping and praying this was all a nightmare. When the news cut out, you felt yourself being pulled back to reality. A wave of emotions hit you, and you quickly burst into tears. You had known Jann for so long now, more than words could describe, and now you felt like a part of you was missing. You cried for so long, wondering what you were supposed to do now. Life just felt so cruel. You rushed to the hospital as soon as you processed what happened after the crash at the race. Inside, you searched desperately for any answers. You were still trying to process the news you had seen. You couldn’t bear the thought of losing Jann, not after everything you had been through. You looked around for someone, anyone who could give you some sort of update, some news, anything. But there was nothing. You asked one of the nurses, with a quivering voice: “Do you know anything? How is he?”

The nurses were kindhearted and were able to provide you with a bit more information on the situation. Jann was fine and had sustained no major or fatal injuries. He had only bumped and bruised himself but needed a bit of rest as they didn't want him to overexert himself. They also told you that you could visit him to make sure that he was alright. You quickly went over to his room where he was resting, and smiled as you saw him lying there, eyes closed and still breathing. "Jann?" You spoke in a soft whisper. He opened his eyes and saw you standing by the door before slowly moving closer to him. His eyes widened for a second before he nodded, trying to sit up. "Babe?" He said softly, with his voice filled with joy. "Are you okay? I'm sorry about the race. I know you were waiting for me…" He trailed off as he tried to move, only to suddenly jolt in pain. When he saw that you were looking at his various bruises, he quickly attempted to put on a brave face. "I'm fine. They're just scratches." He said, attempting to ease your concerns. "I'm so happy to see you." He said as he lifted his hand to reach out for yours. He wanted to pull you closer, to be surrounded by your comforting presence.

"It's okay, sweetheart, don't move." You rushed to his side, gently taking his hand in your own, trying not to cry as you did so. You caressed his hair and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, trying not to feel overwhelmed. You cupped his jaw tightly, not wanting to let go of him this time. You were thankful to be there for him and didn't let go. "I thought something happened to you," you whispered softly, trying to control your tears, but failing to do so. "… I'm sorry." He mumbled, still trying to move despite your plea. He wanted to wrap his arm around you and pull you close, to show you how much he cared. He tried to get his mind off of the crash by thinking back to the last couple of months. He had spent every free moment with you, whether it was sharing dinner in the evenings, taking long walks throughout the city, or just talking late into the night. He loved how calm and peaceful of a presence you had, and felt safer than he ever had before.

You wanted to make Jann feel comfortable. You gently tried to lift his head a little and caress his face. "Don't worry, darling. I'm here. Do not apologize for something you cannot control. Rest and relax. I will stay by your side as you heal." You said softly, as your tears filled up your eyes again. As if trying to show Jann how much you cared, you reached your hand down onto his chest and kept it there. It was as if nothing mattered to you at that particular moment, other than Jann's wellbeing. Jann tried to smile back at you, despite feeling like it was hard for him to do so at the moment. However, as soon as you placed your hands on his chest, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. You were the only thing that he wanted to see in this moment, and when you put your hand on his chest, he let out a small sigh. He said softly, his voice weak and raspy. "I'm sorry I worried you. But I'm glad you're here."

When Jack and Danny walked in wanting to check up on the driver, Jann felt his heart skipping a beat when he heard that someone had passed away in the crash. His brain couldn't process the news, and he sat there in silence for a moment. Jann's eyes widened for a brief second upon hearing the news, but he had a feeling it was worse than he had originally thought. He tried to move, but he was too scared of what he might do to his injuries. His voice was soft and weak. He was still processing the news and just wanted to be with you for the moment causing him to yell at the older men to leave. "Stay with me. Please." He whispered softly. "I don't want to be alone." "I am not going to leave you, Jann," you whispered. You looked at him with love in your eyes and caressed his face. You held Jann close, trying to give him a warm embrace as if you only wanted to make him feel comfortable and safe. It seemed as if everything around you but him had disappeared, leaving only Jann and yourself in the room. You had no idea that someone had passed away yet.

Once he was able to go home all he could really do was hold onto you not wanting to let go. Late into the night as he was holding you close Jann slowly took a deep breath, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. He knew that the crash had affected him, and he wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to get behind the wheel again. "I- I don't know if I want to drive again." He said softly, taking another breath. "I know I said I would be racing until I retired, but I'm not sure if I can anymore." He looked at you with sadness in his eyes, not wanting to let you down. You held Jann, listening to his words intently. You could see the fear on his face, and your heart broke as you heard him say that he might not drive again even if it did make sense. You wanted to make him change his mind, but you also wanted to be supportive of his decision. But maybe he would change his mind if something could just convince him not to give in to the fear. “Jann, love, I understand how scary it must be right now,” you spoke to him in a soft voice. “But, I am sure that you are stronger than you think and that you will get through this, okay?”

Jann listened to your words intently and slowly nodded as he thought about what you had said. "I-I don't know." He said softly, still sounding uncertain. "I guess a part of me just wants things to go back to the way they used to be…" He looked at you, hoping that you understood where he was coming from. "I just wanted to make you proud, to make my family proud." He said. "But if I stopped racing now, would I be a failure?” You took a deep breath when Jann finished speaking. You couldn't believe he was asking this question, a question you knew the answer to. "Jann, darling, if you were to stop racing, you would absolutely not be a failure," you spoke to him, not knowing what else to say. "The only thing that matters to me right now is that you are safe and healthy." You said softly, your voice steady and reassuring. "I love you, and I would love you no matter what you do," you told him, gently placing your hand on his forearm. Jann sighed lightly as he absorbed your words. He felt better knowing that you would still love him no matter what he decided to do. He looked at you with adoring eyes. "I love you too. More than I could put into words." He was still trying to figure out what to do with himself, but knew one thing: he wanted to be with you more than anything. As he looked at you, he couldn't help but smile.

After Jack's pep talk, Jann was finally convinced to try the 24-hour race again. A few months had passed since the crash, and Jann was feeling better than ever. Jann thought about Jack's story, and although he was hesitant at first, he eventually agreed to do the 24-hour race. He felt like he owed it to himself to try one final time, and it would also help him get back into the rhythm of things. The day of the race arrived, and Jann felt a bit nervous as he got ready. However, as he sat in his car and put on his helmet, he felt a rush of adrenaline. He knew he could do this, and he wanted to show everyone and himself that he was still as good as ever. As he prepared for the race, you and he were constantly in contact. You both sent each other numerous messages, expressing your love for each other and wishing for safe travels. When the race started, Jann was finally back on track, feeling more confident than ever. His family, along with you, were there to cheer him on as he raced.

You were anxious, your heart racing as Jann sat in his car, preparing for the race. You could feel the pressure and the stress of the situation, not just for him but also for yourself. You knew how important this race was for him, but you were still scared of what might happen. What if he didn't like his racing anymore? What if he crashed again? But most importantly, what if he was going to get hurt? It was a very hard moment for you, but you had to keep a level head. You had to support Jann as best as you could. As the race continued, Jann became focused. The world around him disappeared as he focused on the race. He felt his adrenaline pumping, as he was doing everything he could to win this race. He sped past other racers, leaving them in his wake. The crowd around him grew louder as they cheered for him. Almost as if he could see you smiling at him, your eyes sparkling, as he sped by. He was more determined than ever to win this race. As the race came close to its ending, Jann was still in the lead. You got even more excited now, your heart racing at his speed.

The hours passed by quickly as Jann raced. With the wind blowing in his hair and the sun setting behind him, he felt invincible. He pushed the car to its limits and enjoyed every second of the race. As the hours passed, you got more anxious, watching the hours tick by. When Jann crossed the final line, your heart was racing fast. You stood up quickly making your way to him, waiting for him. As Jann finally stepped out of the car, he was greeted by your warm embrace and your joyful yell. "Oh, my love." You screamed as you hugged him tightly, tears in your eyes. Jann was filled with joy as he climbed out of the car, his hands raised in the air in celebration. He knew that he had done it. He had raced in the 24-hour race and survived. Jann felt like a king as he got out of the car and was greeted by the hugs and congratulations of the supporters around him. He looked at the crowd of family and friends, but his eyes were quickly drawn back to you. He saw how excited and happy you were for his victory, and it made him all the more glad that he had continued to push himself. When he felt your arms wrap around him and squeeze you tightly, his heart raced as well. He let out a long sigh as he finally had the chance to take a break and soak in what had just happened. "Hey, babe." He said softly, still breathing heavily from the race. "I did it… I'm so happy I did it…" He smiled softly, still holding onto you tightly.

“I couldn't be happier,” you said as you leaned close and kissed Jann’s cheek, tears still in your eyes. “I am so proud of you, my love.” You continued to hug him tightly, your arms around his neck, your faces so close your breaths misted against each other's cheek. “You did it. You did it,” you whispered into his ear, your voice trembling. You tried to suppress your excitement, but you just couldn't help yourself. “You really did it.” You kept repeating this as if to reassure yourself that the victory was real and that you both weren't just young dumb kids anymore. "Yeah, we did it." He said softly, smiling as he looked at you and kissed your forehead. He was still trying to catch his breath as his body was feeling the fatigue from the stressful race. He leaned his cheek on yours as he pulled himself closer. He held you tightly as well, not wanting to let go, not wanting this moment to ever end. "Thank you, baby. I couldn't have done it without you." He said softly. "You were there for me every step of the way, and I can't thank you enough for that. I love you." He whispered into your ear, and his voice trembled as he repeated these three words once again.

[my-heart-beat-for-anime]

Jann Mardenborough x reader pt.5

Pt.1,Pt.2, Pt.3, Pt.4, Pt.5,Pt.6

The flight to Japan had already taken a long time, but I didn't want to complain and spoil Jann's joy. He finally got the licence, so we were on our way so that Jann could sign a contract with Nissan and instigate the creators of Gran Turismo. We had been flying for several hours and my eyelids began to close and my head slowly began to fall on Jann's shoulder.

Danny pov: I saw two young people in front of me huddling in their sleep. They were so in love and sweet it made my teeth rot. I saw how she was helping him and I never once doubted that I asked her to act as a medic in our team. With a smile on my face, I also closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Y/N pov: I was woken up by a caress on my face and even without opening my eyes I knew it was Jann. I slowly opened my eyes and smiled at him, "Good morning baby," I said in a slightly hoarse voice. Jann returned the greeting and reached in for his first kiss of the morning. "Ah save it for when you're alone." Jack grunted next to us. We just laughed and in about half an hour we finally landed in Japan.

We looked out of the car window with amazed eyes and admired everything around us. Finally the car stopped and we went to the building where we were welcomed by the creator of Gran Turismo himself, and then we went to the contract signing ceremony where there were cameras and journalists. I stood quietly at the back of the room and watched the whole event. I was so proud of him and happy for him too. After signing the contract, Jann and I tried to leave the building, but journalists blocked our way. Despite the endless barrage of questions and inquiries and the endless crowd of reporters, we felt trapped. In the end, however, Danny freed us and told us to go explore the city. We happily set off and wandered through Tokyo. We went to several restaurants and enjoyed the food to our heart's content. We laughed and enjoyed crazy photo booths, endless streams of anime and the smell of delicious food. At one point, Jann stopped unexpectedly, looking into an electronics store. At first I didn't understand what he was focusing on, but then I realized that he was looking at the music player. One eye contact was all it took and I realized why he wanted to buy it. I just smiled and dragged him into the store.

A few weeks later we were preparing for a race in Germany. As always, I encouraged Jann and checked his health, it seemed that he had already fully got used to the life of a racer, he no longer had such nervousness before races as he used to. The last kiss took place and Jann got into the car and drove off towards the start. The whole race went perfectly and Jann even overtook Capa. Now Jann was riding in second place when he hit a straight bumpy section. However, suddenly just before the bend, his car flipped backwards and Jann lost control. His car overturned several times and crashed into the fence where the spectators were standing. It was like someone had taken my breath away. My head was completely empty, but my body, as if acting on some invisible command, ran from the depot. I didn't wait for Jack or Danny and ignored their calls. Fortunately, I managed to catch the ambulance outside, which was just leaving for Jann. I quickly showed them my medical registration and luckily they had no problem taking me with them. When we arrived at the scene of the accident, a few people managed to open the car door together with the other medics, and I managed to pull Jann out of the car. I immediately started checking his condition, he had a broken collarbone and maybe some broken ribs but the worst part was that his heart was not beating. I immediately started resuscitating him and continued even when he was being carried on a stretcher to the helicopter. Halfway to the hospital, we managed to restart Jann's heart and as soon as the helicopter landed on the roof of the hospital, Jann was taken over by local doctors. And only then did a voice reach me and I felt someone shake my shoulder. It was as if I came out of a trance, I looked down at my hands and my heart sank when I saw they were covered in blood, his blood. That is when what kept me going vanished and I collapsed into Jack's arms. I think I screamed because my throat hurt and all I remember was Jack's voice soothing me.

I'm sorry that I haven't published a chapter in a long time, you know, school and such. I also tried to draw fanart for this series of mine and it didn't work out. If any of you would like to draw something for this series, I would be very grateful.

[salvadorbonaparte]

2024 in Films Part II

The second quarter of 2024 and the films I watched during that time

April

Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987) - What I learned is that Chuck Berry was difficult to work with but probably fun to hang out with

Billy Joel: A Matter of Trust - The Bridge to Russia (2014) - Billy Joel ended the Cold War. Jokes aside a really good documentary about a historic tour and how music connects people across ideological and geographic borders. the song Leningrad hits very different now.

Next Goal Wins (2023) - the most underdog story to ever underdog story

Gran Turismo (2023) - What if gamers were oppressed???

Az Men Git Nemt Men (1982) - charmingly bad yiddish disco musical. As a living language, Yiddish has the right to have bad media produced in it. It doesn't just have to be serious, sad classics.

May

Batman Returns (1992) - Iconic

Batman Forever (1995) - Obsessed with the outfits

Batman & Robin (1997) - Obsessed with the outfits again

Chantal im Märchenland (2024) - Surprisingly fun

The Batman (2022) - Dark but like visually as well, couldn't see half the film. I rewatched The Lego Batman Movie immediately afterwards and it was such an experience. I also rewatched the Dark Knight trilogy the day before.

Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Cute but I feel soo bad for Bill Pullman

July (I didn't log any films in June so I am including July in this quarter, sue me)

Psych: The Movie (2017) - I binge watched Psych in a worringly short time span and then binged the films in one evening. You know I am NOT normal about this because I screamed when Shawn had the glass fish in his office

Psych 2: Lassie Come Home (2020) - the totally legal website I watched this on kept recommending me Beethoven and Hachiko. Also seeing how they incorporated Timothy Omundson's stroke in universe and how he is recovering nearly made me cry. Also seeing the credits say James Roday Rodriguez for the first time also nearly made me cry

Psych 3: This is Gus (2021) - That ending is so chaotic and I hope they make a fourth film. "Previous Holiday" by Curt Smith is a banger

[2000sanimeop]

I made myself an Astos playlist for fun last week and was compelled to make cover art for it, so here's that!

Why Quiet Quitting? What is Stranger of Paradise about if not a dark elf quiet quitting their job for XXXXX years?

✧ Step into my twisted mind (for the tracklist/notes) ✧

✧ 9 to 5 ✧

They just use your mind / And they never give you credit 

Dolly Parton

It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it

Note: One of my favorite Stranger of Paradise pastimes is thinking about Lufenia's TERRIBLE business practices. This was the last track added to the playlist.

✧ Never Recover ✧

The Cardigans

With a hero in the past / You hang on to history

Such a loss will always last / And there's no recovery

Note: The Cardigans have so much more to offer beyond Lovefool and the U.S. Gran Turismo 2 opening. A good flavor of upbeat misery. Side note: Gran Turismo's last track is titled Nil - It's all connected! 🤯

✧ Everyday Is The Worst Day Of My Life ✧

The Lemon Twigs

Everyday is the worst day of my life

Note: I had originally considered using They Don't Know How to Fall In Place (mostly on account of being more of a song and less of a shitpost) but this was too funny not to use. This is the only song on this playlist that isn't 20+ years old. Side note: this band capitalizes all of the prepositions/articles in their song titles, like a middle schooler titling an essay.

The worst day of my life

✧ The Good Life ✧

Weezer

I should have no feeling / 'Cause feeling is pain

As everything I need is denied me

And everything I want is taken away from me

Note: I felt some trepidation including this one—mostly due to preconceived notions on what I assumed the vibes of this playlist would be like. Happy to be incorrect and it's funnier to have Weezer and Brand New here than on Jack's list (I'd sooner give Jack The Sweater Song, anyway). Side note: this is much funnier, in retrospect, now that I have Jack's set figured out; the vibes of that list are incredible, is what I'm saying.

✧ Onde Sensuelle ✧

-M-

Mais comment t'atteindre? Onde sensuelle

Toi qui me donnes des ailes

Pourrais-je te rendre un jour éternelle

Pour nous lier jusqu'au ciel

How could I reach you? Sensual wave

You who lend me wings?

Will I manage one day to make you eternal

And bind us toward the skies?

Note: An entirely vibes-based selection! Fitting, as this is the *I'm vibing* track.💜 Auto-translated, sssorry!

✧ Positive Contact ✧

Deltron 3030

Light-years from watchful eyes while my thoughts provide

I'm bio-enhanced

Hiero advanced series, monstrous evolution

Headed, tooth and nail, scoop the trail

Super-sleuth, a new race / Mad creator, savage nature

World Wide Web, the ebb and flow

Objectives to ostracize pompous prophecies

Note: Upon actually committing to making this playlist, I hoped to god there'd be a Deltron track I could use, because it would be so funny for Astos. I would've first heard this album not long after the 2008 reissue. The transition between this and Onde Sensuelle feels real good.

Brand New

✧ Okay, I Believe You,

But My Tommy Gun Don't ✧

This is the grace only we can bestow

This is the price you pay for loss of control

This is the break in the bend / This is the closest of calls

This is the reason you're alone / This is the rise and the fall!

Note: I actually switched this between playlists a couple of times before settling with Astos, but idk what I was thinking otherwise with lines like My tongue's the only muscle that works harder than my heart, lol. I think it was due to Jack's playlist feeling a little too Soft, at the time; past-me was incorrect, of course.

✧ It's Too Late ✧

Carole King

Though we really did try to make it

But it's too late, baby, now it's too late

Somethin' inside has died / And I can't hide it

I just can't fake it

Note: The quintessential breakup song!

But that was long ago

✧ Stardust ✧

Billy Ward and his Dominoes

And now my consolation / Is in the stardust of a song

Note: this is the first song I added to this playlist, and I always had it right at the end. something about having a bittersweet oldie felt like a nice echo of My Way. I would've first heard this via the Goodfellas soundtrack, which I wholeheartedly recommend.

Thanks for looking at whatever this is! While you're here, please be sure to check out @corvuscorona's excellent Astos playlist: SHADOW MONSTER.

[unreliablesnake]

From all the movies I've watched this year, it's fucking Gran Turismo that made me cry a few times.

[sometimesiship]

Get to know me better tag :D

ty for tagging me, @firewoodfigs! 🥹

three ships: TwiYor x3.

jk that's just my state of mind right now 🥴 Todochako, aaaand... hm.... oh!! GojoHime!! I think those 3 are probly accurate to me now. I could list my classic OTPs, but I don't want to read them like I want to read these atm, so i'll go with these 3 LOL

first ever ship: i could not answer this honestly if i tried bc i cannot dig that far into the catacombs of my memory. i'm going to say InuKag bc i think?? that's the the ship i was introduced to fanfic for?? but really it could be Dramione or EdWin even.

last song: Out of Time by Midnight Kids & Yueku

last movie: Expendables 4 :| I watched it bc i have never watched an expendables movie and i just wanted to experience it BUT THIS ONE WAS SO BAD. like i've heard one of them or something is stupid fun even tho it's generally bad? but this was just straight trash. it wasn't even the good kind of bad. it was just bad. made me sad bc i love jason statham LOL

the last good movie i watched was Gran Turismo. it was unexpectedly GOOD good. that movie made me want to race LMFAO

currently reading: Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

currently watching: Spy x Family ◉‿◉ （and jjk and a bunch of other stuff but i wait on the edge of my seat for sxf)

currently consuming: i scrounge like a raccoon. i actually just bought a bunch of produce and i keep intending to use it, but i end up doing something else (that i want to do more, admittedly)

currently craving: i've really been wanting pizza for a long time 🤔

tagging: @prita-world, @iridescenceoflove, @tare-chan, and anybody else who wants to 🥹 I tried not to tag anybody who was tagged in eri's, but if i've interacted with you in any way, know that i am tagging you in my heart 😂

[soupct123]

Trascript of my live tweeting of transformers earthspark season 1c

Barely spoilers but still gotta be cortious corteios courtus courteus howbt f do spell whatever its uner cut

12:18 AM

Watching earthspark now HOLY SHIT [REDACTED] MOMENT!!!! [REDACTED]!!!! [REDACTED] IN A COMIC BOOK PANEL FOR 2 SECONDS!!!!!

12:20 AM

Grimlock is such a guy <3 hes so dude!

12:29 AM

God damn jawbreaker’s dino head looks worse than I thought it would why is your mouth THERE boy 😭

12:38 AM

HIS MOUTH I. ANT IM TRYING TO ENJOY IT HUT GODDAM HIS FUCKING MOUTH

WHERE’S THE BEAK????!!!!

12:38 AM

He looks like the yee dinosaur.

12:39 AM

His new robot mode looks like half life hev suit

12:41 AM

EPISODE 2 [REDACTED] IS BACK

12:43 AM

“PRIMUS’ BEARD!” fucking goober

12:45 AM

SUS PRIME MOMET!!!!

12:47 AM

Quintus prime looks like the airbender guy from legend of korra

12:47 AM

or maybe walter white

1:01 AM

These ads are ficking killing me id rather watch gran turismo trailer while someone drills my stomach with a rusty power drill

1:02 AM

Robby do the specium beam attack robby do it now your losing robby robbt robby!!!!

1:07 AM

SHE’S ALIVE SHES ALIVE YES YEYSGEGEGWVW EV SVEGEGEHEKDBSGSVEVDVD. RCECDVEBTBDVGRGDHSGDGSG GOD GRDYHSVD

1:09 AM

WAS THAT HEDORAH????

1:12 AM

Paramount+ is breaking becore my very eyes it’s almost as bad as hulu-HOLY SHIT STARSCREAM!!!!

1:15 AM

It’s not hedorah it’s fucking shockwave’s driller pet from dark of the moon! (Spoiler It isn’t it just reminds me of her)

1:23

This is some fetish shit right here what the guck

Croft you piece of shit you and mandork

Starscream is so fucking cunty!!! AND CUTE!!!

1:24

Pikmin ad! Im gonna pull off my own nails!!!!

1:36

Metamorphosis (1990) moment

1:36

DADDY MALTO IS BACK IN THE THIRD FUCKING EPISODE YES I LOVE HIM

1:52

“dO ByUo WONt-BABANA BWEAD???” I WANT to FUCKING STEP IN A BEARTRAP

1:55

CARVE HIM LIKE A TURKEY GIRL!!! YES!!! CHILDREN LOVE VIOLENCE!!!

1:59

SOMEONE REPAINT BEAST MACHINES SILVERBOLT INTO QUINTUS PRIME NOW!!!!!!!

2:01 AM

Actually cried so much and it’s only episode 4 got damn

2:10

Shaggy and scooby doo ass bitches

2:16

I swear that’s the fucking moving platform and button activation sound effect from portal 1

2:25

Ghoids? GHOIDS????? GHOIDS????!?? CROFT YOU DUMBASS RACIST WASTE OF MOLECULES!!!!

2:57

omg im literally love incarnate one episode left agagsvsvsv

3:02 AM

“The Last Hope” GAMERA?????

3:59 (1ST VIEWING COMPLETE)

Still my favorite show

I made enough tears to drown that piece of shit mandroid

Only flaw with these episodes is that he needed to get tortured more

And also that hashtag never interacted with skywarp. No payoff for that gay ass fake backstory from episode 10 lol

4:05 AM

WAIT A GODDAMN SECOND TARANTULAS WASNT EVEN IN IT BOW COULD THEY DO BRO DIRTY LIKE THAT DUCING GAVEVEGEHSJWJSBEBEHRH 0/10 RUINED FOREVER

Guys. JUST KIDDING. It’s fine. Still love you. Good night. It’s 4 in the morning where i am.

[serve-cunt]

hehe tyyyy @rainbowcat-writes - this looked fun & i wanna see people's answers so i jumped ! :))

Three Ships

jann/jack (Gran Turismo) - the ship that got me writing again after a long break !

sincaraz (tennis rpf) - a relatively new obsession for whomst i may never write but WILL obsess

landoscar (f1 rpf) - haha!! no comment!! they are in my brain!! they are burrowing!!

First Ever Ship

deffo drarry (sorry), listen, the fic was top tier

Last Song

Chant (reprise) from the Hadestown soundtrack (theater kid wannabe except I can't sing)

Last Film

LOL i made my friend watch Gran Turismo over the break

Currently Reading

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - it's good!!

Currently Consuming

tea & christmas biscuits

Currently Craving

literally always chocolate, every moment of every day!!

no obligation but imma tag some people! @tearstrung @suzzzzuka @lazarus-james @dizzyizzyhands @rebsinthevoid @neptuniite @waiting4ff @eggbreadboi @unleashed111 @cocosprinkledbrownie

[pistonhyundai]

Skate 2 at 15: Viva San Vanelona

Skate 2 turned 15 years old this week, and I never stopped playing it. Even when the servers slowly went to hell and made it harder (eventually impossible) for you to skate with other people or watch their clips, I'd still feel the urge to boot it up and screw around. In that eight year stretch where it wasn't backwards compatible with modern Xboxes, I kept a 360 hooked up just so I could always have a way to play it, and even afterwards only felt comfortable unplugging it after buying a digital copy on the 360 marketplace so I wouldn't even need to put the disc in my Series X.

Not many games have this sort of power over me. More recent indie efforts like Session and Skater XL don't capture that same feeling, and even Skate 3, a game with a fair share of features you could only view as improvements to the series, can't quite be as absorbing. So what is it about Skate 2 that's made it a constant for nearly half my life? I guess you can start with the obvious: how it feels to play.

When I think about a lot of my absolute favorite video games—shooters like Quake, platformers like Mario and Sonic, or even a strategy game like Worms Armageddon—the through-line between them is clear: there's a simple joy to the fundamental movement of the game. It goes without saying that platformers live and die by their running and jumping, but Quake is similarly defined by its breakneck speed and movement tech, and even with Worms (where the standard ground movement is deliberately sluggish), the high-risk-high-reward flinging granted by the Ninja Rope item is so ubiquitous to the series that a lot of fans outright ignore entries that don't get its physics right. When something as fundamental as simply getting around in a video game is its own fun, it makes it very easy to play something just for the sake of it, and the Skate series embodies that quality.

Skate's analog stick-driven Flickit trick system is a contentious one depending on who you ask, and when you think about the skateboarding games that came before it, that's understandable. The immediacy of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater's "direction + button = trick" formula came to define the genre in the series' heyday thanks to its approachable, pick-up-and-play nature (even Hawk-era games striving to be more grounded and technical like Thrasher: Skate and Destroy still rely on similar button combinations for its tricks), so of course Skate's idiosyncratic control scheme and the nuance it provides isn't going to be for everybody. Should you overcome the comparatively steep learning curve, however, Flickit becomes immensely rewarding to work with. Getting around feels incredibly natural, and you're given an unparalleled degree of control over things like the speed of your flip tricks, the height of your jumps, and the motion of your grabs—all with movements of the right analog stick. It delivers a level of finesse and a connection between you and the board that feels like nothing else in the genre.

This depth the Flickit system provides (along with the generally higher risk of outright bailing) puts a greater emphasis on landing single tricks than your average skateboarding game. A rail, ramp, or gap is usually a means to an end as part of a larger combo in other games, but like how simulation racers in the vein of Forza and Gran Turismo contrast arcade racers by finding simpler joys in hitting a corner's apex just perfectly, Skate relishes the smaller moments, treating them as setpieces unto themselves. That perfectly smooth grind down a slanted staircase railing. The clean landing of a half-pipe transfer you put that extra bit of spin to. A miraculous rooftop drop onto a nearby incline. Having any one of these things go off without a hitch after throwing yourself at them repeatedly brings a sense of accomplishment that rivals any million-point Pro Skater combo (while the ragdoll physics and crunchy sound work ensure that failure is its own entertainment without getting too graphic), and it's something that makes you look at the world with a different eye compared to other extreme sports games; one that feels a little closer to an actual skateboarder's.

Instead of thinking about how you can link your surroundings together for huge combos, you think about what looks and feels good, approaching individual landmarks from all angles to pick them apart, eventually getting off your board to drag nearby props over to either mutate the spot or slot the object in as the missing piece that makes something skatable with flair. Maybe you'll even want to edit the replay and upload it to the game's Skate Reel gallery of user-made photos and replays—or in these days of dead servers, save it manually with the Xbox's built-in recording. Each Skate game has scoring mechanics and career modes, all with the unique objectives and trappings you'd expect from them, but it's these naturally occurring, self-imposed "I wonder if I can do that?" moments that end up being the best challenges in the series.

And this is where Skate 2 really stands out from the other games in the trilogy as something special: its setting is perhaps as perfect a canvas for its gameplay as you can ask. New San Vanelona, a renovated take on the original game's city (the result of an earthquake that occurred in the Wii and DS-exclusive spinoff, Skate It), is a sprawling skate wonderland full of diverse environments, each brimming with unique opportunities to capitalize on. Every region has its own makeup that feels catered to a specific style of skateboarding: Cougar Mountain's hillside roads are made for careening down, the dilapidated buildings and rooftops of the Boneyard are begging for prop improvisation, and there are multiple skate parks and mega complexes that grant intoxicatingly big air. Proceed for a few seconds in any direction and you'll find an interesting spot to skate, an object to drag around for use in a setup, or some insane drop or steep road you can use to either set up a huge jump or simply eat shit after building up speed. Each location gracefully the flows into the next, with smaller skate spots peppered in along the way, making it incredibly easy to lose hours just mindlessly roving around the city, seeing what corners of the world speak to you at a given moment. The first game's take on the city is decent, but feels a little barren by comparison (it doesn't help that it lacks the moveable props or the ability to get off your skateboard, making it harder to set things up), and the third game's Port Carverton is segregated into three disconnected biomes that can't quite inspire the same creativity as New San Vanelona.

Skate 2's level design is so engrossing that some of its most memorable spots exist entirely by accident, never intended to actually be used. The series is no stranger to glitches, as I'm sure you've seen on YouTube, but it can be used for more than just funny highlights and bails. While they can end up spoiling the competitive aspect of the wipeout-based objectives, certain exploits can be used to bend the rules and get a little extra help in making something happen. Depending on the glitch you use, you can build up speed quickly in a tight location or launch yourself dozens (sometimes hundreds) of feet into the air, and more enterprising skaters can use this to reach new heights that give their surroundings a whole new complexion. One such spot is found by Slappy's skate park, an early-game location that's introduced to you via a roll-in drop that leads into the first major air you catch in the game. It's fun enough to mess around in on its own, but if you exploit a glitch to work your way to its adjacent rooftops, you can make it to the top of nearby hangar that just so happens to line up with the roll-in jump's landing. The result is an enormous leap that dwarfs that original roll-in gap, with a landing that grants you the kind of speed that lets you approach the nearby quarter-pipes and jumps in new ways, clearing huge spine transfers and even letting you jump from the ground to another nearby roof. It adds an extra dimension to what was already one of my favorite stomping grounds in the game, taking what was once well-worn territory over the top. Skate 2 has its own themes of anti-authority sprinkled in (an evil corporation controls the Financial District of the city and has capped rails and hired security to make places unskatable, something you deal with in the course of the career mode), but it's this kind of glitch-induced trespassing through half-finished outskirts of the game that really nails urban skateboarding's spirit of rebellious expression in a way that only video games could. That it was never intended in the first place only makes it that much sweeter.

The beauty of it all is that Slappy's is just a microcosm of what it's like to play Skate 2. It feels like every inch of New San Vanelona is littered with opportunities for all sorts of unique stunts and slams, and the result is one of the most gratifying emergent gameplay experiences I've ever had. For all the possibilities Skate 3 grants with its user-created skate parks and the ability to drop props into the world at-will, it just can't match the magic of Skate 2's four-wheeling wanderlust, and even with an upcoming new entry that has a promising focus on communal creativity (almost like some sort of skateboarding Minecraft), I wouldn't be surprised if I stuck with this game for another 15 years.

[neila777]

Just Leave a Comment Fest 2023 Total + Recs!

I made a total of 50 comments during this fest! It was so much fun to be able to spread some love, and even better, I got (as of writing this) 9 replies from authors!

To further share the love I thought I'd carry on the theme of the last day with some recs chosen from the fics I commented on (with some superlatives because that's fun) :

The oldest fics I commented on:

Objective Data by walkandtalk, Fandom: Star Trek

Reading Spirk always makes me feel connected to the roots of fandom community. In this fic Spock's taking care of a young Vulcan who gathers up all the data and decides he and Kirk should be together

The Hard Way by fayedartmouth, Fandom: Guardians of the Galaxy

This is the only Guardians of the Galaxy fic I have bookmarked, and it's because this author just GETS IT. You want some amazing team banter, team feels/found family vibes, and a bit of whump? Here ya go

Fics with tropes I love and will eat up every time:

it's such a mystery (the way you know me) by fleeceframe, Fandom: Supernatural

Temporary Amnesia Destiel. Need I say more? (the writing of Castiel in this fic is so perfect, and no spoilers but what he does after getting his memories back GENUINELY broke my heart but also healed it in the best way)

Brother, Inturrupted by taizi, Fandom: TMNT

Temporary Amnesia Mikey. Need I say more? (This author portrays the fear and confusion this trope lends itself to mixed with that deep instinctual, loving trust between the brothers so WELLLL)

A Waking Nightmare by KydrogenDragon, Fandom: The Sandman (TV)

After a long absence, a character thinks another character is a hallucination. The absolute ANGST in this bad boy! This fic's currently unfinished but it's a great fic and I run to read anytime it's updated

Old favorites I couldn't BELIEVE I never commented on:

Five Vials of Blood by MythAnd, Fandom: Sherlock

Sherlock doesn't realize he and John have started dating. So so good, and I just love love love the way this author writes Sherlock's thought process.

Something Else by HotMolasses, Fandom: Hannibal

Post-finale Cuba fic where they talk about Mizumono. Hannibal POV is so so good and the dialogue works so well!

Paradox and the Mathematical Principle of Sharing a Room by Onion_Path, Fandom: BTS

This is what I LOVE about fandom. Heck yeah lets take a mathematical paradox and shove some of our favorite guys into it. Why not?

Newer fics!

can we always be this close by buggapooh, Fandom: Gran Turismo (2023)

I watched this movie one random thursday and became slightly (completely) obsessed, and this author just gets it. Jann/Jack

you're the sun, you've never seen the night by London_The_Loser, Fandom: Saltburn

same thing as the last one but for saltburn. I wish there were more fics about Farleigh, but this one's so amazing. The way this author portrays the way Farleigh feels about the events of the movie? wow wow wow

[blakeswritingimagines]

Middle Of The Night

Summary: Feeling excited when you started to work for Nissan and live the dream you had....until you keep running into the massive brat that is Nicolas Capa.

Word count: 3.5k

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Gran Turismo characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

You sat around waiting for the next race to start as you watched the crew work on the Nissan race car, looking at your phone and scrolling through different social media before looking over as you heard something only to roll your eyes seeing Nicolas Capa and his team but shrugging it off acting like they weren't there as best as you could but knew soon enough he'd say something stupid and the tension would be back. "Can we hurry up and get this race started? I'm starting to get bored." Nicolas looked annoyed. He checked his watch and saw that the race was delayed once again. This was getting old. He turned around to look around before he saw you, who was just across the garage, working on your car. He couldn't stand you.

You looked up from your phone, looking annoyed by hearing Nicolas's voice. You rolled your eyes and turned your attention back to your scrolling, chuckling to yourself, and said with some annoyed sarcasm in your tone. "Yeah, sure, we’re just in a hurry to see YOU lose, aren’t we?." He rolled his eyes at your words "Oh please… I'm not going to lose. And don't pretend like you're not interested in seeing me race. I know you're curious to see what I can do behind the wheel, sweetheart." You couldn't stand his cockiness. You decided to ignore him as best you could, but his comments still got under your skin. You had annoyed him now. The fact that you had this attitude just got under his skin. He wanted to say something else to get under your skin as well. But he didn't want to stoop to your level of childishness. Only having a few minutes until the race started… "You know, I hope I get in ahead of you in the race just so I can look at my rearview mirror and see you." He smirked and turned around to see your response.

"You better pray you get that far," you smirked with a sharp look in your eyes. You didn’t care if he was upset, you were here to win the race and that’s what you were going to do. You adjusted your gloves and looked out the garage window, she let out a small sigh and turned towards your car, taking off your jacket and placing it in the passenger seat "You really want to see my ass that much?" You said with a smirk, teasing him further and getting into your race suit, knowing very well that he couldn't resist you in the outfit but got into the car. He rolled his eyes and watched you hop into your vehicle. He tried not to look, but he couldn't help but notice how the racing suit hugged your curves. He hated you…. But were you good-looking? Or was it just the rivalry that made him feel this way? A few more minutes until the race begins. He knew he needed to get his head on straight. The smile on his face faded. He suddenly hated you even more than he had before. You were clearly just as cocky and arrogant as he was. But that just meant he had to beat you to prove that he really was the better driver.

He walked over to his own car and sat in his seat "I wonder what your excuse will be when you lose." You drove towards the place where the other drivers had to line up before the race began. You knew that Nicolas was a good driver, but you also knew what you had to offer. "I guess we will find out who is the better driver… and who has the best ass," you said this as a joke, but you definitely meant it, while smiling. You winked at him with your smile. After minutes of sitting inside your cars, the race started. Cars accelerated quickly and started to pick up speed, with you not far behind him. You couldn’t let him have the lead. "The best a-- wait, what??" Your comment took him by surprise. He knew you were trying to get under his skin, and it was working. He's already annoyed at you. He had no choice but to get his head in the game and focus on driving the best he could. You started to gain ground over him and take the lead. His expression turned to a frown as he realized you had already beaten him off the line. "Let's see who has the fastest rear end here," he said as he gunned it and took the lead at the start of the race. He knew that if he stayed ahead the whole race, you couldn't make an excuse for losing. You were fast too, though. That was for sure. Just looking in his rearview mirror, he could see that you were right on his bumper for most of the race. It was hard to concentrate on the road and his steering when you were driving so close.

You noticed that you had him on his toes. Even as you both were neck and neck, You were more focused and more relaxed than him. You were focused on the race but also on his reactions. You knew that you were in his head and that pissed him off. You kept up with him for a very, very long time. Long enough that you started to feel a pit in your stomach. You wanted the pleasure of beating Nicolas. The moment of truth came in the last turn. "I can't lose now…" Nicolas thought to himself as he was starting to sweat as the race got closer to its end. Both trading the lead a couple of times during the race, both of you making sure not to give any opportunity to really get ahead. You were neck-and-neck going into the final turn. He was hoping to see your car behind him. But that wasn't the case you were now ahead of him. "No… I… I couldn't have…" He looked ahead and saw that you were leading… This was the moment. Would he cross the finish line first? Or would you beat him? You were neck and neck with the finish line rapidly approaching. He just had to pass you if he was gonna win. But you had the advantage… You were right next to him. You could easily push him out of the way but would you do that? Would you be that ruthless?.

You were pushing the car to its limits, trying your best to go faster in order to win this damn race. You had put too much effort into it to lose now. You could see how Nicolas's expression changes from determination, from a cold stare at you to a mix of anger and annoyance. The race was coming to an end, with both cars getting to the line at the same time. You wanted to play with him. You would win, but you wanted to see the look on his face when he loses to you. When the race was finished and Nicolas had lost, he sat in his car for a moment before taking off his helmet. When he finally did get out of his car, he walked over to you. He hated being in your presence, but he had to give credit where credit was due. You were a good driver and you drove hard. You could see the dislike for you in his eyes. He looked at your face. Sure, you were cute in your own way. But he didn't want to lose to you. The fact that you were you made losing that much worse. "It's not fair! I'm a much better driver than you…" He yelled from his car as he made his way closer. There was nothing he could do now. He was going to be in for a painful lecture from his coach as soon as the checkered flag was waved. "You drove quite well…"He said, not really meaning it at all.

Your smile widened as you saw him so pissed off. You knew you had pissed Nicolas off and that was even better than winning. You leaned against your car and smirked "You should have tried harder. Maybe then you wouldn’t have lost to me." You said with a smirk, with no intention of being nice to him. You were just trying to get him even more pissed off. Which made you even more satisfied. He stared ahead and saw you smirking at him. He couldn't believe that he had lost to you of all people, he was the better driver and everyone knew it. He was faster, he was stronger, he was smarter. But there was one thing you had that he didn't… A good personality everyone loved you. They all hated him… "I… No… I…" He gritted his teeth in anger. Sure, losing didn't feel good but losing to you was something else. How could he explain this to his coach? Everyone would know that he had lost to you, the thought made him furious. If there was one person in the garage who he couldn't stand, it was you yet, he couldn't help but find your teasing smile enticing. Sometime later Nicolas was in his own hotel room. There was nothing more that he wanted than to forget about you. He had a feeling that his team was pretty angry at him for losing. He just wanted to lie in his room. But there was a knock on the door. "Go away..." He yelled out, assuming that it was someone coming to yell at him for his poor performance. He heard the knock again. This time, it was much louder. "I said go away! I don't want to talk right now..."

You knocked again at the hotel room. You really wanted to see Nicolas, you wanted him mad and pissed off. "I know you don’t want to talk and are pissed off, but I am not here to yell at you." Your tone held a bit of a sassy tone. You could see right through him and knew that even though he hated you, he wanted you. You knew that he was too proud to say it. You knocked on his room's door again, this time you didn't speak, you just wanted him to open it. You were grinning behind the door, knowing that he didn't want to talk to anyone and that he was frustrated by losing. You had the power to make him even more angry right now, and you were gonna take it. He felt his anger boiling once again. He was getting really annoyed at you for coming to him in this situation but at the same time, your teasing nature got to him and he didn't even realize it, but the fact that you came to him only showed that he was living rent-free in your head. His curiosity got the best of him and he decided to open the door. "What?".

You were standing behind the door, wearing a simple black dress with just one strap on your left shoulder. The dress was quite a short one, leaving your toned legs completely exposed. You were looking great in it and it was clear that your outfit was going to make him even more annoyed. "Oh, hey." A teasing smile was on your face. Your stare was piercing right through his, waiting to see his reaction when he saw you, and waiting for him to get mad or annoyed. You tried to make things worse, knowing he wouldn't allow it. "Well, I wanted to talk to you. That's why I knocked on your door." You said, still with that mocking tone. You attempt to say "Sorry" or anything to sound polite. "I want to come into your room to talk you know… Can I?" He was starting to feel pissed off at this point, yet he could tell that part of him wanted you to come into his room. To see if there was a way for him to return the favor of annoying you. But he wasn't going to let himself do it. He had to resist the urge. "I'm really not in the mood..." He was trying to be as cold as he could be, just to keep himself under control. But seeing you in that outfit... Made it even harder. He didn't want to find you attractive.

"Awww, you don't want me in your room?" You couldn't help but tease him once more. You were practically laughing at his face as he continued to try to resist it. "But I feel that maybe… You really want to see me in your room…" You said in a whisper, your voice was really sexy. And you were very close to him. He could almost smell how good you smelled with your perfume. You smiled widely, but in a way that seemed to annoy him even more. You didn’t say anything for a moment, as you leaned on the door frame. You knew that you were getting on his nerves, with your little games and teasing. But he was probably too angry to think about it. At least, he was trying. Finally, you spoke with a little playful voice. "Aww. Don’t you want a little company?" "No!" Once again, he tried being as blunt as he could to get you to leave him alone. But the more that he looked at you, the harder it was. Those eyes of yours that could see right through him it seemed. That smile of yours could be both playful and annoying at the same time. The thought of the two of you together in his room. "Get lost..." He was struggling to not let himself fall for you. How could he be so stupid? He wasn't in the mood for this. He couldn't do it anymore. He just couldn't stop himself from saying what he really wanted to say your teasing got to him.

You stood there for a moment, with a mocking look while looking up and down to him, as you could feel his eyes looking at your body. This made you feel even better than before. You took a step forward, so you were just a bit closer to him now. You then looked slightly to the side, as if you were about to turn around to go away when you said, with the cutest tone and face possible. "Are you sure you don't want to have some fun with me?" You asked in a playful way, with a wink. He felt his throat go dry. 'What was he doing?' He thought to himself. He kept looking at you up and down, taking in every part of your body and this feeling was making him want to do things he normally wouldn't do. His brain was screaming for him to send you packing but his heart wanted something else. He didn't dare say a word you had him in the palm of your hand now. But if he fell for you, what would happen? Could he really handle the consequences of what he was about to do?. He was starting to get nervous something that didn't happen often to him anymore. All it took was one more step from you for his resolve to crumble. And you knew that. He didn't want this to continue. There was no way he could fall for you, he needed to get this over with already and tell you to leave. "I'm sure... Just leave." He tried to make his tone as serious and cold as he could. But you knew that you could push him over the edge if you really wanted to and you were about to.

You took that last step and got even closer to him, almost pressing your bodies together. You smiled while moving one of your hands to his cheek, and caressing it while he felt your breath on his skin. You were waiting for his reaction, with a small smirk on your face. You could feel the tension between the two of you as you said with a seductive voice. "Are you sure that you don't like the way I am touching you right now? Maybe you want more." You said while looking into his eyes. You felt the power you had at that moment. You wanted to push him even more. "I just wanted to have some fun, there is not a problem with it. Are you telling me you would rather be alone than having a good time with me?" His heart was racing. He had always been confident with girls. But now you were just getting to him. And he hated that. He didn't want you to touch him. He didn't want you to flirt with him. He didn't want you to be this close to him but you were. And he was losing the battle. He was trying to resist but every time you moved closer to him, you just broke his resolve more and more. "I'm telling you I don't want this." He was breathing heavily now his eyes closed slightly as he felt your hand caressing his cheek. He was trying to avoid looking at you but it was so difficult to resist that beautiful smile of yours. All of your teasing and that last little moment where you had moved in closer got to him… He couldn't fight it anymore.

Knowing that you had him. You leaned in more until your body was pressing against his in the tight dress. You smiled seductively as you moved your hand from his cheek and moved your hands down to his broad chest. "I think I deserve some reward for defeating you, don't you think, tough guy?" You smirked even if you did win a trophy, looking at his eyes and waiting for him to answer. You were so close to him that he felt like he could feel your hot breath on his face. He looked down, avoiding your gaze but it just made him want you more. Your voice was so seductive. It made it hard to say no to you now. "Fine. You can have your reward. What is it you wanted?" He tried to sound angry, but his tone betrayed that. He was just as eager for this as you were.

You let your hand that was resting on his chest waist go lower, touching his thighs as you looked to his lips. You knew that he wanted you. Nobody wanted to hear it, nor even admitted, but it was the truth. You were so close to him at this moment, like he was just one thing away from kissing you. Like your lips were meant to be on his in this moment. Then you whispered into his ear in a soft tone. "I know what I want. And you know it too." You said, still smiling seductively while looking at his eyes. "I just want a good time. No one needs to know, no one would ever know." You said, grabbing him by the waist and looking directly at his eyes. "Are you willing to give it to me?" You whispered in a teasing tone. "Yes…" He had no way to argue against you. He couldn't even resist the temptation anymore you were so attractive. He wanted you as the tension between you both just got too much, and he had to give into your desire, he had to see what the rewards to defeating him would be and he wanted them he was too curious now as he started to reach for you. He put his arms around you, and brought you closer to him just before roughly kissing you as his usual in charge attitude came back full force.

You didn't waste any time in taking the same initiative. You brought your lips even closer to his and passionately kissed him. You had wanted to be with him for a long time even if having his attention on you meant annoying him, and being with him this way was a dream come true in your mind. However, in the middle of it, you stopped the kiss and looked at him, with a smile on your face while your eyes were asking if he wanted even more. "Do you want to continue, maybe?" You asked while taking a step back. He wanted to continue the kiss, to take the reward that you offered. Yet, he was conflicted. He wanted to satisfy you, to do what you both wanted but he knew that it was wrong. His coach would kill him if he found out. He had been warning him so much to not make any mistakes again. Yet. Those were just warnings he never expected someone as tempting as you to appear in his life. It was just too good to ignore "Yes." He stepped backward into his room, closing back in for another kiss with you.

[dollsonmain]

I went back to bed when That Guy left. Now I feel like..... like bleargghghh... But my body told me to rest more and I could, so I did.

Son looked guilty when I got up, I think because I asked him to make less noise between 5 and 6 am last Monday and he might have expected me to do that again. I got up at 8am today much better rested and less frantically desperate for a little quiet after a three-day weekend. A normal weekend isn’t nearly as draining.

-

When TotK arrived, That Guy dropped Genshin Impact, Gran Turismo, and Horizon all at once after his first Tears play session and I’ve been thinking about that.

Turismo and Genshin I can understand because he was at a point in both where he was basically just doing dailies. That’s what prompted me to drop WoW years and years ago. He’s also been a little bored of his phone games that are doing the same thing every day. I’ve told him to just stop playing them and he won’t because if he doesn’t have video games to take up every moment of his waking time, then he has nothing other than sitting with his own thoughts because he has no hobbies and we don’t have TV.

With Horizon, yeah it’s a bit repetitive but that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that Aloy wasn’t special anymore. She keeps handing out Focuses (in-game explanation for the HUD) to her friends, and as far as That Guy is concerned, that’s all that made her special. Not her strength, her personality, being the only redhead in the world apparently, just that Focus.

What’s been rolling around in my mind about it, though, is that this is a man that desperately can’t be alone. He demands to be the center of attention at all times. If I’m not sitting there watching him while he’s playing a game, he’s yelling at everyone all around the house and mad while still playing. He’s literally said to me just last week, in a high-pitched, whining baby voice, that the only thing I should be doing when he’s home is paying attention to him. I was doing chores.

Which makes me wonder why it’s such a game-ender for him that Aloy has friends, now.

I had also pointed out a vocal tic early on that he can’t unhear, which he doesn’t appreciate and it is really annoying. She kind of goes “hhh” at the end of almost every sentencehhh.

Another thing that’s put both of us off of the game is that she talks to herself CONSTANTLY which wouldn’t be too bad if what she was saying wasn’t solutions to puzzleshhh. You barely walk up on something that needs figured out to proceed and she tells you the answer out loud to herselfhhh. I suggested putting the game in another language so he couldn’t understand her when she did that which he said was a shockingly smart idea (why so surprised...) but didn’t do ithhh.

In the first game she was talking to Sylens via the Focus all of the time, and I guess they thought they had to keep that up in a way for the second game, but now it’s just kind of goofy and annoying because she’s not talking to anyonehhh.